Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pomni stares blearily at her breakfast, nodding off a bit. For some reason she’s just so sleepy.

She’d slept well enough, but towards the end she remembers there being a weird dream. Something stressful. She tries to remember it even though she knows better.

In her dream the Circus had become a maze.

She’d happened upon the others and had strange conversations she doesn’t quite remember. Ragatha and Kinger, Zooble… Gangle she remembers had been particularly upset. And lastly she’d come across Jax.

He’d turned and looked at her with exhausted eyes and said,

How you doing?

Pomni blinks at her food then glances over to Jax who’s happily harassing Gangle.

Pomni hasn’t really interacted with Jax since the food service adventure Caine had subjected them to. They’d had another adventure, some underwater scuba bull[BEEP] that had actually been pretty fun at parts. Very pretty graphics and colorful fish.

The two of them had maybe one exchange, where they’d all been trying to decide on a route. Jax had made a quip about something Pomni had said that she can’t even remember. But it had left her feeling defensive, prepared for an attack that didn’t come.

Pomni pokes at her food. It’s neither here nor there.

Jax slips away from Pomni’s thoughts.

She’s just taken a bite when Caine appears above them, bellowing, “Greetings and salutations my roasted red peppers!”

Pomni starts to choke on the fake food and that adds a layer of humiliation.

“I hope you’re all ready for today’s big adventure! We see the return of a fan favorite in Return to Spudsy’s: This Time It’s Personal!”

Caine raises his arms in the air as the title appears over him.

The mood actively sours in the room.

“Uhh, no one liked that adventure.” Jax immediately pipes up. “We all actively hated it.”

Bubble appears next to Caine who puts a hand ineffectively in front of his mouth. “Was that one not popular?”

“One of your worst reviews!” Bubble replies.

Caine’s eye twitches, looking at Bubble for a long second. Then he throws his arms up in the air again. “W-well, maybe the second time around will help to change your minds!”

“It won’t,” Jax says flatly.

Pomni looks around. Everyone but Kinger looks a little on edge.

“Well, I guess I’m sitting this one out, then!” Kinger says, wandering away with a wave to the others.

“That’s fine!” Caine decides.

“Huh—what?!” Zooble cries. “It’s fine if Kinger skips but not me?!”

“I should let you all know that I’ll be performing some maintenance during the downtime,” Caine bulldozes on. “So don’t try to call for me! I will be unreachable!”

That ominous threat hangs in the air. Pomni side eyes Ragatha who gives her a nervous shrug. Gangle looks like she wants to curl in on herself and die.

“Because none of you passed with an A I’ve lost all faith in you as managers! So an NPC will be taking Gangle’s place!”

“Which NPC?” Ragatha asks, suddenly sounding a little hopeful.

“Yeah,” Jax says and he sounds mad. “Which NPC?”

“I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise! Also,” Caine’s eyes rattle around in his head a bit. “A horrible punishment awaits you if you faaaail!”

“Noooo,” everyone grouses in unison.

“Yeeees!” Caine counters.

“If Kinger’s out, I’m out,” Jax says and turns to walk away.

Caine just laughs and opens the portal. Bubble swings around in the air and comes hurtling at Jax, ramming into him. Bubble stops just short of the portal and Jax is launched through. Then Bubble floats vaguely upwards.

“What are you waiting for!” Caine gestures impatiently for them to go through. “The sooner the system updates, the sooner I get to create more adventures!”

Everyone sans Kinger shuffles single file through the portal. Pomni notes that the mood is resigned, but also awkward.

They walk through the portal and then—

Spudsy’s

Pomni stares at the sign blankly. She really doesn’t want to do another long day at food service, but honestly she seems like the person who’s freaking out the least. Certainly compared to Jax who is pacing back and forth restlessly, arms crossed.

“I can not believe this! Spudsy’s again?” Jax turns viciously on Gangle. “This is your fault!”

“W-what? No, I didn’t-” Gangle starts to protest but Jax cuts her off, jabbing a finger in her face.

“This was your stupid adventure! So it’s your fault!” Jax seethes.

Gangle ducks her head, shrinking in on herself, but Zooble steps forward between them. “This is not her fault. This is Caine’s. So back off.”

Is this the atmosphere they’re starting out with? Pomni starts to feel legitimately stressed.

“Hey guys,” Ragatha says, raising her hands in an appeasing gesture. “Let’s just do our best and play the game and then it’ll be over.”

It’s a pragmatic approach. Jax does not look pacified.

His eyes turn like daggers to Gangle for a moment and then he turns away, walking past all of them towards the restaurant.

As he passes Pomni their eyes meet for a moment, his filled with misery. Then he disappears through the door.

Pomni turns to look back at the others. Ragatha looks troubled then notices her and smiles. Zooble is patting Gangle on the back and murmuring something Pomni can’t hear.

This is going to be a rough one.

—

They all gather behind the counter shortly before opening. Jax stands towards the back, arms crossed and actively scowling.

The rest of them eye each other uneasily, no one sure what to do next.

Suddenly an NPC pops into existence in front of them, making a strange sound.

Pomni blinks then vaguely recognizes it as-

“Oh, look! Our manager is Orbsman!” Ragatha says cheerfully.

“Oh great,” Jax groans, scowl deepening further.

Pomni’s attention is pulled back to Orbsman as he addresses her in sounds her brain is somehow able to comprehend as words.

“O-oh, no problem! Leave the register to me!” His attention leaves Pomni and she sighs in relief.

Ragatha and Gangle are on assembly, Zooble is on drive through and Jax is on cooking duty.

The shift starts and the front door immediately opens.

It proves to be rather grueling this time around. Pomni hadn’t expected to revisit this place at all let alone so soon.

There’s a similar rush of NPCs making the same kinds of orders as their first time around only they seem to have somehow gotten more eccentric and maybe a little more buggy.

Is it related to the maintenance Caine had alluded to before shoving them on this awful adventure? Pomni has nothing but time to speculate between rushes.

“Excuse me, my order is wrong,” an NPC suddenly cuts the front of the line, slapping their hand down on the counter. “I ordered a number 32 but this is clearly a 16.”

They shove a receipt in Pomni’s face. It looks like it matches the burger they’ve abandoned on the counter but to be fair Pomni hasn’t exactly memorized the bizarre menu.

“Oh, I’m uh, sorry about that. We’ll get that fixed for you right away! A number 32, right?”

“Uh, that’s what I said!” The NPC says in a voice that insinuates she’s somehow stupid.

Ugh.

Pomni picks up the order and stares down at it. She keeps her customer service face on until she turns away and it falls into a scowl. Welp, this is garbage now.

She leans over to look at Jax who’s slaving away over the burgers.

“Um, Jax?”

He doesn’t look over at her. “What.”

“Can I get a new 32?”

“What, something wrong with it?” Jax grumbles.

“Yeah.” Pomni responds blankly.

“Fine.”

He looks so ticked off and grouchy.

Pomni returns to the NPC. “It’ll be ready in a minute.”

“Well, it better be exactly a minute, or I’m going to call for your manager!”

“Ha! Haha.” Pomni raises her hands in surrender.

”That’s right,” the NPC tells her, clearly power-tripping. “Fear me.”

The second the burger is ready Pomni rushes it over to the waiting NPC. If things are buggy she really doesn’t want her score docked too much from it. She doesn’t know what sort of punishment Caine has in store.

“Here you go! With fries fresh out of the fryer!” Pomni says with a forced laugh, a little strained.

The NPC looks at their watch–seriously what is with their attitudes?–and even though it doesn’t have a face she can imagine the expression of disappointment that it was indeed ready within a minute.

“Good. About time.” They take the burger and Pomni rushes back behind the counter to help the ever growing line.

She’s just finished processing another order when the same NPC comes marching over, sending a sick feeling through Pomni’s stomach.

It throws the burger back onto the counter. “This is clearly the wrong burger! It’s like, a 25C! I ordered a 67B.”

What is it talking about?

“Umm, right,” Pomni says. “One second.”

“It better be one second!”

She puts in another order, this time for a 67B and she’s sure she has it right, but she’s starting to lose hope that the NPC will see it that way. What if it just keeps coming back?

She hands the order out to the NPC when it’s finished and they snatch it up and storm off, [BEEP]talking Pomni.

They reach the table, do some sort of outrage emote, then start marching back to Pomni.

“Pleeeease, noooo,” Pomni begs under her breath.

The NPC throws the food down. The bag, Pomni is pretty sure, has not been opened.

“This isn’t a 12B! I asked for a 37D, hold the mayo!”

“Okay,” Pomni says flatly.

She picks up the bag and turns around to speak to Ragatha about it, but she’s stopped working on the assembly line to talk to Gangle.

“What do you mean, Gangle?” she asks, sounding a little shrill. “I genuinely don’t remember. What did I say?”

“Well…” Gangle sounds so hesitant. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Oh jeez. Pomni opens her mouth then shuts it. Sounds like a conversation she shouldn’t interrupt. She turns to Jax instead.

“Uh… Jax?”

Jax slams his spatula down hard on a patty, making it sizzle loudly.

“What?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“I think one of the NPCs is bugged,” she tells him. “I keep giving them their order and they keep coming back and saying it’s wrong, but like… it’s not.”

Will Jax even help her?

“What should I do?” she asks.

Jax sighs then turns to look at her for a long second. She expects to receive some lip or at least a scathing zinger but he just flips the burger on the grill off so it won’t burn. He walks around the assembly station and puts out his hand. “Give me the bag.”

Pomni looks from his hand up to his face, hesitantly reaching out to give it to him. “What are… you going to do?”

“Trust me,” Jax says.

He walks out towards the front and Pomni peeks out to watch him approach the irate NPC tapping its foot impatiently. Jax hands out the bag. “Here’s your order! Extra fresh.”

The NPC takes it and insists, “This is the wrong order!”

“No it’s not.” Jax states. “It’s right.”

The NPC goes so stiff and silent it seems bugged out, and then it agrees, “This is the right order!”

It turns and walks away, seemingly satisfied. Jax turns around, walking back towards her. “If it gives you more trouble get the manager or something. That’s all I’ve got.”

“Okay,” Pomni says, watching the NPC for a moment then looking up at Jax.

He’s scowling down at Pomni, but she doesn’t get the vibe he’s mad at her.

“Cool,” she says. “Thanks.”

”Uh-huh.”

Jax trudges back to his station and starts flipping burgers again.

The NPC doesn’t come back. Relief slowly creeps in and then Pomni realizes she’s been mindlessly cashiering for a while.

Despite the fact that Pomni’s been taking it better than the others, this place really is Hell. She can see how working at a fast food restaurant could be a fun concept if it was like some stupid cookie clicker adventure, but this is…

”I said, I can’t [BEEP]ing take it anymore and I’m going to go take one of my designated breaks which consist of my protected time.“

Jax raises his voice from the back. There’s the sound of Orbsman yelling back at him.

“I don’t care!” Pomni hears Jax snap. “I’ll call HR so fast it’ll make your head pop.”

Then there’s the sound of a slamming door. She’s pretty sure the back door is one of those slow closing ones, too, so Jax really must have kicked it.

“What’s his problem?” Ragatha complains.

“Yeah…” Pomni hears the vague mumble Gangle lets out just before moving to take over burger duty.

Orbsman comes over and communicates to Pomni that she’s doing a terrible job cashiering, which she strongly disagrees with, but that her welcoming smile is making the NPCs 30% more satisfied with their experience. Keep up the good work!

And then he lets out more garbled sounds and places a hand on her shoulder. She feels the earnestness in the sentiment,

Go take out the trash then go take a 10 when Jax gets back.

Huh. Yeah, this is way better than having Gangle as a manager, no offense. Pomni knows Gangle was going through it.

Pomni goes to take out the trash, and while she knows there’s no real bacteria—at least she hopes Caine didn’t go to that amount of detail—it still grosses her out.

She heads to the back with a sigh and hesitates before opening the door.

Jax is out there probably all brooding and grouchy. She’d be a prime target to pick on.

But that’s not the vibe she’s been getting from him recently. He mostly just leaves her alone.

She realizes she’s been just standing there. This is stupid.

Pomni opens the door and heads out into the mid-morning light. She glances around for the dumpster and spots Jax standing as far away from it as possible.

He’s smoking a cigarette.

Where did he even get that?

Pomni stares at him for a moment then goes to throw away the trash. She wipes her hand on her apron like that will do anything, compelled to look over at Jax again.

He’s just standing there staring blankly at the parking lot with a toothy frown. Probably dissociated.

Pomni starts to head back inside then hesitates.

He had asked her how she was doing the last time. It’s been a sticking point in her dynamic with him. It makes her not know where they stand and the thing is, Jax probably forgot he even said it.

Ah. And here she is just staring at him.

“You, uh,” Pomni clears her throat. “You okay?”

Jax seems to come back from somewhere a million miles away, lifting the cigarette to take a long drag off of it then exhaling sharply. Pomni watches the smoke curl up into the air then meets his eyes as they move to her.

“No. I’m terrible. Every second spent in this ‘adventure’ is one second I am experiencing Hell in real time.” He takes another drag of the cigarette then gestures to her with it. “How about you?”

Pomni frowns. She considers going back inside.

Then she leans against the wall near the door, scuffing her shoe lightly on the ground and staring at it.

“Yeah. This time feels like it’s going even slower, too,” she complains. “The NPCs are bugging out and telling me really personal stories that they should probably keep private.”

“That’s not a bug, that’s just working in any sort of service industry,” Jax states flatly.

“No, like some of them are straight up glitching,” Pomni insists. “I think it’s whatever Caine is doing.”

”Yeah, well, I hope he chokes on his own eyes while he’s at it.”

Pomni frowns and looks up at him. She considers what to say.

“Where did you get that cigarette?”

Jax snorts softly and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a mostly full pack of cigarettes labeled as ‘No No Sticks.’ “Swiped ‘em off of Orbsman.”

“Oh.” Pomni stares at them. Then up at Jax. “Didn’t take you for a smoker.”

“I’m not,” Jax says, rolling his eyes. “I’m stressed.”

“Why doesn’t it make little bubbles?” Pomni asks, genuinely curious. “Caine’s pipe does.”

“And how should I know? This place is too realistic.” Jax glares at the cigarette.

“And don’t even think about getting on my ass about it,” he accuses. “Ragatha was drunk last time, so.”

Pomni blinks. “Oh is that what was going on?”

“[BEEP] if I know.”

Pomni feels the weight of some unspoken work drama and it gives her vicarious stress. “… Great.”

There’s a long silence and Pomni thinks maybe she should go inside. Jax flicks the cigarette.

“Well-” Pomni starts and then Jax suddenly holds it out towards her.

“I have to get back to work. You want the rest of this?” It sounds like an earnest question, his expression strained but not malicious.

Pomni stares at the cigarette. She doesn’t smoke them, but…

She’s really stressed too.

She reaches out and plucks it from Jax’s fingers.

“… Thanks.”

She meets Jax’s eyes and wonders how long they’ve been here. He breaks the gaze and heads back inside, leaving Pomni to his cigarette.

She examines it for a while then finally sighs and takes a little puff on it. She’s smoked a couple before, but it’s never been her thing. There’s not enough of it to give her too much of a rush, but it does distract her from work.

She wonders about Jax.

He’s been decent the last few times she’s talked to him. But he also grabbed her by the throat one time. And he bullies the [BEEP] out of Gangle. And fights with Ragatha constantly.

Who is he?

Pomni’s thoughts slip to other things, but a thread of it remains as she spends the remainder of her break finishing up the cigarette and staring at the sky.

This place is too real, Pomni thinks as she puts out the cigarette against the wall then disposes of it. A pit of dread sits in her stomach as she heads back inside, reminding herself the day won’t last forever.

—

It’s hectic, stressful, but time passes.

And so far they've only been getting generic NPCs as customers, to Pomni’s relief.

As it gets later things slow down and there’s a good midday lull. Pomni wanders back to where Zooble is leaning against the drive through, staring blankly out the window. Gangle is nowhere to be found and as Pomni approaches she hears the sound of Ragatha crying coming from the office.

“Oh,” Pomni says. “Oh.”

Pomni points with her thumb towards the office. “Should someone… see if she’s okay?”

Zooble glances over towards the sound of crying, expression unchanging. “Ehhh. I mean, go for it I guess, but don’t feel obligated. I’m not doing it, though.”

Pomni glances towards the door then back at Zooble.

“Is… something going on that I should be aware of?”

Zooble scrutinizes Pomni like they’re considering something then lower their voice in a way that lets Pomni know she’s about to hear some drama.

“It’s not a big deal but… I don’t know, it’s a little hard to feel too bad for Ragatha after how she was last time. Not to be an [BEEP]hole but she was lowkey being a [BEEP] about everyone.”

“I… see.” Well, that’s troubling. Pomni thinks of what Gangle said about it being hard to tell how genuine Ragatha is. It makes her feel a distant sort of sadness. “Gotcha. Jax was weird about it too.”

That has Zooble rolling their eyes. “Jax is always weird. Ragatha was like… on something actively.”

“Huh?” Pomni says. “Like drugs?”

“Yyyyeah.” Zooble looks over at the prep station. “I think it’s that stupid sauce. I saw her drinking it at one point. Really gross.”

“Huh.”

But Pomni can’t help but think that Zooble’s attitude towards Jax is quickly dismissive. She doesn’t know Jax that well, but he’d seemed plenty bothered.

What does she know.

“How are you holding up?” Pomni asks Zooble.

That makes Zooble look at her more directly, eyebrows raising. And then they snort. “Sometimes when I don’t think I can stand it another second I fantasize about putting my head in the fryer, sooo…”

Zooble shrugs. “How about you?”

But then a car starts to pull up and Zooble groans. “Sorry, Pomni. I’ll catch you later.”

Pomni goes to knock on the office door. It just feels like the right thing to do. But Ragatha doesn’t answer, she just keeps crying, the sound muffling. Gangle passes the door and frowns. She’s not been wearing her comedy mask recently.

“Oh jeez,” she mumbles, looking crestfallen. “Well, I gotta manage... the cash register. Here I go.”

Gangle wanders off. Pomni frowns and goes back to work at assembly, leaning on the counter even though she knows if Orbsman sees he could dock points. She just needs a second.

Pomni’s gaze is caught by Jax moving behind the wall of condiments and ingredients between them.

The sounds of Ragatha crying grow louder again.

Jax scoffs softly and Pomni isn’t sure if he’s speaking to her or out loud when he says, “Oh my god. Ragatha better just hope excessive crying isn’t on her performance review. Ooh, docked you a grade because you couldn’t stop crying on company time.”

He sounds bitter.

“Is… that a thing you think Caine would do?” Pomni asks, a little nervous at the answer.

“I dunno!” Jax says, flipping a burger with malice. “Maybe. Orbsman probably would, the jerk. What were we even being judged on the last time? We all got the same grade.”

He scoffs. “Same as Ragatha on her bender.”

“I missed all of this,” Pomni says as he slides more burgers into the little drawer. She stares at a new order and starts to put together the ingredients.

“Yeah, well, consider yourself lucky,” Jax says. “It’s almost like minimum wage jobs bring out the worst in people.”

Pomni squirts some stupid sauce onto a burger.

“Zooble said it was probably the sauce.”

Jax grunts. “Makes sense, she was certainly acting stupid. Can’t say I blame her, though.”

It’s not exactly a kind thing to say but he doesn’t even sound particularly mad about it, just vaguely annoyed. It’s an unexpectedly normal conversation about workplace gripes.

They get a rush soon after and Pomni feels a little relief.

The faster the time passes the sooner they can get out of here.

—

The day goes by and it kind of sucks, but it’s fine.

It’s fine.

Pomni feels a little numb as she goes to clock out, picking up her punch card. She fusses with it and just as she reaches up to put it in the other slot, an arm reaches out over her and grabs another punch card.

Pomni freezes and looks up. It’s Jax who’s scowling down at her. He stares at her for a long moment. Then,

“You’re in the way,” he tells her factually as he switches over his card. Then he turns to the rest of the kitchen. “Alright, [BEEP]wads, I’m out of here! Enjoy closing, losers! Bon appetit.”

He looks angry, but Pomni thinks at least some of it is maybe him being frazzled.

Jax walks on out, flipping the whole kitchen off. Pomni follows and gives a little wave to Gangle who tries to smile at her. “See you soon?”

“Yeah…” Gangle heaves a forlorn sigh.

Poor thing.

Pomni heads out after Jax into the simulated night. She gives a sigh of her own, glancing back at Spudsy’s where the others are still closing. Should she maybe…

“Ugh, look at those losers,” Jax says. When Pomni glances over he’s glaring at the shop. “Closing. Couldn’t be me.”

“Aha… at least it’s over,” Pomni says. She feels legitimately tired despite not needing to sleep.

They start moving again and Pomni feels awkward walking to her car with him. But he’s been okay to her today.

“What’s with the clown car?”

They stop in front of Pomni’s car and look down at it. It is, indeed, smaller than the others’. Caine must have made them all relative to their size. Pomni gives a little sigh.

“Well, if it was a big car I wouldn’t be able to reach the pedals, you see,” she says.

“Lame,” Jax insults her.

Pomni stares at the car.

“Yeah. It’s pretty lame,” she agrees. “But if it’s carrying me away from work then I don’t care if Caine gave me a tricycle.”

Jax snorts. “Fair.”

Then he pulls off his apron and throws it in the bushes. He gives a stretch, shirt coming untucked and showing a strip of purple skin for a moment before he lets his arms fall with a mighty, ”Ugh.”

He waves vaguely at Pomni. “Glad that’s over forever. See you on the flip side.”

“Yyyup.”

Weird. Their interactions today have been weird. Pomni doesn’t know what to make of them.

But Jax will probably be back to normal once they’re out of here. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, so to speak.

Pomni watches as he gets in his car and pulls away, tires screeching.

She watches him burn rubber down the street until he’s out of sight. Then she sighs and goes to her own car, getting in. It is a little unsettling how small her car is in comparison to the others. If she gets hit by a bicycle on this thing she’s gone.

She revs up the car and turns it onto the street, puttering down it until she starts to feel dangerously sleepy. Is this what happened last time? She can’t remember.

Pomni’s eyes slip closed and then she’s gone.

—

“Pomni.”

Who is that… Gangle?

“Pomni.”

Zooble?

“Pomni…”

Ragatha.

Pomni opens her eyes and she’s in her car, just driving down a dark road. She looks over and sees Ragatha is beside her, looking sad.

“Pomni, do you think I’m a bad person?” she asks.

Pomni opens her mouth to give any response, but finds that she can’t get any words out. She reaches up and touches her throat, but the words remain lodged.

“You think I’m terrible, right?” Ragatha says, voice watery with tears. “Gangle thinks I’m terrible. And Zooble. And Jax.”

Since when has Ragatha cared what Jax thinks?

Pomni’s eyes close and she feels herself just floating along in the car. Is this a dream?

“Pomni…”

It’s Gangle’s voice. She doesn’t have to open her eyes to know it’s her.

“Pomni, things are so hard right now. I just want to go back to–”

Then Gangle’s voice changes to Zooble’s.

“-the way things were before, but that’s kind of impossible if no one is going to talk their [BEEP] out.”

Pomni tries to peek her eye open, but she can’t. She hears Zooble sigh.

“Sorry you got pulled into this [BEEP]show dynamic,” Zooble says flatly. “But really–”

Their voice changes mid sentence.

“[BEEP] ‘em.”

Pomni’s eyes finally open blearily and she looks over to see Jax in her passenger’s seat. He’s slumped, somehow fitting despite how small the car is.

“[BEEP] Ragatha,” he says.

And then his eyes slide over to Pomni. “You might want to watch the road.”

Pomni looks back in front of her and there’s a bright, blinding light that must be a semi truck headed right for them.

Pomni screams.

—

“Pomni.”

Pomni moves her body groggily. There’s the sound of tapping on glass.

“Pomni.”

Pomni’s eyes flitter open and she blinks around blearily. Ah, that’s right. They’d done the shift at Spudsy’s and now they’re back at the–

Why is she still in her car?

Pomni stares blankly at Zooble who stands just outside her car, looking at her through the window. Zooble just shakes their head.

“Rise and shine,” they say darkly.

Pomni slowly gets out of her car, expression wilting in dawning horror as she looks up at the storefront of–

Spudsy’s

“Oh no,” she says. “Ohhh no.”

“Yup.” Zooble crosses their arms and stares at the building. “We’re back here.”

Pomni looks around. Ragatha is slowly waking up and Gangle is standing off to the side, wringing her ribbons nervously. And Jax–

”What the [BEEP] is this?!”

Jax is climbing out of his car. He stares at the restaurant in disbelief, eyes going wider than Pomni thinks they ever have.

Then Zooble scoffs. “Oh god, they’ve started.”

Pomni glances over as Zooble starts walking over to Ragatha and Gangle, who seem to be having a very awkward and uncomfortable conversation. Maybe they’d hoped whatever weirdness happened would pass after the shift.

And honestly, it’s none of Pomni’s business. She watches Zooble’s back for a moment until–

“No, no, no, no.”

Pomni looks over to Jax who’s shaking his head over and over. “Oh [BEEP] no, I’m not going in there again.”

Pomni takes a hesitant step towards him. “You, uh, you goo–”

”No, I’m not good!” Jax yells, getting back in his car and starting it up.

Pomni looks on in alarm and trots over. Jax glares at her a moment before rolling down the window.

“What.”

“Are you just going to drive away?” she asks in shock.

“Yup.” Jax says, throwing the car in reverse. “See you suckers later.”

“Will that work?” Pomni lowers her voice like she’s afraid Caine will hear. “Aren’t you afraid of being punished?”

“This is being punished!” Jax gives her a discerning look. “So get in or get away from the car.”

Get in, huh?

Does Jax really think he can get them to the Circus? Because she really….. really doesn’t want to work another shift.

Pomni glances back at the others who seem to be having some sort of discussion that’s… louder than before. She opens the door hesitantly. And then she glances back again.

Should she let the others know? Or maybe she should suggest they all just get in their cars and leave. Maybe–

“What, you’re gonna stay with these bozos? We don’t have to be here.”

“They’re not bozos, they–”

But whatever Pomni was going to say disappears right out of her head as Jax grabs her arm and drags her into the car.

“Close the door,” Jax says, already starting to back out.

Pomni scrambles to get the door closed and then they’re peeling out of the parking lot with a loud screech. Pomni starts screaming and clings to the door.

“Don’t drive like that!” she pleads, but Jax is already speeding down the road.

“I’m gonna!” he threatens. “I hope I hit an NPC. I hope I hit more than one!”

Pomni lets out a quiet screech as they round a corner and the car nearly flips. Then Jax is speeding down another road, getting them further and further away from Spudsy’s.

It’s only once they’re on a lovingly rendered residential street that she tries to relax.

Jax reaches over and turns on the radio. Immediately the crooning sounds of Caine singing his heart out to the 80’s come bursting from the speakers.

“Wha– seriously?!” Jax turns off the radio with a sneer. “Well that was–”

THUNK

They hit an NPC.

“Jax!!”

“Whaaaat,” Jax rolls his eyes. “It’s not like it hurts them. Watch.”

He veers the car and hits another NPC. This one is dressed like a policeman.

“[BEEP] yoooou try and stop me now!” Jax yells at the body glitching in the road, glaring into his rearview mirror.

“What is with this bloodlust!” Pomni cries.

“How is it any different than our usual adventures?” Jax dismisses. “Frankly, I don’t see why we shouldn’t be killing anyone who comes into that [BEEP] restaurant. If you’ve ever been a customer, you deserve it.”

“That’s a little-”

Pomni gasps as they swerve, cutting the corner of the sidewalk and sending another NPC flying. “Do you think you could slow down at all?”

“No,” Jax insists. “What, you don’t like living fast?”

“Not this fast!” Pomni insists, clutching the door tightly.

“What, you prefer the pace of that stupid fast food joint?” Jax asks, spitting out the last few words bitterly. “Fast food my [BEEP], it’s soooo slow it makes me feel like I’m actively dying.”

Jax knocks out a few mailboxes, making the car rattle alarmingly.

“I can’t believe Caine would make us do this stupid adventure not only more than once, but multiple [BEEP]ing days!” Jax is fuming.

“Do you think everything is okay?” Pomni frets. She’s sort of regretting getting into this car.

“Who cares! [BEEP] him!”

“No, I mean,” she implores. “With the Circus.”

They’re not going to get stuck here, are they–

Jax seems to have the same exact thought because his eyes go wide. Then they narrow.

“I am not getting trapped here for the rest of my life.”

Pomni notes that the resolution of the houses seems to be going down.

“What.” she says. “You just gonna… wander suburbia til the end of time?”

“If I have to.” Jax starts slamming his fist on the horn. He purposefully veers into a pedestrian, then yells, “Get out of the way!”

“Ohhh boy,” Pomni says, shrinking in her seat and holding onto the door handle for dear life.

“Listen, the last thing I intend to do is ever, ever go back to that stupid-”

The car hits nothing.

That’s the only way Pomni can think to explain what happens. They’re speeding along and then the increasingly vague path ahead comes to an abrupt stop and the car runs into it like the invisible wall of a game map. Then there’s a bright flash of light and Pomni has to close her eyes, turning her face away.

Are they dead??

“Are you [BEEP]ing kidding me?!” Jax exclaims, voice shrill.

Pomni peeks her eyes open and sees it’s worse than death; they’re back at Spudsy’s.

“Aaaughh!!!” Jax yells in frustration, shaking his steering wheel violently then starting to pound on it, the car horn becoming an extension of his frustration as it honks out over the parking lot. He finally flops forward into it, looking defeated.

Wow, that’s uh…. That was a lot.

“Uhhh.” Pomni examines him, not sure what she should do. “Maybe… If we talk to the orb guy he’ll have an answer for us.”

“Ohh, great,” Jax grunts. “Orbsman. My best friend and yours.”

“Well,” Pomni says, opening the car door. “I’m gonna go… do that, then.”

“Ugh.” Jax doesn’t move.

“Kaybye,” Pomni says in one breath, getting out and shutting the door behind her.

Welp. Jax’s plan was worth a try. Though he seems more defeated than before.

Pomni wanders over to where the others are awkwardly standing around. Zooble looks over and gestures for her to come closer.

“What the [BEEP] was that about? Did Jax like… kidnap you or something?”

“Uhhhhh.” Sort of. Pomni blinks. “We were trying to… escape.”

Zooble scoffs. “I can see that went as planned.”

“Ahaha… yeah.” Pomni rubs the back of her neck.

“Orbsman came out but got really mad that you two weren’t here. He said something about calling you. I told him we don’t have cellphones, but he just… walked back in the building soooo.”

“Ohh,” Pomni says, hands coming up to lightly clasp in front of her. She feels nervous. “So you think… it’s gonna be another day then?”

Zooble gives her a deathly look. “Definitely.”

Pomni sighs and looks over at the other two. Ragatha and Gangle are both standing there awkwardly. Pomni opens her mouth to greet them when Ragatha speaks first.

“Oh Pomni, we saw Jax pull you into the car, but by the time we realized– I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Ragatha looks at Pomni with concern.

Pomni, who had been on the fence about getting in the car, finds that she ultimately doesn’t care. She shakes her head. “No it’s fine, actually I–”

“Ugh, he’s such a jerk,” Zooble rolls their eyes. “Like what did he hope to achieve?”

“We were just trying to–” Pomni cuts herself off as Jax comes stomping over.

“This is bull[BEEP]!” he complains, taking off his visor and throwing it as hard as he can on the ground. He stomps on it for good measure.

“Ew it’s all dirty now!” Gangle can’t seem to help herself. “That has to go on your head.”

“The [BEEP] it does!” Jax just stomps harder.

“Jax, calm down,” Ragatha says, sounding on edge. “I’m sure this will be over soon. Maybe Caine’s not done with whatever he’s doing!”

“[BEEP] Caine in the [BEEP]!” Jax hollers, giving one final stomp then crossing his arms.

“Hey,” Ragatha scolds. “Don’t be so hard on Caine, I’m sure–”

“Don’t be so hard on Caine?” Jax asks, rounding on her. “On Caine?! He’s the reason we’re in this dump!”

“Yeah, but–”

“You’re picking a fight with me, Rags,” Jax insists. “You’re picking a fight.”

“I am not,” Ragatha insists. “You’re just being-”

“We could’ve been under the sea, or on the moon, or eating the candy citizens of the candy kingdom, but he sent us here to work minimum wage Hell, and you’re seriously going to say you’re not the one being unreasonable here?!” Jax snaps, jabbing a finger at her.

Ragatha brushes his hand away. “Well your attitude isn’t helping anything! Don’t you think this is stressful enough without you acting like this and dragging Pomni down with you?”

“Oh I’m dragging people down?!” Jax scoffs.

The two of them start to argue in earnest and Gangle lets out a soft whimper, ducking in on herself.

Zooble frowns, putting a hand on her back. “This isn’t your fault, Gangle. Let’s just go inside. It’s not like this is helping, either.”

Pomni looks back at Ragatha and Jax fighting. She doesn’t like the situation, but she doesn’t know what to do and it’s not even really her place to insert herself in a fight that seems like it’s been going on long before she arrived at the Circus.

Just then there’s a weird screeching sound from the front of the building. Orbsman is leaning out the front door, shaking his… fist? at them. He comes dashing over faster than usual, though his walking animation remains the same. It makes him move sort of like a go-kart.

“What do you mean I can get in trouble before my shift even starts!” Jax cries. “Kidnapping an employee– that was barely kidnapping.”

“You’re the one who did it knowing there would be punishments,” Ragatha adds like she’s on Orbsman’s side, which she definitely is.

Orbsman points at Jax and makes more noises.

“Wha– seriously?!” Jax looks at the many orbs in disbelief. Then he glares and picks up his visor, shaking it off before putting it on. “Fine. But it’s dirty now, so I hope you enjoy dirt getting showered all over your precious burgers.”

Jax looks [BEEP]ed. Zooble looks [BEEP]ed. Ragatha looks [BEEP]ed. Gangle looks like a soldier in the WWI trenches.

Everyone hits a new low of resignation and they all start walking towards the restaurant. It’s a horrible feeling.

Orbsman hangs back and matches pace with Pomni. He makes a series of sounds.

I’m giving you a warning because you are like my child, he says.

“Uh…. huh.” Pomni says.

You were technically kidnapped, but that doesn’t excuse you from an attempt to skip your shift, willing or not!

“O-oh….” Pomni glances at Orbsman nervously. “I’m…. sorry?”

All is forgiven! This time!

Orbsman pats her on the back then starts zooming forward with the same slow walk animation. It’s very unsettling and makes her wonder if Caine’s maintenance or whatever is going well.

Pomni enters Spudsy’s and punches in, going to stand behind the cash register.

She’s dreading this, but honestly there's a feeling nagging at her that makes her uncomfortable every time her mind touches on it.

Orbsman seems strict.

Pomni glances back at Jax who’s frying breakfast burgers and muttering to himself.

She’s pretty sure she got off the hook easy.

—

Pomni sighs to herself, heading back to the supply closet to grab the mop and bucket. An NPC had ordered a dozen drinks then inexplicably started to dump them out all over the floor. So that’s how the day is going so far.

She’s just grabbed the door handle when she hears Jax’s upraised voice from the nearby office. “-mean I have to do additional training?! I didn’t even do any of that stuff on the clock!”

She can vaguely hear Orbsman’s reply but it’s too low and garbled to pick up the meaning.

“No! I don’t need any more training! Don’t make me-!” His outburst is disrupted and then Jax follows up in a desperate tone, clearly upset, “I won’t do it again, I swear! I won’t, just don’t make me-!”

And then everything goes eerily silent.

Something about it makes Pomni’s heart drop and she slowly pulls her hand away from the closet door, creeping towards the office around the corner.

The lights are on but Jax and Orbsman are both gone.

Huh.

The interaction leaves her perturbed and she backs up, going back to the closet and quickly grabbing the cleaning supplies.

She’s so flustered and in such a hurry that she almost ends up running Gangle down with the rolling bucket.

“Eep!” Gangle squeaks, throwing her ribbons up defensively.

“Oh! Sorry!” Pomni doesn’t blame Gangle for being on edge. She is too. “Um…”

Pomni and Gangle just stare at each other for a moment.

Then Pomni gives a nervous laugh and says, “Did you, uh, did you know that there’s additional training we can sometimes… have to… do?”

“Uh– huh?? Training?” Gangle looks stricken. But not surprised. “Oh. Oh, you don’t have to do training, do you?!”

“Me? Oh, um, no.”

What is with Gangle’s reaction? That makes Pomni really nervous.

“Do you know anything about it, Gangle?”

”Hahaha!” Gangle laughs hysterically. Then she wilts. “I just hope it’s different than last time…”

“Last time?” Pomni leans forward. “What happened last time, Gangle? Did you have to go?”

“Not meee….” Gangle looks so awkward suddenly. “I’m sorry, I uh… the soda thing is still a problem and… and I’m about to cry, so I’m gonna just goooo… Sorry, Pomni.”

Pomni glances away, then back at Gangle. “Oh, uh. Yeah. Do what you need to do.”

“Just try not to… get sent for training.” Gangle slumps off, no doubt looking for an appropriate locale to cry at.

Everyone is really going through it this time around.

Pomni wonders when it’s her turn.

—

Jax is back.

Pomni doesn’t really talk to him because when she first sees him he just…

Frankly, he looks like a zombie. His eyes are a little bloodshot and he’s just… staring at the wall while he lets the burgers burn. Pomni is working on assembly, but is starting to wonder if someone should check on him.

“Ugh, Jax,” Zooble says, walking over and bumping him out of the way. “Let me do it. You’re charring them.”

“Uh huh,” he says. Then Jax wanders off.

Welp. So much for checking on him.

Pomni realizes some of her condiments have completely depleted and sighs, making the trek back to the walk in. She goes inside and checks the door several times to make sure it hasn’t locked on her. One fear.

Then she starts rummaging around for what she needs.

It’s then that she hears Jax’s voice again, right outside the walk-in.

“--have been doing nothing but getting on my [BEEP]. Do you not have anything better to do other than nag my ear off? As if it isn’t already miserable enough in here!”

Jax sounds weirdly tired.

Then comes Ragatha’s voice.

“Well, I wouldn’t need to nag so much, if you could just have an attitude adjustment!”

That seems to set Jax off.

“I’m the only one who has the correct attitude about this, which is that it’s the worst thing we’ve ever been made to do. Ever.” Jax says heatedly. “Do you really disagree?”

Pomni grits her teeth in anxiety waiting for Ragatha’s response. She seems so on edge lately, and the others are on edge around her. But things seemed almost normal at the Circus.

It must be returning to this environment and whatever happened last time.

”Is it that bad?” Ragatha says. “Or is it just because you don’t get to terrorize people the way you usually do?”

There’s this intense silence and Pomni doesn’t know what expression Jax is making, but she can almost imagine it.

And then Jax says,

“You know, that’s really funny that you say that, Ragatha, because last time you were [BEEP]ed out of your [BEEP]ing mind on stupid sauce, making it everyone elses problem!”

He scoffs then continues, “Maybe that’s what you wanna do this time.”

Ragatha gasps in offense. “I didn’t purposefully consume that stuff!”

“Sure.”

“I didn’t!” she insists.

“Well, you acted the same regardless,” Jax dismisses.

Ragatha sounds defensive when she says, “Acted like what, you?”

“You said you hated me,” Jax says, voice suddenly cold.

Pomni puts a hand over her mouth to hide her gasp. Oh [BEEP]. She should not be overhearing this, but there’s literally nowhere for her to go.

There’s a long, stunned silence. Then Ragatha starts to stutter some kind of weak response.

“I… I didn’t…”

Jax interrupts her.

“But of course you didn’t want me to hate you. That’s what you told me, Miss People Pleaser. You hypocrite.” Jax sounds so mad. “So maybe you shouldn’t be the one to get on other people’s [BEEP]es about this adventure.”

Pomni hears Ragatha sniffle.

“I really didn’t mean, to,” Ragatha stutters. Then she says, defensive and angry,

“You’re so horrible.”

Pomni hears the sound of someone storming off. She’s not sure who.

And then the walk-in door opens.

It’s Jax, face fixed in a scowl.

At first doesn’t seem to notice Pomni, who has tried to camouflage herself against the wall. He puts his hands over his eyes and throws his head back, letting out a deep,

”Aaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!!”

Pomni just stands there, frozen, waiting for him to notice her and wishing there was a way she could just slip past.

Jax drops his arms, one hand remaining at his face to pinch the nonexistent bridge of his nose.

And then he opens his eyes.

Jax jumps back so hard she’s a little surprised he doesn’t knock something over.

“Were you there the whole time?!” he demands, like Pomni could have been anywhere else.

“Um…” Pomni says. “Yes.”

Jax lets out this sound of frustrated aggression. “Sure! Why not. You might as well have heard that.”

Jax looks rough. Pomni bites her lip. She really should leave well enough alone and just leave.

“Gooood!” Jax yells, dragging his hands down his face.

“Hey… that, um,” Pomni starts. Jax glares at her. “That seemed like, uh, a rough conversation.”

Jax scoffs. “Yeah, poor Ragatha, right?”

Pomni looks at him. Really looks. And then she asks, “Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?” Jax snaps.

Pomni frowns. “... no.”

“Welp, there you go.”

And now they’re at a standstill. Pomni hugs herself loosely, starting to feel the cold of the refrigerated room.

“Everyone’s fighting,” she says. “And it’s really weird.”

“Well, get used to it!” Jax tells her. “When you boil it down, this is the dynamic.”

What.

“The adventures can distract from that, make it bearable, but don’t let Ragatha fool you into thinking this is one big happy family,” Jax says bitterly.

Hearing that is oddly painful.

Jax starts pacing restlessly, then gives up and stares blankly at the ice cream supplies.

“Hey, Pomni.”

Pomni perks up, immediately on edge. “Mm?”

“If I did something and one of them said it was because I was a terrible person, would it even matter what I had to say about it?”

Ah. Now that’s a troubling thought. Pomni frowns deeply.

The honest answer is wow, yeah, maybe it wouldn’t matter. She probably would have taken whatever the others said at face value. She decides that’s kind of messed up.

“I’d listen.”

Jax looks over and stares at her for a long time. Then he looks away and scoffs.

“Do you mind if I just like. Stand in here for a while.” He says. “Alone.”

“Oh. Yeah. Right.”

This is one of the designated freak out areas, after all.

Pomni does a double finger guns at the door and awkwardly crabwalks sideways past Jax out of the walk-in.

“Here I go,” she says.

It’s as the door closing that she hears Jax say,

“Later, Pomni.”

Huh.

Pomni tries to put her focus back on work, but the conversation she overheard plays in her mind over and over.

It’s none of her business.

But, honestly, everyone’s business seems to be everyone’s business not just at Spudsy’s, but at the Circus.

This is not going to end well, is it?

—

The day passes in a blur.

The dinner rush ends late, it feels. Or maybe Pomni is just tired. She’s approaching the walk-in for not the first time that day and does so with some trepidation, thinking of her last interaction with Jax. There’s no way he’s still in here, but…

When she opens the door she does see a figure and it almost makes her scream.

It’s Gangle, crying in the walk-in again. Ah.

Pomni starts to shut the door, but Gangle notices her.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Gangle sniffles. “If you wanted to cry in here I’ll be done soon.”

“Oh, no, uh.” Pomni doesn’t even remember what she was supposed to get. “It’s… a stressful day, huh?”

”Tell me about it,” Gangle grumbles, wiping at her mask. Then she looks at Pomni with sad eyes. “I’m really sorry. I know this adventure sucks and it’s my fault.”

Pomni blinks, then shrugs. “Nah. It’s not your fault. I’m not mad at you about having to do this or anything.”

“R-really…?” Gangle sounds doubtful so Pomni smiles and gives her a little pat on the ribbons.

“Really,” Pomni promises. Then she motions towards the door with her head. “Come on, Gangle.”

“You’re so sweet, Pomni…”

Pomni isn’t sure if ‘sweet’ is the right word for her, but they leave together.

Just as they’re about to close the door, Ragatha rushes past them and pulls it shut. There’s the immediate sound of her tears.

“I have the feeling that walk-in is gonna get a lot of use,” Gangle mumbles.

Little does she know, it already has.

—

The rest of the shift passes without much incident, though Pomni does start to dissociate so hard she finds herself staring blankly at her time card and has no idea how long she’s been standing there. She clocks out, sighing in relief.

Pomni passes Ragatha looking glum at the cash register. “Hey um, I’m heading out now.”

Ragatha jumps a little at being addressed, slapping on a smile. “Oh, gotcha! Wish I could go with you and never come back! Haha…ha.”

Ragatha’s expression grows distant for a moment as her laugh peters out then she catches herself and perks back up. “Have a good night! I guess I’ll see you tomorrow one way or the other.”

Pomni can only pray it will be at the Circus and not here again.

She should really check on Ragatha. She knows she’s not okay.

“Are you…. Oka–”

“Yup!!” Ragatha yelps. “Yup, yup, yup!”

Alright, then.

Pomni nods. “Hope you have a good rest of the night. See you later.”

She waves tiredly at Ragatha, who waves back with a little relief in her expression. Maybe because things are so weird between her and the others right now. It must be an uncomfortable spot for Ragatha to be in.

Once Pomni steps outside she pauses, just breathing in air that doesn’t smell like grease or cleaner.

As she heads towards her car something strikes her as odd but it doesn’t hit her until she gets closer and realizes Jax’s car is still parked there even though he clocked out an hour ago.

Pomni looks around, then back to the restaurant like that’ll have some kind of answer for her. When it doesn’t produce any she turns back to his car, tentatively approaching it and peeking through the passenger seat window.

Jax is in the car, head resting on the steering wheel.

Her eyes dart around again then back to the sight, brow furrowing. Should she leave him alone? He probably wants to be left alone, right?

Pomni takes a step back then hesitates as she remembers the look of defeat on his face earlier.

Her mouth twists up awkwardly as she tries to decide how to proceed, finally tapping against the window like a kid at an aquarium.

Jax goes stiff, head turning sharply towards her with a glare. Pomni instantly regrets it but then his expression–not softens but eases up. He reaches over to hit a button and the window in front of her face rolls down.

“Can I help you?”

“I–” Pomni starts, reaching up to grab the end of her hat anxiously. “Arrre you- I mean I know you’re not okay but, uh, what are you still doing here?”

Jax stares at her like maybe he’s not going to deign that butchered question with a response, but he finally shrugs his shoulders. “Well, if I leave and we’re stuck doing this for who knows how long then it means I’ll be back here that much sooner. So I’m just sitting here. Having the tiiiiime of my life.”

He punctuates this thought by lifting his head then letting it fall back against the steering wheel.

“Ah.” Pomni genuinely doesn’t know what to do or say to him that might be helpful. He’s clearly taking this really hard and it seemed like a genuinely bad day for him.

“Do you uh,” Pomni starts slowly, then suddenly thinks back to yesterday when she’d found him smoking outside. “Do you have any more of Orbsman’s cigarettes?”

Jax looks at her for several seconds before grunting and sitting up. He pulls out a carton of cigarettes that looks brand new. Did he steal another one? She hopes that doesn’t get him into more hot water.

“Hop in.”

Pomni’s eyebrows raise at the invitation and maybe he takes it as hesitation because Jax assures, “No joyride this time, I promise, ‘cause there’s nowhere to even go.”

Something that has him actively scowling again.

After a moment of indecision Pomni gets into the car, watching as Jax silently lights up a cigarette and puffs on it a couple of times. Then he hands it over to Pomni and she accepts.

It burns her lungs and she doesn’t like the taste much but she can’t deny the little boost of endorphins once she’s taken some drags off it.

They sit together in silence, passing the cigarette back and forth until it’s burned down nearly to a nub.

The weather has started to cool and Pomni can’t help but think about how it’s not for any reason other than some piece of code that says it should.

Everything that happened that day swims around in Pomni’s head as she processes it and Jax thinks about who knows what.

“It’s not fair,” Pomni speaks out loud before she’s even realized it.

Jax seems startled out of his own thoughts, reaching over to pluck the nearly spent cigarette from her fingers. “That’s an understatement.”

Pomni is left a little flustered, not having meant to speak up. It would be easy to leave it at that, let Jax think that’s what she meant, but she finally shakes her head slightly. “I mean, about earlier. It’s unfair that you were punished with training.”

Maybe it was messed up to run over the NPCs with his car but it’s not like Jax had even done anything wrong by the Circus’ standards.

Jax’s eyes widen and he looks a little horrified, then upset. “You know about that, too?! How?”

“I didn’t mean to overhear!” Pomni protests, putting her hands up. “I just… happened to while grabbing some cleaning supplies.”

He doesn’t respond to that, looking haunted. Gangle had made it sound bad, too. She asks as gently as she can, “What um, what does training involve?”

Jax gives her a tired, strained look then puffs on the cigarette butt before agitatedly flicking it out the window.

“I don’t remember,” Jax mutters ominously, pulling out a fresh cigarette.

“You don’t…?” Pomni asks, a little confused.

“I don’t remember,” he reiterates firmly, lighting it. “But it’s not great.”

Jax takes a drag, sighing out heavily, and Pomni thinks maybe she shouldn’t have asked. Then Jax adds, unprompted, “Whatever. It’s stupid Gangle’s fault.”

Pomni’s brow furrows slightly. “It’s not Gangle’s fault we’re here. This is Caine’s fault, if you’re going to blame someone.”

“You sound just like Zooble,” Jax sneers.

“Welp,” Pomni says. “Zooble is right.”

Pomni can feel that curdle Jax’s mood, the atmosphere in the car becoming weird again.

“Gangle already feels bad, you don’t have to lay in on her,” Pomni insists, remembering how badly Gangle was doing by the end of their first Spudsy’s stint.

“Yeah, yeah. Gangle and Zooble and Ragatha can do no wrong,” Jax spits out.

“That’s not what I said!” Pomni pushes back against the unreasonable response.

Snippets of Jax’s fight with Ragatha come back to her and she leans towards him a little, trying to meet his gaze despite his clear reluctance.

“And for the record, I think it’s messed up how Ragatha was talking to you and what she said. Even if she was having a hard time or was on something, she shouldn’t be taking things out on you or the others.”

That just makes Jax tsk, slumping back in his seat. “I don’t really care. I mean, I’m horrible. Why wouldn’t she hate me? Why shouldn’t all of you hate me?”

Pomni looks at him for a long time before asking in a soft voice, “Is that what you want?”

Jax’s eyes roll to hers as he lifts the cigarette to his mouth, the lit tip reflecting in his eyes. Smoke billows out from the side of his mouth, towards his window, and Jax tells her, “Most of the time what you want doesn’t matter in the Circus.”

The words, particularly in conjecture with this current adventure, weigh heavily on Pomni. When Jax offers her the cigarette again she takes it, taking a couple puffs then just mouthing on it.

“Honestly,” Pomni finally says, “When I first came here, I wasn’t sure if you hate everybody.”

Jax snorts sharply. “Maybe I do.”

Pomni hands back the cigarette. “I don’t think that’s what it is, though.”

That has Jax giving her a moody look, eventually reaching up to take the cigarette back. “Then what do you think it is?”

Pomni considers it.

“I think…” She chews on her lip then looks up to meet his gaze. “You just seem worn down.”

Jax says nothing to that.

They finish the cigarette in silence, a nervous tension flitting through Pomni’s chest. Did saying that tick him off?

The cigarette finally burns to ash and Pomni opens the door with a little sigh.

“Well... I think I’m just gonna head out now, regardless of what happens.”

“Sure,” Jax says, flicking the cigarette out the window. “Later, Pom.”

“Yeah, la–”

Pom?

“Later,” she tries again.

Pomni looks back at Jax, but he isn’t looking at her. He’s just scowling straight ahead.

She thinks about it on the way back to her car. Jax uses little nicknames for everyone, but this is the first time he’s done it with Pomni.

It’s been a weird day for everyone, she thinks.

Maybe tomorrow they’ll be back at the Circus! Oops, sorry that took so long my crusty crustaceans! I’ve prepared a digital feast for your return!

Only she has this really horrible nagging feeling that that’s not what’s going to happen.

Pomni sighs and gets in her car.

And then she drives away.

Chapter Text

Day 3

Pomni stares straight ahead, hands still on her steering wheel from driving away from Spudsy’s. Only now it’s morning and she’s parked outside of the restaurant, staring blankly ahead.

There’s not even a variation in the weather to give Pomni a sense of a break. She wishes she could sleep in her bed.

Everyone is slowly getting out of their cars besides Gangle who just sits there, tears falling down her mask.

Ragatha looks upset and lingers by her car while Zooble sits on the hood of theirs. Jax slowly gets out of his car.

And then they all have a long moment of staring at Spudsy’s with collective hatred.

Nobody wants to [BEEP]ing be here.

Orbsman sticks his head out of the front door and calls to them,

Oh good you’re all here on time. Begin working immediately.

There's a pause of reluctance but what other choice do they have? Caine had made the rules clear.

Ragatha is the first to take a slow step, then another, meandering towards the front door.

Gangle has started to shake her head, still behind the wheel of her car. Zooble pushes off the hood, going to her window.

They start to say something but Pomni’s attention is stolen by Jax seething through his teeth, “You've gotta be kidding me. How long are we expected to do this [BEEP]?”

Pomni gives Jax an exhausted look, then glances away and starts walking towards Spudsy's. She wishes there was an answer.

Then she notes him moving, but not with the others. As she holds the door open for Zooble and Gangle she notes Jax slipping off behind the building.

What is he doing...?

Pomni follows against her best judgment, slipping away from the door once the others are through. She follows Jax's trail, seeing him slip around the side of the building and to the back of it.

Where is he going? He might get in trouble. A thought that leaves Pomni a little fretful.

She doesn't even know what she's hoping to achieve. She thinks about what he said about training.

I don't remember

Is that true or is it just that bad?

Pomni peeks around the side of the building nervously.

Jax is standing with his back to her, clutching his head. He's muttering something to himself over and over that Pomni is finally able to decipher,

"I can't do this.”

His breathing is growing shallow and quick like he's close to hyperventilating.

"No more!" Jax suddenly snaps, tone becoming pleading like he's appealing to the world or Caine or anyone who will listen. "No more of this I can't take it!"

He sinks into a crouch, face in his hands as he continues to mutter to himself.

Pomni feels herself start to take a step forward, then she hesitates.

They aren't close like that. Jax would probably be pissed she saw him in a bad position again.And frankly, Pomni feels bad she saw it at all.

She slinks back to the front, feeling guilty. Jax clearly isn't okay. People can't... abstract in a game, can they?

And why not? Pomni's heart feels heavy as she gets set up at the cash register.

Today is going to drag.

—

And drag it does.

And the worst part is that nobody is talking. They’re all just silently doing their jobs. Well, other than Pomni who has to talk to the customers.

Pomni has her head stuck in murky thoughts as she helps generic NPC after generic NPC. One of them glitches slightly as it leaves and she grimaces a bit, giving it a little wave.

"Thanks for eating at..."

The NPC glitches through the floor.

"... Spudsy's."

"Morning, sheila!"

Pomni's heart stops.

She slowly looks up into the face of none other than Gummigoo.

Ah

That's right. She'd gotten so used to the generic NPCs and been so preoccupied with the drama that she'd forgotten this could happen.

She's unprepared.

She considers what to say. How to say it. Then she says,

"Welcome to Spudsy's. What can I get for you?"

Gummigoo leans against the counter, telling her cheerfully,

"Eight Bacon Delights and a black coffee."

That's a lot of Bacon Delights.

“F-for here or….”

“To go, please.”

Pomni rings up his order, glancing at his face. She's not even sure what she's feeling. Her heart is racing. She bites her lip hard as she's hit with a wave of emotion.

Then she realizes Gummigoo is staring at her.

"What-- what is it?" Pomni asks nervously.

Then she realizes he's holding out money.

Oh.

She takes it and completes the transaction, handing him his receipt.

"I'll call your name when it's ready."

Gummigoo blinks. "But you don't know my name."

It's less painful than last time, but Pomni still feels a twist in her guts. She lets out an anxious laugh.

"I meant your number."

"Oh." Gummigoo tips his hat at her. "Thanks, miss."

And he walks off to go wait.

Pomni helps a few more NPCs, so aware of his presence. His order isn't even up yet when she feels her chest getting tight.

I should be over this

After all, didn't she already make peace with what happened? What can only be described as a loss?

It's not fair.

None of this is fair.

Pomni is suddenly overwhelmed. Gangle passes and she turns to her.

"Gangle, can you--"

Pomni stops mid word, mouth open. And then her eyes fill with tears.

Gangle gives her a sympathetic look and touches her shoulder. "Go take a break."

Pomni turns and flees, bumping into someone on her way to the back. She needs to escape.

Pomni considers where to go. Walk-in or the back. If someone walks in on her in the walk-in then she's trapped.

She changes her direction and heads for the back door, bursting through it and taking a deep breath, walking a few steps out.

And then tears spill over, blinding her as her breath hitches a couple times.

Pomni leans against the wall and slides down it, hugging her legs and burying her face in her knees as she starts to cry.

She should be over this.

She's not.

I didn't want to see him again.

The thought hurts and Pomni cries it out for not the first time since Gummigoo--

died

Pomni's not sure how long she's been at it when Jax's voice cuts through her sobs.

"Finally hit a breaking point?"

When she gives a startled glance up she sees Jax through her tears, standing over her with his hands on his hips.

Pomni quickly wipes at her tears like that'll make any difference. There's part of her that feels instinctively defensive. Ready for him to say something casually cruel.

Her mind prepares something callous in return.

what do you care?

But Pomni doesn't say it. Instead another sob comes out and she starts blubbering again.

"I--"

Her breath hitches sharply.

"I saw--"

it's none of his business

Pomni buries her face in her knees again and hugs her legs tight. Jax doesn't respond but she doesn't hear him walk away, either.

He finally sighs and when he speaks again she can tell by the proximity that he must have crouched down in front of her.

"What'd you see?"

Pomni doesn't look up. She can't calm her tears for a moment, but Jax doesn't seem to leave, so she finally manages,

"Do you-- remember that NPC I brought back?" She swallows back her tears. "Fr--from the candy kingdom adventure."

"... uh-huh."

She doesn't want to talk to anyone about this. It's so raw.

"I-- he showed up last time and I freaked out," she admits, feeling shame even though she's aware it's an understandable reaction. Maybe because she's telling Jax. "He showed up again. I thought I was okay, but..."

She shrugs and hugs her legs tighter.

"I didn't think I'd see him again."

There's a long silence. It's uncomfortable. Jax finally says,

"You know, Caine reuses NPCs all the time because he's lazy."

Pomni's chest constricts.

"Great," she mumbles. No, that tracks. She should have [BEEP]ing figured.

So how many times will she see him? Will she ever get used to it?

No

Pomni gives a fresh sob, fingers digging into her calves.

Jax hums thoughtfully, starting to dig through his apron. Pomni can’t help but glance up. He finally pulls out a carton of cigarettes and holds one up. "You want one?"

Pomni stares at the cigarette. Then she raises her hand hesitantly and takes it. She stares at it for a long moment, sniffling as tears continue to fall.

"Thanks..."

Then, a little less hesitant, "Can you light it for me?"

Jax digs around a little more and pulls out a lighter, flicking it a couple times then touching it to the end of the cigarette. Pomni breathes in as it's lit and Jax pulls his hand back.

"There you go. Go on, self medicate." Jax seems to consider the cigarettes but puts the box and lighter away.

Pomni can feel his eyes on her as she takes a couple puffs.

"Sooo, what, you got a crush on that NPC?"

Pomni chokes on the smoke and has a very unappealing coughing fit, barely turning her head in time. She pounds on her chest then wipes at her slowing tears.

"A crush?" She looks up at Jax who towers over her even crouching. "No, it wasn't like that."

Jax snorts at that. "What, are you embarrassed? You should be, you're as bad as Ragatha."

Jax suddenly plucks the cigarette from Pomni’s fingers, bringing it up to take a drag. "They're not real."

Pomni watches him mouth at the cigarette, heart a heavy stone in her chest.

"He was real," she insists.

"Nah," Jax dismisses, blowing out smoke. "They're just a bunch of code. No AI is that good, Caine barely constitutes as a person."

He adds in a grumble, "He's more like if a jack-in-the-box was a personality.”

That almost makes Pomni laugh a little. Almost. Instead, she takes the cigarette when offered and sucks down a little more smoke. She breathes it out with a little cough.

"Well, he was real to me."

Jax gives her a long, hard look.

"You're too soft, Pom," he concludes with the shake of his head.

Then he shrugs his shoulders. "If you see him again, dump the responsibility onto Gangle."

That's.....

...... honestly a really good idea.

Pomni takes another drag then hands the cigarette over to Jax, holding the smoke in her lungs for a moment hoping to get some [BEEP]ing dopamine. Then she coughs.

"Onto Gangle specifically, huh?" Pomni sniffles. She hands the cigarette back to Jax and their fingers brush. "That seems like a raw deal for Gangle."

"Who cares," Jax snorts, looking at her past the cigarette.

"I do," Pomni says simply. Then she sighs and rubs at her face. "I just... he was my first real friend here."

"Yeesh, that's depressing." Jax takes a long drag off the cigarette, coughing a little as he exhales.

"That sucks," Jax concludes. He takes another drag then hands the cigarette back to Pomni. "Maybe you'll get lucky and Caine will forget about him after a while."

That doesn’t feel good either.

Pomni stares at the ash on the dwindling cigarette. She flicks it, but some of the ash falls on her shoe.

This might as well happen.

Then a thought comes to Pomni and she peeks up at Jax, curiously.

He's being borderline nice to her.

Commiserating.

It's weird.

Pomni takes a little drag then hands the stub of the cigarette back. He finishes it off and throws it on the ground.

And then she just sits there and he crouches and they stare at each other, no longer having the cigarette to facilitate just how close they're sitting.

Pomni feels awkward.

"... thanks, Jax."

Pomni glances away. She's not sure exactly what she's thanking him for. Maybe the cigarette. Maybe listening.

"I hate it here!" The words burst from Pomni and she bows her head into her knees. "Uuuuuugh!"

"Now that's something I can relate to," Jax mutters.

Then she feels a pressure against her head and has the thought,

Jax is going to push me face first into the ground

Only he doesn't, just pats it awkwardly. "We're in Hell, Pom. I'm glad you at least get that much."

He sighs then gives her head a little shake. "Need another smoke or are you good?"

Pomni really doesn't want another one. She feels like it'll make her sick.

But she isn't quite ready to leave.

Since they came here he's been acting weirdly... nice? Is that the word she would use? Suspiciously nice.

She opens her mouth to call him out on it.

She doesn't.

"How are you holding up?" she asks instead.

His hand remains on her head for a moment longer then pulls away. "Me? Certainly not better than yesterday."

He sighs again and it's odd having him be honest, especially with her.

"If Caine doesn't pull us out of here soon I'm going to start setting everything on fire."

Jax says it so decisively it's a little funny. Pomni's mouth moves into a wavering smile then back to a frown.

"Hey, Jax....?"

Jax gives her a wary look. "What."

Pomni looks at him. Scrutinizes him.

"Why are you..."

They stare at each other. Jax's eyes narrow.

"You're just," Pomni gestures vaguely. "Being..."

"Being what."

Pomni doesn't even know what to say. "I dunno. We've been talking more and I keep waiting for you to strike."

"Because I'm such a bad, mean guy?" Jax asks with a glimmer of amusement. "Waiting for me to start bullying you just when you least expect it?"

He snorts softly, reaching over to ruffle the top of her head again. "Keep waiting, maybe I still will."

His hand pulls back. "Do you feel left out? Hmmm?"

Pomni stares at him.

She doesn't get him. And she's pretty sure that's by design.

"I don't feel left out, I just--"

The door opens and Orbsman sticks his head through, glaring at them.

What are you doing! It's almost lunch rush!

Pomni pushes herself onto her feet, not wanting to get in trouble. Orbsman doesn't let them off the hook, ushering them inside and micromanaging them.

Pomni glances back at Jax as they part ways.

Their eyes meet for a moment that seems to linger and then he looks away, going to take a place at the prep station as Pomni heads back towards the register.

There is indeed a lunch rush that includes the weird tutorial ghost in that awful adventure with the angel, which has Pomni stressing out they might see other ghosts from that adventure come through.

That combined with the rush is enough to ease Gummigoo from the forefront of her mind. And when she does finally have a moment to breathe she finds herself thinking,

I wonder how Jax is holding up?

—

Pomni is on lunch when Ragatha finds her in the break room. It’s small and cramped and doesn’t really have a door separating them so there’s almost no privacy. But when they lock eyes she knows she’s going to hear something personal.

“Hey, Pomni,” Ragatha greets, sounding strained.

Pomni gives her a little smile. “Hey… how are you holding up?”

“Oh, you know,” Ragatha says in the vague way that means bad. She collapses into one of the two available chairs, sighing as her head falls back. “Pomni, the last time we were here did I say anything… strange to you?”

Pomni thinks about things she’s overheard and internally winces.

”Umm, no. You didn’t say anything… strange.”

Ragatha’s head comes back up and she looks a little relieved at least. “Good, that’s-”

They fall into an awkward silence and Pomni can feel Ragatha battling with something.

Ragatha finally blurts out, “I’ve been having such a hard time after the whole stupid sauce incident. I really didn’t purposefully consume it!”

She looks at Pomni beseechingly, who puts up her hands. “I believe you.”

That makes Ragatha sigh in relief, though her expression is only growing more troubled. “It’s just… that adventure is really hazy in my mind.”

Her brow furrows. “Earlier I tried to help Gangle assemble some burgers for a large order and she got weird about it, then Zooble essentially told me to leave.”

“Ohh…”

Hoo boy.

“That’s— yeah. That’s rough.”

She’s being called upon to be a confidant which she doesn’t mind, but it has Pomni feeling uneasy.

“And Gangle won’t tell me what I said the first time so I can’t properly apologize for it,” Ragatha frets. “And Jax—“

She falls silent, mouth shutting so fast.

Pomni thinks about the situation from an outside perspective.

“Well,” she says. “Maybe in this case space is better than trying to make it ‘right.’”

The words make Ragatha actively sag but she tries to put a brave face on, offering a weak smile. “I suppose you’re right. Thanks Pomni.”

Ragatha’s smile grows strained and she reaches up to tug down on her visor. “Do you ever feel lonely?”

Pomni’s heart twists for Ragatha. For herself. For all of them.

Jax kneeling in front of her in the alleyway

staying like that for so long even though his legs must have been cramping

“… Yeah,” Pomni admits. “But being with you guys helps.”

Ragatha tips the visor up a little, expression a little emotional for a moment. “I’m so glad you feel that way.”

They share a smile then fall into their own respective thoughts.

Jax offering one of his stolen cigarettes to be…kind?

Ragatha suddenly stretches wide and gets onto her feet. “Well, I’d better get back out there. Thanks again for listening, Pomni. I really appreciate it.”

Pomni feels disheartened that listening is all she can do, but this problem is outside of her.

“Yeah, of course. Hang in there, Ragatha.”

“Haha… you too.”

And then Ragatha’s back is turned to her and she’s walking off, shoulders slouched. Pomni’s eyes dart down to the French fries she was trying to eat. Food sounds like a chore. She sighs and pushes it away.

If she can just get through the dinner rush then she can go sit in her car for a while and just…

Not be here.

—

Time is a cruel torture device in this place, Jax decides.

The clock slowly ticks forward but for what? To leave for five minutes and do it all over again?

These thoughts weigh down on him so heavily, putting Jax in a cold sweat as he numbly makes fake burger after fake burger to feed NPCs that don’t need to eat or even desire food in exchange for zilch. Nada. Nothing but their frayed sanity.

Jax is startled from his thoughts as he squeezes a ketchup bottle too hard, some of it pouring out over his hand. His expression scrunches up with disgust and he goes to wash his hands, muttering under his breath the whole time.

His eyes are dragged to the clock and not even an hour has passed. It makes Jax feel so restless he thinks he might do something reckless.

Jax is just standing in front of the sink, breathing hard.

I can’t do this

The phantom sound of ticking starts in his head.

I can’t do this I can’t do this I can’t do

A voice has Jax’s ears perking up before he’s fully pulled from the cold of his doom spiral.

“Evening, miss,” comes the unmistakable voice of the NPC Pomni was crushing on. "I'll take a number 76 and a large drink!"

"Oh, uh, haha--" Pomni's nervous laughter. The way her voice stutters when she says. "F-for here or..."

"To go, please. And I'll take some extra fries this time."

Jax leans over to glare from assembly, looking at Pomni standing on her little box. But he can't see her face.

"O-oh. This time," she frets. "Do you... remember me from earlier?"

And what is Pomni doing asking a question that she doesn't want the answer to either way?

The lizard chuckles. "Of course I remember you, miss."

The words are casual, not meant with any depth other than 'I saw you earlier.' But Pomni just isn't moving. Frozen to the point that the NPC starts to look confused, expression slipping into false concern.

"Uhh... you alright?" he asks Pomni.

Pomni says nothing, nor does she move.

Jax's eyes narrow.

"Hey Jax, are you just going to stand there-" Zooble starts to call over but Jax puts up an impatient hand.

"I'm taking over register. Deal with it."

He marches behind the counter, using his body to push Pomni out of the way. "Go take a break. I'll handle this."

His eyes bore into the gummy NPC before glancing down at Pomni. "Go on."

And look at her face. She looks like she's about to burst into tears again.

Pomni doesn't protest. She just turns and leaves, heading into the back no doubt to cry it out.

As she does her eyes flick to Jax's and he feels seen for a moment.
Then she's off.

Jax watches her walk around the corner then rounds on the NPC, who looks torn between confusion and concern. It is uncanny how convincing their feelings can seem.

“Everything alright?” The lizard asks.

That makes Jax’s eyes narrow again and he leans in. “What’s your order?”

It hesitates then straightens up a bit. “Right. A number 76 and a large drink, with extra fries.”

Jax punches buttons with too much force. So this is Pomni’s NPC crush, huh? It’s gotta be the accent.

“Listen, I don’t care what you can or can’t remember, don’t make a point to get too friendly with that little jester,” Jax says in a low voice.

The NPC looks at him with more surprise and now offense. “Excuse me? Are you threatening me?”

“I sure am,” Jax responds breezily.

“Are you allowed to do that?” The NPC asks, genuinely sounding baffled.

“What are you gonna do, call for my manager like a Karen?”

Its brow furrows and then the lizard slowly shakes its head. “I just want my burger, mate.”

Jax’s eyes remain narrow and then he gives a nod. “Fine. Go stand somewhere over there until it's done.

The–what, croc?–stares at him with mild concern but finally wanders off to wait.

That’s right, you walk away.

Jax glares for a moment until another customer marches up and starts making demands. He’s tempted to walk off and go find Pomni, but decides against it. He’ll see her soon enough.

Jax wonders if Pomni is crying again.

–

“Where’s Pomni?”

A voice breaks Jax’s concentration and he looks over from where he’s standing waiting in front of the punch out station. He’s been staring at the clock.

Zooble stands next to him, glaring exhaustedly. Jax doesn’t think he likes the tone of that look.

“What?” Jax says defensively. “How should I know?”

Zooble scoffs. “I’m getting worried about her. I saw her in the walk-in and I thought she was crying, but she was just—“

They seem to catch themself from saying anything too personal in front of Jax. What a hero.

“Forget it,” Zooble says. “I’ll—“

Just then there’s the slight jingling of bells as Pomni rounds the corner, making a beeline for the punch out station. She walks past both of them and punches out, not looking at either of them.

“See you tomorrow,” she says quietly, turning and leaving without another word.

“… [BEEP],” Zooble mutters.

Pomni is prone to freaking out but it’s unusual to see her in such low spirits.

Jax punches out and starts walking after her but is caught by Zooble’s grip. He turns a sharp look on them. “Can I help you?”

“Don’t harass Pomni when she’s in a bad place,” They warn.

Jax scoffs, easily breaking from their grip and slipping away. “Wow, how did you know exactly what I was going to do?”

“Jax, seriously!” Zooble calls after him, but Jax ignores them.

He hurries after Pomni, catching up to her in the parking lot. “Hey. How’s it going?”

Pomni looks up at him with wide, surprised eyes. Her steps slow until they’re just standing there, looking at each other.

She opens her mouth. Then closes it.

“I don’t know if I can handle this,” she says in a small voice.

The sentiment is so relatable it almost stings hearing it from someone else.

“Yeah. I know what you mean.” Jax stares down at her for a moment. “It’s gotta end sometime. Theoretically.”

Pomni bursts into sudden laughter.

”Sometime?” She sounds hysterical. “Sometime isn’t good enough! You know, I might have been able to handle it! Maybe!”

Jax sees tears well up in her eyes despite her shaky, somewhat crazed smile.

“But then he had to show up again! And, haha!! He’s probably going to show up tomorrow too!” Pomni cries out. “And the day after! And the day after!!”

She buries her face in her hands, clutching at her little strands of hair.

Jax looks at her, at a loss of what to say. It’s not like he has the words to comfort himself from similar thoughts. “Most likely, yeah.”

He reaches out slowly, placing a hand on top of her head and ruffling a little. “So don’t work the register.”

Pomni slowly looks up at Jax, a couple tears slipping here and there.

”… do you think Orbsman would let me stay off it completely?”

“Maybe not completely,” Jax shrugs. He should take his hand away. “But it’s worth a shot. He likes you.”

Pomni hesitates. Then she nods slowly.

“… I’ll ask tomorrow.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“Jax?” She peers up at him with eyes like searching spotlights.

“Uh-huh.”

“Why are you touching my head?”

Jax looks down at the hand that is indeed still on top of Pomni’s hat. He lets it fall.

“No, I’m not.”

Pomni looks so tired. Too tired to push him on anything. She gives a little nod.

“Well… I’m gonna go sit in my car for a while. And then do it all again.” She raises a hand in farewell. “See ya.”

“Yeah, see ya,” Jax echoes, raising a hand briefly and letting it fall as she goes to her car.

He heads to his own across the parking lot and gets inside, gripping the wheel.

Jax just sits like that for a long time, in and out of thoughts he doesn’t remember nor does he want to. From time to time he glances back in his rearview mirror to look back at Pomni’s car.

He can barely make her out but sometimes he thinks based on the vague movements of her body she’s crying.

This place really is Hell

Everyone sticks around in their cars. An hour, two hours, three. Who knows, Jax doesn’t have his car on to see the time. But all that solitary introspection must not be good for them because the others gradually leave, one by one, until his and Pomni’s cars are the only two left in the lot.

Jax has the thought that maybe he should go knock on Pomni’s window, try to talk to her again, but she definitely doesn’t want his company right now.

It feels so lonely it makes his chest ache and Jax turns on his car, backing up and pulling out from Spudsy’s. He watches Pomni’s car grow smaller and smaller in his rearview mirror until it disappears from sight.

Chapter Text

Day 4

Jax slams his car door as he steps out of it, glaring hatefully at Spudsy’s like it’s personally responsible for holding them all here. A welling of anger rises up in his chest but fizzles out into despair at the very real fact there’s nothing he can do about it.

Can’t run away, can’t make it entertaining, can’t keep his [BEEP]ing sanity.

The others are starting to get out of their cars as well, clearly in a similar mindstate.

Jax’s eyes find Pomni, who stares up at the restaurant with her sad, haunted eyes. She looks unwell.

There’s not even small talk or grumbling amongst them, the lot of them standing around in a stupor until that [BEEP] Orbsman sticks his head out and calls for them to come inside.

It takes some effort but Jax finally forces himself forward, starting towards the restaurant.

It has to end sometime.

Does it? Does it, though?

Jax pushes that thought as far away as he can, concentrating instead on Pomni’s half-hearted shuffle as she walks. It makes him frown a little. As Jax passes her he reaches out, batting at one of Pomni’s bells and making it jingle.

Pomni looks up at him with surprised eyes and Jax’s chest feels weird.

Her brow furrows in the smallest scowl and it’s so—

Hurry up!! Orbsman calls. Capitalism never sleeps!

Pomni glances away and quickens her pace obediently.

Jax tsks to himself but continues to trudge forward into the restaurant. He stands with his arms crossed, barely not dissociating as Orbsman gives them a deranged pep-talk.

Your lives for the customers! Orbsman ends on like it’s a rallying cheer.

Everyone just stares at him with hollow eyes.

And then they get to work.

Pomni slinks off after Orbsman and Jax wonders if she’s going to ask about being on register. He looks over at Gangle who’s walking to assembly and sticks out his foot, tripping her. She falls to the ground with a cry.

“Why did you do that?” Gangle sounds more exhausted than upset which is a shame because Jax would love to take out some aggression on her.

“You do register. I’m on assembly.”

“But—“

“Do you want me to give you Hell?” Jax snaps. Then he doesn’t like that he lost composure.

This place is getting to him.

Gangle resigns herself and trudges back towards the front. Good. Jax moves to assembly and starts getting things set up.

It feels like it takes forever and he thinks he might actually abstract before he finishes. As he’s nearing the end he notices Pomni coming out of the office, walking over to the grill and starting her prep. Orbsman must have said yes.

She looks so glum.

His eyes linger for a moment but their first order of the morning comes in and he turns his frayed concentration to finishing up. This sucks.

There’s a rush as breakfast orders flood in and for a while there’s at least something to focus on. At least until he notices there are no more breakfast burgers. His brow furrows and Jax’s attention moves over to the grill to see what the holdup is.

Pomni is just standing in front of the stove, back turned to Jax as she presumably spaces out because the burgers are clearly burning and she's just. Standing there.

Well that’s not good.

Jax walks up behind her, waiting several seconds just to see if she’ll react, watching the burgers char to a crisp.

“Hey Pomni,” he speaks abruptly and Pomni jumps with a gasp of surprise, wheeling around with her spatula held up like a weapon. Jax scowls. “You’re burning all the food.”

“Huh??” Pomni looks down at the stove. “Oh— oh no!!”

Pomni starts desperately scraping the burgers off the grill. She tosses them with a sad look.

“What a waste,” she says as if chastising herself.

Jax’s jaw drops.

“Uhh, what? You realize this food isn’t real, right?”

Pomni stares at the empty grill.

”…. Oh.” she says. “Oh yeah.”

Did he make it worse? Pomni is rough.

Jax frowns down at the whole situation, brow furrowing. “You’re doing it wrong.”

Pomni’s little mouth pulls down. “… Sorry.”

She starts putting more burgers on the grill. She looks so depressed it’s making Jax depressed.

Time to walk away.

“You know,” he says. “It’s kind of messed up that these aren’t even sausage patties.”

He walks to the grill and leans over it. “Yeah, these are burgers.”

“Don’t lean over the grill,” Pomni scolds. “You’ll get splattered with grease.”

Says Pomni, who is having the worst time of her life. Says Pomni, who Jax once grabbed by the throat and threw out of a moving truck.

Says Pomni, who’s glaring up at him like she’s appalled. Indignant at his behavior.

“Move back, or I’ll whack you with the spatula.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were so territorial, Pom,” Jax says, putting his hands up like she’s a madman.

“Listen, let me show you how to do it,” he insists.

Pomni considers him. Jax can almost see the part of her that’s fighting to be in a better mood. To meet Jax’s energy.

Tha-thump

“I know how to do it,” Pomni says decisively, raising the spatula a little as a threat.

“No, you don’t,” Jax states. He plucks the spatula out of her hand and hip checks her over so she almost brains herself on the counter.

“So what you do is you take the burger and you put it on the grill,” Jax mansplains, ignoring her attempts to get the spatula back. “Then you wait for like, I dunno, I just wait for them to turn brown and we haven’t had any complaints.”

“That’s gross,” Pomni insists.

“Whaaat. How is that worse than what you were doing?” Jax pokes at the burgers with the spatula. “Watch out, you’re gonna get greased.”

He flips a burger aggressively before it’s even ready, splashing grease. Pomni jumps back reflexively to avoid it.

”Why did you flip it, that’s not even close to cooked,” she protests.

“To [BEEP] with you,” Jax answers honestly.

“But why?” Pomni gives him an exasperated look. “I thought we were on better terms.”

Jax puts a hand to his chest. “I thought so too. What, I’m not allowed to pal around?”

“Is that what you call it?” Pomni asks flatly and Jax is surprised to hear himself laugh.

“Look. I’ll be serious.”

Jax turns back to the grill, pressing on one of the patties arbitrarily with the spatula before going to flip it with a flick of the wrist that has it spinning multiple times in the air before splatting back down with another splash of grease.

“Jax, that’s so gross!” Pomni insists, fretting.

“Yeah, but wasn’t it cool that I was able to flip it that many times?” Jax grins down at her. She looks so steamed. “Bet you couldn’t do that if you tried.”

“You’re right,” she agrees. “I really, really couldn’t and I’m not going to try. I know how to flip a burger, Jax.”

”Do you though?”

“Yes.” Pomni’s eyes narrow at him.

“Then show me.”

Jax hands her the spatula. She reaches out for it and he suddenly pulls it back, dangling it out of reach. Pomni’s eyes narrow again and she starts to turn to presumably walk away from the situation.

“Wait, Pomni,” Jax says. She glares back at him. He presents the spatula with two hands. “I’m so sorry.”

Pomni opens her mouth to say something. Then closes it and gives a groan of frustration. She grabs the spatula and returns to the grill.

“Here, see?” She prepares to demonstrate.

Jax wishes he could think of a way to [BEEP] with her while she does this, but right now his attention is more on a little strand of hair that’s half tucked under her hat, curling slightly along the side of her face.

Pomni flips the burger.

Straight from the grill onto the floor.

They both stare at it.

Jax points at it and loudly laughs, “Ha!”

He crosses his arms smugly. “I was right and you should say it. Come on, tell me I was right, Pom.”

“No!” Pomni argues arbitrarily. Her face has gone red. She flips another burger and it lands sloppily. Then another.

“Go away! I’ve got it!”

“I’ve got to supervise to make sure. I have seniority.”

“No you don’t, we’ve been here the exact same amount of time,” Pomni says with a scowl, trying to focus on the patties.

“It’s because I’m taller,” Jax says with a grin.

Pomni gapes.

“That— you—“

Oh he’s got her now. She’s so easy to mess with and that’s truly her greatest weakness.

“Jax, stop messing with me!”

“Then stop being so easy to mess with-”

“Jax, what is the hold up?” Ragatha’s voice cuts in, her head popping into view. Her mouth is already pulled into a judgemental frown, definitely blaming him for the slow-down.

Jax’s expression falls into annoyance. “Ughh, will you give me a second?”

Ragatha looks between the two of them like she’s trying to glean something. And then her face darkens as well.

“The customers have been waiting on their orders for, like, twenty minutes.”

“Oh boohoo,” Jax rolls his eyes. “Who cares.”

“Maybe if you spent less time harassing Pomni—“

Ragatha cuts herself off and huffs. “You know what? Fine.”

And she walks off.

The smell of burning meat draws Jax’s attention down and he sees the burgers are all on fire.

“Uhh, Pomni.”

Pomni looks at the grill then gasps, starting to swat at the burning burgers with the spatula to put the flames out. Jax watches as she tosses the wasted patties one by one. The atmosphere is silent and awkward.

Then there’s what can only be described as the sound of bouncing growing louder and louder. Closer.

Oh god

Orbsman rounds the corner and glares down at them.

Did Ragatha go tell him?!

Orbsman gestures at the assembly station.

Why haven’t the customers orders been assembled!

Jax’s eyes narrow. He looks down at Pomni who is clutching the spatula nervously.

Then Orbsman looks down at all the wasted patties.

Pomni!! Did you know that every time a burger is wasted, the company loses 3 cents?!

Pomni just cowers as Orbsman leans in and reiterates,

3 cents!!

“I— uhh,” Pomni stutters. “I’m so—“

I’m terribly sorry, Pomni, but I’m going to send you to training now

Jax is instantly queasy from the mention of it and his eyes dart to Pomni who also looks like she’s going to be sick.

“U-um,” she makes a crappy attempt at sounding calm. “Please don’t do that.”

Pomni, the handbook says there’s only one way you’ll learn

Jax’s stomach drops.

And he makes a decision.

Jax reaches over and plucks up the spatula from Pomni’s hand. He scoops up a fresh, uncooked burger with it.

And then he throws the thing at Orbsman. It smacks right onto his face.

The burger slooooooowly slides down the orb that stands for his sad excuse of a head.

“[BEEP] you,” Jax tells him. He flips him off for good measure because why the [BEEP] not. “We hate it here.”

Orbsman has gone very still.

But suddenly he isn’t still. He’s vibrating with rage.

training time

The words resound in Jax’s head as he feels himself being grabbed, pulled back into darkness. Pomni screams beside him.

They appear in a familiar dark room and Jax’s heart goes into overdrive. It’s not going to be the crap Gangle forced him to watch. This [BEEP] sucked worse than the last time.

Jax looks over at Pomni, who is visibly shaking.

“You alri—“

Hands burst out of the walls and grab them, chairs appearing out of nowhere. They’re manhandled into them and Pomni starts screaming.

“Wh-what is this! What’s happening!!”

Pomni’s panicked state helps Jax keep his cool, though his insides feel like jelly. He swallows thickly then advises her, “Just watch and it will end.”

Pomni gives a whimper of fear and starts struggling in her chair. The hands hold her down harder.

“It’s easier if you relax,” Jax tells her, voice calm and almost annoyed even though his heart is frantic.

“What do you mean?!” Pomni cries.

And then the TV turns on. Orbsman shows up on screen in front of Spudsy’s.

Welcome to training, valued crew member!

As it turns out, you’ve proven yourself to be what we in the industry like to call a ‘faulty asset.’ That means that while you are an important cog in this machine, you’ve done something to prove yourself unreliable.

Does that make you feel bad?

Jesus. Jax glances over at Pomni whose mouth is screwed shut with the effort of not crying.

Don’t worry. We can set everything right.

A circle appears on the screen in the shape of Orbsman’s face. As it fades slightly, a spiral appears over it. Watching it is hypnotic and even when Pomni gives a sob Jax can’t look away.

The brainwashing begins.

At first it’s not as bad as Gangle’s. The visuals are almost calming. But then they speed up and Orbsman’s voice comes out of the TV. It feels like his voice is being beamed directly into Jax’s head.

Our mission is to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone.

We serve delicious food people feel good about eating, with convenient locations and hours and affordable prices, and by working hard to offer the speed, choice and personalization our customers expect.

At our best, we don’t just serve food, we serve moments of feel-good, all with the lighthearted, unpretentious, welcoming, dependable personality consumers know and love

Jax realizes his head is aching. How long has this gone on for? A minute? Hours?

“Jax…”

It’s Pomni’s voice.

Jax breaks away from his stupor as best he can to look over at her.

Pomni is still weakly struggling against the hands. God, she’s just making it worse. Jax grits his teeth.

“Pomni, stop. Just relax.”

Pomni struggles harder and her little expression breaks, tears welling up in her eyes. Damn, she’s taking this worse than he did.

The hands yank her back into place and Jax’s throat goes tight as she whimpers.

Jax reaches his hand out as far as he can, reaching for hers until he finds it. His fingers close around Pomni’s, squeezing tightly.

Pomni’s fingers flinch in his. He thinks she’s going to pull them away.

But then she looks at him and their eyes meet and something changes.

Pomni’s fingers curl around Jax’s and she squeezes back just as tightly, little tears falling down her face as she meets his gaze.

Jax can’t muster anything so comforting as a smile but sharing in the fear and misery of it feels more honest.

Then a hand comes down onto the top of Pomni’s head as he feels a pressure against the top of his own, their faces forcefully turned forwards to look back at the screen.

“It’ll be okay, Pom,” Jax murmurs, hand squeezing tightly again.

Pomni says nothing, but Orbsman does.

He talks to them for a long time. At a point it almost feels like blacking out. But something keeps Jax present.

Pomni never lets go of his hand.

—

When Jax comes to, he realizes they’ve been out of training for a while.

They’re sitting at the break table. Jax doesn’t know if they were put there or if they wandered there on their own. But Pomni is sitting there with a blank expression, staring off into the middle distance.

Jax finds it hard to move his limbs. But he finally manages to reach his hand up and lightly slap at her face with the backs of his fingers.

“Hey,” he says, his own voice sounding far away. “You in there?”

Pomni doesn’t look at him. But he sees her swallow. “… yeah.”

“The feeling starts to wear off,” Jax assures her, though there’s not much other comfort he can give. Training occasionally haunts his thoughts.

Pomni doesn’t say anything to that and for a moment they sit in silence. Then Jax rubs his face briskly, forcing himself onto his feet. He knocks gently at the top of her head then rests his hand there. “Everything still intact?”

Pomni looks up at him.

A complex array of emotions moves across her face ranging from fear to relief to frustration to just being upset. Her lower lip wobbles.

“That was…”

Jax realizes she’s trembling slightly.

“That was really scary,” she whispers.

His eyes move away for a moment as he’s lost in the memory of it. At this point it’s his third time and it all gets mixed up like vague static in his head. Jax shudders and snaps himself out of it. “Yeah, it’s messed up.”

Pomni’s lip wobbles again and she glances over his face. “… you okay?”

His eyebrows raise and he scoffs, quickly trying to wipe his expression clear. “Me? I’m-”

fine

Jax stops short, not able to get the word out. His expression falls again and he says, “Not great.”

Pomni nods, looking numb. Then her eyes fall to the floor.

There’s this long horrible moment where Jax watches tears fill and spill over Pomni’s eyes.

She puts her face in her hands and begins to softly weep.

Oh god

Jax stares at her, not sure what to do. She’s just so upset.

His expression furrows and then he hesitantly steps forward, putting his arms around Pomni and hugging her close. It makes Jax tense even though he’s the one that initiated, grip loose enough Pomni can pull away from him if she wants.

“Go on, cry it out. Everyone else is.”

Pomni’s breath hitches over and over. Her head bows into Jax and she begins to cry in earnest, sobbing against his stomach. She’s so short and little and [BEEP]ing fragile.

Jax has the distant thought that although the others are closer to her, he’s the one who she’s crying into. It’s a selfish thought, one that he relishes.

And then he lets it go in favor of feeling miserable.

“Why did you—“ Pomni’s breath catches again. “Why did you do that?”

“Hm?” Jax stares blankly at the wall.

“The thing with the— the burger, you—“ She sniffles sharply. “You got in trouble.”

“Yeah, well.” Jax tries to think of an excuse to give. “Orbsman had it coming. Guess you’re lucky you didn’t have to go through it alone.”

Pomni gives him this watery, distressed look. “I don’t get it.”

“What’s there to get?” Jax counters defensively.

Pomni pulls back from the hug and just looks at him, reaching up and fussing with her shirt. Jax wonders if it’s a habit - he sometimes sees her playing with her pompoms.

Just something he’s noticed.

“I dunno,” Pomni says at length. “I just don't understand.”

“It was an act of defiance,” Jax tells her. “You just don’t understand because you’re not a patriot like me.”

“What?”

“Exactly,” Jax throws smoke bombs left and right for some classic misdirection. “I was fired up at the injustice of the system and had to rebel. You don’t like rebelling, do you Pomni?”

“What are you… talking about?” Pomni wipes at her face, looking confused.

“I’m talking about standing up for your country.”

“What are you talking about?” she reiterates, sounding alarmed.

Jax smirks and sits down on the table. “Dunno. Do you feel any better?”

“I—“

Pomni pauses and he watches patiently as she thinks about it. She clears her throat, wiping at the corner of her eye, then nods.

“… yeah.”

“Well there you go, that’s the only thing you need to understand.” Jax leans back against the table.

Pomni opens her mouth to no doubt interrogate him some more when Orbsman’s voice calls out from somewhere beyond the door, making them both tense,

Jax, you’re needed at the prep station!

Jax’s head falls back and he groans with his whole chest. His brain still feels like a sludge but he slowly forces himself back onto his feet. “Alright, I’m out. See you later-”

alligator

His brow furrows but he quickly shakes it off with a vague wave of farewell.

Pomni raises her hand in response, still looking worse for wear. Jax’s eyes linger on her and then he turns away, steeling himself as he heads back out to the restaurant.

This time he doesn’t look at the clock.

He doesn’t think he can stand to.

—

Pomni walks towards the back door with trash in her hand. Ragatha and Gangle are closing tonight, thank god it’s not her. She plans on sitting in her car for a long time.

She pushes the back door open and steps out into the simulated night, heading to the dumpster and throwing the trash in. She kind of has to wind up her arm to do it because she’s so [BEEP] short.

She’s heading back when she notices someone sitting off to the side in the semi dark.

Pomni yelps which causes the other person to yelp. Is it an NPC? Is it a murderer??

Pomni’s eyes adjust a bit more and she realizes it’s Ragatha. She must be having a hard time out here.

“Oh hey, Pomni…”

Ragatha marching off

Orbsman telling her she needed training

Pomni’s hands suddenly feel shaky. She takes a few steps towards Ragatha.

“You, uh…”

There’s something in Ragatha’s hand. A bottle?

Pomni blinks hard.

“Are you… drinking the stupid sauce?”

“Whaaa?” Ragatha asks as she clumsily tries to hide it behind her back, but it’s more than obvious she’s under its influence. “Nooo, I would never- Nooo.”

Then Ragatha’s shoulders hitch and she puts a hand over her mouth as she tries to fight back her giggles.

Pomni can’t quite believe it. She just stares at Ragatha for a long, long time.

Then she asks her, “Why are you drinking it?”

Ragatha immediately stops giggling, staring at Pomni with a gaping mouth that soon turns to a frown. She rolls her eyes.

“Well sorry. It’s been a hard time with the others acting all weird around me like Gangle wasn’t being all power trippy. And Jax making life harder for no reason, stressing everyone out. He’s so selfish.”

Pomni breathes in so sharply it comes as a gasp. Ragatha isn’t looking at her, scowling down into the ground.

“You shouldn’t encourage him,” Ragatha adds.

“Earlier?” Pomni says sharply, chest too tight. “When me and him were at the grill and you came to ask him about the burgers?”

Ragatha rolls her head towards Pomni. “Huh?”

Pomni feels a spark of real anger. “Do you remember that?”

Ragatha looks up at her hazily. Then away again. “… Yeah.”

Pomni feels so upset. She feels it in her chest and her skin and her muscles and in her eyes which are sore from crying.

“He was trying to cheer me up,” Pomni says. She swallows back tears shakily and tells Ragatha,

“He was making me feel better.”

Ragatha looks up at her slowly, eyes widening as the words hit her one by one. Pomni can see it in the way her expression changes from shock to anger to realization to grief.

She looks crushed.

Pomni takes in another sharp breath. “And another thing.”

Ragatha looks like she’s trying to brace herself, like she’s screaming in her own head.

“Did you go to Orbsman to get Jax in trouble?”

Ragatha’s expression twists, upset and frustrated. “It doesn’t matter.”

Pomni’s eyes widen. And then her eyes which she had thought were out of tears are suddenly full of them. She bites her lip hard. Then, she says in the most neutral voice she can manage,

“I got in trouble too. We had to go to training, we both did.”

“Training…?” Pomni can see the words haven’t completely reached Ragatha.

“Yeah,” Pomni says tightly, willing her tears not to fall. “It was really— awful, Ragatha.”

The vague look in Ragatha’s eyes flickers to regret as she winces. “I didn’t know that would happen.”

Her tone is defensive as she stares hard at the ground. “That’s-”

Ragatha’s expression screws up again and she slurs out, “I didn’t want you-”

to get punished

“Well, I did.” Pomni’s mouth pulls down and she’s sure if she stays a moment longer her tears will fall. “Just so you know.”

Pomni turns and pulls the back door open, heading back in and into the greasy yet oddly sterile environment. She hates the smell of the fryer.

Pomni looks at the clock.

Half an hour. She just has to hold out for half an hour.

Pomni devotes herself to her tasks, focusing on them single-mindedly. Time passes slower and faster than she expects it to and she keeps herself numb with her work with the solace of knowing she’s going to go back to her car and she can break down there.

Because she is going to break down again.

She hates it here. It’s Caine’s fault, but she can’t even direct her anger towards him. He doesn’t get it.

And she doesn’t want to feel angry towards any of the others. Not Ragatha, not Jax. Nobody.

She realizes she’s punching out just as she finishes doing it. Pomni forgoes any farewells, opting to power walk out of the building. As she emerges from the second door she realizes someone is walking ahead of her towards the darkened parking lot.

Jax.

He looks over his shoulder back at the door. Then he stops walking.

Pomni almost freezes in her stride, but she forces herself forward. As she passes Jax he grabs her arm.

“Woah, why the rush?”

Pomni jerks her arm harder than Jax expects because she’s able to pull it free.

The look in Jax’s eyes rings of hurt.

“Sorry—“ she fumbles, feeling her tears start to well up again. “I’ve gotta— go.”

She walks away from him, not looking back.

She doesn’t look back when she gets in her car. She doesn’t look back when she turns it on and drives it around to the back of Spudsy’s. She reparks sloppily.

It’s then that Pomni breaks down.

It isn’t pretty and she feels so hollowed out. Exhausted. Depleted. At the end of her [BEEP]ing rope.

Jax teasing her at the grill. Criticizing her. Flipping burgers like a jack[BEEP]

The look on Jax’s face when he’d thrown the nasty meat at Orbsman

Jax taking her hand during training

Pomni sobs harder, clutching at her steering wheel and shaking her head. She lifts it and hits her head down on it. The car gives a weak honk.

For a second she almost feels better.

Chapter Text

Day 5

Spudsy’s stands like an iron citadel in the middle of suburbia. It looms over Pomni as she exits her car, heart heavy, and casts a shadow over her once she gets too close. Nobody really talks to each other.

Jax doesn’t even look at her.

She’s not surprised, but dealing with that will have to wait for later. She’d driven away from the back lot sooner than she’d meant to. Her thoughts had gotten too loud and she couldn’t think.

Pomni finds herself staring at Jax’s back as he readies the grill, setting herself up at assembly. It’s still at the time of morning where there’s no point in looking at the clock so she doesn’t.

Honestly, she doesn’t even look at the clock before taking her first break. Time is an illusion, anyway.

She goes to the break room and collapses in a chair just as Gangle walks through the door. And then Gangle does the same, slumping down into the chair opposite her.

“Oh goooood,” Gangle groans. “It’s like being stuck in a nightmare.”

“Haha.. yeah. No kidding.” Pomni sighs. “Put me on that grill.”

They share a defeated laugh and then fall into a deafening silence. Pomni’s ears ring.

Yesterday plays over in her head, the same, tired scenes unfolding so that the worst parts are the loudest and repeat multiple times.

Pomni glances at Gangle to distract herself. Gangle looks to be deep within the spider dimension.

Do I want to get involved in this?

But yesterday with Ragatha had taught her she already is.

Pomni thinks about how she wants to word it. How delicate she should be. She decides on gently direct.

“How have things been between you and Ragatha?”

“Oh! Uh,” Gangle’s mouth hangs open like she’s torn on how to respond before turning down in a frown. “Honestly? Not good. Definitely awkward.”

Gangle taps the end of a ribbon to her mouth. “It’s not like I expect an apology because I know I went a little off the rails, too, but I just don’t know what to say.”

“Eugh.” Pomni can’t help the sound. It just sounds so uncomfortable. “Yeah… I don’t think anyone knows what to say.”

Gangle grunts. “Other than Zooble and Jax, yeah.”

“Yeah,” Pomni concedes. “I guess you’re right.”

They’re both very opinionated and vocal. It’s a trait Pomni realizes she likes. It helps her know where she stands with them.

Actually, only the way Zooble does it.

“Pomni, you okay?”

Pomni blips back to reality and looks over at Gangle. “Huh?? Yeah.”

Gangle rubs at the eyes on her mask. “Ugh, and Zooble.”

Pomni is stricken. “Things aren’t bad with Zooble too, are they??”

”No! No, no, no,” Gangle is quick to assure her. “Everything’s fine! I just…”

She stumbles over her words then finally sighs.

“I feel like Zooble’s on my side,” Gangle says. “And that makes me feel bad because I want us all to get along, I don’t want people to be on sides.”

Ah. That’s really sad.

Pomni echoes Gangle’s sentiment. Nobody has said it, but if this goes on for too long, they’re going to all risk abstracting. Even Zooble can’t be holding it together well.

Do any of them really have the strength to pull it together here?

Pomni opens her mouth to say exactly that, but instead she offers them both some words of comfort.

“Ragatha will figure it out.”

Gangle looks over to Pomni in surprise.

Slowly, a little smile curves the corners of her mouth.

“Thanks, Pomni.”

The words are so heartfelt, Pomni feels suddenly awkward. She stiffens up a little and clears her throat.

“Yeah, no— problem.”

They spend the rest of their break in silence.

Pomni hopes she’s right about Ragatha.

—

“I’m [BEEP]ing done.”

Pomni looks up from assembly to see Jax throwing the spatula down. He turns and leaves the grill, but is confronted by Orbsman who’s passing. Orbsman says something angrily that Pomni can’t quite decipher.

“I’m taking my designated break,” Jax snaps, walking past Orbsman and leaving him to deal with replacing the fry cook.

Ragatha starts to pass Gangle on her way to the register and Pomni grabs her elbow. Ragatha looks at her, extremely startled, and before she can speak or have an emotional reaction, Pomni says,

”Can you take over for me?”

Pomni doesn’t wait for a response before making a beeline after Jax who’s stalking off towards the back exit.

She watches him go through then walks up to the door, puts her hand on it.

She suddenly feels extremely nervous.

But she pushes the door open and exits anyway.

Going from the stale air in Spudsy’s to the stale air outside isn’t much of a pick-me-up, but it’s fresher than the confines of capitalism, so she’ll take it.

Pomni looks around to see Jax leaning against the back wall, arms crossed, flicking a lighter over and over. He’s got a cigarette hanging out of his scowling mouth, but he’s not smoking it. His brow is furrowed.

Pomni puts herself into crisis mode and approaches him.

“Hey,” she says.

Jax’s eyes shift to look at her, brow remaining furrowed. “‘Hey’ is for horses, Pomni.”

Pomni’s mouth tugs down a little and she walks over to Jax, looking up at him.

“About last night,” she says.

Jax’s teeth grind around the cigarette, not saying a word as he scowls down at her.

“I’m sorry,” Pomni says honestly. “I had just finished fighting with someone and I was on edge. It had nothing to do with you.”

The cigarette grinds one way then the other as Jax seems to consider her. He finally flicks the lighter again, bringing it to the tip of the cigarette.

“So?” Jax asks before taking a drag off the cigarette and blowing it out the side of his mouth. “Who was it?”

Pomni’s frown deepens. She feels queasy when she says, “Ragatha.”

Jax’s eyebrows raise and then he starts to snicker, taking another puff off the cigarette. “Oh, did she slip up? Did she forget to be nice for a second?”

“It’s not funny,” Pomni says. “It really, really upset me.”

And it still is upsetting her. She realizes she’s staring longingly at the cigarette and knows it’s just because she doesn’t have her pompoms to fuss with. Pomni focuses back on Jax’s face.

“Things are getting worse,” Pomni says.

Jax grunts. “That’s a no-brainer.”

He considers her a moment longer as he takes another drag off the cigarette, blowing it out slowly.

“What did you fight about?”

Pomni considers not telling him.

“You,” she says at length.

“Oooh, ladies, please. I’m not a piece of meat,” Jax says with a smirk.

Pomni’s eyes narrow with disapproval. “Yeah, sure. And Ragatha won. So look forward to that.”

Jax’s expression wrinkles up. “Way to ruin the fun. You should have fought harder.”

He holds the cigarette out for Pomni, though there’s something about how he’s holding it that warns her he very well might snatch it out of reach. “So what about me?”

Pomni regards the cigarette with well-deserved doubt then turns the same look on Jax.

”I said it wasn’t cool that she tried to get you in trouble.”

“Hah.” Jax says. “Are you just saying that because you got in trouble too?”

Pomni balks. She blanches. She rears back in affront like a startled horse. Or a miniature pony.

“How dare you!”

That just makes Jax laugh again which grinds Pomni’s gears. “It’s not funny!”

“Whaaat? What’s that reaction?” Jax tilts his head. “Don’t tell me you were defending my honor?”

“I wasn’t defending your honor,” Pomni insists. “I just thought it was messed up!”

“Hmmmm,” Jax hums, flicking ashes onto the ground and bringing the cigarette back to his mouth. His eyes narrow but he doesn’t look mad. “My hero.”

He holds out the cigarette again. “Go on, you earned it.”

“I don’t want it,” Pomni says defiantly.

But Jax brings the cigarette up to her mouth, holding it there like it’s enticing.

“Come on.”

Pomni glares up at him for a moment then tries to take the cigarette from his hand just as she leans in and takes it between her lips.

Only he doesn’t let go of it.

Their eyes meet, but Pomni is automatically breathing in. She pulls off of the cigarette once she realizes and turns her head, coughing out smoke. She glares at him again.

“What? What kind of point are you trying to make?”

Jax’s eyes glint with a spark of mischief that’s been missing since they’ve been here. “You’re so suspicious, even though you were fighting with Ragatha over me.”

He reaches out with his free hand and flicks one of her bells. “What are you upset about?”

Pomni reaches back and grabs the bell like that will do anything. She holds it so he can’t mess with it again.

“A lot of reasons!” Pomni suddenly feels off her footing. She’s getting all fired up. “So are you not mad at me anymore or…??”

Jax’s brow immediately furrows again. “I’m just trying to have a civil conversation. Why am I suddenly the bad guy?”

He puts the cigarette against her mouth again.

Pomni looks down at it in defiance. Then back at Jax. She reaches up and tries to take the cigarette from him again.

His hand jerks up and out of reach, dangling it over her head. “I mean, are you upset because you had the fight and you’re all sensitive or what? Anyone is bound to lose their cool in this dump.”

“It was just a really,” Pomni swipes for the cigarette. He holds it up higher and she gets mad that she tried to get it at all.”Really bad day.”

“Well suck it up, buttercup, that’s the job.”

Pomni crosses her arms to make a point, ignoring the cigarette again. She broods over the things bothering her.

“Aw, did you give up?” Jax starts smoking the cigarette again. “More for me.”

“I don’t know what I would have done if I had to go to training alone,” Pomni says, feeling suddenly depleted. Empty.

Jax frowns, looking almost annoyed. He plays with the dying cigarette then flicks it.

“You would have been fine,” he says.

At first the words feel dismissive. But Pomni realizes after a moment they’re said with conviction.

Reassurance?

Pomni is stunned out of her words. She still doesn’t know how to feel about this side of Jax she’s been seeing.

Jax drops the cigarette and Pomni looks down at it. She puts her foot over it and crushes out the remainder. He snorts.

“You’re such a good girl.”

Pomni is quick to feel offended. “What, because I don’t want there to be a fire hazard?”

“Exactly,” Jax says, like there’s something charming about that and it’s not just common sense. “I fantasize about setting the place on fire multiple times a day.”

“Not while I’m in it, you wont!”

Pomni realizes she’s breathing deeply for the first time that day. She can tell an odd expression comes to her face because Jax’s gaze becomes a little curious. She takes a deep breath and centers herself.

“Look,” she says, about to lay it all out for him.

But then she looks back on the conversation and can’t remember any of the points she was trying to make. It’s because he keeps gaslighting her.

“Look at what?” Jax prompts, looking amused.

“Ugh!” Pomni yells. “You know what I mean!”

“No I don’t. You have to explain it to me,” Jax insists. “Go on.”

“I just didn’t want you thinking I hated you!” Pomni’s voice raises to a hysterical cry. “That’s it! Okay? Okay!”

She tugs on her own bell in frustration then lets it go when she realizes what she’s doing. It bounces back and rings.

“Graaahh, I’m done!”

Pomni throws her arms in the air and turns, heading back towards the door.

Jax calls out to her, “Wait, Pom!”

Pomni slows to a stop, glaring over her shoulder suspiciously.

He smirks at her, raising a hand and wiggling his fingers at her. “See you around.”

Pomni makes a sound of aggravation and opens the door, heading back inside.

Jax is just so frustrating, she thinks as she heads back to assembly. But the longer she works there, the more her anger fades into confusion, vague frustration. Jax returns to the grill but doesn’t interact with her.

It’s weird working at Spudsy’s. It gives her a lot of time to think.

And think she does.

She doubts she’ll ever understand what goes on in Jax's mind.

—

It’s just after the lunch rush when Orbsman approaches Pomni, whose arms are aching from assembling so many stupid burgers.

Literally Stupid Burgers. It’s what the NPCs crave.

Oh Pomni, there you are, comes Orbsman’s voice, making her tense. As if she’s been anywhere but assembly. She looks up at him nervously and he addresses her with a blase tone.

Sorry about the training yesterday - you’re fine

What does that mean? Pomni stares at him with a lack of comprehension that has nothing to do with the wacky way he talks.

I just get a little crazy when I haven’t had my no-no sticks. They keep walking away on me!

The words echo. Sorry about, you know, treating you like human garbage. I can do that because I’m the manager at a fast food restaurant.

Orbsman is a bully, Pomni realizes.

“Oh, uh… no problem.” Because what else can she say?

Orbsman puts one of his orbs on her shoulders. Do you need a break?

Is this what it means to be the teacher’s pet at Spudsy’s? Pomni doesn’t like it. Does Orbsman feel bad?

“Oh, uh, I’m fi–”

Go take a ten

And with that Orbsman orbs off somewhere else, leaving Pomni to stare at the burger ingredients in his wake. She slowly turns and goes to take her break.

As she’s making her way past the walk-in, someone grabs her wrist and pulls her inside. Pomni muffles a scream.

Jax?

“Pomni!”

It’s not Jax. It’s Ragatha. Pomni blinks at her in surprise. Ragatha looks distraught, contrite.

“Pomni, I am so sorry about yesterday. I really need to talk to you.”

“Oh, uh…” Usually being dragged into a conversation like this against her will would rub Pomni the wrong way, but Ragatha just looks so upset.

“I’m really, really sorry. I wasn’t thinking of possible repercussions and just– I was being selfish,” Ragatha admits.

Pomni’s eyes widen. Well… that’s good, right? “Uhh–”

“Being here is really messing me up. I know it’s not just me, but right now I just– I don’t know what to do and everyone is mad at me and I don’t know how to start making things better.”

Pomni looks into Ragatha’s tearful eyes and her heart melts a bit.

“Honestly…” Pomni chews her lip. “I’m glad you apologized, Ragatha. I’m grateful. But if you’re cleaning up a mess I think you kind of have to… start with the garbage around your feet, you know?”

Ragatha looks at her blankly. She doesn’t know.

“I… what do you mean?” Ragatha asks, sounding nervous.

Pomni frowns. “I think you should apologize to Jax.”

Ragatha tenses and she looks at Pomni reluctantly, mouth opening then closing. Then her expression softens. “I suppose you’re right. I misunderstood the situation and ultimately made it worse.

Though it’s not like he ever apologizes for anything,” Ragatha can’t help but grouse, then sighs. “But I’ll… try to talk to him.”

It’s then that the walk-in door opens and Jax himself steps through, looking moody.

He notices them at the same time as they notice him and they all just stare at each other with varying levels of alarm and distress. Jax’s eyes move over Pomni then to Ragatha. He scowls.

“Talking [BEEP] about me, Rags?”

“What– no!” Ragatha is immediately on the defensive. “I’m trying to– Why do you always have to–”

She catches herself, but it’s too late. Jax rolls his eyes and bumps Pomni out of the way in pursuit of some container.

“You suck, Ragatha,” Jax says plainly.

Pomni feels so awkward as she watches the fight brewing. Maybe Ragatha will hold it together enough to–

“Well, I was going to apologize,” Ragatha says, sounding upset.

Ahh, dear. She’s too stressed out. Maybe if there had been more time–

“But I guess I’ll just–” Whatever Ragatha was about to say gets cut off by Jax’s laughter.

“Oh, you were going to apologize? You’re such a liar, Raggieeee.” Jax’s voice is falsely jovial as he searches through frozen food. “You don’t gotta lie to make yourself look good to Pomni.”

“Jax, I’m not lying–”

“No?” Jax stops what he’s doing and turns to her, putting a hand on his hip. He gestures like the floor is all hers. “Well, where’s my apology?”

Pomni knows without looking at Ragatha that even if she had the inkling to do it when Pomni suggested it, she’s not in a state to apologize now. Way too worked up. Far too–

”Forget it!” Ragatha cries, looking a little tearful as she turns and leaves the freezer.

Ragatha tries to slam the door shut, but it closes slowly by design.

So much for progress. Pomni feels disheartened. She looks over at Jax who’s scowling at where Ragatha once was.

Pomni chews on her lip a little, starting to take a step towards the door. Then she pauses and looks back at Jax.

“You, uh, okay?”

His eyes shift over to her, the scowl lingering for a moment before waning to something neutral. “Oh I’m peachy.”

Jax shakes his head, looking like he’s still thinking about the argument. Then his eyes become present again, mouth twisting into a slight smirk. “I know you told her to apologize to me. That definitely wasn’t her idea.”

“That–” Pomni frowns. “I mean, yeah, but–”

“But nothing,” Jax says, walking up to Pomni and towering over her. Using his height to its full advantage. Like a [BEEP]. “Aw, are you trying to patch things up between us, Pom? You know it’s none of your business, right?”

”Ragatha asked me for help,” Pomni says, on the defensive. Something about Jax recently just has her riled up so fast.

“What,” Jax says. “Did she drag you in here like ‘Ohh, Pomni, everyone hates me because I’m a [BEEP], what do I do?”

Pomni is silent.

Jax snorts. “That’s what I thought. Listen, as much as it immensely feeds my ego that you took my side, you don’t have to try and make things ‘nice’ between Rags and I. It is what it is.”

His smirk widens and his tone grows teasing. “Or could you just not help yourself? Have to look out for innocent little ol’ Jax?”

“I mean–” Pomni feels like she’s getting trapped into something. She gives Jax a stern frown. “Maybe I’m reading it all wrong. But we’re cool, right?”

“The coolest,” Jax says, eyes narrowing in amusement.

“You know what I mean!”

“Tell me, Pom.”

Pomni scowls. “I thought we were becoming…”

She gestures, then for lack of a better word says, “Friends.”

Jax’s eyebrows raise and she immediately regrets it.

“Forget–”

“Oh, friends, huh?” Jax’s grin slowly widens. ”Best friends?”

“What??” Pomni’s head feels all scrambled. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Always.”

Anger bursts from Pomni’s chest. “Well scre– fu– [BEEP] you, too!”

She feels genuinely hurt as she turns around to leave. Jax grabs her wrist and she tries to yank it free, but can’t. She refuses to look at him.

“Pom. C’mon, Pom. Hey.” Pomni refuses to deign that with even a glance. It just makes him snort with amusement and she tries to tug away again.

“C’mon, Pom. You don’t want to be my friend, do you? I’m just nothing but trouble. Aren’t you the type that’s all about harmony?” He tugs lightly at her wrist.

Pomni glares at him over her shoulder.

“You’re right, forget it,” Pomni snaps, throwing her other arm up. “Let’s be enemies! How about that!”

“How about frenemies?” Jax smirks.

“Oh my god!”

Jax laughs and then his eyes narrow. He tugs on her arm sharply, pulling Pomni back so she stumbles into him. He holds her half against his body and she–

Pomni flushes.

Jax stares down at her face discerningly. Like he’s peering into her soul. And then his smirk sloooowly widens.

He lets her go.

“That’s all,” Jax says. “You can go now.”

“Wh– are you my boss or something?” Pomni scrambles, feeling flustered.

“Mm, something else,” Jax tells her.

Then he turns and grabs a container seemingly at random, tucking it under his arm and walking past her. He leaves the walk-in, calling back after him,

“Stay frosty!”

Then the door shuts. Pomni just stands there, freezing her [BEEP] off for a while.

What the [BEEP] did any of that mean?

She leaves the walk-in feeling chilly and confused.

Jax is back on the grill when Pomni reaches assembly. They don’t talk, but she finds herself occasionally looking up at his back, watching the way his shoulders shift under his shirt.

It’s distracting, but she doesn’t know why or from what.

Replaying the conversation in her head she thinks Jax might actually be insane. Makes sense.

They’re all losing it.

—

Pomni's cute.

It's a thought that's been circulating in Jax's head.

It’s evening and Jax finds himself spacing out more than checking the clock, which is admittedly a welcome change of pace if only slightly. He’s finishing up restocking supplies at the assembly station when he hears a cry of frustration.

He quirks his eyebrow and goes to check it out because any excuse to not work is one he’ll take.

Pomni is standing precariously on a stool beside the ice cream machine, fussing with it and looking close to a breakdown. “Oh come on!”

Jax struts over to investigate, enjoying the way her back straightens with alarm when he says behind her, “Hey Pom. Losing a fight with the ice cream machine?”

Pomni nearly whirls around and Jax has to grab her arm to keep her from falling. She looks so mixed up. He lets her go once she’s stable.

“I–” Pomni doesn’t even look suspicious of him, she just looks stressed out. “It won’t dispense any ice cream, but everything looks like it’s fine!”

“Here, let me help,” Jax says and now she does look at him suspiciously.

“... I dunno.”

“Why not?” Jax shrugs. “What, gonna go bother someone else?”

“... Do you know how to fix it?”

“Let’s seeeeee.”

Pomni gasps as Jax grabs her waist and picks her up off the stool, setting her down to the side. He kicks the stool out of the way and starts examining the ice cream machine.

“Ah, yes, it’s very simple,” he says, closing up the inner workings and giving a sage nod. “I can fix this.”

Pomni is looking at him doubtfully. She’s right to do so because Jax starts methodically hitting the machine with his fist over and over and over with absolutely no results.

“Work, [BEEP] you!” he cries in fake anguish.

Pomni is gaping at him when he glances over. “Jax, that’s– just stop, I’ll fix it!”

“Nuh-uh, you can’t hit it as hard as I can.” Jax starts whacking the machine harder, thumping audible.

“Stop! You’re gonna break it!” Pomni starts to panic.

“No, I’m fixing it.”

Just then the ice cream machine gives a godawful whirrrrr and they both step back. It’s a good thing, too, because moments later liquid ice cream is squirting everywhere.

Pomni screams as they step back just in time to avoid getting splooged on. Jax grins down at her panicking face.

“What are we going to do?!” Pomni cries.

Just then there's the sound of bouncing orbs and Jax’s chest tightens a bit, head whirling around to see Orbsman rounding the corner. He makes a beeline to them and anxiety starts rearing its head, but then Orbsman cries,

Again?! Step back, you two, I’ve got this

So that’s what Jax and Pomni do, slinking back.

The second Orbsman opens the machine to fix it, it explodes.

That’s the only way Jax knows how to describe it. It just explodes all over Orbsman, flooding the floor and getting everywhere. Jax laughs.

Good

He realizes Pomni is tugging at his wrist and it draws his interest. She tugs him back a few more steps to avoid the encroaching ice cream gunk.

There’s a string of loud beeps coming from Orbsman, who is swearing up a storm. He throws his arms in the air and cries,

I’m shutting down the store for the night! Get out! All of you!!

Jax’s jaw drops. Seriously??

“You heard him, Pom.” He tilts his head to yell at Zooble, Ragatha, and Gangle who are all miserably doing their jobs. “Hey, losers!!”

Everyone tiredly looks at him.

“Orbsman told us to get out, so we gotta get out.”

Jax doesn’t even bother to punch out. He just grabs onto the back of Pomni’s shirt and starts dragging her out of the store, boldly walking past waiting NPCs.

“Good luck getting your stupid burgers now,” he snickers as he pushes past the double doors, dragging Pomni, who is choking on her collar, outside. Only then does he release her and stretch, looking up at the simulated sunset.

“Ooh, look at that! Enrichment.”

Pomni is looking back at the restaurant nervously. Jax frowns and grabs her head, forcing her to look at the sky.

“Beautiful, right? Almost like the real thing,” Jax says.

Pomni is frowning, but just being out of that environment has her brow less furrowed. Or maybe it was seeing Orbsman get his. But as she stares her eyes become almost sad. That wasn’t what Jax was going for.

“You good?” he asks.

Pomni glances at him in surprise like she’d forgotten he was there, which he doesn’t like at all. Then she looks back at the sunset.

“No, you’re right,” she says. “It almost looks real.”

They stare at it for a moment, Jax’s brow gradually furrowing. He wonders if he has an accurate memory of the sky anymore, then dips the [BEEP] right back out of that thought.

Jax shakes his head then nudges Pomni’s arm. “Anyway. Fake or not our early night off is very real. We have to take advantage of it.”

His mind is already cycling over ideas from the tame to the deranged. “What do you think, Pom?”

“Oh, I, uh…” Pomni looks up at him with wide eyes. Then she looks thoughtful. “I dunno. I guess we could–”

“Uuuugh!” comes Zooble’s voice.

Jax looks back in annoyance to see the other three filing out of the restaurant. Ragatha is holding onto her arm self-consciously and walks past them, presumably heading to her car. Gangle and Zooble linger around Pomni, Gangle looking a little concerned.

Zooble just glares at Jax. He bats his eyes innocently back, which seems to irritate them.

“C’mon, Pomni,” Zooble says. “We might as well hang out until it gets late.”

Oh [BEEP] no.

Of course Pomni would pick the group over him. He scowls, opening his mouth to tell Zooble what he really thinks, but Pomni speaks first.

“No, I… maybe later. I think I’m gonna sit in my car and stare at nothing for a little bit.”

So she’s not choosing any of them. It still feels like a minor rejection which ticks Jax off. He isn’t happy as he watches Pomni wander away to her car. When he looks back, Zooble and Gangle are both looking at him.

“What.” he says.

“What’s your deal with Pomni?” Zooble asks invasively.

“Oh, you wanna know?” Jax asks with a sneer, then flips Zooble off.

“Aaaand oop-” Jax flips Gangle off with the other hand, shaking them back and forth as he backs up before turning and walking away from them.

Zooble says nothing but Jax can feel their heated glare at the back of his head and it gives him a crumb of satisfaction.

He makes his way to his car, slipping inside and tugging his cap down over his face.

Jax’s mouth pulls into a sharp grimace as he has the thought, You’re going to make a [BEEP] fool of yourself.

—

A soft knocking on the car window alerts Jax to the fact that he’d almost dozed off. His head is against the steering wheel and he sits up sharply.

It’s mostly dark now. Jax is upset he missed his chance to see sunlight.

It’s [BEEP]ed up that Orbsman has them working all three shifts. What the [BEEP] is that about.

Jax blinks out of his stupor and looks over to see Pomni standing at the passenger’s side of his car with her concerned little face. He rolls down the window.

“Hey,” Pomni says. “Can I get in?”

Jax can’t help but feel guarded about it, considering her like ‘no’ is on the table. “Sure. Hop in.”

He watches Pomni crawl into his car, wondering what little existential nightmares run around in her head all day.

“How’s it going?” Jax asks once the door is closed.

Pomni shakes her head. “I wanted to be alone until I didn’t.”

And she chose him.

Jax looks over to where Zooble is parked as if to say haha and notes they seem to be having some sort of intense conversation with Gangle, both sitting on the hood of Zooble’s car.

Jax gestures at them. ”Do you think they’re boinking or what?”

Pomni looks over at him. Then over at the other two.

“Why do you think that?” Pomni squints at them.

“Maybe it’s just because I know everyone better than you, but their interactions seem different,” Jax says. He looks down at Pomni and examines her face.

“Hmm,” she says. “Maybe they’re bonding.”

“What, like you and me?” Jax grins.

Pomni turns her head and suddenly those big eyes are on him.

”Hm. Yeah, maybe.”

th-thump

Jax’s grin widens and there’s a feeling in his chest he can’t contain.

“Hey Pom, do you like donuts?”

“Wha?” Pomni looks up at him with zero comprehension. “I… guess so?”

“Good enough,” Jax says with a smirk, suddenly turning his car on and absolutely burning rubber backing out of the space.

Pomni screams, gripping the car wherever she can. “What are you doing?!”

“Check this out,” Jax tells her with glee that increases as he accelerates forward, swinging around and starting to drift the car in circles in the mostly empty lot.

“Stop!!” Pomni cries, taking her hand away from clinging to safety to smack at his arm.

“Nope,” Jax says simply and presses on the gas.

Pomni clings to his arm and he feels adrenaline, he feels a fluttering in his chest, he feels turned on—

“Jax, you [BEEP]ing [BEEP]hole!!” Pomni snaps, losing her [BEEP] in the passenger’s seat.

Jax laughs, heart going a mile a minute. “What’s the big deal? Are you scared—“

There’s a jolt as the hood of their car slams into the hood of Zooble’s car. Pomni clings to Jax and it’s the only thing that keeps her from ragdolling against the dashboard.

“Jax, what the [BEEP]?!” Zooble yells, slipping off of their car to walk up and smack Jax’s window. “Will you stop acting like a [BEEP]ing idiot?!”

Jax just laughs at them. “What, are you gonna make me?”

Zooble narrows their eyes at him. “Gangle, get off the car.”

Gangle scrambles to do so as Zooble walks back to their car and gets in, backing up as far as they can before pressing on the gas and ramming their car back into Jax’s. They back up and do it again.

Jax laughs as Pomni cries, “Zooble, stoppp!”

Zooble doesn’t. It seems their frustration at Jax is overriding their preservation of Pomni. That’s hilarious.

Pomni finally lets go of Jax and throws herself out of the car, backing up to watch Zooble keep ramming him. Jax turns the car off and gets out, holding his arms out at Zooble.

“What now?”

“Now I run you over,” Zooble threatens.

Jax hops up onto the hood of his car and sits there. “How about now?”

Zooble glares through the windshield then shakes their head at him. They turn off the car and get out.

“Are we done tantruming?” Jax asks.

Zooble grunts.

And then they move to sit on the hood of their car.

“Yeah, it’s pretty boring,” they say.

Gangle hesitantly gets on the other side of Zooble’s hood, curling her leg ribbons up and hugging them.

And then Jax sees motion in the corner of his eye and turns in time to see Pomni climbing up onto the other side of the hood of his car.

Though he doubts it’ll last long, luck has been on his side today and it makes him smug. “There, look at us all cozy.”

His head turns back towards the parking lot, eyes scanning it. “Where the [BEEP] is-”

Ragatha’s car isn’t there. Huh.

“She drove off a while ago,” Pomni says, looking a little troubled.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jax says. “Nobody told her she couldn’t hang.”

There’s a soft murmur of assent. Jax doesn’t get that often.

“Do you think she’s mad at us?” Gangle asks, sounding troubled.

“Other than Jax being an idiot no one did anything wrong,” Zooble lays down like the law, not unkind but firm.

“What about your road rage? I sprained every bone in my body and now I’m going to sue!” Jax proclaims joyfully.

Zooble rolls their eyes. “I’d like to see you try with our salary.”

There’s a beat of silence.

And then Pomni giggles. Jax glances over and sees her face lit up and pale in the mixture of moonlight and crappy street lamps. Her eyelashes seem to brush her cheek when she blinks.

“Jax.”

Jax looks over to Zooble, mouth scowling a bit. “What.”

“Stop looking at Pomni all creepily.”

Jax straightens up, affronted. “I’ll look at her as creepily as I please!”

“Ew, don’t say that,” Gangle protests.

Pomni is looking over at him now with narrowed eyes. Jax narrows his back at her just because he can.

“So what’s your deal?” Zooble asks. “Is he bothering you, Pomni?”

“I’m not bothering her. Right?” Jax elbows Pomni.

“You can tell us if he is,” Gangle says. “If you need, I dunno, some sort of intervention.”

Jax scoffs. “Don’t be rude. Me and Pom are friends.”

He looks down at Pomni with a certain intensity and hooks his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into himself.

“Right, Pom?”

Pomni looks up at him, surprised. The longer she takes to answer the more insane Jax begins to feel.

“Yeah,” Pomni says, looking back at the other two. “We’re friends.”

Jax’s eyes narrow in pleasure, a white hot feeling blooming in his chest before fading out to a tingle.

Good answer

He tilts his head to the other two with a particularly self-satisfied grin. “See?”

Zooble, the rude [BEEP], shrugs their shoulders. “Whatever. Good for you.”

“What about you two?” Jax turns it around on Zooble, who gives him a blank, unamused look.

“What.”

“You two have been canoodling,” he accuses. “Right?”

Zooble shakes their head at him. “What are you talking about?”

Gangle just sits there.

“Don’t think anything gets past my eyes,” Jax says. “You two have a weird thing, right?”

“It’s not weird,” Zooble sounds so offended. “We’re literally friends.”

“Uh-huh,” Jax says, happy to sew the seeds of doubt.

Pomni just shakes her head at him. He shakes his back at her.

“See, that,” Zooble says. “That’s what’s weird.”

“Don’t be mean to me,” Jax insists.

“I’ll do whatever the [BEEP] I want,” Zooble counters.

They continue on like this for a while. The vibes feel different. Maybe because they have a common enemy now - Orbsman. The conversation naturally gravitates towards work and they take turns complaining about things.

Zooble and Gangle have minor gripes, Jax thinks, compared to what he and Pomni have been through. He keeps his arm around Pomni while they all talk and thinks she must have forgotten he was doing it, because she’s letting him.

Or she likes it.

Jax is pulled from such thoughts by Pomni bringing up a subject he does not want to talk about.

”Have either of you gone through training?”

Jax’s teeth clench. Gangle looks sick. Zooble looks confused.

“No, have you?” Zooble sounds wary.

“Yeah,” Pomni says. “It’s awful. They make you sit in front of this television and Orbsman is on the screen and- ugh, it’s like this awful hypnosis stuff and it crawls into your brain and you just feel crazy.”

Pomni pulls her legs up to her chest and mirrors Gangle, hugging them. Jax finds himself instinctively pulling her just a little closer.

“Why the [BEEP] is Orbsman doing that?” Zooble scoffs. “That’s deranged.”

Gangle makes an awkward face.

“Yeah,” Pomni says. “I don’t recommend.”

Zooble looks at Jax. “You’re oddly silent. What, did you have to go?”

Jax stares blankly at Zooble, irritated when his eyes instinctively move to look at Gangle. Are you smiling?

Gangle looks down, mouth screwing up in a tight frown.

Why not?

“Why-” Jax feels dazed, maybe some after effect of the hypnosis. He tears his eyes away, back to Zooble. “Would you assume a perfect angel like me would ever have to do that?”

The words feel stale in his mouth as he chokes them out.

Zooble reads him then snorts softly. ”Sucks to suck, I guess.”

They all just sit there reflecting for a moment.

“We got sent together,” Pomni says after a minute. “Because we were messing around.”

We were messing around

We

“Yeah then Orbsman had to come kill the party like the buzzkill he is,” Jax sneers, chest tight with the memory of it. “I hate that guy so bad.”

He puts a hand over his mouth, contemplating something. “Do you think we could pop him?”

“That’s messed up,” Pomni says. “But probably. If we poked hard enough.”

Zooble makes a doubtful sound. “I mean he’s made of orbs. That doesn’t mean he’s made of bubbles, does it?”

“Well we won’t know until we try,” Jax declares. “Let’s stab him.”

“Orbsman hates me,” Gangle complains. “He once told me— he came up to me and was like, ‘Don’t you ever forget you were demoted for a reason.’”

She wrings her ribbons. “I think he feels really threatened that I was the manager last time…”

“That’s what you get,” Jax says bluntly.

”Jax, lay off,” Zooble tells him.

“Orbsman likes me for some reason,” Pomni says. “He said he sent me to training because he’s out of cigarettes.”

She looks up at Jax. “Because Jax keeps stealing them.”

Jax snorts at her. “What, you benefit. I’ve been sharing them with you, haven’t I?”

Zooble interrupts. “Wait, you have cigarettes? Ugh I wish I could smoke one.”

Their head falls back and they go dead silent, their defeat palpable in that moment.

“What is it they say?” Jax can’t help himself. “Sucks to suck?”

Zooble’s head snaps up and they glare at Jax. “[BEEP] off!”

“Uhhh, don’t you think you might get in serious trouble if you keep stealing his cigarettes?” Gangle asks anxiously.

Jax glares at her for several seconds then responds, “I dunno. Maybe.”

“Maybe you should stop,” Pomni says, sounding a little reluctant.

“… I can’t,” Jax says after some thought. “I have to support your cigarette addiction.”

“What?” Pomni looks up at him.

“You’ll abstract for sure if you don’t have your cigarettes,” Jax says. Then he tells Zooble and Gangle, “She’s on a pack a day.”

“No, I’m not,” Pomni refutes him, but Jax doubles down.

“You should have seen her the other day. She was screaming and hitting me all, ‘Jax, you [BEEP]ing [BEEP]hole, get me my cigarettes!’”

“I never said that,” Pomni deadpans.

”But you were thinking it.”

Jax winks at her. Pomni blinks.

Zooble and Gangle share a look. Good. Let them assume things.

The four of them talk about their mundane existence and the contrast to life at the Circus, which currently feels like a faraway dream.

Jax keeps his arm around Pomni, tugging her a little closer as it gets colder. She doesn’t seem to mind.

And that’s what really eats at him.

He thinks about Pomni after they’ve all parted, getting in their cars and driving off.

He thinks about her stressed and emotionally vulnerable. Opening up to him.

He thinks about how she felt tucked into him. How he wants to feel that again.

And if he plays his cards right, he will.

Chapter Text

Day 6

Pomni blinks at Spudsy’s from her car, feeling weirdly groggy. Maybe it’s because of how long they all stayed up last night. They had gone to their cars more out of a sense of exhaustion than actually wanting to leave the night. Ragatha had not shown up.

But it has her thinking now.

How late could they actually stay out after Spudsy’s closes? Does the night ever end? What if they could just never go back and stay out chilling until Caine blips them back to the Circus.

If he ever does.

Pomni gets out of her car and looks around at the others. First she sees Ragatha who isn’t looking at anyone, just walking towards Spudsy’s. Then she looks at Gangle and Zooble who must have left in the same car because they’re still inside Zooble’s. They look like they’re talking to each other.

Then she looks at Jax. He climbs out of his car and gives a huge stretch, glancing over at Pomni. His eyes narrow in amusement and he grins at her.

It honestly is really nice to see. Maybe everyone is feeling a bit better.

Except Ragatha.

They head into Spudsy’s and are immediately set to task, Pomni taking up her place at the grill with a little trepidation.

“What,” Jax says, leaning over to look at her from assembly. “Not gonna ask me to switch? What if you burn all the burgers again?”

Pomni scowls back at him a bit then sighs. “I know, but I really don't like assembly. The drawers are hard for me to reach.”

“Short,” Jax says. She can feel him watching her get the grill ready.

Pomni waits for the first orders then starts plopping burgers down.

For a while she cooks semi-peacefully. It would be zen if not for the heat and the grease smell. As she cooks she thinks about last night. About Ragatha leaving on her own. She makes a mental note to check on her today.

Pomni hears Zooble’s voice and her thoughts drift to them. Their little road rage at Jax seemed to cheer them up. Honestly, they seem to be holding it together the best and Pomni is relieved someone is. Gangle seems a little better, too.

And Jax…

Suddenly Pomni is transported back to last night, sitting with him on the hood of the car. The way his arm had been so warm around her. And he had kept it there so long.

It had made her guts squirmy.

She realizes it’s the most she’s been touched since coming to the Circus and she wonders if Jax had needed it too. He must have. Why else would he have maintained the physical contact for so long.

Is she overthinking this? Why is she overthinking this?

Pomni gasps when she realizes the burgers in front of her are burning and quickly flips them.

“[BEEP],” she mutters.

Jax is quick to stick his head into her business. “Are you burning them again?”

“No,” Pomni lies.

“They sure do smell burnt.” She can hear Jax’s non-slip shoes as he comes up behind her, peering over her head to see the evidence. “Ha, yeah, look at that. You suck at this.”

Jax yucks it up, suddenly poking Pomni’s side. “Need me to show you how to do it again? C’mon, hand over the spatula.”

“No,” Pomni says with defiance, preemptively shielding the spatula with her body. “I’ve got it, I just spaced out for a second.”

“Ohh?” Pomni can hear the smirk in Jax’s tone. “Lost in a daydream? Thinking about last night?”

Pomni looks up at him in surprise. Then her brow furrows. “… Yeah, actually.”

“That’s what I thought,” Jax’s smirk grows. “Well, get your head out of the clouds and do your job.”

He makes a swipe for the spatula, but Pomni holds it out of reach. It feels good to not be on the receiving end of the crap for once.

But then Jax laughs and moves behind her. His stomach presses to her back, chest bumping her giant head as he snakes his arm around to grab her wrist.

oh god

Suddenly Pomni feels weird. She tenses up then realizes she’s completely stopped breathing. She has to do it manually.

“Let me show you how it’s done again, you clearly forgot,” Jax says, moving her wrist and making her scoop up the burgers to put in the tray. It’s a pain to maneuver around and one of the burgers falls on the floor. “Look what you did.”

“Look what you did!” Pomni counters, feeling flustered. “Let go!”

“Nope.” Jax moves them around again and starts putting fresh burgers on the grill. “Now we wait for them to cook a little, okay?”

“I know!”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do!”

“No, you don’t.”

It’s a losing battle. Pomni huffs. “You don’t gotta hold my hand through the whole thing, I’ve got this.”

“Maybe I like holding your hand.”

Pomni’s heart stutters.

“What…?”

“Did you have fun last night, Pom?” Jax asks casually.

Pomni frowns a bit. “Yeah, I mean, it was fun. Why?”

“No reason.”

Pomni thinks on it a bit. Then she speaks in a quiet voice. “Hey, Jax.”

“Mmmyeeees?”

Pomni is so aware of the pressure of Jax’s hand around her wrist.

“I was thinking, we should try and push it and see how late we can stay out after work,” Pomni says. “Maybe we could just… never have to come back.”

“Ooh, Pomni, you read my mind,” Jax tells her, flipping the burger a bit too soon. “I was thinking the same thing. Want to test it?”

Pomni tilts her head up to look at Jax upside down, giving him a serious look.

“Yeah.”

Jax peers down at her, grin stretching wider. “Good on you and your rebellious spirit. You’re not a lost cause.”

He moves her wrist again, making her flip another burger. “I was thinking we should do some B and E, and I don’t mean ‘bacon and eggs’.”

“Okay, so what do you mean?” Pomni asks suspiciously.

“Breaking and entering, duh. It’s not like there’s much else to do other than check out suburbia. You in?”

Breaking and entering, huh…

There isn’t much else to do. He’s right.

“... Okay,” Pomni says, begrudging just to make a point. “But if the NPCs come after us I’m leaving you in the dust.”

“Hah!” Jax laughs. “Good luck with that with your short little legs.”

Pomni has nothing to say to that. Jax makes her put more burgers in the tray and another one falls.

“Pomni!” Jax scolds.

“You’re making it harder!” Pomni pleads. “Just let go of me and let me do it.”

“No,” Jax says. “I’ll never let go, Jack. I’m staying like this til the end of our shift.”

He’s so close to her

So much of them is touching

“Jax–”

Pomni is distracted by Gangle who’s passing. She looks over at the two of them and stops mid-stride, looking surprised. Gangle stares for a second then keeps walking. Huh.

It makes Pomni feel oddly embarrassed.

Pomni breaks away from Jax who furrows his brow a little at her then quickly smooths it out.

“You can do it on your own,” Jax tells her like he’s the boss. “But you’re going to burn them.”

“Do you want to get in trouble with Orbsman again?” Pomni is feeling increasingly flustered now that she’s actually looking at Jax.

“No,” Jax concedes. He struts back to assembly.

And then he struts back to Pomni.

“What?” she asks warily.

Jax reaches up and puts a piece of lettuce on her head.

“Nothing,” he says, and marches his [BEEP] back to do his job.

Pomni opens her mouth to say something, but shuts it quick. The line of NPCs is probably getting long, she shouldn’t waste more time. She turns back to the grill.

Pomni forgets about the piece of lettuce.

It remains on her head until lunch.

—

Pomni feels dead on her feet, dreaming of the end of the shift. Even though they’ll just be wandering around aimlessly she can’t help but be excited about finally having something to look forward to other than more work.

She goes back into the walk-in freezer, relieved when she doesn’t hear any crying. She’s experienced enough awkward encounters in here already-

The sight of Ragatha tucked into the corner dripping stupid sauce onto her tongue makes Pomni freeze right up along with the patties.

Ragatha takes delayed notice of her, eyes growing wide at an almost comically slow pace. “Oh, Pomni, uh…”

Ragatha looks around, then at the bottle in her hand, putting it behind her back unconvincingly. “Nothing.”

“I didn’t… say anything,” Pomni says as she shakes off her surprise.

“Riiiiight,” Ragatha responds vaguely. “I’m not doing nothing.”

Pomni frowns and goes to gather the tubs she needs. It’s really not her place to say anything and she’s not judging, but…

“Just be careful not to get in trouble,” Pomni worries.

Ragatha doesn’t respond to that. She just sits there staring at Pomni with a half lidded eye. The containers in Pomni’s arms are cold.

“I wanted to apologize to Jax, but I couldn’t,” Ragatha says slowly. “What’s wrong with me?”

Ah.

Pomni frowns and steps closer.

“Y’know…” she starts awkwardly. “Everyone’s got their struggles.”

“Yeah, but everyone else’s struggles are just struggles and mine make me a bad person.” Ragatha covers her face with her hand. “I’m like, the worst one.”

“What–”

“I’m worse than Jax,” Ragatha laments.

“Uhh…” Pomni doesn’t know what to say to that. “I don’t think we should compare ourselves to each other. It just doesn’t seem… good.”

“At least he’s straightforward about being a jerk,” Ragatha mumbles and Pomni gets the feeling she’s processing something here.

“Ragatha,” Pomni says gently. “I’m not here to make judgments. I just don’t want you to be put in a bad place.”

She shifts the containers to one arm and holds out her hand. “Can I take the sauce?”

Ragatha stares at her hand, mouth open a little. Then she nods. “Sure…”

Ragatha sighs and drops her hand from her face. “I’m sorry, Pomni. I gotta apologize to Gangle. I’m gonna do that today. I have to. I gotta.”

Pomni watches Ragatha push herself up sloppily. She stumbles to the door and gives Pomni a little wave. “I’ll see you around…”

And with that she leaves.

Pomni stands there for a moment, looking at the door. Then she wills herself into forward momentum again.

It’s not until Pomni is back at the grill that she realizes Ragatha never gave her the sauce.

—

Pomni is exhausted.

It’s the end of the shift, the lot of them closing down the store with a buzz of enthusiasm for their impending freedom. Except for Jax who already clocked out and is now just hanging around unhelpfully and getting in the way on purpose.

Ragatha is sort of cleaning the same spot over and over.

Zooble groans as they clean the grill. “If they don’t stop playing that kazoo cover of Shape of You I’m going to abstract.”

“I dunno,” Gangle says, sounding more cheerful than usual. “I kinda like it.”

“You would,” Jax accuses. He looks over at Pomni who notices but ignores him. “What’s your opinion, Pompom?”

Nobody says anything for a moment, an acknowledgment passing through the atmosphere that everyone noticed the new nickname.

“I don’t really have one,” Pomni says. “The kazoo is kind of horrible, but I’d rather listen to that than Caine singing.”

“Ugh, yeah, what’s with the car radio?” Zooble complains.

“We could start a band,” Jax suggests, hopping up onto the assembly counter Pomni is breaking down. Pomni glances at him then away. He’s sort of been following her around. ”Pomni, what do you want to play?”

Pomni nearly drops a container of tomatoes and pouts a bit at it before answering honestly, “I can’t play anything.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Jax says. “We’ll be famous.”

“Can you play anything?” Zooble asks doubtfully.

“I don’t need to play anything,” Jax scoffs. “I’m the manager. I get to stand around and tell you what to do.”

“That sounds like [BEEP],” Zooble shoots him down.

“And let me tell you what, I run a tight ship so you’d better be ready to tour back to back. No breaks.”

“I can play saxophone!” Gangle volunteers.

“Nobody cares, Gangle,” Jax says without looking over at her. He keeps his eyes on Pomni.

“I’m not joining any band you’re a part of,” Zooble says.

“Okay,” Jax concedes amicably. “Then me and Pomni are starting a band and you, Gangle and Ragatha can be in a second, [BEEP]ier band.”

At the mention of Ragatha the air changes again and everyone sort of glances at her. Ragatha looks at no one, though her back goes stiff.

Pomni’s lips tug down. Jax is including Ragatha. Giving space to the others has given way to self-exile for her.

Ragatha stumbles around a bit and then walks to the back door, heading out.

That’s no good. But Pomni can’t make her stay. Only Ragatha can decide when she’s ready to talk to people.

Pomni leaves assembly to go carry tubs to the back. Jax flicks one of her bells as she passes. Her brow furrows.

Pomni bumps into Gangle in the walk-in and takes the opportunity to get a little nosy.

“Hey Gangle, did Ragatha talk to you at all today?”

“Huh?” Gangle looks over at Pomni. “Oh, no. Why?”

Huh. Pomni isn’t that surprised, but she hopes Ragatha still will. She has faith in her.

“Just curious.” Pomni isn’t lying, but it feels like one.

“Yeah, I dunno,” Gangle says with a helpless little shrug.

Pomni’s done with what she needs to do so there’s no point in hanging around to gossip. She heads out and bumps into Zooble, who stares down at her and shakes their head.

“I’m so ready to be out of here, Pomni.”

“Me too,” Pomni sighs, shaking her head. Then it occurs to her to ask, “Hey, do you want to come hang out with me and Jax after work? We’re going to go wander around town and… I guess burgle NPC’s homes.”

Zooble stares.

“As tempting as that sounds, I think me and Gangle are gonna hang back.” Zooble shrugs. “We’ve been talking a lot and it’s kind of keeping me sane.”

Pomni’s eyebrows raise. It seems not only is being at Spudsy’s causing turbulence, it’s bringing them a little closer. She feels another pang of worry for Ragatha.

“Cool,” Pomni says with a smile. “Well, you two have—“

“Come on, people,” Jax complains from where he still sits at assembly. “Hurry up for god’s sake!”

Pomni sighs. “Duty calls.”

“The [BEEP] it does,” Zooble mutters, walking past her.

Pomni’s spirits are up as she finishes getting everything broken down. Jax talks at them about nothing, not seeming to care whether or not anyone responds. It’s not so bad.

Honestly, the time flies.

–

“Finally!” Jax calls out with his arms thrown out to the sky as they walk out the front doors, Zooble locking up behind them.

Pomni glances up at him. Jax’s mood has seemed a lot better since yesterday. Maybe they’ll all keep each other sane through this.

Jax peeks down at her, grinning slyly. “You ready to go?”

“Sure. We can take my car,” Pomni teases, holding up her car keys.

“Ha-ha hilarious,” Jax says flatly. “We’re taking my car.”

Pomni follows along agreeably and they get in. She glances over in time to see Zooble and Gangle getting in Zooble’s car. It’s parked the other way this time, more private.

Pomni suddenly becomes aware of how private Jax’s car is too. She tenses up a bit as they exit the parking lot.

Then she wonders, why? Isn’t it okay to relax a little? It’s not like Jax has been mean to her, he’s just been giving her a hard time. She doesn’t trust him not to get meaner, though.

But it’s not just that. She feels…

Pomni becomes aware of the fact that her heart is beating a little fast. She’s quick to attribute it to the way Jax is speeding down the street, but she realizes she hasn’t even been paying attention to that.

“So what are you thinking about so hard, Pom?” Jax asks out of nowhere, startling her.

What do I say?

Pomni clears her throat.

“Nothing.”

God[BEEP].

“Ooh, nothing going on in that tiny little brain of yours?”

Pomni’s eyes narrow. “Oh, shut up.”

“Kinda rude of you to say that,” Jax says loftily.

“I was thinking about how much closer Zooble and Gangle are,” Pomni deflects to them.

“See? Didn’t I say?” Jax says like it’s some kind of gotcha.

“Well, like you said, you know them better,” Pomni concedes, having no horse in this race. “I invited them to come with us but Zooble wanted to hang back with Gangle-”

“Wait, you what?” Jax cuts her off suddenly.

“Huh?” Pomni stares at him, taking a second to process the question. “I said I-”

“What did you do that for?!”

Pomni stares at him, uncomprehending. “I- mean, is that a problem? I guess I thought-”

“Guess you thought nothing! Don’t ever act without my approval again,” Jax scolds her, the car starting to slow as they enter suburbia.

Pomni stares at him, eyes narrowed. “Are you some kind of control freak?”

“Excuse me?” Jax asks without an ounce of amusement.

Pomni has none in her voice either when she says, “You’re a control freak.”

“I’m no such thing,” Jax denies, clearly annoyed.

Probably because she called him out so hard.

“How dare you tell me not to act without your approval,” Pomni deadpans. “Do you think you’re God?”

“As much as I would usually relish in answering yes to that, this world gives me no illusions about just how mortal I am,” Jax says with flat honesty. “But will that keep me from bossing you around? No, not at all.”

“Why are you so mad that I invited Zooble and Gangle?” Pomni asks, genuinely confused. “We had fun last night.”

Jax scowls over at her then shakes his head. “Forget about it. It’s time to break into an NPC’s house now.”

He pulls the car up against the sidewalk and parks. They’ve come out far enough that while things still look right there’s weird quirks if she examines things too closely. Pomni looks up at the tree they parked near and notes the leaves look oddly blocky. They get out and look at the houses.

“So you wanna just…”

Pomni walks up to a front door then stands there awkwardly. Then looks back at Jax.

“I dunno, this feels awkward. You go first.”

Jax tsks in disapproval. “Never send an amatuer to do a professional’s job.”

He strides up to the house and bumps Pomni out of the way with his hip. Jax boldly reaches down and tries the doorknob.

It turns.

“Ha, thought so. Unlocked.” Jax swings the door open, gesturing forward to Pomni. “Go on, you first.”

Pomni considers protesting, but Jax seems to be in such a mood. He’s hard to deal with when he’s being moody.

Pomni is genuinely afraid an NPC might jump out at her, but she breaks her paralysis. She grabs one of her bells as she hesitantly walks through.

The house seems to be empty of NPCs. Something about it is weird, though. Pomni ventures forward into one of the rooms.

It’s full of dining room tables and nothing else.

“Oh man,” Pomni says. “It’s kind of uncanny.”

Jax pops up beside her and looks in the room.

“That’s nothing,” he dismisses. “I once saw a room that was full of these miniature porcelain horses and they all turned to face me as one.”

Pomni shudders. “That’s awful.”

“Just you wait, Pomni,” Jax says. “The horrors you’ll face.”

He walks off to explore the rest of the house and Pomni follows, occasionally pausing to look at a weird picture on the wall that’s a bunch of shapes that don’t look like anything.

“Look at this room,” Jax says, head popped through a doorway. He moves back to let her look.

The room is crowded with chairs, some defying gravity on the ceiling. It looks precarious.

“Go on, try sitting on one,” Jax dares her.

The chair in front of Pomni is glitchy, like if she interacts with it the chair will turn the room into a huge mass of glitching chairs and the concept terrifies her.

“Only if you sit on one first,” she tells him.

“Hmmmm, let’s see what else there is.” Jax shuts the door in her face.

“Hey!”

But Jax has already moved on. There’s not much more interesting than that. Most of the rooms just have too many of one piece of furniture.

“Eh, I’m bored of this place. Let’s go check out a different house,” Jax says at length.

They head out and Jax walks for a while before going into another house. It’s more of a journey than Pomni expected.

When they enter the living room of the house Pomni’s eyes go wide as she realizes it’s filled with all different types of teapots, some of them the same size as Pomni.

“Weird,” she says. This room doesn’t seem glitchy so she walks in, kneeling down next to the tiniest teapot she’s ever seen. It has porcelain flowers all over it. “Some of these are cute.”

Jax snorts. “What is it about small stuff that gets girls going, huh?”

He reaches out and pokes a teapot that’s floating in the air. It falls to the ground, shattering itself and another that it lands on. “Ha! Nice.”

Pomni shakes her head at him and stands back up, wandering out of the room into the next.

The kitchen is rudimentary, but Pomni’s attention is drawn upwards to what has to be at least fifty crystal chandeliers all layered on top of each other and shining crystally refracted light everywhere.

It’s stunning. Pomni stares up at it, eyes wide.

It’s not the most surreal thing she’s seen in the Circus. But this isn’t the Circus.

This is Spudsy’s. And it’s harder to be here. She realizes she’s mesmerized and some of the pain in her chest is relieved.

Is this what Jax felt when he looked at the sunset?

Pomni takes her moment to stop and smell the roses.

“Wow, crazy,” Jax says from beside her. She glances up at him just as his eyes move to look down at her.

The reflection of the lights look like stars in his eyes.

“What do you think, Pom?”

Honestly, Pomni feels a little relieved. Jax seems a little less nefarious. He really does just seem to be bored finding fun things to do most of the time.

But sometimes he goes full [BEEP]hole on Gangle. And Ragatha. Pomni thinks about it as a warning.

“Pom?”

Pomni blinks up at Jax who has an expression on his face like he hasn’t decided on his mood.

“It’s really pretty.” She looks back up at the lights. “It’s easy to get lost in looking at them.”

It must satisfy whatever has him on the fence because Jax smiles at her. “Well yeah, I bet your big ol’ eyes can take in so much of them.”

Pomni rolls said big ol’ eyes at Jax and he snorts. “What if we just smashed like all of them?”

“With what? How?” Pomni looks around. “There’s nothing in here. Or are you planning on jumping up and dragging them down?”

He’s tall enough he could probably do it, too.

“Maybe. You don’t know me.” Jax crosses his arms, scowling. Then his eyes roll back thoughtfully. “There are all those teapots back there…”

Then he gives her a wicked smile. “Or maybe I could just toss you.”

Pomni takes a step away from him. “Don’t even think about it.”

She wouldn’t put it past him, he picked her up by the throat after all.

Pomni darts out of the room.

They explore a few more homes. The further out they get the weirder the stuff is, but there’s nothing as sinister as porcelain horses. Pomni is relieved for that. It’s like an adventure with a quarter of the stress.

They enter a house that’s mostly empty, but the dimly lit living room is filled with extravagant beds. Pomni sits down on a bright red, super plush looking one. She bounces a bit.

“This is super detailed. It’s so soft, why would we ever need such a comfortable bed in an adventure?”

“Frankly I think we should demand an adventure where we just try to take the longest nap in the most comfortable bed we can find.” Jax flops onto the bed beside her, stretching out.

“Ooh, it’s nice to lay on a bed again.”

Pomni is suddenly so tempted to lay down. But that would definitely make it weird.

So instead she swings her legs up onto the bed and leans against the plush headboard. She pats the bed a bit and sighs.

“It is nice. God, I want to have some privacy in my room.”

Jax grunts, turning to his side. “Right? It’s like your place is getting renovated only instead of getting put up in a hotel you have to work minimum wage until it’s done.”

Which is more or less exactly what it is.

“Uuuugh,” Pomni groans, head falling back. “I can’t wait to go back to the Circus.”

Then she feels weird even saying that. She makes a face.

“Sort of,” she corrects.

Jax waves it off. “No, no, you’re right. No one wants to be at the Circus but at least there’s variety. This ‘adventure’ we’re on is like the opposite of enrichment.”

“Yeah,” Pomni says. “It’s detriment.”

They both just kind of stare forwards for a while.

Then Pomni peeks over at Jax. His eyes flick to her.

“What.” He asks.

“I’ve been having fun,” Pomni ponders. “Ever since last night.”

“Have you now?” Jax definitely looks pleased about that, though he quickly turns his face into the mattress and just lays like that for several seconds.

Pomni is about to ask if he’s good but he finally turns his face back to look up at her. “It’s been a marked improvement, hasn’t it? Who knew serotonin made life worth living.”

Pomni smiles. “Yeah.”

She slumps a bit onto the bed. “If we keep doing this maybe it’ll keep us from losing it longer.”

“That’s certainly the hope. At the rate we were going we were all set up to return as loopy as Kinger,” Jax says uncharitably.

Pomni grunts. But he might not be wrong.

They’re silent for a long time.

“There’s so few of us, but Spudsy’s feels crowded,” Pomni finally says. “But sometimes it still feels lonely.”

Jax meets her eyes for a moment then looks away, pushing his face into the mattress again. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Pomni’s brows knit a little in concern. She reaches over and lightly pats Jax’s back.

“It’s okay,” she says. “I think everything will work out.”

“Probably. What a pain in the [BEEP], though.” Jax rolls onto his back again, folding his arms behind his head.

He’s certainly not wrong about that.

Jax starts to fish around in his pocket, pulling out a cigarette and lighter. “Wanna smoke?”

“What if the bed catches on fire,” Pomni says. “Wasn’t that like, the lead cause of death in the 70’s?”

“If it catches on fire we just run away,” Jax says simply, putting a cigarette between his sharp teeth and lighting it. He takes a drag and holds it out to Pomni. “Come on. Succumb to peer pressure.”

Pomni takes the cigarette and examines it. Then she takes a little puff on it and sighs it out. “What a day.”

“Spoken like a true retail employee.” Jax bumps their hands together before taking the cigarette back.

He takes a few drags off it, eyes glazing over as he gets lost in his head. Pomni lets him, lost in her own for a while.

Her attention returns at a panic thought about the cigarette ash and Jax’s eyes turn to her as she checks it. He holds it out towards her in offering.

“It’s been rough,” Jax mutters, like he resents the words.

Pomni frowns and takes the cigarette. They pass it in silence for a while and Jax’s mood seems to sink more and more. Pomni starts to wonder if he was hoping for a response and panics to find one.

Jax puts the butt of the cigarette out on the wooden bed frame and tsks, flicking it to the floor. Yeah, he’s definitely in a bad mood.

Pomni terrified in training

Jax’s hand around hers

Pomni fixes Jax’s turned face with a serious look and reaches out, curling her fingers around his hand.

Jax tenses under the touch and he turns to regard her, eyes moving to their hands. “What’s that for?”

Did she read the situation wrong?

“Sorry,” she says, taking her hand back. “I thought maybe—“

What.

She’s the one who wanted it. Maybe she needs it.

Jax frowns. “I didn’t tell you to stop.”

His hand chases hers down, moving around it. Jax isn’t looking at her. “You’re so sensitive.”

“I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Pomni says awkwardly. She turns her hand so their palms are touching and it makes her stomach flip a little.

“That’s very considerate of you considering I don’t pay you the same courtesy,” Jax says with amusement in his voice. His fingers squeeze around hers. “You’re funny, Pom.”

Pomni glances away. “Well… you were there for me.”

If anything that just seems to fluster Jax further. “Oh don’t go getting sappy. But yes I was there for you, don’t you ever forget.”

Pomni scoffs. “I won’t.”

They’re quiet for a while again. When Jax breaks the silence it’s with neutral topics, whatever’s coming to his mind. Pomni listens then starts adding her own two cents.

She’s in the middle of oversimplifying the plot of a movie when she realizes Jax is just staring down at their hands, expression almost dazed. She wonders if he’s okay.

It’s then that she realizes the room is a little lighter. She looks out the window and frowns. “Is it morning already…? It hasn’t been dark that long.”

“Maybe Caine shortened the night,” Jax says darkly. “Figured we’d drive away before now.”

Pomni is disheartened. “I don’t want to go back to Spudsy’s yet.”

Jax’s gaze moves to meet hers and he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. “At least we know we can do this again.”

And suddenly Pomni’s heart is aflutter, beating like a restless bird’s wings. She looks into Jax’s eyes and sees empathy she wasn’t sure he was capable of.

Pomni finally breaks the gaze, looking down at their hands. She thinks Jax is looking at them too.

The sun continues to rise.

And then, finally, the day resets.

Chapter Text

Day 7

Although at this point it’s not a surprise, Jax still feels a sting of resentment waking back up in front of Spudsy’s in his car. The place hadn’t even let them wake up in that empty house on that cozy bed.

Speaking of which, Jax instinctively turns to look but Pomni isn’t in his car. It must have dumped her into her own as the day reset.

For a moment Jax rests his head on the steering wheel, pretending he doesn’t have to go in for a work shift and instead remembering the previous night. Fun isn’t exactly the word he’d use for exploring the half-baked suburb but it had been fun doing it with Pomni.

He thinks of their hands interlocked on the bed and warmth blooms in his chest.

The moment is ruined by the sound of Orbsman’s hateful ‘voice’ calling out across the parking lot. Good morning everyone! Rise and grind! Get that bread! Idle hands are the devil’s workshop!

Jax tsks, slowly dragging himself up and out of his car.

His eyes immediately seek out Pomni but she’s unfortunately already been snagged into a grouping of Zooble and Gangle. It immediately turns his expression to a scowl, displeased.

He sulkily tags along behind them as they head towards the restaurant, blatantly eavesdropping.

“So how was the whole breaking and entering thing?” Zooble asks dryly, no doubt judging the entire concept like they could think of anything better to do.

“Oh, uh, it was kind of freaky,” Pomni tells them. “But it was…”

She glances back as if seeking something out and her eyes meet Jax’s. She looks surprised to see him so close.

“Fun,” she says, like the word slipped her mind for a moment. She nearly trips and glances away from him, paying attention to where she’s going again.

“That’s not convincing,” Zooble says. “Caine probably filled them up with junk, didn’t he?”

“I mean, yeah, but–”

Orbsman cuts her off by ushering them through the door.

Jax is pleased that Pomni had fun but he wishes he could rip her away from the others, take her back out to explore while they toil away.

They all start to open up the restaurant, Jax waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Jax comes up behind Pomni while she's reaching up, struggling to grab a tray. He looks at the sliver of skin that shows near her waist before reaching out to poke Pomni’s side.

"Mornin', Pom."

Pomni immediately gives a squeak of surprise and jumps away from Jax's hand with cartoonish agility. She wheels around on him, eyes wide, and when she registers who it is and what happened she suddenly looks so unamused it makes Jax's heart stutter.

"What are you doing??"

He wants to do it again.

Pomni's face is cutely flushed. She looks like she's about to take a swing at him.

"Don't just poke people like that, what's wrong with you?!"

"Oh I'm sure it could fill a book," Jax says with amused dismissal.

Her little brow furrows and he wants to poke between her eyes. Tug on her like a stretch toy.

"Seriously, you scared the [BEEP] out of me!" Pomni scolds.

"Oh I'm sorry," he lies, grin widening.

"Need me to grab that for you?" Jax asks, snatching up the tray before she answers and holding it out to her.

Pomni scowls at him, distrustful, then takes the tray.

She turns away from him and goes back to prep. Jax hangs around her, following her to assembly.

"I thought you hated assembly," he says, leaning casually against the counter with his hands in his pockets.

"I do," Pomni says. "But I'm on assembly."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Jax tsks. "Well, I guess it can't be helped, then. Afraid if you ask Orbsman to switch you won’t be the favorite anymore?"

He starts bapping one of her bells around.

"Stop it!" Pomni isn't having it. "What are you, a cat??"

"No, I'm a rabbit. Don't you have eyes? Are you losing your marbles?"

God Pomni is so cute and easy to mess with.

"Will you miss me, Pom? Orbsman is a [BEEP] and put me on register."

It genuinely soured Jax's mood when he'd gotten the order and the feeling returns as he remembers.

He tries not to let it show too much in front of Pomni.

"What, do you hate interfacing with the general public?" Pomni glances at Jax as she puts things away.

Look at her, taking an interest.

"I hate interfacing with your gummy boyfriend is what I hate," Jax tells her. "If he shows up I'm setting him on fire."

"What??" Pomni looks so alarmed.

"You heard me. I hear even one 'g'day' and it's going to be a bad day for him." Jax doubles down.

"Don't do that!" Pomni cries in alarm.

"Why not?" Jax counters, a sting of jealousy in his chest. What, is she defending it?

"Just don't," Pomni says, ducking her head away from him and suddenly Jax feels crazy.

It's bull[BEEP]. She only knew the guy for like twenty minutes.

Is she sad now?

Pomni doesn't say anything else to him and Jax reaches up, yanking on her hat.

"Ow!!!"

Pomni nearly falls back onto the floor. She glares at Jax.

"Why did you do that?!"

Why...?

Because the alligator makes him feel insane and if it shows up and Pomni starts making sad doe eyes at it Jax is gonna lose it.

Jax is suddenly aware that he's just been staring at Pomni. Scowling at her.

She's well within her rights to tell him to go [BEEP] himself, but instead those sweet, trippy eyes soften and she lowers her voice to ask,

"Are you okay?"

It makes his chest go hot and weird and not in a good way.

"I'm fine," he insists through gritted teeth.

"Pomni, do you think you could grab some extra cheese from the walk-in?" Gangle interrupts, not reading the [BEEP] room.

Jax turns a fierce glare her way and she whimpers in alarm. "What?"

Jax tries to swallow down his mood but he doesn't quite manage. "I'll do it."

Jax stalks off to the walk-in, but even once he's in the frigid air he doesn't cool down. He just glares at the cheese like it did him dirty.

And then the walk-in door opens.

And Pomni walks through.

And she's looking at him with that same look of concern. Jax frowns at her.

"Jax?" She walks up to him, looking up at his face searchingly.

she came after him

And this time his chest is hot and tight in a good way.

He glowers down at her, arms crossing. "What?"

Pomni frowns at him. "What's wrong?"

Jax stares, brow furrowed. He doesn't even know what to say to Pomni that won't reveal what an unhinged mess he is. And he would hate that.

"I just want the work day to end already," Jax finally says with a grunt. And it's not untrue. "I'm sick of doing this [BEEP]."

Pomni stares at him like she’s not sure if he’s lying. Then she sighs and glances away.

“Yeah… I’m sick of it, too.” She stares off at some horror in the middle distance, then turns her attention back to Jax.

“Do you…” She suddenly looks awkward. “We’re going to hang out later, right?”

Jax peers at Pomni, resisting the knee-jerk reaction to bat her down. Her big, earnest eyes help. And after all, she’s choosing him.

Instead he reaches down, ruffling the top of her head with more force than necessary. “Of course we are.”

Then he smirks. “You got a taste for crime and now you can’t get enough of it, huh?”

Pomni’s eyelids lower in disapproval. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“You’re a little criminal. I’m calling the cops and they are not gonna let you off the hook,” Jax tells her. “Look, I bet that cop NPC is waiting in the line outside. You want me to go check– OFFICER!”

Jax tries to get past Pomni who grabs at his arm and tugs on him. He allows himself to get pulled back, but still pretends to fight to get at the walk-in door.

“Pomni, knock it off– Officer!! I have the fugitive right here!”

“Jax, stop!”

Jax stops and looks down at her. “But why?”

“Because–”

Pomni stands there looking up at him like she just now realized there really isn’t a reason not to. What’s the NPC gonna do, arrest her? And take her where?

“W-well–” Pomni tries to regain her footing. “You’re being–”

“Silly?” Jax finishes for her. “Charming?”

Pomni starts to respond, but the door opens and Zooble sticks their head in.

“There you two are,” they say, looking at Jax disapprovingly. “Stop getting on Pomni’s [BEEP] and do your job so we don’t get punished by God.”

“You mean Caine?” Pomni blinks.

“That’s what I said.” Zooble gives one last look to Pomni as if to say ‘you deserve better, girl,’ then leaves and lets the walk-in door close.

If they hadn’t just dipped out Jax would have happily thrown anything in arm’s reach at their wedge of a head for that look to Pomni. He scowls a little but part of it is also just the gloom of having to go work setting in.

Regardless of how well things have started to go with Pomni he doesn’t want to go through training again, no matter how tedious this all is.

Jax sighs. “Alright, I’ll let you off the hook for now.”

He grabs the cheese and pushes it at Pomni. “Go give this to Gangle. Or don’t. I don’t care.”

His eyes move to her hand as she reaches up to take it, wishing he could hold it again, then shakes it off. Later.

Jax passes Pomni, turning to glance back at her as he heads through the door. “See you around, Pompom.”

“Yeah, later,” Pomni calls after him, looking like she’s still trying to determine his mood.

Jax lingers a moment with a lazy smirk, taking in Pomni’s concern, then turns his back and walks away.

-

It’s time for a cigarette.

Jax isn’t even craving them. He’s sure they must be highly addictive, but he would go outside and pretend to smoke one at this [BEEP]ing point, because working the register has him ready to kill in cold blood.

He just needs out.

He didn’t even pass Pomni on the way out, who knows where she is. If she were here right now he’d yank her hat clean off.

Jax slams his side into the back door to get it open, pulling the cigarettes from his pocket and going to–

He realizes Ragatha is sitting out back, hugging her legs with a bottle of sauce in her hand.

Oh, for [BEEP]’s sake.

Jax scowls at her and walks over, kicking vaguely at her huddled body. His foot misses, but he swings it again menacingly.

“Are you saucing again?” he asks her. “Gonna say some more [BEEP] you regret?”

Ragatha glares up at him and tries to hide the bottle, though he can definitely see the shame in her face at being called out. It brings him some pleasure. “Stop it, Jax. I’m not in the mood.”

“Well, are you?” Jax pushes the issue. “Going to make everyone’s life harder just because you can't take the pressure?”

The shame doubles, now accompanied by a flare of anger–no doubt self-righteous.

“What, you’re allowed to have unhealthy coping mechanisms to get through an adventure but I’m not?” Ragatha asks moodily.

Jax returns a scathing look, his anger and frustration raring at the opportunity to be unleashed.

“Oh it’s like me? You’re being like me right now? Because last time I checked I wasn’t chugging stupid sauce to get by because people are a little upset with me over the consequences of my own [BEEP]ing actions!”

“Yeah, I’m sure you love getting to lord it over me!” Ragatha snaps.

“Who is lording this over you? Who? Frankly I think you just enjoy feeling sorry for yourself. Oh I’m Ragatha, I’m a huge [BEEP] and everyone hates me, boohoo!”

Jax can see the hurt in Ragatha’s face but he can’t bother to feel bad for her. It’s not like he cares if she’s acting up but if Ragatha comes for him he will return the favor with a fiery vengeance.

“You’re so mean! I’m having a hard time!” Ragatha cries.

“Newsflash, we’re all having a hard time, Rags!” Jax throws his arms out. “But you want to sauce to get by, go ahead. Go on.”

Ragatha tsks, shrinking in on herself, but Jax isn’t done.

He lunges down, ripping the bottle from Ragatha and forcing it towards her mouth. She leans back, gripping his wrist and trying to ward him off. “Stop it, Jax!”

“No, go on! Drink up! You want it right? Glug, glug!” Jax continues to push it at her, the two struggling until Ragatha smacks it sharply from his hand, the bottle landing and rolling slowly a couple feet away.

“Stop it!” She cries at him, choking on tears.

Jax finally relents, easing back as his heart races with adrenaline. “Guess you must not want to do it after all.”

Ragatha is also breathing hard, glaring at him. “You’re so-”

And then her expression breaks and Ragatha begins to sob, hiding her face in her hands.

Jax sighs and rolls his eyes. “Okay, yeah. You have fun doing that.”

He walks over, leaning down to snatch up the bottle of stupid sauce. Ragatha is better than this, if she’d get her head out her [BEEP].

Ragatha mumbles something through her sobs and Jax looks over. “What.”

He stares, expression preemptively icy. He can do this all day.

Jax waits for Ragatha to say something, but she just shakes her head. Jax rolls his eyes.

“That’s what I thought.”

Jax raises the bottle of stupid sauce and gives it a cheeky shake.

“I’m taking this,” he says. Then, to add a little bite, “Me and Pomni are gonna drink it together.”

Ragatha looks up sharply and Jax can see jealousy in her eyes. He wonders how deep it goes and it makes him angry.

“Jax, you–”

“You what?” Jax interrupts. “‘You [BEEP]?’ Or were gonna say, ‘you [BEEP]?’ Oh, oh, or maybe, ‘you [BEEP]?’”

Jax snorts out a dismissive laugh. “Yeah, whatever, Ragatha.”

And with that he slips the bottle into his pocket and goes back inside without even taking his break.

He’d rather freeze his [BEEP] off in the walk-in than stand out here with ol’ raggedy and self-important.

As Jax heads back towards the register he notes that Pomni is at her station. She looks up at him, but he just passes her, not even in the mood to tug on her hat.

This place sucks.

And it’s sucking his soul out.

—

Ragatha feels horrible.

She feels horrible about how she’s treated Gangle, about how she’s ticked Zooble off, about how she hurt Pomni, about–

She’s still sauced up and not feeling great. But she pushes her way into Spudsy’s and stumbles to go find Gangle. She has to apologize now while she’s in the mindset or else she knows she’ll just clam up again, get defensive.

Why am I like this?

Ragatha feels tears threatening to spill over again, but fights them back. She has to find Gangle. She has–

Ragatha knocks into someone and they fall back onto the ground. Her alarm is doubled when she realizes who it is and quickly reaches down to help Gangle up.

“Oh jeez, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–”

Ragatha hates the way Gangle is looking up at her.

But then Gangle takes her hand and stands up. They regard each other for a long moment. And then Ragatha makes up her resolve.

“Woah–!” Gangle cries as Ragatha tugs her by the ribbon, pulling her to the break room and wheeling around on her to say–

“Gangle, I’m sorry.”

Gangle just stares, looking uncomfortable. Ragatha takes her ribbon in both hands and raises it, giving it a little squeeze.

“I’m so sorry for what I said to you. That was so mean of me, a terrible thing for a friend to say and I regret it so bad.”

Ragatha’s eye fills up with tears again and she fights it as valiantly as she can. She had remembered vague things from that day. Bits and pieces that had filtered through her mind like a sieve until she had remembered–

“You’re not annoying, Gangle,” Ragatha promises her. “I love being around you.”

Gangle’s mask looks shocked, eyes wide.

And then her little mouth wobbles and Gangle looks like she’s about to cry too. The big, round tears on her mask slip down and she reaches up with her free ribbon, wiping them away.

“You mean that…”

It’s not quite a question, not quite a statement.

Ragatha looks at her earnestly and says, “I love you, Gangle. So, so much.”

Gangle’s mouth tugs down like she’s hurt and it hurts Ragatha too.

“I know words can’t make up for it, but I’ll prove it to you,” Ragatha promises. “I’ll be a better friend. I’ll–”

Ragatha is cut off by Gangle hugging her as tight as her ribbons can. Ragatha freezes.

And then, slowly, her arms come around Gangle and she bows her head, hiccuping softly as Gangle hugs her. It’s sweet and it makes her heart ache.

When the two finally pull away they sit down and talk quietly for a while about work at Spudsy’s, about how they’re both at the end of their rope. But it feels good, like healing. And when Gangle finally is called back off to her tasks she gives Ragatha a smile over her shoulder and a little wave.

Ragatha slumps against the table, barely holding it together. She wishes she’d been able to have more sauce before Jax took it.

But this is far from over. Ragatha has to steel herself.

It’s not the last apology she has to make.

—

Jax is on register and he is [BEEP]ed about it.

The Gloink queen has come in like four times and each time says the same [BEEP] over and over and over and by the last time she leaves Jax is ready to rip his own head off.

The rush finally ends and Jax puts his hands on the counter, letting out a slow breath to keep himself from flipping the register.

Then he becomes aware that there’s someone beside him. He wheels on them, snapping, ”What?!”

Pomni looks up at him with wide eyes, startled but maybe not surprised. Jax’s demeanor eases.

“Oh, hey, Pom.”

“... hey.”

Pomni looks at him uncertainly then points vaguely behind her with her thumb. “Orbsman said for you to take a ten.”

“Are you going on break?” Jax immediately asks.

“Nope. I’m stuck on assembly.”

That tanks. Jax wants to spend his break tormenting her.

“What time is it?” he asks like she’s Big Ben. “Was that the lunch rush? Or the dinner rush? Is it still breakfast?”

Jax slumps down onto the counter, laying his head down.

“Pomni, pick up the register and drop it on my head.”

Pomni tilts her head at him then shrugs. “It’s too heavy.”

“Hah.”

God, he wants to eat her up like a Hostess snack.

“You’re the size of a baby carrot,” Jax informs her.

“I– wha?” Pomni looks so thrown off it’s adorable.

“Pomni, stop being so small.”

Pomni’s eyes narrow. “Go take your break.”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Yes, you do.”

They’re at a stalemate. Jax smirks.

“How about you sneak off and take it with me–”

“Uhh, not to interrupt,” comes the voice of an NPC.

The accent sends a furious chill down Jax’s spine. He and Pomni both slowly turn their heads to see–

It’s that stupid lizard

“Oh, greaaaat,” Jax rolls his eyes. Then he looks at Pomni.

She’s staring at the gator with large, startled eyes, frozen. Jax hates it.

“Pomni,” he says, but she doesn’t respond.

Jax reaches up and snaps his fingers in front of her face. “Pompom.”

This time Pomni startles. She looks between the two of them then turns, heading to the back. Oh it makes Jax so mad. He rounds on the gummy guy.

“I hate you.”

The NPC stares at him. “What?”

“What can I get for you?”

“I–” The NPC thinks with its stupid NPC brain. “A number… three.”

Jax punches it in. Takes the NPC’s money. Then he meets its beady little eyes.

“What was your name?”

“... Gummigoo,” the NPC responds like it’s not sure if answering is a good idea, but clearly offended enough to get riled up.

“Gummigoo, huh?” Jax leans forward over the register. “We’ll see how gummy you are.”

“... What?”

Jax clarifies, “I’m gonna eat you.”

The NPC gives him a startled look and seems to genuinely not have a response programmed for that. Jax raises his eyebrows at it challengingly then turns and walks away from the register.

“We’ll call your number whenever.”

He has a little clown to find.

Jax checks the walk-in first because he’s a genius and of course she’s there. Pomni looks over her shoulder, startled, and Jax is relieved to see she’s not crying. It’s less out of sympathy and more out of jealousy.

“Hey.” Jax scowls at her. “Did you come here to cry?”

Pomni looks up at him for this long moment that almost has Jax flipping out. Then she shakes her head.

“I just needed a minute.”

“Liar.” Jax doesn’t even mean to say it.

Pomni’s eyes go wide. Then she looks incensed. “I’m not lying–”

“Uh-huh.”

Then Jax is hit with the horrible thought that if Caine had allowed Gummiguts to stay at the Circus, Jax wouldn’t have a chance with Pomni–

Jax is suddenly stricken. His eyes go wide, expression blank as he realizes exactly what he wants.

“Jax…?”

Pomni is peering up at him with undue concern.

I want you

“I’m good,” Jax tells her.

I want you all to myself

“I’m gonna go back to register,” he tells her, turning. “After work, come to my car.”

He hears Pomni start to say something, but just gives her a lazy wave and heads out of the walk-in, making his way back to the front.

His resolve solidifies as he takes his place.

I want you to want me

The minutes drag on.

And I won’t stop until you do

—

Spudsy’s is closed.

Pomni finishes punching out and gives a little sigh. What a long day. She’s still a little shaken from seeing Gummigoo, but she feels… better. For some reason.

Maybe because it’s all over and she and Jax can–

“Ugh, I’m so glad that’s over,” comes Gangle’s voice from beside her. She leans past Pomni and punches out too. “Poor Zooble and Ragatha.”

They’re closing. Pomni feels sympathy for them, but doesn’t really feel up to taking anyone’s place. She and Gangle start to head out and she looks around, but doesn’t see Jax. He must already have clocked out.

“Ragatha apologized to me,” Gangle tells Pomni as they leave the building.

“Oh–”

Oh thank goodness

Relief floods Pomni’s chest and she smiles. “I’m so glad.”

“Yeah,” Gangle says, sounding lighter than she has in days. “I feel a lot better. I think things are gonna be okay.”

What a relief.

“Maybe we can all hang tomorrow after work,” Pomni suggests hopefully.

Gangle nods. Then pauses. “Why not tonight? Do you have plans?”

“Haha… sort of.”

Pomni peeks over at Jax’s car and sure enough there he is, sitting with his head back against the headrest, eyes closed like he’s napping.

“Pomni, Jax isn’t… bullying you still, is he?” Gangle says the word like she doesn’t think that’s actually it.

Pomni laughs awkwardly. “Noooo…. I mean, sort of. But not really.”

“O-kay.” Gangle sounds more confused, but she lets it go. “Well, if you need anything…”

Pomni shakes her head. “I’m good. I’ll see you… tomorrow.”

If it can be called tomorrow. The days blend.

Gangle tilts her head at her, but ultimately keeps whatever thoughts she’s having to herself. “Cool. I’m gonna wait for Zooble to get off.”

They part and Pomni’s heart beats a little faster.

Pomni heads over to Jax’s car and lightly taps on the passenger window. Jax startles a bit, looking over as she pulls the door open and gets in.

“Hey,” she greets, feeling suddenly shy.

Jax looks at her, head tilting, and for a moment Pomni feels uneasy. Is Jax still in a bad mood?

But then he flashes her a slow grin. "I have a surprise for you. Guess what it is. Bet you can't."

Pomni really can't.

"Uhmmm," she tries to think of anything he could have possibly gotten from Spudsy's. "Uhhhhhhhhh..."

"Oh my god Pom. You're killing me here. You couldn't even think of one thing. Which makes what it is perfect. Bam!"

Jax suddenly pulls something out and shoves it in her face, making Pomni rear back.

Then she registers it's stupid sauce.

Jax waggles his eyebrows. "Ehh? Ehhhh?"

For a second Pomni doesn't put two and two together. Then her jaw drops. "You wanna drink that stuff?"

That's an idiot move.

"Ragatha didn't exactly seem to be having a good time," she says doubtfully.

"No trust me, that's her fault,” Jax says. “C’mon, trust me! It's after hours and the world will just refresh, even if you end up hating it."

It's not exactly the most compelling argument but he's not wrong.

"Come oooon. Who doesn't like unwinding after work?" He shakes the bottle.

"I dunno..."

This doesn't seem like a good idea. Pomni crosses her arms.

"You drink it first."

"Hmmm, is that how it is? I'll hold you to it, so you better take some after me."

Jax pops open the lid and gives her a wink before holding the bottle up and letting some drip onto his tongue.

He smacks his lips and then Jax freezes, staring straight ahead with an expression that Pomni would describe as existential dread.

And then he snorts sharply into the uneasy silence. Then snorts again until it turns into a wheezing laugh.

"Niiiice."

He grins lazily at Pomni, shaking the bottle at her. "Yooour turn."

Huh. Okay, then.

Pomni takes the bottle with some nerves. She sniffs it then frowns. It doesn't smell bad but--

Jax picks up a drink from the cup holder and takes a looooong sip. Pomni's brow furrows.

"Did you steal that?"

Jax chokes on the drink and barely manages to swallow before bursting into little giggles.

"Of course I stole it, Pomni," he tells her. "What do you mean! Of course I stole it!"

"Hm."

Then Pomni realizes it doesn't matter. It's not a real soda and it's not a real restaurant and even if Jax did steal from a real restaurant she wouldn't even care.

So why is she getting on Jax's [BEEP]?

Pomni searches for the answer, grasps at it.

I'm in this car because I want him around

Pomni looks away sharply and takes a sip of the sauce.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Jax sits up a bit. "That's too much, you crazy [BEEP]!"

But it's too late.

Pomni's eyes blow out. She thinks she can feel it happening.

Suddenly Jax looks like he's impossibly far away.

"Woah!" Pomni grabs at her seat, dropping the bottle. "Oh nooooo."

"Yeah, it feels like upside down drunk, right?" Jax grins.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," Pomni repeats, shaking her head.

"Oh calm down, you're fine," Jax says, bringing the soda up so the straw is at her mouth. "Drink this."

Pomni does so automatically and the refreshing soda washes away the taste of the sauce. It's a huge relief, frankly, as the taste had become cloying.

Jax pulls the drink away.

"Don't drink all of it. You're so selfish."

Even though he was the one holding it there.

Pomni blinks at him slowly. She says even slower, "You're sooo far away."

"Huh?"

"You're far away," she repeats.

"Huh???" Jax is grinning at her with half lidded eyes.

Is he making fun of her? But for some reason it feels more important to convey to him,

"No, no, like it looks like you're three miles away even though you're-- you're right here."

Pomni reaches up and somehow her hand stretches out far enough to grab his arm. She's not expecting to actually reach him and it makes her yelp, pull her hand back a bit.

Then she feels at his arm.

"Woah... it's like my arm's two feet long."

"Is it two feet or three miles?" Jax snorts. "That's what's wrong with you, you're so inconsistent. You're a mess, Pom. Look at you, just look at your little face."

"My head is huge," she says vaguely, patting Jax's arm over and over.

Jax snorts then throws his head back and starts to lose it, leaning back against the seat as his laughter fills the distance between them.

Then he reaches out with his long arm, hand pushing down on her head. "Yeah it is!"

“Ow,” Pommi says dully. She starts whacking at his arm. “Stoppit.”

“No.”

Pomni starts whacking his arm in a rhythm, smacking her hand back and forth. She gets lost in it, staring blankly ahead.

That has Jax losing it again. “You’re being so sloppy right now, Pom.”

His hand moves over and grips one end of her hat, ringing the bell. The sound seems to echo right in her head.

“What do you think?” He asks her, still ringing the bell distractingly.

“I dunno, I think they sound like jingle bells,” she says. “It’s really annoying.”

“Not the bell, you dingus. The sauce.” Jax rings the bell harder and she smacks at his arm again.

“I dunno, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster,” she tells him. “It’s all really intense.”

She peers up at him, pausing in her smacking only to form a fist and bop it against his arm over and over.

“Your eyes are really big,” Pomni informs Jax.

“Not as big as yours,” Jax counters, leaning closer and seeming to pierce into her soul with his gaze. “They’re as big as moons.”

Pomni stares at him, time slipping away.

“Yours are bigger,” she insists. “And your pupils are all blown out. It’s like looking into two black holes.”

They’re sucking her in.

Jax’s grin widens and for a moment Pomni fears it might engulf his face. “Careful, you’ll get trapped in ‘em.”

“I think I am,” she tells him. She’s locked in. “Oh my god.”

Jax laughs slowly, then reaches up, bopping her lightly in the face. It makes Pomni blink hard, startled but free.

She blinks a couple more times and when she can focus again Jax has pulled back. He turns on the car, starting to fuss with the radio. “Let’s listen to Caine’s greatest hits.”

They tune into Caine’s rendition of Take On Me and Jax lets it play, crossing his arms behind his head. Pomni stares at the time on the clock. It’s not numbers, just a bunch of dashes. She wonders how long they’ve been there.

“Taaake ooon meee,” Caine sings.

Pomni responds, softly singing under her breath, “Taaake meee ooon…”

Jax snorts beside her, reaching over to push at her arm and the jostling makes Pomni feel like she’s afloat at sea. “Hit the high note, Pom.”

“No,” Pomni says flatly. The place where he touches feels warm even through the glove. “That’s all you get.”

“That’s no fair. You can’t just bust out into Take On Me and not go for the high note,” Jax admonishes.

“I can do whatever I want,” Pomni tells him. “I’m off the clock.”

Jax continues to look down at her sternly for a few seconds then starts cracking up again, the laughter doubling as Caine starts to go for the high note and misses it spectacularly.

“Pfffff—“ Pomni isn’t even aware that the sound is coming from her for a moment. Then she bursts into laughter, leaning back and bonking her head hard against the window. “Ow!”

The two of them lose it. It feels good to laugh.

It goes on for a while, dying down only to fall back into full hysteria as Caine circles back to the chorus. Jax hugs his stomach, rolling back and forth against his seat.

“Stop, it hurts!” He wheezes out.

The song finally ends and the two of them calm as Caine transitions to some funky Phil Collins. Seemingly having had his fill, Jax reaches over to shut off the radio. Pomni looks over at Jax and gives him a little grin.

“You’re crazy,” she tells him.

Jax grins back, reaching up to tug on her hat again. “And you’re hilarious.”

Pomni’s heart flutters.

The sound of voices pulls her attention away and she looks back at Spudsy’s to see Ragatha and Zooble walking out. They’re talking and Zooble is actively looking at Ragatha. They look amicable.

Ragatha follows Zooble to their car and they get in. They all must be hanging out. Pomni turns her gaze away.

“Good for Ragatha.”

Jax snorts at that. “Booo. Boo Ragatha.”

Pomni can’t blame him. She gets the feeling a lot of apologies are owed around the Circus.

Jax’s eyes are boring holes into her. Pomni tries to muster up a scowl, but mostly just grimaces.

“What.”

“Are you still bothered about your boyfriend?” Jax asks.

Oh god.

“I mean,” Pomni says. “I wasn’t thinking about him until you said that. Also, he wasn’t my boyfriend.”

“Well you sure got all bent out of shape over it,” Jax grumbles. “I told him I’m gonna eat him.”

“Jax.” Pomni gives him a half lidded look. “I’m on some sort of psychedelic right now. I don’t exactly want to think about Gummigoo.”

“A convenient excuse,” Jax tsks.

Why is Jax pouting? Pomni stares uncomprehendingly.

“Why are you even bothered about it? It doesn’t have anything to do with you,” Pomni says slowly.

Jax glares down at her. “Am not.”

“You really are though,” Pomni insists.

Jax’s scowl deepens, Pomni once again getting lost in the gravitational pull of his eyes.

Pomni becomes aware of them just breathing in silence and wonders if seconds or minutes have passed.

Then she’s distracted by the movement of Jax’s hand cupping her cheek. His brow is still furrowed but it’s not anger reflected in the depths of his eyes. “You’re so pretty, Pom.”

And then Jax leans in, time seeming to slow as he kisses Pomni on the mouth.

Oh

Pomni’s heart goes a mile a minute, eyes widening and getting trapped further in Jax’s gaze.

She thinks about pulling away. Smacking him.

But it’s a distant thought, head heavy with the sauce and the way Jax kissing her makes her feel. Pomni’s hands start to tremble and something deep in her chest guides her.

Pomni kisses back softly, so gently it’s barely a movement of her lips. The kiss tastes of cola.

Jax lets out a breathy groan, hand slipping from her cheek to the back of Pomni’s neck and cradling it as he holds her close. Their mouths move together slowly, Jax deepening it the longer they go.

A hot feeling wells in Pomni’s stomach and she feels drunk, dizzy, like she’s dreaming. Her eyes slip closed and she leans closer, mouthing at him sweetly.

That’s the thing about the kiss. It’s oddly sweet.

But Pomni can sense something in Jax that feels like a lot of restraint. Like he wants to grab her and—

“Mm—“ Pomni feels a burst of shyness and breaks the kiss, eyes opening slowly. She looks at Jax. No words come.

Jax stares down at her in a daze before a smirk slips into place. His voice is low when he says, “I thought you were gonna one hundred percent slap me in the face.”

“I thought about it,” Pomni admits.

Jax chuckles at that, leaning in to press their foreheads together. She can see the way he looks down at her mouth. “Wanna do it again?”

Pomni flushes and feels it all over.

yes

Pomni feels too embarrassed to say it, opting instead to press her forehead up, gently tugging on Jax’s arm to get him to lean down.

Jax happily obliges, cooperative for once as he tugs Pomni into another kiss. It feels more urgent this time as their mouths move together, Jax’s fingers starting to rub along the back of her neck.

It sends little shivers through Pomni who knows Jax can feel it because he groans again and it sounds

desperate

There’s a flutter in Pomni’s stomach and then a pulse between her legs.

Oh no

I really like Jax

Jax kisses her deeper and his breathing sounds a little shaky. It makes Pomni feel weirdly lightheaded. She breaks the kiss to speak, but Jax keeps leaning in and pecking her lips while she says,

“You—“ He kisses her. “Like me, right?”

Jax grunts in annoyance and kisses the side of her mouth, then the other, then kisses her fully on the lips. When he pulls back he gives her an unamused look.

“Why do you think I’m doing this?”

Pomni still feels nervous. “It’s not… just the sauce, is it?”

Jax stares at her for several seconds before taking her face in both hands, eyes peering into hers. Then he scoffs dismissively. “You’re the one that’s only doing this because of the sauce.”

Pomni’s eyebrows raise in surprise. “But I’m… not.”

“Real convincing,” Jax says, pulling back and looking at her a little reproachfully.

What is with this attitude? Pomni frowns.

“If you think about it, it makes sense,” she tells him.

Jax’s expression is blank. He crosses his arms. “What.”

A wave of embarrassment hits Pomni.

“You know… us.”

Jax sits there, looking at her like his system is rebooting. “What do you mean.”

”I don’t know!” Pomni shrugs sharply. “We just— We’re friends, but there’s something else, right?”

Something she hadn’t put a name to. But now she’s making out the shape of it.

Jax’s eyes burn into her and then he smirks like he just got the best of her somehow. “Oh, is that how you feel? We have something special?”

Pomni is at a loss. “Did I misread something? You kissed me.”

And now they’re arguing.

“You’re changing the subject, Pomni. We’re talking about you here and your overwhelming feelings of passion for me.”

Pomni blushes hard and it makes her angry. “I’m being serious, Jax.”

“Me too,” Jax says. “Now admit you’re more into me than you’ve ever been into anyone.”

“Jesus!” Pomni cries, getting whiplash from him.

“Especially the gator.”

“Why are you bringing him up?!” Pomni complains, but Jax is already leaning in to kiss hotly at her cheek, her jaw, her neck. It makes her gasp. “Jax, we’re having a conversation.”

“You’re talking to me like we’ve been together for forty years,” Jax says, kissing her throat over and over. “I love it.”

“Jax!”

“Pomni,” Jax groans in response. “Can I touch your tits?”

Oh and that question has her slamming back to reality. Pomni tilts her head to look and see if the others are in view. Sure enough they’re in Zooble’s car, parked facing away from them, but if they turned they could totally see—

“Wait, wait, wait,” Pomni pushes on Jax, who doesn’t budge. He keeps kissing at her. “Someone could see.”

“Good, I want them to,” Jax tells her, kissing between her collar bones. “Are you embarrassed? Ashamed?”

“I don’t want them to see me kissing anyone!” Pomni insists. “This is private!”

“Awww, you’re shy?” Jax sounds amused at that. “That’s so cute, Pompom. I want to chew you between my teeth.”

“That’s messed up,” Pomni says after staring at him for several unamused seconds. She’s so dizzy from the sauce and Jax seems to swim in her vision.

“Regardless,” Jax declares, leaning over her on the seat.

“Hey, what are you-” Pomni protests, unable to comprehend what he’s doing. Attacking her?

Then there’s the sharp, plunging sensation of falling and Pomni’s heart races as she finds herself staring up at the car ceiling. It takes far too long for her to comprehend that Jax lowered her seat.

Then his face appears over hers, laughing. “You should see your expression, it’s hilarious!”

“I’m sure it is!”

Pomni feels floaty, but more together, present. She baps him on the chest and turns her head away so he doesn’t even get the notion he can reach to kiss her.

“Aw, c’mon, Pom,” Jax nudges at the side of her face with his grinning mouth.

“You really startled me.”

“Is it really that big of a deal?” Jax says with exasperation.

Pomni slowly looks at him, frowning disapprovingly. “… Say you’re sorry.”

Jax looks like he’s determining his mood. Then he grins again and starts to slowly kiss at her bottom lip.

“Mmm, I’m so sorry, Pom,” he schmoozes.

“You’re lying,” Pomni accuses. “Try harder.”

“You think I would lie?” Jax asks, immediately breaking into a titter.

Then he kisses her lower lip slowly, sucking a little as he pulls off it. There’s still a tinge of amusement in his voice but it softens as he promises, “I’m sorry for startling you. I forget you have the nerves of a mouse.”

“I do not,” But Pomni knows it’s sort of true. “You’re just—“

Jax cuts off her words with a deep kiss and Pomni moans. It encourages Jax who moans in return and lightly gropes at her side.

“Pomni,” he says in a breathy voice. “Can I touch them now?”

Pomni swallows hard.

“… a little.”

Jax’s breath hitches and he kisses her hard, hand sliding along her side, then up her chest. He grins with intense focus as he squeezes her tit through her work shirt with a pleased hum.

“It’s so soft, Pom,” Jax murmurs against her mouth before giving it another slow squeeze.

The sensation sends heat through Pomni’s whole body, rushing through her blood.

“You’re lucky I have them at all in the—“ Pomni’s breath stutters as he squeezes harder, thumbing over her nipple. “In the Circus…”

Her eyes flutter closed and her head rolls back a bit. She’s so pleasantly high and Jax’s hand on her makes her feel good.

Other guys groping her never made her feel like this.

Excited. Incredibly nervous.

“I really am lucky,” Jax agrees with her. “They’re so cute.”

They start to kiss again, Jax’s mouth eager against hers as his thumb slides lightly along her tit. Then Jax begins to trail lower, kissing at the side of her mouth, down her neck, ducking his head to lightly kiss and mouth around her nipple with a low moan.

Pomni’s breath hitches and her eyes flutter, back arching instinctively to press her breast against his face. “Mmh!”

“Fff[BEEP],” Jax groans. “Make that sound again.”

Pomni feels like her face is on fire. “I can’t just do it on command!”

“Yeah, you can, you’re just holding out on me on purpose,” Jax says in a low, breathy voice against her shirt, mouthing and then licking at her nipple.

Pomni’s hand comes up over her mouth just as she gives an embarrassingly honest moan. Her thighs start to tremble and she feels vulnerable laid back like this.

“What are you even… talking about?”

Pomni’s head lolls back against the headrest and she squeezes her eyes shut, biting her lip as her nipple gets hard, more sensitive. It’s muted through the shirt and the thin bra she’s pretty sure she’s wearing. She hasn’t checked.

“You’re abusing me is what I’m talking about,” Jax murmurs like it’s a sexy thing to say, hand starting to slip up under her shirt.

“W-woah there,” Pomni chastises, eyes popping open. She looks down at Jax in alarm, watching as he drags his tongue over her hard nipple.

“‘Woah there, it feels so good, Jax,’ you mean,” Jax corrects.

Pomni opens her mouth to complain, but the absurdity of the statement hits her just right and she snorts, head falling back as she breaks into giggles.

“That’s cute,” Jax murmurs, hand pressing further up her shirt, glove sliding over her stomach. Touching her. Feeling her.

And then he shifts, bowing his head down and starting to kiss her bare sternum. It tickles, makes her stomach sink under the touch. Jax is looking at her so intensely. His eyes are completely blown out.

Pomni considers telling him to stop. Normally she would.

But she really doesn’t want to.

Jax shoves her shirt up over her tits impatiently and pulls back to look at her chest. He looks on with admiration for a moment then tsks and shakes his head.

“It’s weird that Caine gave you a bra.”

Pomni looks down at it. It’s small, white cotton. It doesn’t fit very well, like it wasn’t made specifically for her dimensions. Caine went to so much effort to make Spudsy’s feel like Hell, but he just created a generic uniform and didn’t tailor it. She feels a vague sense of offense.

“It’d be weirder if he didn’t,” she says. “I wouldn’t go to work without a bra.”

“Why not?” Jax asks. “That’s sexy.”

“Not with the NPCs,” Pomni scowls. “What, do you want Gummigoo looking at my boobs? Really?”

Jax’s expression sours. He gropes at her tits roughly and turns his head to kiss one, glaring up at her. His fingers slip under one of the soft cups and pushes it up, starting to mouth at her bare breast.

“Don’t you speak his name in my car,” he orders despite the fact they were both talking about him earlier. Pomni opens her mouth to tell him this when instead,

“A-aah—!” Pomni gasps, body arching as Jax wraps his mouth around her nipple and starts to suck.

fuck

Pomni squeezes her thighs together and she can feel the heat between them. That’s so hot. That’s so—

“J-Jax, wai—“ Pomni’s chest arches, pressing her breast towards the sucking and with the way Jax is looking up at her it feels dirtier than sex. Pomni whimpers.

It makes Jax groan, pulling off her nipple slowly. It makes Pomni gasp, a shiver going through her body, then Jax’s mouth wraps around the other and begins sucking. The sensation is overwhelming, heat throbbing between her legs as Jax’s tongue slides over her sensitive skin.

Pomni realizes her breath is coming quick. She’s so turned on and he’s barely done anything. Jax sucks on her until her nipple is so hard it’s getting overstimulated, only pulling back once she whimpers and pushes on him.

“God, I could just drag you to the back seat and we could do anything we wanted,” Jax groans, kissing the side of her breast where it's fullest, squeezing it almost too hard.

“We can’t!” Pomni gasps. “The others are still here— besides, how would you fit if you were—“

“If I was what?” Jax looks up with sudden interest.

Pomni looks down at him, breathing hard and frazzled.

“Y-you know.”

“I don’t.”

Pomni pouts. “… on top.”

Jax’s eyes widen.

“Oh [BEEP], are you talking about [BEEP]ing me?” He grins widely. “Because I was just talking about, like, heavy petting.”

Pomni’s mouth opens and nothing comes out.

Great.

She finally blurts out, “Nevermind!”

”No, no, I’m not complaining,” Jax laughs. “You go girl.”

“Get off!” Pomni starts pushing on his face.

“Nooooo,” Jax complains, kissing at her hand then biting her palm with his sharp teeth. She yelps and pulls back even though he knows it didn’t hurt that bad. ”I did say anything.”

Jax flicks his thumb over her hard nipple. “Forgive me.”

Pomni gasps sharply as a pang goes through her entire body.

If the others weren’t here—

”You’re always making fun of me,” Pomni accuses.

“Duh,” Jax agrees. “Can I suck on them again orrrr?”

Pomni glares down at him. “You may not.”

Jax pouts.

And then he grins again. “Okay.”

Jax starts kissing Pomni’s sternum again, this time moving down it rather than up. He presses kiss after kiss to her stomach, causing her to squirm and her breath to hitch. He reaches her belly button and nuzzles her.

“God,” he says. “You’re so right. If the others weren’t here I could get between those cute thighs and just bury my face in it.”

Holy [BEEP]. Pomni whimpers.

“Yeah, that’s hot, right?” Jax chuckles, kissing under her navel, down between her hips until he hits the hem of her work pants. He bites at the corner like it frustrates him. “I wanna get my tongue up in there.”

“Jax!!” Pomni is going to die.

“Whaaat, don’t like having your [BEEP] eaten?” Jax glances up at her, smirking. “Do you want my fingers instead?”

Pomni’s heart pounds. “We are not doing that here.”

“Ah, but if we found that house with all the beds again, though,” Jax says. “Or we could just drive to the back.”

“I’m not having sex next to the dumpster,” Pomni deadpans.

“Fair enough.”

Jax starts kissing down her hip, then to her thigh. It makes Pomni squeak as he gets close to her pussy, but he keeps the kisses chaste, pressing them down her thigh.

“Jax,” Pomni says in warning, not sure what he’s going to do.

“Jax what,” he grumbles. “I wanna kiss it.”

Pomni thinks if he kisses her there she’ll come immediately.

“Come on,” Jax begs. “Just once.”

Pomni swallows. The others haven’t come over. They’re probably not going to.

And it’s not like the position they’re in can get any more scandalous. To anyone who came over it would look like he was—

“Once,” Pomni says, then squeezes her eyes shut.

Jax lets out a breathy laugh then groans. “Yeah? Once, Pompom?”

Pomni swallows hard. She feels him kissing at her thigh, mouthing at the material. Bunching it up so it’s not as loose, tugging it so it’s tight against her—

“Hey!!” She didn’t say he could do that. But she doesn’t tell him not to. “What are you—“

Jax presses his mouth to her pussy through the slacks, placing an open mouthed kiss over her clit.

“Ohh—“ The dirty sound escapes Pomni and makes her stomach flip. “Jax—“

Pomni’s clit twitches and Jax groans.

“I felt that,” he murmurs shakily against her. Pomni can feel the vibrations of him speaking and it makes her clit twitch again. ”[BEEP], Pomni, that’s so hot…”

Pomni’s hips shift back and forth and she puts her hand on Jax’s head.

“I said you could do it once.”

“I am only doing it once,” Jax says, lips still brushing her. “You didn’t say I had to pull back.”

She looks down at him incredulously and he gives her a dead serious look.

“Now let me do it again,” Jax says.

Pomni stutters. Jax snorts softly and nuzzles her pussy.

“Come on. Let me lick you through your panties.”

“Jax, shut up!”

“That’s not a no,” Jax sing-songs, nudging his face against her.

“Why not, Pom? It’ll feel good,” he promises temptingly.

“Because if someone does come over— it’s indecent!” Pomni lays down a hard rule.

“Gooood, you and your ‘dignity’ and your ‘boundaries,’” Jax rolls his eyes, then laughs, crawling back up her body. ”Okay. But you gotta let me suck on your titties again.”

Pomni lowers her eyelids like he’s being unreasonable then sighs and nods. Jax’s grin widens.

“Score.”

He starts to kiss her breasts again, squeezing and pushing them together like such a guy. Pomni almost rolls her eyes when he buries his face in them and rubs it back and forth.

“Uuuuugh,” he groans. “I’ve wanted to do this.”

“What, shove your face in my chest?” Pomni deadpans. “That’s what you’ve been thinking of when we’ve been interacting?”

“Oh slutever, Pomni, I know you want to see my [BEEP].”

Pomni blinks at him slowly. “I actually wasn’t thinking about it.”

Jax looks [BEEP]ed at that one.

”Well, now you are,” he spits venom. “Aren’t you.”

“I mean, yeah,” Pomni concedes.

“That’s what I [BEEP]ing thought.”

Aw, he’s all angry now. Pomni reaches up and scratches the back of his head soothingly. Then her head falls back, eyes closing.

“This sauce is taking me on a journey,” Pomni says.

“No,” Jax counters, still sounding peeved. He kisses her nipple. “I’m taking you on a journey. Pay attention to me.”

Pomni laughs.

“Hey.” Jax sounds serious. Pomni laughs harder. “Hey, shut up. Stop laughing.”

“I’m sorry,” Pomni says, throwing an arm over her eyes.

“No you’re not,” Jax accuses. “Stop talking.”

“I mean it.”

“You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me,” Jax threatens.

Pomni just laughs again.

Jax feels her up and kisses all over her chest for a long time. He doesn’t push it further than making out, but at points they’re kissing so hard that Pomni thinks he might just crawl over her and [BEEP] her right then and there.

But he doesn’t.

So she lets him get away with being a little rougher, letting him drag his teeth along her skin.

And at one point Pomni gets bold enough to put her hand on his thigh and squeeze. The sound Jax makes has her heart beating fast all over again.

She’s not sure how long they make out before the sun starts to rise. Jax’s kisses get more desperate the lighter it becomes.

And, eventually, the night ends.

Chapter Text

Day 8

Pomni wakes up slowly, feeling extra groggy for some reason. There's a moment where she remembers nothing and hopes to Hell she's at the Circus.

Then she opens her eyes and the first thing she sees is the Spudsy's sign. Pomni heaves a sigh and her shoulders slump.

It seems she's back in her own car. She immediately glances over at Jax's and feels a rush of embarrassment. They'd made out for so long.

She slips out of her car and goes to stand with the others, glancing at Ragatha. Her smile seems a little more genuine.

They start to head to the restaurant, but Pomni glances back at Jax getting out of his car, her steps slowing. Jax looks spaced out, blinking not at Spudsy’s but the sky above it. Then his gaze wanders down to Pomni and her steps falter. Jax grins at her slowly.

Jax reaches up and offers a wave, eyes narrowing. She can imagine any number of quips he's scheming up to make her as flustered as possible.

Then he kisses at her and Pomni almost falls over, making him laugh.

"Hey Pom," he calls over casually. "Watch your step you maniac."

Pomni flushes and looks away.

Like an idiot.

She passes the threshold of Spudsy's and heads to assembly where she's stationed. Jax goes to the grill.

Pomni’s heart jumps.

They’re within talking distance

And suddenly Pomni feels so awkward and has nothing to say. She fiddles with the drawers as she preps her station. The “game” doesn't really allow enough time to set up before the NPCs are filing through the doors.

It doesn't help that Jax isn't bringing it up like he usually would. He does remember right? He'd kissed at her and everything-

She realizes suddenly that she's been spacing out and when Pomni snaps herself out of it she notices Jax staring at her.

He casually flips an uncooked patty onto the grill with a slow smirk.

"How's your head?" Jax finally asks.

"My head...?"

Is he making some comment on its size or....?

Oh right. The stupid sauce.

"Oh." Pomni glances away with unprecedented nerves. Then back at Jax. "It's... I'm fine."

She fusses with some tomatoes and asks,

"How, uh, how was-- how are you. Doing."

Smooth. Real smooth.

Jax laughs at her struggle which is greatly appreciated. What a hero.

"Oh I'm great." And it actually is maybe the first time she can remember seeing Jax look remotely at ease in Spudsy’s.

He lazily flips another patty, hand resting on his hip.

"You were so funny last night," Jax informs her. Then, like he can't help himself, "Cute."

Pomni can feel her face starting to go red. This might as well happen.

"Yyyyeah." Pomni looks at Jax's slim back. Between his shoulder blades. She tells him flatly, "I live to entertain."

"Well, you are a jester," Jax tells her, looking over his shoulder. "Frankly it's a crime you're not funnier."

Pomni narrows her eyes. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Jax says brightly.

Pomni feels like she's going to drop anything she picks up. It's a stupid feeling.

Okay all of you, poorly timed huddle!

Everyone reluctantly comes over and Orbsman immediately begins spewing nonsense about how they're so important which is why they need to work smarter, not harder.

Pomni feels a presence behind her and is about to look when she feels a smooth arm slip around her, trapping her against Jax's body.

oh god he's touching me

The thought is so silly after how much they touched last night, but she can't help but tense up.

She glances up shyly at Jax who's scowling down at her. What's that face for? Pomni frowns a little at him.

Jax! Pomni! Pay attention!!

Pomni's head snaps back, but she gets the feeling Jax is still looking.

When she glances up he's scowling. Why?

Jax drags her closer and it feels a touch possessive. When Orbsman finally lets them go, Pomni looks up at Jax curiously.

"What's wrong?" she asks.

His eyes narrow at the question and he tugs her closer.

"Why would anything be wrong, huh?" There's something almost accusatory in the words. And then he does accuse, "Is something wrong on your end?"

What is this strange reaction?

"Nnnno?" Pomni says, wanting to ask again if he's alright, but knowing she won't get an answer she wants by the way Jax's scowl darkens.

What the heck?

"I--"

"Whatever, Pomni."

And with that Jax walks off, leaving a befuddled Pomni in his wake and she can't help but wonder,

Is he okay?

—

This is bull[BEEP].

Jax had finally gotten to second base with Pomni (or is it first base? Jax doesn't actually know).

And now he feels like a freaking idiot and why hadn't she put her arm around him, too?? It's driving Jax crazy which mixes with his self-inflicted hurt and leaves him ignoring Pomni while he grills and she assembles. She has to have noticed his silence by now.

Unless she just doesn't care.

Why had she gotten so tense? Doesn't she like Jax?

Jax grumbles to himself.

"Um, Jax?" Pomni's voice cuts through his thoughts.

"What." Jax asks flatly.

"Youre burning the burgers..."

"You seem to think I wasn't cooking them thoroughly enough anyway so good. Let the NPCs eat charred garbage. They can't taste things anyway," Jax sneers.

And if they can that's pretty [BEEP]ed up but not his problem.

He wants to look at Pomni but can't bring himself to, afraid to see indifference in her eyes.

"Yeah, but..."

Jax glares at the burning meat and starts scraping it off the grill with as much vitriol as he can muster.

"Jax--"

"What, what do you want, lay off of me, screw you," Jax blurts out in a fit of self-defense.

Pomni is silent.

Got nothing to say to that? Jax wants to snap, but of course she doesn't.

The silence just stings so much.

Jax slaps another hunk of meat on the grill, teeth clenching.

The lack of response finally gets to him and he snaps, "Well? What do you want?"

Pomni is silent a few moments longer and they stretch on.

"Did I... do something wrong?" she asks, sounding genuinely confused, and that just needles Jax further.

"No! Of course not!"

[BEEP] I am blowing this

Pomni goes quiet again and Jax feels sick to his stomach.

He's overreacting. He knows he is. This is his brain trying to sabotage a good thing.

Is he really flipping his lid over Pomni not reciprocating when he put an arm around her?

[BEEP] right he is.

Jax is startled when he notes Pomni at his side. She's looking up at him with a frown and big eyes.

He grips the spatula tighter. "Whoa, you trying to give me a [BEEP]ing heart attack?"

She just keeps looking at him and he frowns defensively. Is this the part where she tells him she was wrong about him?

That everyone else was right?

He glares. "What?"

Pomni's frown grows.

"You're [BEEP]ing up all the burgers like a jack[BEEP]," Pomni says, trying to hip check him out of the way. When it doesn't work, she hip checks him again. "Move. Move, move."

"Uh?" Jax says blankly as Pomni snatches up the spatula.

She stares at Jax dead in the eyes as she flips a burger wildly. Jax hears it slap onto the floor.

"Huh??" Has Spudsy’s finally gotten to Pomni? Is this her losing her marbles?

"What are you doing?" Jax asks because he really can't understand. This is something he would do, not anyone else.

Pomni sighs and gives him a stern look.

"I'm showing you how to do it because you suck at it."

Pomni flips another burger without looking.

It lands on top of her hat.

"Ew!!" Pomni cries, quickly flinging it off in a panic.

The burger lands on Jax's shoe.

Jax stares at the patty like it's something alarming, eyes darting to Pomni. She's busy looking for a cloth to wipe her hat off with.

She's being so-

Is she trying to cheer him up?

It strikes Jax suddenly and leaves him flustered.

Even though he's being such a jerk?

Jax kicks the patty off his shoe and finally lets out a, "Pffff.."

It turns into a full laugh, Jax gripping his stomach. "You suck at it, Pom."

Pomni wipes at her hat then gives Jax a little smile.

"I really do," she admits. "How about you show me how it's really done?"

Just then there's the sound of bouncing orbs and Jax's heart falls.

Orbsman peeks at them through assembly and shakes an orb at them in outrage.

Back to your station, Pomni!

And then he bounces off, clipping through a counter.

Pomni sighs and hands back the spatula, turning.

"Back on that grind."

Jax's hand shoots out to grab hers, but she's already walking back to assembly.

She probably hadn't noticed but it still takes the good mood that had started to rise in his chest and shatters it to the floor. He wants to call out to her but his throat is frozen.

He wants to break something.

He doesn't want to do this anymore

Jax turns back to the grill, numbly flipping burgers as a pressure builds in his head, throbs behind his eyes.

This sucks. He can't stand this. The next hour drags on forever.

Jax flips another burger then flips out, hurling the spatula to the floor and yelling, "I'm taking a break!"

He doesn't wait for any kind of response before storming off towards the back, pacing around like a caged animal once he's outside before pulling out a cigarette.

He curses at the lighter as his first few attempts to light it fail and then he turns to kick the dumpster because if he doesn't he'll break the [BEEP]ing lighter and then he'll really be [BEEP]ed.

It hurts his foot--because of course it does why wouldn't it--but he kicks it again for good measure.

There's no way Pomni is going to want to be with him. They're just trapped in this weird space and even he must be appealing comparatively.

Jax bites the cigarette between his teeth, taking a shaky breath as he brings the lighter up.

And he just sits there, not clicking it.

Eventually he snatches the cigarette from his mouth, clutching it in the same hand as the lighter as he presses hard against his face with the other, crouching down.

This is all so [BEEP]ing hopeless.

—

"There you are," Zooble's voice grates on his ears.

Jax glances up, sitting on the curb as he smokes his second cigarette.

"I'm on my break. [BEEP] off," Jax grunts and turns away from them.

"Yeah, you've been on your break for like half an hour. It's my turn."

Zooble eyes his cigarette with blatant jealousy. Good. Jax takes a drag on it just to be an [BEEP]hole.

Zooble gives him a roll of their eyes and crosses their arms.

"Let me guess. You're upset about Pomni."

That's like nails on a chalkboard and Jax rises up to his full height over Zooble.

"You don't know me. I'm bent out of shape for reasons you couldn't even dream of," Jax seethes at them.

Zooble stares, unimpressed. "I mean I can certainly believe that too. Regardless get your [BEEP] back in there. I'm taking my break now."

Jax glares, flicking the cigarette at them. It bounces off Zooble’s chest and to the ground.

"Real classy," they grunt. "You done?"

"No!" Jax snaps, resting a hand on his hip. "You keep Pomni’s name out of your [BEEP] mouth when you're talking to me."

Zooble stares at him for a long moment that gets under his skin.

Then they get up in his space.

"I know it's hard for you to conceptualize, but you’d better do right by Pomni," Zooble snaps. "She's been looking at you with these big sad eyes and it's starting to [BEEP] me off because you don't deserve it."

Jax is definitely ready to throw hands at that. "Oh. You get to decide that do you? Judge, jury and executioner, everyone!"

Frankly, Zooble is lucky that Jax isn't disassembling them and slam dunking parts of their body in the trash because he is tempted, punishment from Caine or not.

"Also high and mighty of you to be talking [BEEP] about relationships! You think Gangle is so great, huh? Do you even know everything she did last time? Would she even trust you like that?"

"Wait, what?" Zooble narrows their eyes at him. "What does Gangle have to do with anything? Stop deflecting."

"You didn't get sent to training," Jax spits. "You have no idea--"

"Pomni likes you, Jax," Zooble bulldozes over him. "Go back into stupid [BEEP]ing Spudsy's and make her feel better!"

"Make her feel better?" Jax can't help his outrage. "I'm the one suffering here!"

"You make yourself suffer, like we're not already doing enough of that by being here," Zooble scoffs. "Now go. Shoo. Talk to Pomni just don't be weird and moody and expect her to know what that means."

Jax vividly imagines throwing Zooble’s head into oncoming traffic.

Pomni likes you

The words finally worm through his thick skull and Jax regards them warily. He opens his mouth to retroactively refute it when Zooble says, "And not that it's any of your business, but Gangle told me a lot of things about last time, okay? Not everyone is you."

Somehow the words sting worse than just about anything else they could have said.

Jax finally tsks, bumping past Zooble to get to the door.

The lights inside make his eyes hurt and his head throb worse as he goes back in.

And then he barrels into someone and realizes it's--

Pomni oh shit

make her feel better

Jax feels a sneer on his face and words come out of his mouth, "Watch where you're going."

Jax sees hurt on Pomni's face. She wheels around and makes a beeline for the walk-in.

[BEEP]

What is wrong with him?

Jax takes a moment to compose himself then trails after her, into the cold.

Pomni’s back is facing him.

"Pomni," Jax says, trying to make his tone soft. "That didn't- come out the way I wanted it to."

Pomni is hugging herself, rubbing her arms in the cold.

“Then how did you want it to come out?” she asks, voice tinged with uncharacteristic bitterness. “There’s not a nice way to say that.”

“Yeah,” Jax says quietly. “I mean, I didn’t really mean anything to come out, it just sort of…”

Pomni is still rubbing her arms, not turning to look at him.

Jax sighs softly. He sucks at this. Usually he’s not worried about cleaning up his messes but this is one he can’t afford to turn his back on.

He takes a step forward then pauses. She’s going to hate you

Then for once Zooble’s voice is there saying something not disparaging. Pomni likes you

“You were cheering me up earlier, right? With the burgers? Thanks for that.” If stupid Orbsman hadn’t come by this wouldn’t have happened but that’s probably not even true.

Jax swallows thickly. “Last night. Did you… I mean, you had a good time, right?”

Pomni’s hands go still. Jax can feel her deciding and it gives him more anxiety than he’s felt in a long time.

fear of loss

Pomni slowly turns her head, looking at him with big, tearful eyes. She nods silently.

[BEEP] she looks so sad

Jax looks away for a moment then takes in a sharp breath. “Me too.”

He moves towards her, coming to drape himself over her back, weighing Pomni down.

“Sorry,” he forces out just above a whisper. It leaves his chest tight and defensive. “I thought maybe you'd changed your mind.”

"What...?"

Pomni doesn't push him away. That's a good sign.

"But why?" she asks, voice mystified.

When she asks him outright like that it makes him feel so stupid. He doesn't want to tell her.

"It's just-" His brow furrows sharply. "I dunno. I didn't think you seemed very into...me."

It's so lame. He's being so lame right now. Maybe he should stay in the walk-in forever.

Pomni pulls away from him and Jax's heart falls. She looks at him with a wide eyed look somewhere between appalled and relieved.

"What was I supposed to do?"

"I-- I don't know!" Jax panics. "[BEEP], get off my back!"

"Jax!" Pomni whirls around to start smacking his arm over and over again. "Stoppit! Have a conversation with me!"

No! he literally almost yells, and it makes him turn away and crouch.

"Are you seriously doing that instead of talking to me?" Pomni asks in offense. Then, more softly, "Jax?"

Jax realizes his shoulders are shaking and is aghast at the thought she might mistake his laughter for tears.

He tilts his face back to look at her, wheezing with laughter. "I just- Wow, I couldn't look more stupid in front of you. What the [BEEP]."

Pomni stares down at him, looking concerned. She probably thinks Jax is having some sort of mental breakdown.

Pomni steps forward, then another step.

"I look stupid all the time," she says matter-of-factly. "We're cartoon characters."

“Hmmm, your body is particularly funny,” he agrees wistfully, though his eyes are focused in on her. She’s so nice it makes him uneasy.

He sighs, ducking his head forward as his ears flop. “I thought we’d be more, y’know. After last night.”

lovey-dovey

Jax would smash himself on the head with a giant mallet if he had one for having the thought.

“More…?”

If Pomni can’t figure it out Jax is going to rip his own ears off and then she’ll be sorry.

“Oh!” Pomni gasps. Then she says, “You wanted to be affectionate at work.”

Jax’s teeth grit.

“This isn’t work, Pomni,” he says. “This is Hell.”

Silence falls between them and Jax grinds his teeth, wishing he could go smoke if only to have something to bite down on.

Then he feels a hand between his shoulder blades.

“Am I right?” Pomni asks.

Jax huffs out. Why must she insist on clear communication?

“What, you think it’s dumb? You think I’m a [BEEP]ing numbskull?” Jax asks with teeth.

“Wha- no!” Pomni sounds so alarmed.

“Yeah, you do,” Jax can’t help but dig his own grave further.

“Of course it’s not dumb,” Pomni says and that makes Jax so maaaad. “Will you look at me?”

“No.” Jax won’t stand for it.

Pomni sighs.

There’s this moment that rises to a crescendo and Jax can practically hear the walk-in door open and shut.

But it doesn’t. Instead, Pomni crouches down next to him, hand still on his back. She pats it twice then asks,

“You don’t even want a kiss?”

Jax’s ears perk at that and he slowly tilts his face to gaze at her. He’s almost annoyed at what a successful tactic it is but he can’t deny his weakness to it.

“Well if there’s a smooch involved,” he says almost sarcastically, but finally fully turns to look over at Pomni. “Hungry for more?”

Jax’s pulse quickens looking into her eyes. With Jax crouched down, she's so close.

Pomni looks so concerned for a moment and Jax feels uncomfortably seen. Then she nods and slowly closes her eyes. She leans in and presses their mouths together softly.

It’s [BEEP]ing euphoria kissing Pomni. Even a light one like this is making Jax feel things he’s never felt before. Making him feel raw.

Pomni pulls back, eyes opening a crack. Their gazes meet, not a foot away.

“It’s really hard being here,” Pomni says. “It’s getting to everyone’s heads. It’s okay that you’re having a hard time. I am too.”

Jax’s hand slips along the side of Pomni’s face, pulling her back into a kiss. It aches deep in his chest to be told exactly the words he secretly wants to hear.

He tilts his face, kissing her deeper until he feels her tug slightly at his arm and finally pulls back.

They gaze into each other’s eyes in silence as they recover from the intensity of it, Jax finally telling her, “You make it bearable.”

Pomni looks flustered.

“That—“ She shuts up. Then nods. “I get what you mean.”

They start to lean in to kiss again, but the walk-in door bursts open as Gangle looks around in a panic. They both freeze as her eyes lock on them, but then she gives a huge sigh of relief.

“Oh thank God, there you are! Zooble isn’t back from their break and it’s just me and Ragatha and we are drowning out there so if you could finish crying and come out that would be great thanks. Sorry.”

With that the walk-in door slowly hisses shut on them.

Pomni stares at the door. Then she turns her head and lets her face drop into her knees.

“[BEEP],” she says.

Jax’s head falls back and he sighs. “Oooh my god I hate customer service.”

“Yeah…” Pomni straightens up as Jax pulls himself to his feet. She looks up at him.

Jax grows anxious about what she might say.

As it turns out, she doesn’t say anything. Pomni just holds her hand out to him.

For a moment Jax regards it almost suspiciously before reaching out to entwine his fingers with Pomni’s. “Are you mad at me?”

Pomni’s eyebrows raise. And then she smiles.

“No,” she says, giving his hand a tiny squeeze. “Now come on and hop to it.”

She starts tugging him on and Jax lets her, heart skipping a beat when she walks out of the walk-in with him hand in hand.

They only part to go to their respective stations and Jax wishes everyone had seen that.

As long as Jax manages to keep this thing from crashing and burning, eventually they all will.

—

By the time Pomni takes her lunch, Jax is impatient to see her. He’s quick to shove responsibility off onto Gangle again, though it’s way less busy so she better not [BEEP] about it.

Jax first looks in the break room, but when she isn’t there he goes to the logical next location, kicking the door to the back and busting it open. It’s not as easy as he thought it’d be, but he struts out with confidence looking over at—

Pomni

She’s just standing there leaning against the wall and lightly hugging herself. She looks lost in thought, but not troubled.

Jax’s heart skips as he walks over to his little jester and whacks at one of her bells so hard it whips around and hits her in the face.

“Ow!” Pomni cries in dismay. “Stop that!”

Oops

Jax leans down to check the damage. “I didn’t think it would hit your face. But at least it builds character.”

“I think I have enough character at this point,” Pomni deadpans.

“Nonsense,” Jax says. “You can always get wackier.”

Pomni arches a brow then nods. “I… guess?”

Jax’s eyes narrow at her. “Hey Pom.”

Pomni’s eyes narrow in return. “Yeah?”

“Let’s make out,” Jax says. “And let me kiss on your tits again.”

Pomni looks impressed at his audacity and he thinks maybe he won a few points there. But then she shakes her head.

“Nothing under the shirt on the clock.”

“Ooh, but Pom, you’re clocked out,” Jax pleads his case.

Pomni shakes her head again. “No.”

Jax rolls his eyes. “Uuuuugh.”

Then he meets hers again and grins. “Later, though.”

Pomni hums. “I did say I’d hang out with the others after work, but maybe before it gets too late we can slip off and—“

“What, what, what?!” Jax holds up his hand. “Hooooold up, what do you mean you’re hanging out with the others?!”

Pomni shrugs. “It means what it means.”

“But you should prioritize me!” Jax insists, waving his arm dramatically. “What am I, nothing?! Am I roadkill on your dinner plate?!”

Pomni lets out a wheeze of laughter, like Jax has just sucker-punched her.

“What?” Pomni dares to ask.

“We just hooked up!” Then Jax goes still. “… sort of.”

“Sort of,” Pomni says. “Exactly. I made these plans before I knew we were going to get frisky, so.”

“Hmmmm,” Jax sulks reproachfully. How could she not have looked into a crystal ball and read the future? “Just cancel on them.”

“No,” is Pomni’s immediate answer and Jax blanches irrationally.

“Why not! Don’t you want to—“ Jax cuts himself off.

“I do,” Pomni says imploringly. “And we will. But I’m gonna hang out with the others first.”

Jax crosses his arms, tapping his foot as he tries to make peace with the situation. Oooh it’s so hard. “Boooo. Boo booo.”

He huffs dramatically, looking away. “Fine, hang out with those losers first. That’s your prerogative.”

"Hoo boy," Pomni says and Jax is just about to go on a how-dare-you tirade when Pomni reaches into his pocket and--

Yoinks the cigarettes and lighter. Pomni backs up a couple steps and puts a cigarette in her mouth.

"You know," she says around the cigarette, clumsily lighting it. It takes a few tries. Pomni blows out a breath of smoke and coughs once. "It would be way more fun with you there."

Jax’s first instinct is definitely to get all worked up, but it's steamrolled by flattery and it calms him down a little.

"Well of course it would be. I'm a delight," he lies.

Jax watches as Pomni takes another drag then snatches the cigarette, taking a puff of his own and thinking of Pomni’s mouth around it seconds before.

"I'll think about it," Jax concedes. He'd definitely rather be messing around with Pomni, though.

"Hmm," Pomni hums with a little smile. "Gonna think about it really hard?"

God he wants to kiss her.

Pomni tilts her head at him like she's trying to figure him out.

"What is it?" she asks like it's not obvious.

"Your head is just so round, I bet I could dribble it like a basketball." Jax says with a grin as he steps towards her.

He brings the cigarette up and when she goes to grab it he lifts it out of reach. "Uh uh."

Pomni's expression is flat but when he lowers the cigarette again and brings it towards her mouth she lets him.

It sends a buzz through Jax’s whole body and at the last moment he swoops in, pressing a kiss to her lips instead of the cigarette.

Pomni's eyes go comically wide. She blinks at him.

"Oh."

What the [BEEP] does that mean?

Pomni's face dusts red. She leans up, motioning for Jax to lean down.

"I wasn't ready," she says as if that wasn't the point.

His grin curls up. "That's what you get for not being prepared at all times."

Jax leans down again, eyes growing heavy. All he wants to do is make out with Pomni.

"Go on. You can do it this time. So you're ready."

Pomni looks at him all flustered and it's so cute.

Pomni leans in and gently presses their mouths together.

It's so soft and sweet. Pomni tastes like the cigarette, but Jax doesn't care. It takes everything he has not to take it too far. Their lips move together just like they did last night.

Pomni breaks the kiss, peering into Jax's eyes.

Ah. That's his cue to say something romantic and blow Pomni off her feet.

"I want to wad you up like a paper towel and slam you into the trash."

"I-- what?" Pomni looks so thrown off.

"Nevermind," Jax says. He straightens up and brushes some of Pomni's hair back. "You look really cute today."

"I don't look any different day to day," Pomni says and Jax wonders why she's protesting.

"It's not my problem if you won't accept the compliment. I'm still gonna give it," Jax says like they're arguing about it and he's winning.

He finally lifts the cigarette, giving it a tap then pressing it to Pomni’s mouth.

"Here. Medicate yourself before you go mad."

“Hmmm.”

Pomni looks at him curiously, then lowers her eyelids and leans in, putting her cute lips around the cigarette and breathing it in.

I want you

Jax swallows as he watches her breathe out. Pomni meets his eyes again, this time shyly.

"Aren't you going to kiss me again?" she asks awkwardly.

"Pom, you're just asking me to get into trouble. But if you want one so badly," Jax teases like he's not dying for another.

He lowers the cigarette and kisses her again, their mouths moving slowly together. For a moment Jax is able to forget about Spudsy’s and the Circus and everything but how it feels to be kissing Pomni.

It feels good.

They both pull away from it with reluctance.

When Jax meets Pomni's eyes she's looking at him like he makes her nervous.

It's then that Jax starts truly willing it into existence.

fall for me

Jax knows his eyes get intense. His face. He can see it in how Pomni's eyes widen. But she doesn't back away.

"I guess... you should probably go back in," she mumbles and she's right but Jax doesn't want to.

fall in love with me

Pomni's brow knits with concern. "Jax...?"

fall so hard you can never get back up

She touches his chest and Jax finally lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"Yeah okay, I guess." Jax rolls his eyes but still feels the intensity in them.

"I'll leave you alone to your solace." He hands over the cigarette after taking one last drag, just because Pomni’s lips touched it.

"See ya later, Pom." Jax raises a hand, gaze lingering on her.

Pomni raises a hand in farewell. Her eyes remain on him until the door closes between them.

And Pomni remains on his mind for the rest of the shift.

—

The day drags on but it's finally the night shift and Jax’s eyes have been glued to the clock. It's been so boring being stuck at prep with Pomni on register.

As the customers dwindle and Zooble starts some of the early closing duties Jax takes that as his cue to goof off.

Jax slips to the front where Pomni is leaning against the counter. Jax wonders how it’s been. There's a couple of NPCs sitting around eating but no one in line to order.

Perfect.

Jax creeps up behind Pomni then taps her shoulders with a, "Boo!"

"Eep!" Pomni practically shrieks. She almost falls off the stupid box she's standing on. Pomni glares at Jax. "Don't do that!"

"Why not?" He asks, resting his hand on the counter and leaning next to her. "It's funny."

"You scared me!"

Jax blinks at her slowly like she's soooo dumb. "I sure did."

Pomni glowers at him, but then it lightens up. "Boring tonight, huh?"

Jax groans, flopping himself further against the counter. "Yeah it is. It's so slooooow."

He sighs then reaches over to bap at one of her bells. "Must be worse for you. Having to look at all these dumb NPCs as you wait for freedom."

"It's not that bad, but yeah, it's a little boring," Pomni agrees.

Jax gazes at her. "Hey. Hey Pomni. Want me to bring you some ice cream?"

"What?" Pomni looks so confused it makes Jax want to wrap her hat around her. "Noooo....? Is this a trick question?"

"Why would it be a trick? If that was a trick it'd suck. C’mon, give me more credit than that," Jax scoffs with no real offense. "I bet you think I'm planning to dump it on your head. No trust."

He bats at her bell again, not remotely trying to be professional.

Pomni doesn't even try to stop him and that makes him feel good.

"No, I know you're gonna dump it on my head," Pomni says darkly. "You're nothing but trouble."

Is she flirting?

[BEEP] yeah

He laughs, pleased.

"I will not." Jax's expression grows mischievous. "Or will I?"

Jax tugs at the end of Pomni’s hat. "I am a man of mystery and even I don't know what my next move will be."

"That's what concerns me," Pomni says.

She's still letting him harass her. Jax lets his hand fall, but his fingers trace down her arm. And Pomni flushes, little face scrunching up.

"Hey now," she says. "We're at the register."

"Oh who cares? There's like two NPCs in here and they don't count as people and this isn't even a real restaurant," Jax pshaws.

He pushes up from the counter, coming behind Pomni and slipping his arms around her waist. "It's not like if I do this it impedes you from doing your job anyway."

Jax gives her a squeeze just because he can.

Pomni tenses up and Jax's chest tightens, preparing for rejection. Ready to be hurt and crazy about it.

Pomni starts squirming in his arms like she's trying to break free. Only she's not really pushing him away.

"Stop," she says. "I'm calling HR."

Jax peeks at the side of her face and is satisfied to see it's red. That makes him laugh again as some of the tension leaves his shoulders.

"There's no HR, we're not even getting paid for any of this." He gives her sides a squeeze and she squeaks and it's so cute. "What, you gonna tell Orbsman? Like a snitch?"

Pomni's expression is so adorable.

It makes him wrap his arms around her harder. Then he picks her up and hovers her six inches above the box.

"What are you gonna do now? Nothing. You're gonna sit there and take it."

"Yeah," Pomni deadpans, arms hanging uselessly.

She really isn't fighting back, this is awesome. Jax envisions flipping her upside down like a bully shaking her down for change.

Instead he says quietly into her ear, "So after you hang with the others, you want me to eat you out?"

Pomni tenses and gasps. "Innapropriate workplace conversation!"

Like she actually cares.

Jax snorts softly. Pomni is so funny when she's freaking out. "I'm not hearing a 'no'."

"Because we're not discussing it at the register," she says like a buzz kill.

"Aw, why not? Who's gonna stop us?" Jax presses a kiss to her cheek to drive the point home. "Huh? Who?"

"Jax!"

Pomni sounds so worked up it's so [BEEP]ing cute.

"What," Jax says, heart suddenly pounding as he makes the split second decision to push Pomni's limits. See what they are.

He doesn't set her down, shaking her a little from side to side before kissing her cheek again.

"I can't be affectionate with my girlfriend?" he asks.

Jax kisses her cheek one more time, more insistent.

Before Pomni even has the chance to reject him, they hear an,

"Excuse me."

Jax prickles as he recognizes the voice and slowly looks over at the stupid gator that Pomni likes.

It's here again. Looking at them uncertainly.

"Oh--" is all Pomni says.

Oh

It echoes through Jax. Look at this stupid idiot that Pomni would rather have as her boyfriend and the thing isn't even a person. It makes Jax see red and he glares knives.

"Yeah, you're here at Spudsy’s. What do you want?" Jax asks, spitting straight acid.

The lizard looks at them with its stupid lizard eyes. "Am I still able to order?"

"That's what I said, yeah," Jax says with as much sass as can fit in his voice.

He lowers Pomni back onto the box in front of the register but continues to cling possessively behind her. "Go on, spit it out."

"Uhh," the NPC says, eyes flicking to Pomni then to Jax. They finally settle on Pomni and Jax wants to punch him. "A number one. I guess."

Pomni punches in the order and Jax doesn't know what face she's making.

what kind of face is she making?

The gator reaches out to pay and Jax tsks, swiping its money away before Pomni can. He drops it in her hand, scowling at the stupid gummy [BEEP]hole.

What's so good about this guy anyway? Seems pretty mid to Jax.

"Now split," Jax tells him, wrapping his arms tight around Pomni and hunching over her.

The NPC looks between the two of them.

And then it asks Pomni, "Are you alright, miss?"

Jax rears back.

What.

Are you alright as in, 'Is this freaky rabbit guy harassing you?'

Are you alright as in Pomni is making a face? Is she about to cry?

The fact that Pomni hasn’t answered yet has Jax close to losing it.

“Don’t get fresh with the employees sir, or I’ll have to forcefully remove you,” Jax snaps.

"Jax," Pomni says, shattering Jax's fractured peace of mind. She touches his arm. "It's okay."

She might as well have told him to go [BEEP] himself. Jax glares at the hand, stinging with rejection.

"Fine," he mutters bitterly, backing up slightly. He refuses to leave until old Gummyguts gets the hell away from Pomni, instead crossing his arms tightly behind her.

It continues to look at Pomni like it's concerned and Jax fantasizes about biting off its limbs. "Miss?"

Pomni takes a breath and Jax hears it hitch. Feels it in his own chest.

Then Pomni is whirling around, dropping off of the box.

Jax's heart stops.

Pomni grabs his hand and starts dragging him away, through Spudsy's, through to the back.

They burst out into the stale night air and the door shuts behind them. Jax's heart is in overdrive.

Pomni turns on Jax, hand still clutching his.

"Jax, I don't like Gummigoo." she says. Hesitates. "Didn't."

Jax stares with wide eyes, then prickles up defensively. "You don't have to lie about it. I mean, why else are we back here? Couldn't stand me smack talking him?"

Jax's heart is pounding away unpleasantly in his chest.

"Why would I lie to you?" Pomni asks in alarm, looking up into his eyes. Hers pierce him. "I'm trying to reassure you."

She adds, "I've been trying to reassure you all day."

"Yeah well-!" Jax isn't used to that and it throws him completely. He flounders then protests, "I'm more interested in what you're feeling right now."

Pomni looks at him like he's a puzzle, brow knit with what has to be frustration. Then her shoulders slump a bit and Jax can feel her giving up on him.

"Jax."

Jax prickles. "What."

He can't meet Pomni's eyes as she says,

"Kiss me."

Jax's eyes snap back to Pomni, bewildered. Whatever expression he thinks she might be making, he's wrong, met with a sincerity in her eyes that almost burns.

She means it.

Jax takes in a breath to speak but instead takes her face in his hands, ducking down to kiss her with all the frustration in his chest.

"Mm--!"

Even Pomni, who apparently can see through him, doesn't anticipate the desperation with which he kisses her.

Before he can internally wilt, though, she's kissing him back, parting her lips so he can do whatever he wants to her mouth and what the [BEEP] Jax feels like he could melt into Pomni--

"Ah!!" Pomni gasps as Jax bites her lip hard.

"Sorry--" he breathes out in a rush, then bites her again. "I gotta."

Pomni whimpers. And then she nods.

Allowing him.

It makes Jax's body feel like a live wire, buzzing with adrenaline as he nips at her lips a couple more times before running his tongue over them almost soothingly before slipping past, into her mouth.

Pomni moans softly as their tongues meet, slide against each other and entwine. Jax tugs Pomni closer, kissing her as deeply as he can.

I want you, I want you, I want you, Jax tries to beam into her mind.

Pomni moans softly into his mouth and it sets a fire in Jax.

He forgets himself, kissing feverishly, and moans in return against her lips, begging,

"Let me kiss your [BEEP],"

Pomni breathes in sharply, but Jax says again,

"Please, Pomni," he bites her lips. "Let me eat you out--"

"Jax--"

Jax falls to his knees, leaning up to kiss Pomni. "Let me--"

"Not here!" Pomni squeaks. "If someone comes out I'll die!"

It stings like rejection for a moment before Jax registers her embarrassment.

"No fair," he groans, breaking from her mouth to kiss down her neck.

He's been acting like a sad sack of [BEEP] all day and she still wants him.

There's no way she'll keep being so lenient so he has to get his points in while he can and win her over while there's a shot.

Jax peppers kisses over her shoulder. "You gotta let me do it somewhere else. I'll make it so good, I promise."

He's tempted to squeeze her tits but doesn't think that'll help his case right now. "Please, Pom."

Pomni shivers and it makes Jax want to shove her up against the wall and just get between her legs, it makes him want to eat her out, it makes him want to fu--

Jax pumps the breaks on that thought with a rush of self-conscious panic.

Pomni's arms wrap around his neck and she pulls him closer.

"Soon, okay?" she says quietly.

"Tonight?" Jax can't help but push his luck.

He notes Pomni swallowing.

"... y-yeah."

It sends a rush of butterflies through his stomach and Jax nuzzles his face into the crook of her neck as he pulls her closer.

"It's a date," he murmurs.

Then Jax starts to kiss her mouth again. Long, sweet kisses filled with barely restrained desperation.

Pomni meets them with eager sweetness and he has to wonder how much she likes him. He wants to ask. Demand she tell him.

Then he feels her start to tremble against him.

Is she okay?

Jax pulls back to look at her and Pomni's face is flushed, eyes glazed. She looks at him with muted confusion.

"What...?" she asks. "What is it?"

Jax tilts his head at her. She's really into this, huh?

It makes Jax smug. It makes his insides twist.

He touches her cheek. "Oh I'm sorry for stopping. I thought you didn't want to get too crazy."

He ducks back down to kiss her again, wishing they could do this all night, [BEEP] everything and everyone else.

Then Pomni moans into his mouth and she sounds turned on.

Jax loses control and shifts his hand over her breast, squeezing hard enough to make Pomni give a little squeak.

She doesn't stop him, though.

They make out, Jax groping and squeezing and touching Pomni's chest with so much blatant greed it's appalling.

It's a private moment that ends only when Pomni becomes paranoid about Orbsman, gently easing away from Jax with the promise of,

Later

Jax can’t [BEEP]ing wait.

—

Pomni glances over at Jax’s car from where she’s sitting on the hood of Zooble’s.

He still hasn’t come over and Pomni gets the feeling he’s still pouting even though he feels better. He’s such a wacky guy she keeps getting whiplash from his mood swings.

“Pomni?”

Gangle’s voice breaks Pomni from her thoughts and she looks back over at the other two. “Hmm?”

Zooble and Gangle exchange a look.

“You waiting for Jax?” Zooble asks, leaning back against their front window and crossing their arms behind their head. They stare up at the night sky. “He’s busy gussying up.”

Gangle snorts. “He’s being a jerk. Poor Pomni.”

Pomni’s eyes dart rapidly between the two of them.

“Wait, what?”

“It’s cool, Pomni,” Zooble says. “You obviously have a thing.”

“I gotta say,” Gangle says with a shake of her head. “It’s bad taste, Pomni.”

Pomni doesn’t know what to say to that. She gets it.

But Jax has a side of him she really likes.

“Welllll,” Pomni says, hunching in a bit.

“Sorry, I’m not trying to be rude, it’s just…” Gangle looks like she’s looking for the right way to put it.

“It’s true,” Zooble confirms. “Don’t worry about it. Though if he pushes your boundaries too hard we can ‘trip’ him into the fryer for you.”

That makes Gangle giggle and Pomni lets out a long exhaled, “Haaa.”

Zooble shakes their head. “Is he at least being nice to you when he’s not acting like a rabid animal?”

Pomni snorts and nods. “Yeah, he’s being nice.”

“Wow,” Gangle says. “Never thought I’d live to see the day. Thought I’d abstract first.”

“Don’t say that,” Zooble says. “But for real, though, right? Like, he’s just such a [BEEP].”

“He’s not just a [BEEP],” Pomni says. “He’s been cheering me up and–”

“Wooow,” Gangle says. “Wow is it just me or is that bull[BEEP], how come he’s always bothering me? How come Pomni gets preferential treatment?”

“It’s because of how you react,” Zooble says bluntly. “Jax loves it.”

“Oh.”

Gangle doesn’t seem to know what to say to that.

Suddenly there’s the sound of squealing tires and the three of them only have a moment to pull their legs up onto the car before the front of Jax’s is slamming into them. The fronts of the cars crumple a bit.

“Holy [BEEP]!” Pomni screams.

Jax leans out of the car window. “Sup, idiots?”

“Jax!” Zooble snaps. “You suck!”

Jax laughs and gets out of the car, hopping onto his hood. Wow, he bounced back fast when he decided he was done sulking.

“I bet things were getting boring without me,” Jax says.

He looks at Pomni with intense eyes.

“Hey, Pompom.”

Pomni takes in his easy grin. “Hey yourself.”

“Ugh,” Zooble grunts, kicking their leg vaguely in Jax’s direction.

“Shut up,” Jax tells them cheerfully, patting the hood beside him like he’s trying to coax over a shy animal as he makes meaningful eye contact with Pomni. “Come sit with me.”

Pomni can feel the others’ eyes on her. She crawls over the hood to sit next to Jax. She leans into him.

Jax’s body is a little stiff, like he didn’t expect it, and then his arm is coming down around her shoulders to pull her closer. He sounds smug when he asks the others, “What, you have a problem? Jealous?”

“Definitely not jealous,” Gangle deadpans, and Zooble snorts.

It doesn’t seem to phase Jax this time, who looks around and asks, “What, Rags is a no-show again?”

Ragatha indeed is. She had hung out for a little while, but seemed really distracted. Eventually she had waved and said she was going to have an early night.

But when Pomni looks over her car is empty.

“It’s weird,” Gangle says. “She seems better, but like, not better?”

“Who cares,” Jax says. “She’s been running her mouth.”

“As if you don’t run your mouth on the reg,” Zooble dismisses.

“No, she’s been being a [BEEP].” Jax insists.

“What,” Gangle says with gossipy curiosity. “What’s she been saying?”

“Gangle,” Zooble rolls their eyes like it’s lowbrow. Then they look at Jax expectantly. “Well?”

“Pomni knows, she’s my witness!” Jax gives Pomni a shake at his side, voice more amused than anything. “Pom here tried to get Ragatha to be nice to me like a sucker and Ragatha was like ’Ooooh Jax, you’re such a [BEEP]hole so I’ll never apologize to you. I’d rather die!’ Word for word, am I right?”

He gives Pomni another shake as the others turn their eyes for some kind of confirmation or denial.

Pomni frowns. “Not word for word. But yeah, it was pretty gnarly.”

Zooble nods like it doesn’t quite surprise them but then their gaze turns back to Jax. “What would she even have to apologize to you for?”

Jax puts an indignant hand to his chest. “You don’t know my life. And if you’re going to ask in the first place then I’m not gonna tell.”

Gangle hums. “I dunno, last time here was… messy.”

Jax and Gangle share an uneasy look then avert their eyes. Gangle shrugs weakly. “She’s been trying to make amends so she might still give you an apology.”

“And when she does I will turn her down flat and let the guilt eat away at her from afar,” Jax says without missing a beat.

Pomni sighs and pulls her legs to her chest, hugging them. Jax is so warm against her. “Maybe when we get back to the Circus things will sort themselves out.”

There’s an uncomfortable silence where everyone seems to exchange Pomni’s ‘when’ for an ‘if.’

Jax is the first to break it, leaning almost desperately into Pomni’s statement as an inevitability. “I’ll tell you what, I’m giving Caine a piece of my mind. I’m starting to think we should try blowing this place up regardless of what he does to us back at the Circus. Or I dunno, at the very least kill Orbsman.”

Zooble rolls their gaze over to him. Then they grunt.

“I’d blow the place up with Orbsman inside.”

“That’s really dark,” Gangle says.

“[BEEP] him,” Jax says with a shrug.

“Yeah,” Pomni agrees. “[BEEP] him.”

There’s a pause and then Gangle starts to nod. “Actually yeah, [BEEP] him. And Spudsy’s.”

“Yes, it’s a Hell of your own making,” Jax is quick to remark.

“And [BEEP] all these stupid [BEEP] NPCs,” Zooble gripes. “I was on register earlier and I thought I was going to abstract on purpose if only to have some rampaging power.”

“Don’t say that!” Gangle cries.

“Yeah, don’t say that,” Jax agrees. “You’ll need that firepower for when you take out Orbsman.”

Pomni listens to them chatter, content to listen to their complaints. It feels really nice and makes her happy. Like they’ve all grown closer despite it all.

Zooble and Gangle get into it about some crap they had to put up with Orbsman and then get confused on a detail, looking at each other as they try to work it out.

Pomni takes the opportunity to peek up at Jax. He’s looking down at her too.

She gives him a little smile. And then she pecks him on the cheek.

His expression blooms to one of surprise, face flushing, and then he gives her one of the happiest smiles she’s ever seen on him.

It quickly turns to a smirk and he looks to the others. “You see that?”

“Huh?” Gangle asks, looking between them.

“I’m pretending I didn’t,” Zooble states.

“You will look properly, both of you,” Jax commands then taps his cheek. “C’mon Pomni, lay another one on me.”

“No,” Pomni says. The only way to win against Jax is to beat him at his own game. “You only get one.”

Jax gives her a steely look then turns away with a, “Hmph. Fine, Zooble saw it at least so that’s what really matters.”

“Wha- I don’t count?” Gangle asks like she’s not sure if she’s offended.

“You don’t,” Jax tells her gleefully, giving Pomni’s side a little squeeze.

Pomni clearly has caused a fuss. But really it’s because Jax can’t keep his trap shut.

“Pomni’s so cute,” Jax says boldly. “You wouldn’t believe how red she gets when I—“

“I’m changing the subjeeeect!” Pomni singsongs anxiously. “This is the song I sing when I’m changing the subjeeeect!”

That makes Zooble and Gangle laugh, Jax snorting as he pulls her closer into his side. “See? Cute.”

“Alright, well let’s keep Pomni from abstracting out of embarrassment,” Zooble says, much to Pomni’s gratitude.

The conversation changes, going here and there but mostly revolving around hating Spudsy’s. Jax occasionally pulls Pomni closer and gives her side a squeeze. They’ve been on a roller coaster today with his blatant insecurities, but he seems so happy right now.

It makes Pomni happy too.

Jax is the first one to notice, head perking up and glancing towards the empty parking lot. Pomni turns to look along with the others, a little shiver going up her spine only to see it’s Ragatha shuffling towards them. Which, under the street lamps, is admittedly still a little creepy.

“Oh hey, look who finally wants to socialize,” Jax says with amusement. Then she hears the change in his voice as she registers at the same time that Ragatha must be sauced up. “Seriously?”

Her eye is blown out, mumbling something to herself as she shambles closer. When Ragatha comes to a stop near the car hoods she wavers on her feet. “Oh uh, hey everyone. Imagine seeing you all here.”

Ragatha fails to stifle a giggle.

Gangle looks at her nervously. “Oh, Ragatha, hey. You’re- Yeah, hey.”

Oh god this isn’t good. This is going to brew into something.

And now they’ve all been silent for a long, looooong moment.

Pomni offers a nervous smile. “Did you want to… sit with us?”

Ragatha’s eye flits to Pomni. Then it flits down to what Pomni can only assume is Jax’s arm around her. Ragatha’s eye widens and an array of troubled emotions splay over her face.

“Uh, you doing alright Ragatha? Do you need someone to drive you tonight?” Zooble asks, starting to sit up more on their hood.

“Sit and hang, stitches. Stop dragging down the mooood,” Jax says flippantly as Ragatha continues to bore a hole into his arm. Jax’s brow furrows. “For crying out loud, what? Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

Ragatha’s eye snaps up to Jax, her mouth wobbling for a moment before turning down in rage. “You know, how dare you? I was gonna come over here, you know? And try to apologize but wow. Just-”

“Excuse me?!” Jax asks, more baffled than anything. “I didn’t even do anything!”

Ragatha gestures wildly to his grip on Pomni. “I can’t believe you’d stoop so low, harassing Pomni like this!”

Pomni’s eyes widen. Oh God she has to clear that up.

“He’s not harassing me,” Pomni says emphatically.

Jax’s chest puffs up. “You hear that? I’m not harassing her! So chill.”

Ragatha stands with her arms hanging at her sides, just staring into the middle distance. “So the two of you are-”

Her voice cuts off.

“Two of us are what?” Jax prompts.

“You’re the worst!” Ragatha snaps at him. “You’re just- You think you can just do whatever and it doesn’t matter! Why does stuff have to work out for you?! It drives me crazy!”

Even knowing about Ragatha’s complicated feelings about Jax, this takes Pomni way off guard.

Ragatha buries her hands in her hair, gripping it tightly. “You don’t deserve Pomni!”

Gangle gasps sharply and Zooble starts to slide off the hood of their car. “Hey, maybe let's cool it-”

Jax is up on his feet in a flash, shoving Ragatha and making her stumble back a few steps.

“Jax! Not cool!” Zooble snaps.

“[BEEP] Ragatha!” Jax snarls, and he is [BEEP]ed as he moves towards Ragatha, jabbing a finger in her face.

“I’ve been really cool about your attitude towards me all things considered. I have been all but civil to your [BEEP]! But this is too far! You want to say that to my face and I’ll disassemble you here and now!”

“Jax!”

The name flies out of Pomni's mouth as she stumbles off of the car hood, hurrying forward and taking Jax's hand.

Jax doesnt look down at her, still baring his teeth at Ragatha. Pomni squeezes his hand then looks to Ragatha imploringly. But she isn't looking at Pomni either.

Pomni's lungs feel frozen as she tries to breathe in.

“Don't–”

Suddenly both of them are looking at Pomni, waiting to see who she's talking to. Her eyes settle on Ragatha.

“Don't say that about him.”

Ragatha's eye widens, looking hurt. She sniffles in sharply, rubbing her arm. "Well-"

"Well, what?" Jax snaps, hand trembling as he tightly clutches Pomni’s.

Ragatha opens her mouth and Zooble steps in. "Alright, I think maybe everyone should cool off. Ragatha, c’mon. You need a ride so you can sober up."

"I don't need to sober up!" Ragatha protests, voice close to tears.

"Yeah, well I'm going to give you one anyway," Zooble insists firmly.

Ragatha mouth wobbles, brow furrowing. She looks to Pomni again. "Pomni..."

Jax yanks her into his side. "Go on, go already!"

Pomni's eyes are locked on Ragatha and her chest feels uncomfortably tight. She does Ragatha the decency of meeting her eyes when she says,

"Zooble's right. Go sober up."

This behavior is frankly bizarre.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow," Pomni says hoping it sounds like a reassurance, but surmising from Ragatha's expression that it's more like a death sentence.

Ragatha starts to mumble something but Zooble puts an arm around her, escorting her towards their car.

Gangle fretfully slides off the hood as Zooble wrangles Ragatha into the passenger seat.

Zooble straightens up with a sigh. "Move your car, Jax."

Jax is still clutching Pomni to his side like she might disappear once he lets go, glaring with feeling. He finally releases her, stomping over to his car and backing it up with the screech of tires so Zooble can leave.

Jax doesn't come back out.

Zooble sighs tiredly then looks at Pomni and Gangle. "I'll see you all tomorrow."

The inevitability of the words makes Pomni feel heavy.

Zooble pulls out and Pomni and Gangle share an uneasy look.

"See you..." they both say at the same time.

Pomni looks over to Jax's car where he's haphazardly parked it. She heads towards it, heart heavy.

Poor Jax, she thinks. A sentiment she's sure has been scarce in the Circus.

But it's true.

Pomni taps on the window as Gangle's car pulls out of the lot then tugs the door open, getting in.

Jax doesn't even look at her, slumped low in the driver's seat and glaring out the windshield with his arms tightly crossed.

They sit in horrible silence together, Jax only seeming to tense up more in her presence.

Pomni looks at him, brows knitting in worry. How should she reassure him? It's been a battle all day and while part of it was Jax being a butt, it opened her eyes to just how insecure he is. He's a mess.

And Ragatha's words...

Pomni leans over the gear shift and wraps her arms around Jax tightly. She squeezes him as hard as she can.

"That was really mean," Pomni says.

Jax flinches in her grip, possibly trying to pull away but there's nowhere to go in the car.

"She just said what everyone else is thinking," he mutters bitterly.

Pomni frowns deeply.

She presses her face to Jax's shoulder.

"I'm not thinking that."

Jax doesn't say anything for a long moment and Pomni starts to think he won't, but then there's the light pressure of his hand on top of her head. "Yeah well, you're the only one."

He sighs out with his whole chest. "[BEEP] Ragatha."

She really got to him.

Pomni tilts her head up to look at Jax who isn't looking at her. He turns his head a little so she can see even less.

"Yeah that wasn't okay," Pomni agrees. "What a weird notion anyway. Nobody deserves me, what does that even mean?"

"You just say that because you're nice, Pomni! Of course anyone would say you deserve someone nice, too! Like that stupid [BEEP]ing alligator because he's just sooooo great! Like yeah, duh! He's not real! I can't compete with that!"

Jax is losing his cool.

Pomni pulls back and Jax tenses up even more, turning his face away.

She thinks about it really hard. Considers what she wants.

"Jax," she says.

He still doesn't look at her.

"Do you wanna go out with me?"

Jax scoffs. "What, you wanna go to the [BEEP]ing suburbs? Go smash a house up? Break in the windows and set it aflame?"

It's all said so scathingly but he pauses. "Actually that does sound pretty good."

"Wait, what?"

Pomni takes a moment to right herself. Then she shakes her head emphatically.

"Jax, I'm asking if you want to be in a relationship with me."

Jax's head snaps in her direction, eyebrows raising so high she's surprised they don't come up off his face.

"You're [BEEP]ing with me," he finally manages to say.

"What?"

Jax is literally denying reality. Has been. Is probably going to continue.

Pomni thinks of him hugging her behind the register.

"I'm not," Pomni says. “Didn't you even call me your girlfriend?”

“It's different when I say stuff,” Jax sulks.

She holds out her hand to Jax, offering it for him to hold.

"Don't you like me?"

Jax gets what Pomni can only describe as tongue tied, not quite formulating a response as he stares at her hand with longing.

"You're seriously asking me out. Me. Romantically." Jax clarifies like he's still struggling to believe it.

Pomni smiles at him. "Yeah. I have a crush on you."

Jax flushes, mouth set in awe. Then he seems to remember himself and looks away, putting a hand over the lower half of his face to try and hide his reaction. "I mean, wow Pom you must be really into me to confess like that."

Jax sounds really happy about it, though there's still a tremor of uncertainty in his voice.

"You'll probably change your mind," he says warily.

His cognitive dissonance is impressive.

"I think it's worth a try." Pomni holds her hand out more insistently. "What's your answer?"

Slowly but surely Jax’s eyes soften gleefully, hand moving away from his face to reach out and take her hand. He squeezes tightly, thumb sliding along the back of it.

"If you're gonna insist, who am I to say no?"

Jax gives her hand another sharp squeeze then suddenly leans down, catching Pomni’s lips in a desperate kiss.

Pomni kisses him back, meeting his fervor. It feels good. And she thinks he might need it.

Pomni reaches up and puts her hand gently on Jax's cheek, thumb stroking it. She mouths at him intimately, insistently.

Somehow Pomni has gone from the one being flustered to the one leading. She doesn't mind a little push and pull.

Jax starts to feel her up, hand going to her breast. She lets him and it draws a groan from Jax. He gropes down her side greedily, feeling out the shape of her.

familiarizing himself with her body

Pomni shivers and grabs Jax's wrist. His whole body tenses up, fingers twitching. But Pomni just guides him under her shirt, encouraging him to slide his palm over her stomach and squeeze her tit through her bra.

"Mm," Pomni moans softly, breaking the kiss. "Is this making you feel better?"

Jax gives a breathless laugh, groping Pomni slowly like he's savoring it. "Yeah, you really cheered me up."

His palm drags over her nipple, eliciting another shiver. Jax kisses her once, twice, meeting her eyes heatedly as he pulls back slightly to tell her, "You're the best, Pom."

Then with a tone of vicious delight. "You're my girlfriend."

Pomni laughs at that. Jax scowls, but she nods.

"You're my boyfriend."

That perks his mouth back up into a smile that's quickly hidden as he leans in to make out with her again.

As one hand maps out her skin the other plays with her tit, groping and squeezing until it has Pomni whimpering.

"Mm, that's a sexy sound," Jax murmurs against her lips. His fingers start to slide beneath the bra, sliding along the swell of her breast.

Pomni gasps and arches into the touch, nipple hardening as the fabric of his glove drags over it. She squeezes his wrist and murmurs to him softly,

"You can do it harder."

Jax groans, kissing her hard as he starts to play with her nipple, tugging on it between his fingers.

"Like that?" Jax asks heatedly, like he has to know. Their breathing is growing heavy.

Pomni nods, mouth brushing against Jax's.

"... harder."

"Pom," Jax breathes, giving her a sharp squeeze that makes her body shudder.

"Sit back," he urges, suddenly pulling away to lower the seat so she's staring at the car ceiling again.

Jax looms over her like she's his prey, but there's still something vulnerable in his eyes as he stretches out over her. They both gasp softly as their bodies press together.

It's then that Pomni realizes she can feel Jax is getting hard.

Oh no.

they're going to fuck in this car

Pomni is hyperfocused on the pressure of Jax's erection against her thigh. Their breath mingles as Jax starts to kiss her, but she turns her head.

"Jax, if we keep going I'm not gonna want to stop."

Jax starts to chase down her mouth then pauses, nudging against her cheek instead. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It's not a bad thing, just..."

Pomni looks at him again and touches his cheek.

"Are you okay?"

Jax's expression slams shut at the question and it's all the answer she really needs, even as he protests, "I'm fine."

Pomni gives him a wane smile and pats his cheek lightly.

"Let's have our first time on a fun night." Pomni kisses his mouth. "Okay?"

"What," Jax says, not kissing back. "Want me to just drive off? Want to go back to Spudsy's? [BEEP] that."

Pomni shakes her head.

"I want to lay down with you in the back seat until the sun rises."

Jax seems to stew over whether he has a problem with that or not, thankfully going down without much of a fight. "Whatever, you're the one making a big deal out of it. I'm over it."

Pomni very much doubts that.

She gives a little squeak as Jax gives her a final squeeze before pulling back, easing the seat up until he's straddling her lap. "We'll do your thing, but I still want to grope you."

Pomni snorts in amusement at how blatantly he states it.

"Sure," she says and they clumsily get out of the car, pulling the seat back up.

Jax opens the back door and frowns at Pomni. "So how do you want to do this?"

Pomni has a vision. "Lay on your back."

Jax gives her a dubious look because he's in a bad mood, but obediently crawls in and lays back. His legs hang out the side a little. He glares at Pomni, who crawls on top of him and settles in the crook of his arm, resting against the seat back.

She puts her hand on his chest. "It's nice, right?"

Jax goes stiff, and then his arms are easing around Pomni and hugging her closer. "Yeah, I could definitely get used to this."

His fingers trace along Pomni's side, hand slipping up under her shirt and bra again to squeeze her tit. She expects him to fuss over it until it makes her all hot and bothered again but after a few yearning squeezes he seems content to rest his hand there.

He sighs out. "It was a long day."

"Yeah," Pomni says, snuggling a little closer. "And tomorrow's gonna be awkward. But it'll be okay."

"Oh, will it?" Jax scoffs.

Pomni shrugs. "Probably."

"Ragatha will be lucky if I don't lock her in the walk-in until she's an icicle," Jax seethes, clearly getting lost in the memory of it as his expression darkens.

Pomni gives his chest a pat. "At least you have a girlfriend now."

The tension seeps back out of Jax's body as he curls more around her. "That's true, that certainly sweetens things for me. I definitely plan to be a menace about it."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Pomni says with admittedly some trepidation about how that will manifest. Still, she leans up to kiss his cheek. "Don't get too fresh or I'll swat you down."

Jax laughs at that and Pomni can feel it in his chest. Jax gives her a squeeze, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I look forward to seeing you try."

Pomni can feel his heart beating as fast as her own as he starts kissing her forehead just under her bangs.

“I’m your boyfriend, Pomni…”

They lay like that for what time they have that's truly theirs--talking softly, making out when they feel like it, lulling into silences that Pomni feels comfortable in--until the pale light of dawn washes over them and the day starts over once again.

Chapter Text

Day 9

Jax is in such a bad mood when he opens his eyes and it’s another day at Spudsy’s.

Of course it is, of [BEEP]ing course it’s another day at Spudsy’s, and now he also has the [BEEP] with Ragatha hanging over him. Anger starts to build in his chest-

Then he remembers Pomni is his girlfriend. That she wants to be with him. She asked him out, even if he called her his girlfriend first.

It’s the only thing that tethers his sanity as he gets out of his car, slamming the door shut.

Zooble and Gangle are already standing beside each other talking. Gross.

His eyes sharpen at the sight of Ragatha’s hunched frame standing anxiously by the Spudsy’s door, no doubt trying to avoid everyone. Good, she better watch herself around Jax. The [BEEP].

He continues to get worked up and then there’s the soft shutting of a car door and Jax’s eyes move to Pomni, who gives a little stretch as she gets out of her car.

Her eyes move towards him, expression growing awkward for a moment before she gives a bashful smile and Jax melts a little.

If Ragatha thinks she can ruin this for him she’s going to be dead.

Orbsman bursts out the front door of Spudsy’s, nearly smacking Ragatha in the face. Too bad, it would be the only thing he did that Jax would have liked.

Everyone hurry, Capitalism waits for no one and you will be left behind!

Great. Great motivational speech.

Jax walks over to Pomni, who waits for him. He boldly reaches down to take her hand, squeezing tightly. A little possessive. “Hey Pom. Can you believe this [BEEP]?”

Pomni looks up at him with what he thinks is an attempt at a reassuring expression, though she mostly just looks stressed out. She squeezes his hand back. “Nope.”

They walk into Spudsy’s together hand in hand which is a little hard to do with the double doors, but they make it happen. It’s annoying that Pomni holds the door open for Zooble, though. Jax makes a face at Zooble over the back of Pomni’s head.

But his real enemy is…

Ragatha, smile! Orbsman insists. Think of the customer service experience! No one wants to see you looking so glum.

Haaaaaaa. Good.

Orbsman puts a commanding orb on Ragatha’s shoulder.

Whatever’s bothering you, just stop!

Everyone immediately looks awkward.

“I-” Ragatha starts in a small voice but Orbsman’s orb drops away. He claps them together.

Alright, huddle up everyone!

They circle up loosely as Orbsman gets his rocks off bossing them around, telling them what to do. Jax glares at Ragatha the whole time, arm around Pomni’s shoulders. Ragatha avoids his gaze, staring at the floor.

Oh suddenly she’s sober and can’t cash the check her mouth was writing last night. Typical. Typical Ragatha-

Then Jax’s ears perk at his name in Orbsman’s mouth --will be closing tonight with Gangle.

“What?!” Jax exclaims, outburst making everyone jump slightly. “No way!”

Gangle is already tapping her ribbons together nervously.

Orbsman is having none of his attitude, though. Everyone takes their turn closing, no complaints from either of you! If you have a problem with it, call Corporate. Oh wait, you can’t!

It’s oddly self-aware, Orbsman clearly drunk on power. Is this by Caine’s design or is it just the atmosphere getting to his orb head? It really [BEEP]s Jax off.

Jax is seething. This is going to cut into his time with Pomni.

But then he feels her arm wrapping around the back of his waist. Her hand rests on his hip as if to say, ‘Don’t worry about it.’

He wins.

But he can’t help but be [BEEP]ed.

Oh he’s so mad.

Jax is in a weird state where he’s barely aware of what’s going on as they start setting up shop. He walks around with a tub of lettuce in his hands like a [BEEP]hole, not even sure where he’s going. Assembly? Is he on assembly?

Jax perks up a bit as he realizes he’s about to pass Ragatha whose gaze is still low.

He should trip her. He even prepares to do it.

Then he thinks about Pomni and instead chooses to roll his eyes, motion exaggerated even though Ragatha isn’t looking at him. The [BEEP].

But it throws Jax off a bit when she does glance at him out of the corner of her eye. His eyebrows raise in response like, ‘What. What.’

Ragatha winces back, shrinking a bit as they pass each other. Like Jax is going to hit her.

Good, she should be scared, but it makes Jax look back over his shoulder with a scowl.

Frankly, it’s not unreasonable for her to be afraid that he would retaliate. But the thing is he’s been decent to her. It just riles him up more as he slams the lettuce down on the assembly table in front of Gangle.

“Eep!” she cries.

“Shut up, Gangle, no one cares,” Jax snaps. “Go cry to Zooble.”

He stalks off, feeling worse and worse and worse until–

There’s the faint jingling of bells and he follows it instinctively, finding Pomni at the grill and before he can stop himself he’s grabbing one of her bells, yanking her away from her station and starting to drag her along.

“Ow! Ow, ow, ow!” Pomni cries, but she’s just gonna have to suck it up because Jax can’t take this. “Jax! Stop, I’m coming!”

“That’s what she said,” Jax says bitterly, not taking any pleasure in the joke. He drags Pomni to the walk-in and closes the door behind him, leaning against it. “Is there a lock on this thing?”

“Jax,” Pomni says, glaring up at him. “Let go of my hat.”

“No,” he says. “It’s my stress toy.”

“Jax.” Pomni is peering into his face now. Jax scowls and looks off to the side. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on is I’m currently a pressure cooker that’s ready to explode and scald everyone in the blast zone!” Jax drags his free hand down his face, groaning. “I can’t handle this, Pom! Ragatha just sniveling around like she’s the victim?! I’m gonna cut her up and serve her to the customers!”

Jax suddenly remembers and cries out again in frustration as he adds on, “And I have to close with stupid Gangle!”

“First off,” Pomni says, sounding amused which grinds Jax’s gears. “Don’t say you’re going to feed Ragatha to the customers, that’s some serial killer verbage.”

How dare she use the word ‘verbage’ in a sentence.

“That sucks about closing, but honestly it works out because I’m gonna talk to Ragatha after work,” Pomni says earnestly. “It’s better than just hanging out waiting for me to come back, right? Then you don’t have to close again for… for a while.”

Implying they’re going to be here a long time. Jax cringes a bit and Pomni makes a face. They wallow in the fact that they’re stuck at Spudsy’s for a moment. Then Jax realizes what Pomni said.

“Hold up,” he says. “I want to be there when you have the conversation. What if she tries something?”

”Tries something?” Pomni laughs and he wishes she would take this seriously. “What, you think she’s gonna murder me?”

“No!” Jax cries. “She’s gonna lay the moves on you and then you’re going to drop me for that harlot in two seconds flat!”

“No,” Pomni says. “I’m not.”

“Oh, and she would be so happy!” Jax starts to walk back and forth around the walk in. “She’d be like Ha! I got the upper hand on Ja– can you stand to the side, I can’t [BEEP]ing pace!”

Pomni stands to the side to give him more room.

“Even if she ‘laid the moves’ on me I’d tell her no and that would be that.” Pomni watches him walking around like a madman. “And then I’ll come back and we’ll make out.”

”Hmmmm,” Jax stops in his tracks and hums like that doesn’t fully satisfy him. Pomni just doesn’t get it, assuming the best in people. Like an idiot.

But…

Jax’s eyes narrow at her slightly and he asks, “You really wanna make out after?”

She gives him a small, indulgent smile that almost makes him mad. Almost. “Yep.”

“And I can eat you out?” Jax follows up.

Pomni flushes at that. But she nods. “Yep.”

“Sexy,” Jax comments. “You’re like, speechless.”

Pomni says nothing.

“That’s the spirit,” Jax says, feeling a little better despite his own wishes.

They hear the sound of Orbsman hollering out in the restaurant and make the same face of displeasure.

“Let’s head out before we get in trouble,” Pomni says, picking up a tub of patties no doubt to look busy.

Jax grabs more lettuce. Let Gangle suffer with excess supplies. [BEEP] her.

Pomni motions with her head for Jax to lean down.

“What.” He says just to build suspense.

“I’ve gotta tell you a secret,” Pomni says.

“Ohh?” Jax raises a brow, a tiny bit intrigued. He leans down.

Pomni pecks his cheek. “See ya.”

And with that she awkwardly opens the walk-in door with the tub balanced in her arm and disappears.

Jax watches her go, the cold of the walk-in doing nothing to cool the heat rising to his face.

He takes a deep breath. It’s going to be a long [BEEP]ing day but it will eventually end and at least he has something to look forward to now.

As long as Ragatha doesn’t go and [BEEP] things up. That makes him scowl again but he pushes his irritation aside.

At the end of the night, Pomni will be waiting for him.

—

It’s afternoon when Pomni sees Ragatha go off on break. She doesn’t go to the break room, though. She goes out to the back.

Pomni jumps off of drive thru and walks to Zooble who’s spacing out near the fryer.

“Um, Zooble? Do you mind hopping on drive thru for a sec? I gotta do something.”

“Huh?” Zooble says, looking over at her blankly. “Oh. Yeah, sure thing.”

They walk off and Pomni takes a moment to feel grateful that she has solid people in the Circus. Rather, Spudsy’s.

Then she gears herself up and heads out the back.

Ragatha is standing in the alley with her back facing Pomni, digging around in her uniform pocket. She stiffens and looks back at Pomni with alarm, clearly not having expected the door to open.

“Oh,” she says in a croaky, nervous voice. “Hi– hello– Hi, Pomni.”

Pomni frowns. “Hey.”

There’s some awkward staring. Pomni clears her throat.

“After work I want to talk about things.” Pomni makes a point not to word it as a question.

“Oh, after work?” Ragatha admittedly sounds a little relieved it’s not happening right away. “Sure, that’s- fine.”

Ragatha grimaces slightly. “Um, Pomni I’m-”

She struggles with what to say then looks away. “I’ll talk to you later, then.”

Pomni nods. “Cool.”

She leaves it at that, looking at Ragatha a moment longer before heading back into Spudsy’s.

Her path is immediately blocked by Orbsman who is breathing hard like he’s been running around. At least, she thinks he’s breathing.

Pomni, he says and for a moment Pomni thinks she’s in trouble. Have you seen my no-no sticks? I’m going just bonkers without them

Oh no.

“Umm, nope,” Pomni says. “But I’ll be sure to– if I see them you’ll be the first to know.”

Thank you. I am about to lose it on someone

“Oh,” Pomni says. “Oh good.”

Oh God

Orbsman bounces off and Pomni wonders how long any of them can last at Spudsy’s.

—

Pomni waits outside of Spudsy’s for Ragatha, sitting on the hood of her car. The general plan is to go drive off and have a conversation somewhere in the suburbs then drive back and let Jax go wild.

But Jax and Gangle already ten minutes into closing and Ragatha has been a no show.

Pomni would wonder if Ragatha had flaked out but her car is still parked, so all she can do is continue to wait.

Zooble had offered to wait with her but Pomni had turned them down, not wanting Ragatha to feel outnumbered or like she's being confronted, though at this point an intervention doesn't seem like the worst idea.

Pomni is wondering if it's a lost cause for the night when she finally sees Ragatha walking around the corner from behind Spudsy’s.

Pomni immediately notices that Ragatha is stumbling along at a dreamy pace and knows before Ragatha even reaches her that she's sauced up.

Great.

"Oooh, hey Pomni," Ragatha slurs out, wavering on her feet. "How're- how's it going?"

Yeah, she's trashed.

Pomni doesn't know what to say.

"Give me a sec," Pomni mumbles and slips off her car and leaves Ragatha to waver there, heading over to Zooble's car.

She taps on the window. "Hey."

Zooble looks unamused when they roll down the window. "She's [BEEP]ed up again, huh."

"Yup."

"Huh."

"I'm gonna drive her back after we talk. Can you, uh, tell Jax?" Pomni asks.

"Uh-huh. He's gonna flip out."

"I know," Pomni agrees.

Zooble gives her a half-hearted salute and Pomni heads back to her car.

Pomni gets into the driver's seat, waiting for Ragatha to fumble with the door handle and get in.

They pull out of the parking lot with trepidation in Pomni's heart.

Ragatha’s gaze wanders around lazily and she says with misplaced amusement, “It’s sooo small in here.”

Pomni doesn’t respond and Ragatha seems to sink back into herself.

The car is silent. Pomni grips the wheel tightly.

She doesn't drive far into the suburbs before pulling off to the side of the road and shutting off the car. She's still white-knuckling the steering wheel. Ragatha hiccups.

Suddenly Pomni is [BEEP]ed off.

"Why did you drink that stuff when you knew we were gonna talk?" she can't help but ask.

"Huuuuh?" Ragatha draws out, and it irks Pomni even more. "Ooh, well."

Ragatha stares ahead, as if dazed, then looks at Pomni. "I didn’t mean to have so much. Y'don't have to be so mad. I just wanted to take the edge off before we talked."

Her brow furrows and then she starts to giggle, quickly biting it back. "I was nervous. You never been- you ever been nervous Pomni?"

Then before Pomni can even get a word out Ragatha waves a hand almost dismissively. "Yeah you have. You're like, so anxious."

Pomni's jaw drops. Why the Hell is Ragatha calling her out when she was the one who was out of pocket--

she's so drunk

Pomni's mouth tugs down.

"Ragatha, what is going on? Can you just tell me?"

Ragatha looks at her in mild disbelief. "I mean have you seen where we've been the last-"

She trails off, then seems to get lost over what she's supposed to be remembering, shaking her head.

"Gotta do this over and over and everyone treats me like a criminal," she accuses dramatically.

"And last time you were flirting with that gummy NPC and this time it's Jax," she further complains, spitting Jax’s name with disdain. "It's been a lot, okay!"

Pomni's eyes are wide as saucers. She can feel it. She's all bug eyed looking at Ragatha and frankly she's justified.

"What about me flirting with anyone is 'a lot?' In what way??" Pomni doesn't wait for Ragatha to answer. "First off, I wasn't flirting with Gummigoo. He literally died and I was having a crisis."

Pomni takes a shaky breath, feeling under attack. "As for Jax, yeah, I was flirting with him. What of it?"

That has Ragatha's mouth turning down sharply, brow furrowing. She looks extra cramped in Pomni’s car as she slides down further into her seat, arms crossing.

She's silent so long Pomni isn't sure Ragatha’s going to answer. They might have to talk about this tomorrow after all and that makes Pomni tired.

Then Ragatha speaks softly, sounding deflated.

"Sometimes I wish new people would come to the Circus. That's horrible, I know. Nobody deserves to be here."

Ragatha’s mouth wobbles, then she gives a defeated sigh. "It's just so lonely sometimes and now it's Gangle and Zooble, you and Jax. It's hard to be alone all the time. I just want someone to want to spend time with me."

Pomni is getting emotional whiplash. She feels bad for Ragatha, she gets it, but...

"Is it really about wanting someone to spend time with you? Because we do want to spend time with you."

Not Jax, though.

"Not Jax," Ragatha grumbles.

"You were really nasty to him," Pomni says with conviction while the subject is on him. "I know you were messed up on sauce, but you were a jerk."

Ragatha’s expression furrows to regret but then anger flares up on her face. "You don't know all the history! Jax is the jerk! You just don't understand!"

Pomni’s own brow furrows but she says gently, "I'd like to understand, if you'd tell me-"

Ragatha's hand comes to rest on Pomni’s shoulder, distracting her. Ragatha sort of smells like the stupid sauce which brings the unpleasant association of Spudsy’s.

”I could make you happy, Pomni. I'd make you so-" Then to Pomni’s shock Ragatha awkwardly leans over to try and kiss her.

Pomni squeaks. It's not dignified.

She grabs onto Ragatha's shoulders and holds her at arms length, heart pounding with shaky adrenaline.

"Oh my god," she says. "Ragatha, I'm with Jax!"

Ragatha looks at her, sluggish realization coming over her expression.

"I don't like you like that," Pomni says, wincing a little at the words. She doesn't want to hurt Ragatha, but while she has her looking Pomni dead in the eyes...

"I understand you have history with Jax. But I have something different with him," Pomni insists. "He's really been there for me this time around at Spudsy's. I really like him."

Ragatha stares at her. And stares at her. And then tears well up in her eye and she bursts into wailing. Ragatha turns away and hides her face in her hands as she sobs, inconsolable.

Pomni feels horrible. She didn't mean to make Ragatha cry, but it had to be said.

This conversation has reached an impasse.

Pomni starts the car up again.

"You need to reset," she tells Ragatha, matter of fact, putting the car into gear and starting to putter down the street.

Ragatha continues to sob, body huddled towards the car door.

It's such a miserable feeling as Pomni passes by the Spudsy’s again knowing she’s not going to be meeting up with Jax after all.

Her grip tightens on the steering wheel as they pass it by.

Ragatha sniffles loudly.

"I'm sorry," Ragatha says in a watery voice just as they pass the invisible barrier that resets their day.

—

Day 10

Pomni blinks blearily in the artificial sunlight feeling more exhausted than she has in a long time. Certainly since before coming to Spudsy's. Jesus.

She doesn't look over at Ragatha's car, instead seeking out Jax's. He's already getting out of it, a scowl plastered across his face, and is making a beeline for Pomni's--

Nope. He's going to Ragatha's.

Pomni opens the car door, yelling in a panic, "Jax!"

Jax glares at her reproachfully, but pauses. Pomni gets out of her car and walks to him, grabbing his hand and starting to drag him to the back of Spudsy's.

She feels him tug at her grip, afraid for a moment he'll break free and go for Ragatha’s head.

Jax doesn't, allowing her to tug him along. As soon as she turns around to actually speak with him though he's quick to demand,

"So what the [BEEP] was that last night? Why didn’t you make Zooble drive Ragatha back?"

"Well, the plan was to drive back after Ragatha and I talked, but she showed up all sauced so I had to-- ow, Jax!"

Pomni pulls her hand from Jax's, which is squeezing too tightly. He gives a sharp frown and tries to snatch it back. Pomni lets him.

"She was really drunk. She needed the day to reset."

"[BEEP] what she needed!" Jax yells.

Pomni is silent.

"Coulda dumped her in front of Spudsy’s and let the night reset on her [BEEP]!"

Jax is so worked up.

"[BEEP] her! I can't believe she was sauced up knowing you were gonna talk to her- Ooh it steams me up so bad!" Jax rants.

Then his sharp gaze turns on Pomni. "What happened? What did she say?"

Pomni withers a bit and she can see all of the things Jax is imagining whirling in his eyes.

"Uhh."

Jax looks like he's about to start screeching.

"She basically said she was jealous." God. "And she said sorry, but I don't know."

"Of course she's jealous! You're this perfect little cupcake and she's an unworthy clown!" Jax cries. "No offense."

"No offense?" Pomni blinks. "What, because I'm a jester?"

"Yes."

A laugh almost bursts from Pomni, but she thinks better of it.

"Well, did she come on to you?" Jax is staring at her so intently. "Did she?"

Pomni frowns, grabbing both of his hands to hopefully keep him from bolting to go jump Ragatha.

"Yeah."

Pomni can practically see the fire raging in Jax's eyes as he absorbs that information. He starts to pull back and Pomni tightens her grip on his hands.

"I knew it! Oh my god I knew it!" Jax snaps, furious.

His glower turns towards the direction of the parking lot. "I'm gonna kill her! Did she try to woo you with tender promises? Don't listen to her, Pomni she's a liar! She sucks!"

"Tender-- what?" Pomni is in such a tizzy. "Jax of course I rejected her! Jax, seriously."

"Oh, don't you try to calm me down," Jax seethes.

“Please, it’s easy to forget being stuck here but we’re still vulnerable to abstracting. I really don’t want that to happen to Ragatha under all the pressure, do you?” Pomni asks imploringly.

“Maybe I don’t, maybe I do,” Jax responds flippantly. He is so tilted.

"Jax," Pomni tries a new tactic. She has to diffuse this. "Promise me you won't do anything. I'll make it worth your while."

"What, you think you can just calm my justified rage with your womanly wiles?!" He scoffs as if outraged.

Womanly [BEEP]ing wiles.

Then his eyes consider her, still filled with anger but curiosity entering them. "What are you gonna tempt me with?"

Pomni leans up on her tiptoes and tells him like it's a secret,

"I'll kiss it."

Jax just glares at her. "Kiss what?"

Pomni's brows raise. "What do you mean kiss what?"

"What?"

"What??" Pomni echoes back at him.

They're caught in a staring match. Pomni blinks first.

"Jax, I'm gonna suck your [BEEP]."

Jax's eyebrows shoot up and the shift in expression from rage to shocked embarrassment is funny and a little cute.

Jax's expression grows flustered and he tugs one of his hands away, covering the lower half of his face. "Pom you can't just say that."

"Why not?" She asks earnestly.

There's a spark of desire in his eyes and then they turn away. He continues to mutter into his hand, "I already said I'm eating you out. Do that first."

Wow, that's adorable. Pomni can't help but smile.

"Aw, c'mon," she says. "What's the big deal? You can eat me out and then, you know."

Pomni winks at him.

Jax gets flustered all over again, putting a finger to her lips. "Sh! Stop winking!"

Pomni raises her eyebrows slightly then winks again.

"Oh my god," Jax says in disbelief. A flush actively comes to his face but he still looks so awkward. "Don't talk about it!"

Pomni is a little baffled. He's the one that's been all up in her tits and wants to kiss her [BEEP].

"Wait, why?" Pomni asks.

It's a real [BEEP]ing head scratcher.

Jax gives her an intense look like hes trying to communicate to her telepathically. The signal isn't coming through.

Jax rolls his eyes, leaning in and muttering between his teeth, "It's embarrassing, don't look at it."

"Wha--"

Pomni is blown away. Then it really hits.

"Aw," she says. "Are you shy about it? That's cute."

Jax's brow twitches and he's scowling at her again. "I am not cute! How dare you?"

He huffs and scoffs and snarls. "I am manly, got it?"

"Jax," Pomni says. "You're adorable."

She adds, "Has... no one ever given you a [BEEP]job?"

Thank god she was able to divert him from the Ragatha crap. She thinks she's on the right track.

Jax pulls away from her, mortified. That's how Pomni reads his expression. Maybe a little indignant.

"Uh, yeah I've had one but not here in the Circus."

His eyes dart down to her mouth. "You seriously want to give me one?"

Pomni's lips curve up.

"Of course I want to," she says. It makes sense Jax would be weird about it in the Circus. "If it's a matter of it being purple I don't care."

"Purple--" Jax gapes at her. "I'm not worked up because it's purple."

Huh. Then what?

"Oh c'mon. Look at me, Jax. I have a weird, awkward little body and a giant head," Pomni says. "It can't be weirder than that."

She tries not to carry in her tone a feeling of 'what's the hold up?'

"Oh yes it can," Jax bites.

Then he throws his arms in the air.

"I have a freaky [BEEP], Pomni! I have a freaky [BEEP] and I didn't even have the chance to [BEEP] a girl before I came to the Circus so now I'm [BEEP]ed on [BEEP]ing someone because if you see it you'll be [BEEP]ing freaked out!"

Pomni's expression goes slack as she listens. It's kind of hard to understand him through the beeps.

"I don't get it," she says. "What's up with your [BEEP]?"

"OH, you ask so many questions," Jax says, starting to pace around with his hands on his face.

Pomni shakes her head at him in disbelief.

"Would you be mean to me if I had a weird [BEEP]? Would you decide you didn't want to eat me out after all?"

Jax turns and points a finger at her. "Listen toots, it's not comparable!"

"How's it different?" Pomni asks mildly, though Jax looks at her like she's said something inflammatory.

"Uh, cuz it's mine!" He states like that’s obvious.

"Fair enough," Pomni says.

Jax's mouth goes slack. Silence ensues.

A really long silence.

"Wha-- whacha-- what the [BEEP] does that mean?" Jax demands, crossing his arms defensively.

"It means I won't push it if it's not something you want to do," Pomni says with enough gentleness to soften it, but hopefully straightforward enough to not bruise his ego.

Jax’s brow narrows like that ticks him off. “Oh, listen to you being so thoughtful of my feelings.”

Why does he make it sound like a bad thing?

Jax observes her for a long moment then huffs softly. “I will consider it.”

Pomni’s mouth wobbles into a smile of amusement that she tries to stuff down.

“You’re laughing at me!” Jax snaps. “You’re laughing and–”

“Do you have the cigarettes?” Pomni interrupts.

Jax scowls a little longer then reaches into his pocket, tugging out the pack and lighter. He tosses them to Pomni.

She fumbles them and they fall to the ground.

“Pomni!” Jax scolds as she scrambles to pick them up. “What have you done.”

Pomni tucks the ill gotten goods away into her pocket. “Worry about yourself.”

That makes Jax laugh, a little light coming to his eyes, but before Pomni can make a flirtatious joke the door to the back opens and Orbsman busts through.

Oh god if he had seen the cigarettes–

Come on, corporate cogs! Orbsman demands, clapping his orbs together. The machine needs to run!!!

“Yes sir,” Pomni says on instinct, stiffening.

Jax just rolls his eyes as Orbsman pops back inside, stomping off.

“Uuuuuugh,” he complains.

“We’ll hang out tonight,” Pomni promises, touching his hand and heading back to Spudsy’s. “Later.”

“Later, loser,” is Jax’s farewell.

Pomni walks to her station and hopes for the best.

—

Pomni finds herself in the back again sooner than she expects. Zooble is the one who tells her to take a break. It strikes her as she heads out alone that they’re looking out for her.

They had to have known the Ragatha conversation went like [BEEP].

It couldn't have been a picnic passing on the message to Jax that she wouldn't be waiting for him, either.

Pomni determines if she smokes her cigarette on the other side of the dumpster like a creep then Orbsman shouldn’t be able to see her if he comes out. It’s the best plan she has.

But on her way back there she notes something tucked away on the ground, a purple bottle.

Ah.

Ragatha’s stash.

Pomni frowns and picks up the bottle, looking it over. Maybe she should get rid of this. Throw it in the dumpster. Yeah. Actually, that’s probably a really good idea.

Pomni moves to do so, but before she can open the dumpster, the back door opens and–

it’s Orbsman again

Oh God

Orbsman doesn’t notice her at first, pacing and checking his imaginary pockets, garbling to himself.

But then he does.

He looks over and his already comically wide eyes go wider.

Pomni he says.

Are you drinking stupid sauce out here?

Pomni’s heart starts to pound. “N-no, I was just–”

POMNI!!!

Pomni stiffens, stressing the [BEEP] out.

She’s going to training again. She’s going to training.

Stupid sauce doesn’t come cheap! Orbsman bellows, orbing up to her and standing over Pomni with his formidable height. She shrinks. Each bottle of stupid sauce costs 87 cents apiece!

Orbsman leans over her.

87 CENTS!!!

Pomni’s lip starts to wobble. “I–”

I can’t believe this. You were once my model employee. I was going to tell you about the Spudsy’s college fund. You could have had half your student debt paid off if you chose to go to school

Orbsman impresses on her, You could have made something of yourself, Pomni. You could have been an engineer or a doctor

Orbsman shakes his head. You could have gone into holistic health

“I–” Pomni starts.

Enough of your excuses! Orbsman’s eyes become crazed. I bet you’re the one stealing my no-no sticks, too!

“N-no, I– I would never–” Pomni panics, heart going a mile a minute.

Just then the door to the back opens and a world-weary Ragatha walks through.

She freezes right up, glancing from Pomni to Orbsman, then down to the stupid sauce in Pomni’s hand. Ragatha’s expression becomes stricken, mouth pulling into a tight line.

Not now, Ragatha! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of disciplinary action? Pomni’s been sneaking sauce and getting into my no-no sticks, throwing away her future! And didn’t I tell you to smile?

“I-” Ragatha stutters out but Orbsman has turned back to Pomni, eyebrows set angrily.

Turn out your pockets and then you’re going straight to training!

Pomni can’t help the whimper that escapes her. It doesn’t even matter that she’s not the one using the stupid sauce, once Orbsman sees the cigarettes it will be all the proof he needs.

“Wait!” Ragatha cries out, making them both turn to look at her.

Her eyes dart between them again, then her expression becomes determined. Ragatha’s voice wavers as she tells Orbsman, “I- I’m the one stealing the stupid sauce.”

Orbsman’s eyes narrow. And my no-no sticks?

Ragatha glances at Pomni who knows she looks visibly guilty.

“Yeah,” Ragatha says shakily. “It’s me.”

There’s a pause of stunned silence and then Orbsman is whirling on her. I should have known it was you!

He turns to look at Pomni briefly. Sorry about that Pomni, you know how I get. Come to my office later to hear more about that college program. I think you have a bright future ahead of you!

Orbsman’s sharp gaze returns to Ragatha. As for you, it’s time for training

Hands come out of the walls, shooting out and closing around Ragatha’s body, who lets out a small yelp. A portal opens up and they drag her through it.

And then it’s just Pomni and Orbsman. Pomni’s hands are shaking.

Welp! Orbsman says cheerily, no doubt in a good mood after blowing off some steam. Time to sit in my office and argue with my wife over text!

He heads back inside, leaving Pomni just standing there, frozen. The cigarettes feel heavy in her pocket.

Pomni hurries back into Spudsy’s, nearly slipping as she rushes to the front where Jax is on register. She has to talk to him.

Jax, as it turns out, is not doing his job. He’s just standing at the register with his hands on the counter staring blankly ahead at the chaos before him.

There’s a line of NPCs of every shape and size out the door. The ‘normal’ ones are all doing the same angry emote.

The angel head is there screaming.

Pomni taps Jax’s arm nervously and he flips his lid, wheeling around on Pomni.

“Gangle, you monster, leave me–” He cuts himself off, registering Pomni’s existence. “Oh.”

Jax gestures at the horrors he’s been facing. “Can you believe this [BEEP]??”

Pomni frowns. “Ignore them. I need to talk to you.”

Jax is immediately more present. “What. What happened.”

Pomni bites her lip then tells him,

“Orbsman almost sent me to training because he thought I was stealing stupid sauce and his cigarettes. Ragatha came out and– she told him it was her. She’s in training right now.”

Jax’s expression lightens up with unadulterated joy.

”Good!” he cries. “Finally something to celebrate! Now let’s go to the walk-in so I can feel you up I can’t take any more of this!”

He really does seem to be at the end of his rope.

“Uhhh, creepy bunny dude, are you gonna take my order or what?” asks a generic NPC wearing a floral print shirt and nothing else.

Jax loses it.

”I hate you!” he cries and tries to pick up the register no doubt to throw at the NPC.

Jax gets the corner up but clearly it’s too heavy because he sets it back down.

“Pomni!” he snaps. “Walk in! Titties! Now!”

“Oh my god,” Pomni deadpans, taken out of her anxieties for a moment. “No. Can you just–”

“If Ragatha thinks she’s getting any points for going to training for [BEEP] she herself did then she’s got another thing coming,” Jax grouses, flopping his top half down on the counter. “We’re all gonna die here.”

Pomni snorts and reaches up, rubbing lightly between his shoulder blades. “Jax, I’m having a crisis.”

“Me too!” Jax smacks his hand impotently against the counter. “Screw you, Pomni, you don’t know what pain is.”

“I can see this isn’t a good time for you,” Pomni says, backing off. “Let’s talk about this later.”

“We’ll talk about it when we’re dead!” Jax snaps.

Pomni leaves him be, walking back to her station. The sooner this shift is over the better.

She passes Zooble who side eyes her as if to say, ‘you good?’

Pomni gives them a weak smile.

She thinks about training as she works, remembering it.

Jax’s hand taking hers

That warms her heart even as she worries about Ragatha.

—

Jax hasn’t been this on edge since the first couple of days at Spudsy’s. His head is throbbing with bad thoughts and bad feelings that circle and circle around. It makes it hard not to do something he’ll regret.

He storms out to the back during his lunch to smoke then remembers Pomni has the cigarettes and groans in loud frustration. Right, of course.

Jax will have to grab them from Pomni. He is relieved Pomni hadn’t gotten sent to training over it, that would have [BEEP]ed him up. It’s definitely what Ragatha deserves for what she’s been pulling, though.

She better not try to lord it over him.

It’s as Jax’s brain gnashes over this thought that he walks back into the breakroom and who should be there but [BEEP]ing Ragatha, looking like she’s in the trenches of world war three. It brings him another flash of bitter satisfaction.

“Have fun, Raggie? Do you feel like a better employee?” Jax harps on her.

His frown deepens when she doesn’t immediately react to him and Jax snaps his fingers in her face.

Ragatha jumps, gasping sharply. “Wha? Where?”

She looks around, then up at Jax, eye widening slightly. “Oh, Jax.”

God she could at least give him a satisfying reaction. Jax’s eyes narrow. “Heard you finally got yours and were sent to training. Not so fun, is it?”

Ragatha gives him a troubled look that makes him internally wither. What the [BEEP] is that look for?

“No,” Ragatha finally says, voice filled with haunted despair. “It’s not.”

She continues to fix Jax with this look and it makes him want to get violent. “What-”

“Jax.” Ragatha’s gaze drops down. “I… I wanted to tell you that I’m so-”

“Nnnno, no, nuh-uh,” Jax pumps the [BEEP]ing breaks on Ragatha. “I don’t want to hear what you’re about to say. Do you understand me? I don’t want to hear it.”

Ragatha’s gaze jumps up to him again, surprised, then hurt. Good.

“But Jax I-” She starts weakly and Jax puts up a hand.

“Listen I’m glad you went to training. I hope you go to training ten more times. In a row,” Jax doubles down.

Ragatha just stares at him looking [BEEP]ing sad and it drives him nuts. Jax rolls his eyes. “Whatever, I’ll go rot somewhere else. If you want to feel good about yourself go butter up Gangle or something.”

Jax turns on his heel, leaving the break room.

He makes a beeline back to register where Pomni is being a good sport per usual, indulging the stupid NPCs and taking their orders.

As she sends one on their way to wait for their order Jax comes up behind her, hugging her tightly. He slumps into her and Pomni starts to fall forward towards the counter before bracing herself. “Ughhhhhhhhh.”

“Jax!” Pomni scolds. “You scared me.”

Jax says nothing. He wonders if Pomni can feel how badly he just needs to hang off of her. Like a clingy [BEEP]er.

Pomni’s hands come up to touch his forearm.

“Hey,” she says in a softer voice. “You okay?”

His expression almost crumples but they’re in sight of NPCs so he keeps it to a frown, visor pushing up awkwardly as he bends down to press his face into her hat for a moment. “I am the pinnacle of mental health.”

“Aw,” Pomni says like she can see right through him which she can. “Me too.”

That tugs his mouth back up into a smile and he gives a soft laugh. “Naahhh, you’re the most [BEEP]ed up one. Your mind is twisted.”

His hand snakes down subtly into her pocket, snatching the cigarettes and lighter again. Best if she doesn’t have these on her anyway, with Orbsman being a real rat [BEEP]. He slips them into his own pocket and pulls away from Pomni, straightening.

“Alright. If you need me I’ll be in the back like a sack of trash,” Jax says.

Pomni snorts, but says nervously, “Be really careful.”

“I’m stealthy,” Jax reassures her.

Pomni hums doubtfully, but another NPC is approaching. Jax heads off with a, “Later, shortstack.”

“Later,” Pomni tells him before turning towards the NPC. Jax looks at her a second longer before disappearing back into Spudsy’s, not looking at anyone as he heads towards the back.

Today is already too long and too much. If Jax doesn’t get his Pomni fix tonight he’s going to lose it and make it everyone’s problem.

—

Working the register really sucks. Pomni knows this well. But at least the dinner rush is over.

Pomni’s been on register since she’d taken over for Jax. She doesn’t really mind the quiet hours, but it makes her dread the thought of a customer coming through the door. The longer she spaces out the more jarring it is.

That’s the thing about register. She’s trapped there.

“Pomni?”

It makes Pomni jump, jarred from her thoughts as she blurts out, “Welcome to Spudsy’s may I take your-”

She’s halfway through the spiel before she perceives that it’s not a customer but Ragatha standing off to her side, who is looking worse for wear. She offers an uncertain smile. “Hi Pomni. Can I… talk to you for a second? I won’t take up a lot of your time.”

Pomni frowns, concerned, and turns to face her, giving Ragatha her full attention. “Yeah.”

Ragatha looks so relieved Pomni can’t help but feel a little bad for her again. She glances towards the backside of the restaurant, maybe worried about Orbsman, then leans slightly into the counter like she’s exhausted.

“I’m so sorry about how I’ve been acting here,” Ragatha says in a low, thick voice. “I don’t- like it. I don’t like that I’ve been acting this way, and that I can’t stop drinking the stupid sauce. It’s easier at the Circus. Things like that aren’t really allowed.”

She shakes her head. “But that’s not an excuse either. I feel horrible about last night, avoiding a proper conversation and- and that I tried to- kiss you like that.”

Ragatha grows flustered, looking mortified at her behavior. “I’m- I’m sorry about being a bad friend, for getting you sent to training, for saying those mean things about your relationship with Jax, for all of it. I am happy that you’re happy I just-”

I’m lonely

Pomni can feel the sentiment.

“I still want to be your friend,” Ragatha says like she’s about to start crying.

Pomni’s eyes go wide and her heart softens at Ragatha's honesty.

“Oh,” she says softly. For her an apology means a lot and hearing Ragatha taking accountability does a good deal for her heart.

“Thank you,” Pomni says. “You made it really hard, Ragatha. I didn’t know what to do about it.”

“I understand. I mean, the way I was acting was really… It wasn’t great.” A whimper bursts out of Ragatha like she can’t help it. “I’m so embarrassed about the way I came onto you like that! It must have been so uncomfortable. I don’t blame you if you don't want to be around me.”

Ragatha shrinks a bit, but Pomni reaches out and takes her hand.

“I still want to be your friend, too,” Pomni says, offering a little smile.

Ragatha’s mouth wobbles and then she looks so relieved, reaching up to wipe at her eye. “I’m so glad. Thank you for being so understanding. And I’m promising you right now, I won’t drink any more stupid sauce while we’re here.”

Pomni nods, though privately she thinks that’s not something Ragatha should be promising her, but rather herself. The saucing doesn’t bother Pomni on principle, it’s the way it was hurting things.

“We’re all just doing our best here, Ragatha,” she tells her.

“Also,” Pomni says, meeting Ragatha’s gaze with an earnest one of her own. “Thank you for taking the fall for the cigarettes.”

Ragatha sniffles hard, reaching up to wipe her eye again as she nods. “Of course, it was the least I could do. Thanks again, Pomni. It’s been so rough.”

She sighs out softly. “I don’t think Jax will forgive me. He wouldn’t even let me apologize to him. I feel so bad.”

Ragatha looks out to the restaurant but Pomni gets the feeling she’s looking off into a more distant point. “Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in how trapped you are here. You can start to lose sight of the way you think about other people.”

“I feel you,” Pomni assures her. “It’s really hard here. I mean, we’re working three shifts a day, we have like no free time, and we can’t sleep. This is trash.”

Frankly.

“Ugh, yeah,” Ragatha gripes, leaning further against the counter. “And Caine didn’t have to go so realistic with how the NPCs act. I can’t stand it when they get an attitude. Like, why do we have to deal with that just because we’re stuck here? Caine could have made all of it fun. Who asked him to make it so much like an actual job?”

As she sighs Pomni thinks it’s the most relaxed interaction she’s ever had with Ragatha. It’s nice to see her vent a little in a way that’s not lashing out at anyone.

The two take a moment to gripe about things, the atmosphere so much lighter.

Ragatha finally straightens up. “Alright, I’d better get going before I get in trouble. I’m pretty much on thin ice indefinitely.”

Her mouth tugs into a frown. “Training really is terrible, huh?”

Pomni nods in agreement. “It’s awful. Are you… okay?”

Ragatha looks at Pomni and it feels like she needed to hear someone ask that. She offers Pomni a tired smile and lets her know, “I will be.”

She raises a hand, giving a little wave. “I’ll see you later, Pomni.”

“See you,” Pomni says, watching as she disappears to the back.

The NPCs come and go, but Pomni’s mind is only on getting out of here and seeing Jax.

Time is an illusion, but in Spudsy’s it crawls.

—

Spudsy’s is finally closed.

Pomni yawns with exhaustion her body doesn’t necessarily feel, but her mind does. Things have been so wild. It’s hard to believe they’ve been here over a week and it still feels like day one.

She pushes the front doors open and steps out, taking a deep breath of air. It’s dark and her eyes take a moment to adjust before settling on Jax’s car, which she immediately heads towards.

Jax is in the driver’s seat blatantly smoking a cigarette and sipping on a large soda. He salutes her.

“Sup, clown?”

Pomni gets into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door before fixing Jax with an even look.

“Sup, bunny?” she retorts.

Jax snorts softly and she peeks at his face. Is he in a better mood now?

“Just waiting for you, Pom. If you thought you’d be slipping away again I was prepared to lead a fullscale man hunt to get your [BEEP].” He leans her way, pressing the cigarette to her lips.

Pomni meets his eyes as she takes a drag. It’s a little sexy.

Then she turns her head to blow it out the window and realizes it isn’t down. She chokes a bit and coughs out the smoke which blows back into her face.

“Pomni!” Jax cries. “You’re gonna make my car smell like cigarettes!”

“Anyway,” Pomni says, waving some smoke away and rolling down the window even though the damage is done. “You talked to Ragatha?”

Jax immediately looks on edge at that, bringing the cigarette back to his own mouth and taking a long drag. Pomni starts to get the feeling he’s avoiding the topic, especially when he starts coughing out smoke.

“Jax, your car,” Pomni jokes in a dry tone. “Think of the smell.”

His eyes narrow at her as he continues to cough, finally rolling them as he starts to recover. “How did you know about Ragatha?”

“She told me,” Pomni says. “When she apologized to me.”

Jax’s eye twitches. “What, she talked to you? She try to hit on you again? Make herself look good? Ragatha should keep my name out of her mouth.”

These thoughts are all spat out rapid fire.

“No, she apologized,” Pomni reiterates. “And I forgave her.”

“What? Why?!” Jax asks indignantly.

Pomni frowns. “Because if I think someone is genuinely sorry, I tend to forgive them.”

“That’s stupid,” Jax says, crossing his arms with the cigarette still in his fingers. “You’re stupid.”

Pomni plucks the cigarette away just in case. She finishes it off and looks over at Jax as she flicks the remains out of the window.

“You littered,” Jax grumbles.

“Jax,” Pomni says. “It might be worth it to listen to what Ragatha has to say.”

Jax snorts. “Why? It’s not like I’m gonna forgive her.”

“And that’s okay. But it might make you feel better,” Pomni says with a shrug.

“No it won’t,” Jax outright denies. He huffs. “Whatever, do what you want. I don’t want to talk about Ragatha anymore. She just better know that if not for the laws of this land I would have destroyed her already.”

“I’m sure she does,” Pomni says placatingly. She picks up the soda and takes a sip. “Anything I can do to make you feel better?”

“Maybe stop drinking my soda,” Jax grumbles.

He’s in a terrible mood to be groping titties.

Pomni giggles.

And then she starts to laugh. Jax gapes at her.

“What exactly about this situation is funny??” he demands.

“Ahhh,” Pomni sighs. “Nothing. Sorry.”

Jax’s mouth turns down in a pout. “No, no laugh away. I’m a joke to you.”

“That isn’t why I’m laughing,” Pomni assures him.

“No, no, don’t hold back on my account.” Jax says dramatically.

Then he flops over sideways, leaning heavily into Pomni. In a tired voice he grumbles, “It was a hard day to be here.”

“Yeah,” Pomni says with genuine sympathy. She shifts them awkwardly a bit then puts her arm around Jax. She’s sure it’s uncomfortable leaning over the cupholders with the Spudsy’s cup digging into him.

Poor guy. Wacky and sensitive.

“It’s okay,” Pomni says with determination. “Tomorrow will be better, I bet.”

“What makes you think that?” Jax is so obtuse.

“We’ll have fun,” Pomni assures him. “I don’t know what we’ll do, but it’ll be fun.”

Jax sighs, clearly not so certain. It worries her but he finally starts to nuzzle his face into the top of her head. “I’ll take your word for it.”

He shifts up more, grabbing above one of her bells and tugging lightly. “How are you doing? With the close call with Orbsman and all.”

“Oof,” Pomni huffs, the jingling of her bell a little loud in her ear. “IIIII… was freaking out, not gonna lie.”

“No [BEEP]. If stupid Ragatha had gotten you into trouble again—“

“Shh,” Pomni hushes, reaching up to clumsily put her finger over his mouth. “Shh. Shut up.”

She can feel Jax scowling. It’s still really bothering him.

“Hey Jax,” she says. “How about we drive out into the suburbs and find a furnished house.”

His brow remains furrowed for a moment then straightens out as he sits up. “Pom, that may be the best idea you’ve ever had.”

Jax turns towards the steering wheel, turning on the car and pulling out of Spudsy’s. The sky is a little overcast, Pomni notes, making it feel later than it already is as they drive out into the suburbs.

They don’t talk as he weaves through the identical streets but Jax eventually reaches over with one hand, holding it out for Pomni, eyes still ahead of him. She smiles softly and reaches out to take it. They hold hands until he finally, arbitrarily, stops in front of one of the houses.

Pomni steps out of the car and looks around the neighborhood. There don’t appear to be any NPCs around so this is probably far out enough. Out to where the houses start getting weird.

She takes Jax’s hand again and he looks down at her.

“Pick a house, any house,” Jax says like the world's most put out magician.

Pomni gives him a sympathetic smile. “Are you sure you’re okay to do this? We can just sit in the car and talk tonight.”

“Pomni.” Jax’s voice is dark and low. “We discussed this. I don’t care if I’ve got angry eyebrows the whole time, I am going down on you.”

“Pfffffffffft.” Pomni swings Jax’s hand. “You’re so weird.”

They approach a house and Pomni is the one to reach out, turning the knob.

”AAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

An NPC runs out of the house and completely bowls Pomni down to the ground. It runs off in zig-zags down the street.

They stare after it, Pomni containing her mild heart attack. Jax glances down at her and his expression softens as he starts to laugh. “Oops, guess this one is occupied.”

“Y-yeah,” Pomni blinks hard as she recovers from the fright. “Maybe not this one.”

“What, the guy already ran away,” Jax gestures the direction the NPC had disappeared. His yell can still be faintly heard.

“I’d still prefer not risking that happening while we’re trying to mess around,” Pomni says dryly as she stands, brushing herself off.

Jax shrugs and slips his arm around Pomni’s shoulders, turning them away from the house and back towards the sidewalk. Pomni nearly trips on her feet but Jax’s hand steadies her as she recovers. “Fair enough. Let’s try a street down.”

The houses lose some of the details as they walk further, like the grain of the wood. The grass also looks weirdly waxy over this way.

Jax turns up the path to another house, giving the door a cheeky knock and calling out, “Anyone home?”

No one answers and he gives Pomni a smirk. It seems his mood is improving.

Jax swings the door open and-

They both wince slightly, the light oddly intense through the doorway. Pomni squints, and as her eyes adjust she sees it’s because the walls are lined with lit fireplaces.

“Whoa,” Jax says, eyes growing wide as he’s lured inside.

“Jax!” Pomni calls after him before nervously stepping inside. It feels like an oven.

Jax’s eyes wander around, flames reflected in them. “Coooool.”

Pomni scoffs, giving his hand a tug. “Come on, not this one.”

“What, you don’t find the mood lighting romantic?” Jax asks sarcastically.

Pomni gives him an unamused look. “I’m not catching on fire, okay? This one’s a no.”

Jax rolls his eyes dramatically at her. “Okay, but I think this one was a real winner.”

They step back out and Pomni gives a sigh of relief as the temperature cools again.

“Leeet’s see,” Jax says, starting to guide Pomni along, picking a direction. It’s nice to just walk around together, the world a little uncanny but the ambiance in the air authentic enough to be peaceful.

Something about the fact that the moon peeking through the clouds mimics the real moon instead of one that talks about you in the third person every time you go outside at night is really nice.

Pomni’s eyes move up a tree standing in one of the yards. It bears teapots like fruit.

“How about that one?” Jax asks, pulling her attention across the street.

There’s a normal enough looking house, though there aren’t any windows on the front which is a little creepy somehow.

“Sure, let’s check it out.” She agrees.

They cross the street, Jax opening the door and looking around.

It’s not so different from the houses they’d found the initial time they’d gone exploring. The first room has an abundance of armchairs crammed in all corners. They peek into the room after that, which is filled with salt and pepper shakers that litter the floor and float in the air.

Jax looks at her. “What do you think? Does it meet your standards?”

“Gee, it’s hard to choose a room,” Pomni says. That makes Jax snort with amusement. “Let’s look for a room with a bed. Come on.”

Pomni leads the way upstairs only to find the rooms are filled with anvils. She frowns.

“Oh man, we should have sex in all of these,” Jax says, folding his arms behind his head. He grins down at Pomni. “You’re so funny.”

“What did I do…?” Pomni is at such a loss as to what that could mean she feels gaslit.

Jax just turns around and heads back downstairs. Pomni follows after him into a room that has a huge mahogany-looking shiny table. It looks like Caine spent a long time on it, but Pomni feels like she would have recognized it as an asset.

An abandoned little passion project of Caine’s, maybe.

“Welp,” Pomni says. “Let’s try one a bit further down.”

“Why?” Jax asks innocently and Pomni rolls her eyes.

But then Jax grabs her by the waist and picks her up, setting her on the table so her legs dangle.

“Woah, woah, woah!” Pomni cries, but Jax is already leaning in to kiss her cheek.

“What’s the big deal?” He asks and his breath tickles. “This is actually kinda ideal for what we’re gonna do.”

Pomni flushes, leaning back a bit. “We’re gonna do it on a table?”

Jax follows her, nuzzling against her insistently. “That’s what I’m getting at, yes.”

“That’s embarrassing.”

“Yeah, but why though?” Jax asks, pulling back to look Pomni in the eyes with a curious scowl. “Lay it on me, what’s embarrassing?”

Pomni stares Jax down.

“Oh, I get it,” Jax says, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. “You’re afraid that NPC running around is gonna be a peeping Tom.”

“That’s not—“

“But I’ll be damned if I let someone catch even a glimpse of your titties. Don’t worry, I’ll go out there naked and beat the [BEEP]er down in the street.”

“Don’t do that,” Pomni says flatly.

Jax bursts out into laughter and bows his head so his face rests against Pomni’s chest. He keeps cracking up until finally giving a half laugh, half sigh against her.

He peeks back up at Pomni.

“So you’re down, right?”

Pomni blinks.

Oh, what the Hell.

“Yeah,” she tells him. “Let’s do it.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Jax says. “Let’s get it onnnn.”

“Oh my god,” Pomni covers her face with her hands and starts to laugh.

“Aw, c’mon, don’t get shy on me now. I demand you have sex with me.”

Pomni laughs harder.

“Do you think I’m [BEEP]ing joking?” Jax laughs, kissing her hands to bully her.

They both have a case of the giggles, it seems.

Pomni wants to make a move.

She gently grabs his face, guiding it up so she can kiss him softly.

Their eyes meet, his pupils dilating so she can see herself reflected in them. Then Jax leans into the kiss and Pomni closes her eyes as their mouths press together slowly. With heat.

Pomni takes in a small gasp of air as they finally part, Jax nudging their mouths together lightly. “Thinking about this is the only thing that kept me sane today.”

A flutter goes through Pomni’s stomach. She gives Jax a shaky smile.

Her heart is pounding. She really likes him.

“Yeah?” Pomni touches the back of his neck, the pressure gentle. She kisses his mouth. “I, uh, I’ve been excited about it. Too.”

“Hmmm?” Jax gives a pleased hum, kissing at the side of her mouth. “Yeah you have. I’m sure you were going crazy waiting for it. Weren’t you?”

Jax leans down to give her neck a chomp.

Pomni gasps. Her chest feels all hot.

Honestly, other things have been on her mind all day, but Pomni isn’t one to ruin the mood.

“I’m still going crazy,” she assures him.

Jax lets up on the bite slowly.

“Hey Pomni,” he says. “I want you to show up tomorrow with a hickey.”

Pomni’s eyes go wide. “Absolutely not.”

“You’re a tyrant,” Jax accuses. “Fine, how about one under your clothes?”

Pomni’s face is burning. She gives an awkward nod.

“Yessss,” Jax cheers in a soft hiss.

Jax starts nudging the collar of her work shirt out of the way. He immediately chomps on the skin by her collar bone with his sharp teeth. Pomni squeaks and Jax chuckles.

Is that far down enough? Pomni isn’t sure before Jax starts sucking on her.

Pomni’s eyes flutter closed at the sensation. She worries her lip, losing herself in the sensation and the moonlight she can see behind her eyelids.

Jax groans, shifting above her. He’s really into it.

He starts to suck so hard it hurts. But Jax finally pulls off of her, leaning up to look at his handiwork. He smirks.

“Yeaaah, that’s a real dark one.”

Pomni makes an embarrassed sound and Jax laughs at her.

“That’s sooo cute, Pom.”

He leans up and starts kissing her lips again, mouthing at them hungrily. He gets pushy in a way that makes Pomni feel hot between her legs. She lets him in when he presses his tongue to her lips.

They kiss deeply now, Pomni’s arms coming up around Jax’s neck to pull him closer.

Jax gradually eases her back against the table, pressing their bodies together as he settles between her legs. His tongue slips into her mouth, brushing against hers slowly. Jax’s hand rests on her leg, ghosting along it through her work pants down towards her knee before encouraging her to lift it up around his waist.

Pomni notices that he’s hard.

The kiss breaks again and Jax moans, nuzzling Pomni. “Can I kiss it now, Pom?”

Pomni squeezes her eyes shut and mumbles, “Mhmm.”

Jax immediately starts kissing down her body, undoing her shirt and exposing her bra. He immediately shoves one of the cups out of the way leaving nothing to the imagination as he gropes her.

Pomni’s thighs start to shake.

It’s so different with Jax than anyone else she’s ever been with. They’ve bonded during their time at Spudsy’s in a way Pomni didn’t know was possible.

“Hey.” Jax’s grumble has Pomni’s eyes opening. He’s looking up at her with a frown from where he has his face in her tits. “Don’t ignore me.”

“Sorry,” Pomni touches his face, guiding him back into her chest.

Frankly, she doesn’t have much there but Jax is treating them like it’s the best pair he’s ever seen. It’s really cute.

Jax mouths at her nipple which she hadn’t realized had grown hard. Pomni gasps as Jax lavishes his tongue over it once, meeting her eyes.

Pomni whimpers and Jax presses his erection against her hip.

“Alright,” he says, sounding so impatient. “I’ll come back to these later.”

He brushes his face down her stomach, dragging kisses here and there that have Pomni trembling. She’s so turned on.

Jax’s mouth reaches the hem of her work pants and he tugs at it lightly with his teeth in playful frustration. He starts to undo the button and Pomni feels a dull throb go through her pussy.

His eyes dart up, meeting hers heatedly. He seems pleased that she’s looking too.

Jax drags her pants down slowly, kissing his way down the curve of her stomach, back and forth along her pelvis until he’s just above her–

Pomni gives a little gasp as Jax drags her pants down the floor and starts to kiss through her plain white panties, mouth dragging over her clit. His gaze is locked on Pomni.

A gasp gets trapped in Pomni’s chest. Being watched makes it so intense and her clit twitches against his mouth. She doesn’t have to wonder if he felt it because Jax groans out, “Holy [BEEP]…”

Jax starts to mouth at her clit and Pomni’s thighs shift back and forth, brushing against his head. Her heart thuds hard when he presses a kiss to her clit.

“Gonna spread you,” Jax mutters, pressing his thumbs to either side of her and tugging to the side, just barely touching her pussy.

He moans and presses a kiss to her spread, clothed pussy.

Pomni’s head falls back and she matches Jax’s moan, grinding up into his mouth ever so slightly. She realizes she’s trying not to then wonders why. Is she really so shy?

Yes.

Jax kisses her pussy over and over until her panties cling to it with how wet she is.

“Jax…”

“What is it, Pom?” Jax moans against her pussy like he’s never been this turned on in his life.

“I…”

Pomni realizes she has nothing to say. She swallows hard.

“Heh. Did you just wanna say my name?”

Jax is right.

Pomni bites her lip hard as Jax kisses down to her entrance, spreading her further.

“You know, you can say it as many times as you like,” Jax encourages before kissing her pussy deeper.

Pomni whimpers, pressing up against the pressure of his mouth. Then there’s the wet heat of Jax’s tongue dragging over her pussy through the panties. She can feel him groan against her as it drags up to just under her clit, then slides over it slowly.

The tip of Jax’s tongue flicks against it and then Jax begins to kiss all around, nuzzling up into her pussy.

“Oh—!” Pomni moans, head rolling to the side. She arches up against Jax’s mouth and he responds by kissing harder.

Pomni isn’t even aware she’s going to do it before she reaches down and pulls her panties to the side.

Jax groans eagerly, tongue pressing hotly against her pussy as he drags it over her slowly.

”Oooh,” Pomni moans, thighs going shaky around Jax as he starts to circle his tongue around her clit.

Jax’s hand shifts on the table, finding hers and holding it as he drags his tongue over it. Pomni squeezes his hand tight.

For a while he just focuses on her clit, licking and kissing it until it’s almost unbearably sensitive. Pomni’s labored breathing fills the room and sounds too loud to her ears, but she can’t stop it.

Jax finally drags his tongue over her in a way that makes Pomni’s hips rise off of the table, press into his mouth. She’s getting close.

“J-Jax, I’m gonna—“

Jax moans, grip tightening around her hand. The movement of his tongue gradually grows faster until Pomni is just aware of a growing, white hot ache that throbs with growing urgency.

it’s going to be a deep one

As she feels her orgasm start to peak Jax’s tongue slides back, pressing against her entrance.

Pomni’s eyes go wide and she cries out as her pussy starts to clench with an orgasm that leaves her shaking so obviously she feels the burn of embarrassment. She knows Jax can feel the squeezing with his tongue.

“Ahh!” Pomni gasps as an aftershock rolls through her. She clenches hard.

Then, gradually, it starts to fade. She pants heavily, staring up at the ceiling.

Jax rubs her thighs and hips soothingly, giving her pussy a little nuzzle that makes her squirm before pulling back. When she glances down at him he’s staring back with a satisfied grin. “Was it good? It felt like it was good.”

Pomni wonders if she should tease him.

“It was so good,” she breathes out instead.

Jax beams like a smug [BEEP]hole. Pomni smiles down at him a little.

“Do you want me to do you next?” she offers, pressing her palm to Jax’s cheek.

Jax starts to flinch away then presses into her palm again. He’s silent for a while and Pomni gets the feeling he’s giving it serious contemplation. He finally turns his head, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Nah, not tonight.”

He meets her eyes heatedly as he presses another slow kiss to her palm. “I’ll take you up on that later, though.”

“Okay,” Pomni agrees, thumb lightly brushing against his cheek.

Jax looks relieved, the feeling quickly discarded for something smarmy. “Can I keep eating you out?”

Pomni smiles, then it widens. “Yes please.”

They spend a long time on that table either with Jax between Pomni’s legs or the both of them rolling around on it, kissing.

It’s intimate, the two going between murmuring to each other and making the other laugh.

It’s sweet.

Pomni thinks she might be too far down this relationship rabbit hole to come back out.

Chapter Text

Day 11

Pomni realizes that she’s been sitting in her car staring out the window in a daze once she sees Gangle and Zooble loitering outside Spudsy’s, talking. She takes a moment to take stock of herself.

Jax had been all over her last night.

They had laid on that table long past the point her back had started cramping up just holding onto each other, whispering, kissing–

Pomni’s heart starts pounding and she reaches up to tug her work shirt back a bit.

Sure enough there’s a dark hickey near her collarbone.

There’s something about the fact that it stayed that leaves Pomni so, so flustered. She covers it back up and takes a deep breath to calm herself. Maybe it’s silly of her, but the hickey makes things feel so… official.

She hears the sound of a car door closing and looks up to see it’s Jax who’s now stretching like he’s trying to work a kink out of his side. He’s frowning, looking grumpy.

But then he turns and looks at Pomni and grins so wide she thinks maybe he’s doing just fine after all. She gets out of her car as he approaches, unable to stop smiling herself.

“Hey, pipsqueak,” Jax greets, walking up to her and putting his hand on the top of her head. He immediately starts to push down on her like he’s trying to get Pomni to sink into the ground.

“Ouch, what the–”

“That’s what you geeeeeet,” Jax says, turning his hand to a fist and grinding it painfully against Pomni’s head.

“Stooop!” Pomni complains, feeling light in her chest.

Jax finally relents and leans down a bit, smirking. “So….”

“So?” With how expectant he’s looking Pomni feels like she’s on a stage, losing at Jeopardy. “So what?”

Jax snorts and rolls his eyes. Then he lowers his voice. “The hickey, obviously. Is it still there?”

Pomni flushes. She nods.

“Lemme see.”

Before Pomni can protest, Jax starts tugging back the collar of her shirt. Then he stares, expression going a little slack.

“God[BEEP],” he says. “That’s sexy.”

Pomni agrees. She doesn’t wanna say so, so she just nods.

Jax goes, ”Ha! Yeah, you think so too, Pompom?”

But Orbsman is already leaning through the doors, yelling at them.

Get in here and do your jobs! Hurry! Knees to chest, knees to chest!

“Tch.” Jax rolls his eyes in a huge, exaggerated motion and Pomni gently pats his arm for comfort. He snatches up her hand possessively as they start walking towards Spudsy’s. “I’m done with this place, Pom. I’m done.”

“Me too,” Pomni sighs.

“No, like,” Jax insists. “I’m done. It’s time we figured something out.”

“Oh…?”

like what??

“Don’t worry,” Jax assures her as everyone approaches Spudsy’s. “I’ll figure it out.”

Pomni notes Jax leering at Ragatha as they enter. Honestly, she’s more worried about these two than Spudsy’s itself.

But as they get the kitchen set up she can’t help but wish the whole place would explode.

—

The work is easier today.

At first Pomni thinks she’s just in a really good mood, but then it strikes her that it’s because Ragatha is also doing her job. She’s been saucing the whole time here, Pomni is pretty sure, and now that she’s manning the register things are going a lot more smoothly. It’s nice.

Until, gradually, it’s not nice anymore, it’s weirdly stressful. Pomni sees Orbsman passing and takes a moment to assert the authority the flimsy rules Caine set in place uphold.

“I’m going on my ten,” she says, setting down the spatula and just walking away.

But the precious burgers! Orbsman cries, hurrying past her to salvage the patties she abandoned.

Pomni doesn’t care. Her boyfriend ate her out last night.

She heads to the back and gets a rush of sunlight as she opens the door to see–

“Oh, hey, Pomni,” Zooble says.

They’re standing with Gangle, just idly chatting as far away from the dumpster as they can get.

“Oh noooo,” Pomni says. “I can take my break later.”

“Wha? No.” Zooble shakes their head. “C’mon, Pomni, play hookey with us.”

“But uh,” Pomni says. “Just Jax and Ragatha are manning the floor.”

Gangle shrugs and says with surprising confidence, “Remember the time where it was just me and Ragatha out there? [BEEP] ‘em, they can deal.”

Zooble nods. “It’s not real anyways. If we get sent to training, we get sent together. Come on, Pomni.”

The thought of training sends a shiver through her but Pomni approaches them with a little smile. “Okay.”

Zooble reaches out and gives Pomni a rough pat on the back. It feels like camaraderie and it makes Pomni a little happy. If nothing else it can be said they bonded at Spudsy’s before going completely off the chain cuckoo.

“Orbsman seems extra shiny today,” Gangle says in a small, unsettled voice. “It’s really gross. I think he polished his orbs.”

“Don’t– say things like that,” Zooble says, stilted.

Pomni grimaces. “I…”

Before she can comment on that observation, the door to the back opens and they all stiffen up.

“Oh, what the [BEEP], no wonder things were like ten times harder! Orbsman [BEEP]ing at me to take over the grill while you hide away like rats!”

Jax stalks out the back, right up to them. He’s already pulling out the carton of Orbsman’s cigarettes.

“What’s the big idea?” he demands. “Trying to leave me and ol’ Raggedy [BEEP]hole to abstract in that hellhole??”

Jax looks down at Pomni, scowl transforming into a smirk. “Hey, Pom.”

He gathers both of her bells with his free hand and gives them a mighty yank.

”Ack!!” Pomni cries, nearly falling back. “Stop!”

“That’s not what you were saying last night,” he establishes for the other two to twig onto and Pomni can feel her face going red.

“Oh my god,” Zooble says.

“Oh my god!” Pomni cries. “Knock it off!”

“Again, not what you were saying last–” Jax starts, but Zooble cuts him off.

“Part of keeping a girlfriend is not embarrassing her to the point she abstracts.”

“Hey!” Jax snaps, letting go of Pomni and lighting up a cigarette. “Keep the words ‘Pomni’ and ‘abstract’ out of the same sentence or I will rearrange you in an ungodly way.”

He hands the cigarette to Pomni then starts lighting up another. He must want a whole one to himself this time.

Zooble is glaring at him disapprovingly. At length they ask, “Pomni, can Gangle have that cigarette?”

“Uhh, sure,” Pomni says.

“Uhh, noo??” Jax says at the same time.

They all look at each other. Then Pomni hands the cigarette to Gangle who takes it gingerly with the end of her very flammable ribbons. “But… I don’t smoke.”

“I don’t care,” Zooble says. “I can’t, so you’re gonna smoke that for me.”

“What!” Jax exclaims. “I didn’t agree to this when I bought these!”

He did not buy them.

Everyone ignores him.

Gangle frowns and takes a little hit off of the cigarette. She grimaces and coughs out the smoke, tears dripping down her mask.

“It tastes awful.”

Zooble is looking at her with a strange look. “Didn’t you used to like… smoke?”

“I used to smoke weed, not cigarettes. Also, that was a really, really long time ago,” Gangle says sadly, taking another drag on the cigarette.

There’s a moment of silence for the things that no longer are.

“God, I miss my bong,” Zooble sighs.

“I miss my PS4,” Jax chimes in with a genuine note of loss in his voice.

That’s so real.

“They’re up to PS5 now,” Pomni says, taking Jax’s cigarette when it’s offered to her. She breathes in a little smoke.

“Uuuughhh, that’s BULL[BEEP]!” Jax groans, rubbing his hands over his face. “I bet it runs so smooth!”

“It does,” Pomni confirms and Jax peeks through his hands to give her a little glare.

“So,” Jax says, changing the subject. “Is Ragatha just in there by herself right now on register?”

“Yeah, what do you think,” Zooble says.

“Sick.” Jax grins.

Gangle coughs a little on cigarette smoke.

“Yeah,” she says. “Ragatha can come out here and hang. I don’t care if we get sent to training. Or fired.”

“Hmmmmmmmm,” Jax says, flicking the lighter like he’s going to set the place ablaze. “Fire, huh?”

“But,” Gangle says a little nervously. “Where is Orbsman anyway?”

“Uh, maybe he’s arguing with his wife,” Pomni muses, handing the cigarette back to Jax.

“His wife?” everyone says in unison.

The back door opens and everyone looks around, expecting Orbsman but seeing–

“Oh,” Ragatha says in a small voice, looking worn. She gives a nervous chuckle. “We all, uh… hanging out back here?”

am I being excluded?

Pomni smiles at her. “Come smoke with us.”

Ragatha returns the smile and starts to walk forward.

“Hmmmmmmm.”

Jax hums in disapproval. He flicks his cigarette at Ragatha who jumps back a bit, to avoid her clothes from catching fire. It makes Jax smirk. “I bet you would go up like a house of cards.”

“So would you,” Zooble digs at him, clearly disapproving.

“Don’t tell me things,” Jax says defensively.

Pomni wonders how much the other three have talked about things.

“Whatever, I’m out of here,” Jax grumbles. “See ya, Pom.”

Jax stalks back into Spudsy’s, shoulders hunched with his hands in his pockets. The door closes firmly shut behind him.

Ah jeez.

“So,” Ragatha says. “He’d rather be in Spudsy’s than play hooky if I’m here.”

“Don’t think about it too hard,” Zooble tells her. “He doesn’t deserve it.”

But Ragatha is still looking sadly at the door.

“Have you had any weird customers yet?” Gangle asks her, pulling Ragatha’s attention away from it with upraised brows.

Then Ragatha’s expression softens happily. “Oh boy, the second NPC I served was a doozy.”

As they listen to Ragatha’s story Pomni’s eyes move over the three of them, feeling a small wave of fondness. She just wishes Jax was here, too.

For a while they play hooky, smoking and gabbing, but eventually Pomni’s unease comes creeping over her. After all, Orbsman is still eager to punish them at the slightest provocation.

“Come on, guys,” Pomni says. “We should probably head back in.”

“Here, you can take a few extra minutes and have the rest of this.” Gangle says, handing the last of her cigarette to Ragatha. It’s burned to the very end and there’s barely anything there to the point of being a little rude, but Ragatha seems pleased. She takes it veeeery gingerly.

Zooble sighs at it wistfully one last time. “Yeah, enjoy.”

Ragatha gives them all a wave. “See you soon!”

They head inside, Pomni lingering to give Ragatha a little smile that she hopes is reassuring. Ragatha returns it, but it fades as Pomni takes the last step inside.

Their eyes meet and the door shuts on the sight of Ragatha.

—-

Jax melts down one of the chairs in the breakroom, visor pulled down over his eyes. They feel dry and tired.

The strain of being at Spudsy’s starts to creep over him and he banishes it with the memory of Pomni pressing down harder on his head, moaning his name.

How precious her laugh was as he’d kissed her thighs.

Her eyes heavy with affection Jax thought he might drown in.

There’s the sound of footsteps and Jax sighs to himself. They’re not close enough together to be Pomni’s so he’s not interested. Jax determines to ignore whoever it is outright, sure that’s fine by the others.

The steps come to a stop and Jax waits for them to leave or move towards the other chair.

Silence.

It makes his shoulderblades itch as he prepares to guard himself against some kind of exchange.

“Um, Jax?”

It’s Ragatha and his general annoyance flares into rage. He doesn’t bother opening his eyes, asking in a blunt tone, “Whaddaya want?”

“I want to talk to you about what I said,” Ragatha starts in an anxious tone.

It makes Jax’s blood boil.

His hand moves to flick up his visor, glaring at Ragatha. “I told you I’m not interested.”

Jax can see it hurts her and he’s glad.

“Jax, please. Just let me-”

“No!” Jax snaps like a petulant child, springing up to his feet. “Now get outta my way or I’ll bowl you over!”

He starts towards her like a freight train, but even though Ragatha flinches she puts up her hands like she can command anything.

“Would you please just-” Ragatha cries out then gives a slow sigh. “Please just listen. You don’t have to accept it, I just want you to… hear it.”

Jax narrows his eyes at her, something hostile starting to coil inside him. “I don't care and you're not getting anything out of me so why bother? Now get out of my-”

“This is about me and how I think of myself!” Ragatha blurts out, hands balled into fists. “So- so just let me say it!”

The tightening spring inside of Jax eases and his posture becomes more relaxed, though he crosses his arms across his chest. He gestures with one hand before pulling it back against himself. “Fine. Go on then.”

Ragatha lets out a breath of relief, though her gaze moves to the floor. “I’m sorry that I said I hated you the first time we came here.”

Jax immediately rolls his eyes, some of his patience diminishing. “No you’re not. You good? You done?”

Jax takes a step forward and Ragatha glances up at him. “I know things are- complicated. Between us. But that doesn’t mean I should say things like that to you.”

He stops short, a withering in his chest turning to defensive heat. He glares at her. “Like I care. Great. Okay. Heard you loud and clear.”

A complex expression crosses Ragatha’s face. “I’m sorry I said you don’t deserve Pomni.”

It leaves Jax feeling winded and he takes a step back.

That makes Jax angry and he scoffs sharply. “Like I give a [BEEP] what you think! You’ve been glugging stupid sauce like it’s spring break since we got here, making an [BEEP] of yourself.”

Ragatha flinches at that and he’s glad to see it, but then she hugs herself, mouth wobbling a little. “Do you ever get tired of being yourself?”

A heavy silence follows the question, which digs deep into Jax.

He doesn’t know what to say to that, turning instead to something Pomni had told him that had helped.

“It’s hard to be here. Who’s not having a bad time, y’know?”

Ragatha gives him a surprised look that falls away again. “Yeah. That’s true.”

Jax reaches up, scrubbing his face harshly and suddenly exhausted. “Don’t worry about it, Rags.”

“Wha- Really?” Ragatha asks like she can’t believe it, which Jax can’t blame her for. That’s the way it should be. “I-”

Jax cuts her off with sudden bite, “But if you ever hit on Pomni again so help me Caine I will kill you.”

Ragatha stiffens a bit at that, mouth scrunching up. She sighs out sharply, stepping out of his way. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Good. Keep it that way. Anyway, see ya wouldn’t wanna be ya.” Jax gives her a flippant flap of his hand, walking out of the breakroom like his ears aren’t ringing.

Jax starts towards the back to have a cigarette but he finds himself in the walk-in, breathing in the cold air.

Whatever.

Who cares.

Certainly not Jax.

—

Pomni has been on register for a few hours when fatigue really sets in. Is it lunch rush still? Dinner rush? Regardless, she’s ready to be done.

Done with this shift, done with this adventure, done with Spudsy’s.

“I don’t wannaaaa,” she hears herself groan under her breath as yet another NPC approaches.

Then, to her bafflement, the NPC turns around and walks right out the door.

“Oh–kay.” Pomni doesn’t know what to say to that. Bizarre, but isn’t it all? At least the angel head isn’t there.

Pomni closes her eyes and just takes a moment to think.

As good as things are with Jax, as bonded as she feels with everyone, she has to wonder how long they can actually take this. Spudsy’s is really starting to feel like the trenches of war. If one of them gets into a really bad headspace what if–

Pomni opens her eyes to avoid the thought.

And is met with the sight of Gummigoo who’s just standing there with an odd look on his face.

“You, uh,” he says. “Alright?”

Pomni is so taken off guard she almost tumbles off her box. Gummigoo hadn’t shown up all day and he had genuinely slipped her mind when she was put on register.

“Oh no,” she says quickly. “Sorry, I was. Sleeping.”

“... sleeping.” Gummigoo continues to stare.

“Yyyyyyup.” Pomni side eyes nothing.

“Welp. I’ll have an extra large number one to go.”

Pomni types in the order blankly. She feels a vague sense of loss. Pain, like an old wound that’s scabbed over but got bumped.

She’s still sad about Gummigoo, but…

Pomni peers up at him and their eyes meet. Something about the feeling in her chest rings of finality. This won’t be the last time she sees Gummigoo, she’s sure, but…

… that’s okay.

Gummigoo gives her an odd look. “Everything okay?”

Pomni doesn’t answer him. This is just part of her life here at the Circus. At Spudsy’s. And Gummigoo is an NPC.

Pomni thinks of everyone here. The people she cares about.

She thinks about Jax.

Pomni feels something loosen in her chest. “Your order will be up in a minute. I’ll let you know when it–”

Gangle comes around, hurrying all flustered, and drops the order on the counter.

“I gotta make new fries!” she cries as she gangles away. Orbsman must be amping up on his power trip.

Gummigoo opens his mouth, about to say something, but Pomni holds out his order. “Here you are!”

“Uh…” Gummigoo takes the bag and nods. “Thank you.”

Their eyes meet and Pomni thinks she can see him trying to understand something. She smiles.

“Goodbye, Gummigoo.”

The expression on Gummigoo’s face changes from confusion to alarm back to confusion at his name. He gives her an awkward nod and a tip of the hat. “So long, miss.”

Then he heads out and he’s gone.

“I hate that guy,” Jax speaks from behind her suddenly, making Pomni jump and almost fall off her box again. How long has he been standing there?

Pomni turns to look at him, Jax wearing an expression like a sulk is coming on.

Ahh jeez. He's so sensitive. But with Pomni's previous reactions, she gets it.

Pomni smiles and turns. She shifts herself and hops up onto the counter, sitting on the edge.

"I thought we're not supposed to hate on the customers on the clock," Pomni says. "You're gonna get fired."

She kicks at him with her dangling foot.

Jax snorts and she sees he grins despite himself.

Jax moves towards Pomni, looking down at her. "Ohhhh nooooo what will I do Pomni? Not my illustrious career at Spudsy’s."

They both laugh and that just brightens Jax's expression more. He reaches up to brush at a strand of her hair.

"What about you? Not very professional to be sitting in front of customers. The food tastes worse to them if we do, you see," Jax teases with absolute delight that she's breaking the rules.

"Pfft," Pomni says. She kicks at Jax again. "[BEEP] 'em."

Jax giggles and it makes Pomni's heart flutter. She leans her head back and groans.

"I'm so done with todayyyyy," she whines, kicking her feet.

"Yessss see, that's exactly the right attitude to have!" Jax proclaims, grabbing her ankle and just holding it.

"We're going on what? A bazillion years? I'm not having it anymore. Do you hear me!? I'm not having it!" Jax cries at the NPCs eating in the restaurant, shaking his free fist. The NPCs ignore him but his attention is back on Pomni.

"I’m sick of playing nice and I think if Caine tries to punish us at this point we should kill and eat him. I'm cooking up a scheme, see. Spread the word, everyone needs to meet up at my car after work and I'll lay down my master plan."

"Oh?" Pomni's eyebrows shoot up. And then she follows a whim, putting on a serious expression. "I'm telling Orbsman."

She shakes off his grip and drops off the counter, starting past Jax.

"Hey!! I need a manager over–"

Jax slaps a hand over her mouth in a panic, giving her a baffled look. They just stare at each other. She sees the moment the joke registers in his eyes.

"Pomni, you [BEEP]ing rascal, I'm gonna throw you right on the grill. Little jester shaped patties."

Pomni looks up at him solemnly and blows a raspberry against his hand.

Jax snorts then cracks up again, giving her face a gentle shake. "Nasty! You [BEEP]ing creature!"

He finally lets Pomni go only to tug her back into his lanky frame. "You really are sick and tired of it. Look at you, clowning around."

He looks and sounds pleased about it.

"Let me give you another hickey later," Jax boldly declares.

Pomni leans into him and says without fuss, "Okie dokie."

"Thaaaat's right, give me the respect I deserve." Jax's arms squeeze around her, lightly rocking Pomni back and forth. "You're so [BEEP]ing cute it makes me violent."

“Gosh, I hope you don’t get violent at Spudsy’s,” Pomni says, leaning back into him. “Then they’d have to evacuate everyone.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Pomni.” Jax’s voice is grave. “I’m about to actually make a scene. I haven’t seen Orbsman in like two hours, and when the cat’s away—“

Jax backs off from Pomni and puts his foot up on the counter.

Then he vaults over it like a maniac, skittering a couple feet from the force as he yells, “Alright, everybody, EVACUATE THE [BEEP]ING DANCE FLOOR, ‘cause I hate all of you!”

Pomni gapes.

Is anyone worried about training anymore? Are they all just [BEEP]ing losing it?

Then she realizes… no.

No, they’re all just done playing along with bull[BEEP] and frankly the threat of whatever damnation their toothy god will conjure is growing kind of stale.

What could possibly be worse than this?

The blatant rebellion is concerning, though. Committing to the bit aside, Jax does have an issue with impulse control.

“Uh, Jax, you might wanna tone it—“

Pomni is cut off by the sound of Orbsman.

He stomps into view, a particularly hideous orange tie half undone and thrown over his shoulder. Had he always had that? Pomni genuinely can’t remember.

What the Hell is going on?! I’m having a very important phone call with my wife!

Pomni looks over to Jax who looks at Pomni. He shrugs at her.

Pomni shrugs back.

“Ohh, that was just an upset customer,” Pomni fumbles. “I mean, not upset at us. He was upset because he dropped his… father’s… urn.”

They all stare at each other, Jax very clearly struggling not to lose it.

Orbsman bites.

Whoever he was he took up far too much of my time! I was doing very important paperwork! he cries, despite having admitted to being on the phone with his wife. Damn him! Damn him to Hell!

Orbsman stomps back off, nearly knocking Gangle into the fryer as he rounds a corner. Gangle glares back at him reproachfully as she rights herself.

Jax snorts and Pomni can’t help but give a shaky laugh of relief.

“Yeah,” Jax says. “Spudsy’s isn’t gonna fly after tomorrow.”

Pomni is so curious, but lets Jax keep his mystery. He leans onto the counter across from Pomni, crossing his arms and giving her a bemused look. “Well?”

“Well, what?” Pomni asks, preparing herself for some nonsense.

“Aren’t you going to take my order?”

Oh he’s going into another bit, huh?

“Actually, we’re on strike,” she says flatly.

Jax’s eyes narrow with amusement and then he slams his fist on the counter. “This is an outrage! I demand to speak with your manager!”

“You just missed him.”

Pomni’s heart softens as Jax’s grin grows. She smiles.

“You’re in a really good mood, huh?”

“Am I?” Jax sounds a little surprised, mouth twisting thoughtfully. “Huh. I guess so.”

For a moment he looks like that almost annoys him. Jax slumps against the counter, looking at her. “Ragatha made me listen to her stupid apology.”

Oh.

Oh he listened to it, did he?

Pomni’s smile widens, but she tempers it a bit as to not tread on Jax’s ego. It’s been through the wringer recently.

“And how’d that go?” she prompts.

Jax shrugs his shoulders and rolls his eyes like ‘big whoop’, but his mouth is soft. “It went okay. I mean mostly she’s the one hurting her own dumb feelings. But she apologized for saying I didn’t deserve you so…”

He shrugs again like he’s embarrassed he opened his mouth.

“I’ll let it slide this time.”

Pomni keeps her countenance carefully neutral as she nods.

”Coolio,” she says.

Oh thank God she was so stressed about all of that.

The weight off her shoulders literally makes Pomni think about having sex with him. It’s a thought that she keeps private to preserve the tone, but one that makes her bite her lip a little to hide her smile.

“Coolio, huh?” Jax grouses, glaring a little. “Is that all you have to say?”

“I’m really happy that you made up—“

“Shh- eh-eh! No, bad Pomni,” Jax says in a stern tone, putting a finger to her lips.

Pomni kisses it.

“Listen you,” Jax warns, a flush coming to his face.

“I’m listening,” Pomni tells him mildly.

Jax scowls as the blush deepens and he straightens up abruptly. “Well—“

Whatever Jax is about to say is drowned out by the sound of the Gloink queen busting through the side of the building.

“My spawn require sustenance!”

Pomni is nearly blown back by the ferocious bellow. A couple Gloinks pop up onto the counter and stare her down.

“Coming, ah, right up,” Pomni half laughs, punching in a few numbers. It doesn’t matter which.

“Welp!” Jax says, spinning around and walking off in large, lazy strides. “That’s my cue to go!”

A knight in shining armor.

Pomni tends to the fussy NPC and her many children. She makes a game of tossing paper wrapped burgers over to the Gloinks which have gathered at the counter like pidgeons.

They’re sort of cute, she decides, but also she hates them?

At some point Ragatha comes out and joins in on playing with the Gloinks, the two sharing a relieved smile. Pomni is happy for her.

The end of the shift passes and Pomni thinks it feels like Friday.

—

“That is not how that [BEEP]ing movie went,” Zooble denies a little heatedly.

“Yeah it is, I remember it like it was yesterday,” Jax seems to argue for the sake of arguing. “Like the back of my hand.”

Jax and Pomni sit on the hood of Jax’s car. Zooble has pulled theirs around to face it, sitting on their own hood. They’re killing time while waiting for Ragatha and Gangle to finish closing.

Jax has his arm slung casually over Pomni’s shoulders and as the stars start to appear in the twilight sky, she can’t help but think about how much this all almost feels normal.

It makes her heart twist, a little homesick.

But Jax is warm beside her.

“Listen, if you’re just going to try and get a rise out of me then I’m done talking about it,” Zooble grunts.

“But our deep, philosophical ponderings, Zoobs,” Jax says with mock dismay that makes Zooble roll their eyes.

“Okay, yeah. I’m good.” Their gaze moves to Pomni. “How was your day?”

Before Pomni can answer there’s a loud crashing sound. Pomni looks over to see that Orbsman has busted through the glass of the front door and is marching to his car in a rage.

Somebody broke the damn door!

They all gape as he gets into his car and peels out of the parking lot with a loud screech.

”Oh my god,” comes Gangle’s voice. “There’s so much glass!”

She and Ragatha are navigating their way through the glass filled entryway to Spudsy’s, making quite the fuss, though Pomni notes that neither of them decide to take the back way out.

They all gather at the cars and look at each other uneasily.

“Is it just me or has Orbsman gotten a little…” Ragatha trails off as she searches for the right word.

“The villain is deranged! That [BEEP] is getting a taste for power and it’s about time we fight back!” Jax declares, launching straight into his pitch.

Pomni is a little surprised it’s Zooble who first shows interest. “That sounds great and all but how exactly do you intend to do that?”

“Not just me,” Jax winks, hand resting on his chest. “This is going to be a group effort.”

“Won’t we get in trouble for retaliating?” Ragatha asks nervously.

“Who cares! If we don’t raise a fuss we might be stuck in this stupid cycle until we all abstract!” Jax balances on the hood of his car as he stands on it, pointing at Pomni.

“Aren’t you sick of it?!” Jax demands of her.

Their eyes meet and Pomni gives him a serious look. She nods.

“I’m sick of it,” she agrees.

The feeling is tense.

To her surprise it’s Gangle who speaks up next.

“I’m sick of it too,” she says. “Orbsman isn’t even being passive aggressive anymore. Earlier I was coming back from cleaning the bathroom and he jumped out at me and screamed.”

She whimpers a little at the memory. “It was really scary.”

“That’s deranged,” Zooble says in alarm.

Jax throws his head back and laughs which earns him multiple glares. Then he lowers it again and continues as if he didn’t just do that, “Exactly! He’s terrorizing us! Aren’t you sick of it, Zooble?”

Zooble narrows their eyes at Jax as if they’re loathe to agree on anything. They finally nod as Gangle slips up onto the hood beside them. “Yeah, my tolerance for this [BEEP] is well past its limit.”

“[BEEP] right it is!” Then Jax jabs his finger in Ragatha’s direction and she shrinks a little. Their eyes meet and he asks, “Don’t you just want to go ape[BEEP]?”

Ragatha is too taken aback to do anything but blink at him for a moment, and then she nods. “You know what? Yeah, I do!”

“That’s the attitude I’m looking for!” Jax cries. “Listen up people because I have a plan. Tomorrow we’re unionizing [BEEP]es!”

There’s a poignant pause where Jax just lets that sink in a little bit before starting to rant.

“[BEEP] the customers! You ask me for anything? I put you in the fryer,” Jax says.

“Oops, I spilled a drink? I put you in the fryer. Can I get a napkin? Put you in the fryer.”

Everyone stares at Jax, who keeps going, lost in his own hype.

“Can I get some fries? Fryer.”

“Jax,” Zooble says.

“I’ve got your fries right here,” Jax cries.

“Jax!” Zooble snaps. “Can you just tell us your plan?”

Jax smirks, pleased by the attention. He slips back down beside Pomni, leaning in conspiratorially. “This is what we’re gonna do.”

—

“Are you sure this is far out enough?” Pomni says doubtfully, looking out the car window at the swaths of suburbia they’re driving through.

“Of course it’s far out enough,” Jax says with impatience in his voice.

They pass a house with huge, tacky blowup decorations. There’s one, a giant pumpkin with a face, that looks uncomfortably alive. It winks at Pomni as they pass and she shrinks in her seat.

“Let’s go out a little further,” she says.

“Uuuuugh any more than this and the day is gonna reset!” Jax warns. “Come on, Pomni, we gotta [BEEP] before the big battle!”

“Ohh, okay,” Pomni says, rolling her eyes. “With sweet nothings like that it’s a wonder my clothes don’t just fly off my body.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Jax tells her, glancing around in annoyance as he rounds a corner. “Get horny, Pomni!”

Pomni laughs. Jax is crazy.

They start down a street where the houses are carbon copies including the single little shrub on the lawn. Jax is scowling.

“This one good enough for you?”

“Yea–”

The word is barely out of Pomni and Jax is swerving to the side so hard she nearly bonks her head against the window. He parks in front of a house and looks at Pomni expectantly.

“What’s that look for?” she asks innocently.

“For you to throw yourself at me in a fit of desperate passion, obviously,” Jax teases, reaching over to tap her forehead. He leans towards her. “Go on. You can be honest. It’s just me here.”

Pomni laughs.

Then she leans up and gives him a sweet little smooch on the mouth. She pulls back and gives him a serious look.

"Let me know if it's too much, okay?" she says.

"Wha?" Jax looks confused. "Isn't that my line?"

"I mean," Pomni says. "You're the one who didn't want me to touch your--"

"Oh."

"Yeah--"

"Oh."

They look at each other. Pomni tilts her head.

"I just don't want to make you uncomfy," she says.

Jax looks down at her like he's deciding his mood. He looks flustered but finally rolls his eyes.

"Whatever, it'll be fine as long as you don't gawk at me like a freak of nature."

"Why would I do that?" Pomni asks, laughing a little. "I mean, we already look weird. I'm not going to judge, promise."

"I'll hold you to that," Jax tells her so seriously she can't help but giggle again.

Jax tsks at her but leans in to press a kiss to her mouth as she's laughing.

Pomni reaches up to cup both his cheeks as she returns the kiss, giving the softest moan. Her stomach flutters.

God, she likes Jax so much. She wants to show him.

"Jax let's--"

"Shut up," he says between kisses. "Kiss me, you wily temptress."

Pomni snorts in amusement and Jax pulls back to give her a look of annoyance.

"Don't you dare laugh. I'll give you something to laugh about."

"What does that even mean?" Pomni’s giggles continue. "C'mon, let's get in the back seat."

"Very well, I know how bad you want me," Jax says, sounding pleased.

Then, like some kind of nightmare creature, Jax begins to crawl over the seats to the back. Pomni shakes her head, unable to get her giggling under control. She feels like she's on stupid sauce.

"What'd I say?" Jax tells her before grabbing Pomni and starting to drag her to the back with him.

It would have been way easier if they just got out, Pomni thinks, but who is she to question a madman.

For a moment she experiences something like vertigo and then she's plopped awkwardly on Jax's lap.

It's a little cramped but Jax doesn't seem remotely concerned as he immediately begins kissing on her.

Pomni kisses back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She shifts so her legs are on either side of Jax's lap, a little surprised by the horny little ache between her legs. Not that she isn't into it, just...

I can't wait

Pomni nips at Jax's lip, pressing her hips to his.

Jax makes a soft, pleased sound, Pomni feeling the hum of it in their kiss. His arms loop lazily around her waist, tugging her closer. Something about knowing he's just as into it only makes the little spark burn brighter.

They make out for a while, kissing until it's so heated they're forced to pull away to catch their breath before gradually working their way back up to that point again.

The ache Pomni feels grows into a need that she can feel through her whole body.

Pomni lets out a little whimper into the kiss and Jax groans, hands at her hips and grinding them down against his. That makes them both give a loud moan. It feels good.

Another little flustered thrill goes through Pomni when she realizes she can feel Jax getting hard.

that's so hot

Pomni starts to pull away, but Jax drags her back into a kiss, sucking on her lower lip. Pomni mouths back at him playfully, speaking into the kiss.

"Jax," she moans against his mouth.

"Mm?" Jax sounds half present, lost in the kiss.

Pomni smiles against his lips and grabs his hands, guiding them under her shirt, up her sides. He takes the lead and starts groping her. Pomni reaches back and starts to undo her bra but there's no point–Jax groans as his hands find her tits, slipping under her bra and giving a firm squeeze.

"Ah!" Pomni gasps, arching forward into the touch.

"Mm, Pom," Jax moans, kissing her again as he continues to feel her up.

His thumb rubs back and forth over her nipple until it has her whimpering. Jax eagerly starts to play with the other as well until he's got Pomni squirming in his lap.

"You're so sexy," Jax tells her breathily.

Jax's eyes meet hers heatedly as he tugs at her shirt. "Can I take it off?"

Pomni nods quickly and breathes out, “Yeah.”

Jax slips it off of her so demandingly it gets tangled on her hat and then stuck on a bell.

“Will you— stop?” Pomni struggles.

Jax snorts with laughter. “Look, your stupid big hat got in the way. Here let me just-”

“Stop it!” Pomni smacks at him as she tries to untangle it.

Jax cracks up harder, pulling Pomni into him and hugging her tightly. “You’re soooo cute.”

“Do you mind? I’m stuck,” Pomni says. “I’m still stuck right now.”

Jax starts tugging on her bell. “I’m trying to extract you.”

“You’re lying is what you’re doing,” Pomni counters.

But Jax finally gets her free.

“Take off your bra,” he says.

“Wha— you’re not even gonna try to do it?” Pomni’s eyebrows shoot up.

“No, I don’t know how. Do it for me.”

Pomni snorts and undoes her bra, shrugging out of it and letting it fall to the seat beside them. Jax immediately cups her tits and squishes them together.

Then he buries his face in them and nuzzles back and forth.

“Oh my goooood,” he groans. “These are all mine.”

“Uh,” Pomni laughs, unable to even pretend to get mad. “You’re really messed up.”

“That’s right, I’m a maniac!” Jax nuzzles into her tits again. He glances up at her, eyes like dark pools she could fall into. ”Your maniac.”

Then he turns his head and starts to kiss the inner swell of her breast. Jax gives it a little bite and Pomni gasps softly, hips jerking against him.

“Oooh, that’s so hot, Pom,” Jax murmurs against her as he starts kissing along her skin, mouth dragging lightly over her nipple then back.

He starts sucking on her with determined force that makes Pomni start to squirm again. When Jax pulls back he gives a satisfied sound at the sight of the hickey he’s left on the side of her tit.

The mood is heavy. From their circumstances, from their exhaustion. From their desire for each other.

Their eyes meet, a jolt of something going through Pomni.

Jax ducks down again, tongue dragging over Pomni’s nipple and her head falls back, lips parting as she arches into the touch. She grinds down a little shakily against Jax’s erection.

I wanna feel it

Pomni reaches down and starts undoing the button of her pants. Jax pulls back enough to look down at what she’s doing and hisses.

“[BEEP], that’s hot too.”

Pomni laughs breathily and shifts a little, tugging off her slacks and letting them fall. She awkwardly kicks off her shoes.

“Um,” she mumbles, tugging Jax closer to her chest. “You wanna…?”

Is this enough foreplay? Is she rushing it?

She just really wants to have sex with Jax.

The blush that comes to Jax’s face is adorable, though she knows well enough to keep that thought to herself.

He nuzzles into her, sliding a hand along her thigh and giving it a squeeze. “You wanna do it?”

Pomni shivers in his grip.

“Yup.”

Jax chuckles, but he doesn’t immediately do anything. He just idly rubs her leg.

Ah. Is he getting stage fright?

Pomni smiles and sits back on his thighs, reaching down to undo the button of his pants. Jax’s breath hitches and her smile widens. She starts to slowly unzip his pants.

“Wow,” she says. “You’re, um, really hard.”

“What- what, and, what does that mean?” Jax demands. Wow, he really is self-conscious about it.

“Relax, it’s a good thing.” Pomni starts to tug Jax’s pants open, exposing his underwear, but then he grabs her wrist.

When Pomni looks up, Jax is looking away, breathing heavy. He’s turned on, but also something else.

Pomni frowns thoughtfully. Then she has an idea.

“Hey,” she says. “How about I don’t look at it.”

Jax peeks at her. “That- would work. But you better not look.”

“Don’t worry,” Pomni says. “I’d rather do other things.”

She covers up Jax’s embarrassed expression for him with a kiss, fumbling with his underwear and reaching in, down until she feels—

Ah?

Jax is hot. Really hot.

Pomni moves her hand along him, feeling out the texture. The shape of him. It’s oddly tapered towards the end and the swell of it fits nicely in her hand. She gives him a squeeze unthinkingly.

“Nnh—“ Jax’s hips jerk under her and he grabs onto the back of the front seat. “Holy [BEEP]—“

Pomni gasps, sliding her thumb up to the tip, swiping over it curiously. A little pre trickles onto her thumb and she swallows.

The shape feels like it will fit really nice.

”Does that feel good?” Pomni murmurs to Jax.

Jax shivers against her.

“Yeah,” he breathes out. Then he swallows thickly. “You don’t mind…?”

Pomni laughs and presses a kiss to Jax’s cheek, gently stroking him. “‘Course not. We’re all freaks in the Circus.”

Jax hums doubtfully.

“Would you still be into me if I had three tits?” Pomni proposes.

Jax frowns. Pomni waits patiently.

“I’d like you better,” he finally admits.

Pomni scoffs at that. “See? It’s fine.”

Jax can’t seem to help a chuckle that rises up, turning his face to kiss her. “It feels really good.”

His hand slides along her thigh, moving up to hook his fingers into her panties. “I’m gonna take them off.”

“Okay,” Pomni says, shifting her body to make it easier for him to drag one side down and off her leg, letting it dangle from the other thigh.

Jax stares with hungry eyes, almost tentative as his fingers brush just above her pussy. “[BEEP].”

Pomni wants to look down too, but knows she can’t. She leans in and kisses his forehead. Then she shifts him in her hand, stroking lightly as she adjusts him until she's able to press him against her pussy.

“Ah—“ Pomni gasps, eyes fluttering closed as his heat meets hers. It makes her feel extra sensitive.

Jax whimpers.

“Ooh,” Pomni can’t help but moan. “It– it’s nice, huh?”

Jax says nothing, hunching over and burying his face into Pomni’s neck. She realizes he’s shaking a little. Pomni seems to recall him mentioning he’d never been inside. Her heart flutters at the thought of being his first.

She shifts him so his cock is pressed against his stomach. She lines her clit up with the underside and starts to drag her pussy long him, lightly grinding. They both shiver.

“Mmh,” Pomni moans, biting her lip. Her clit is so swollen. She’s so turned on her head feels fuzzy.

“Oh my god–” Jax gasps, hips bucking up once and sliding his cock against her clit from tip to base. They cry out. Then he does it again.

Pomni’s breath is coming so hard now. Shaky. She wants to put it inside, but she doesn’t want to push Jax.

“It’s gonna feel really good,” she whispers a promise. “It’ll be nice and hot and wet and tigh–”

“Pomni–”

Jax’s hips jerk up and this time he goes still like he’s hilted in her. He trembles with the obvious effort of not coming.

“Don’t say stuff like that or I’ll-” Jax gets too flustered to continue, starting to kiss and nibble at her neck restlessly.

It’s endearing to see this side of him under all the bravado.

He starts to just barely grind against her until he gives a soft shudder like it’s too much.

“Okay,” Jax breathes out. “I’m ready to- put it in.”

Pomni nods more to herself than him. “Okay.”

She grips him lightly and moves him back to her entrance. She relaxes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

“I’m gonna…”

She slowly lets her hips drop, sliding down onto him a couple inches. They both stiffen and arch their hips together, pushing him in another inch.

“Oh [BEEP],” Jax mutters. “God[BEEP] it–”

His hips start to push down to pull him out, but then they snap up and he buries himself completely inside Pomni.

“Oh[BEEP]I’mso[BEEP]ingsorry–” Jax gasps, but it’s too late.

His cock twitches inside her and Pomni sobs. Her pussy throbs around him and that seems to be the last straw for Jax who lets out a guttural moan and–

he’s coming

Jax twitches over and over as he comes hard inside Pomni. She can tell it’s deep by the way he clutches onto her body so hard it hurts.

“Oh [BEEP]!” Jax rasps out, cock twitching one more time, hard, before slumping back into the seat. “I did not mean to–”

“It’s okay,” Pomni mumbles, starting to shake her head.

that was so sexy

“I’m gonna–”

Pomni whimpers as she comes, pussy squeezing around Jax. Her breath hitches over and over and she bounces ever so slightly on his dick, making it feel a little obscene, but it feels so good it’s worth it–

”Pom!” Jax cries out, clinging to her desperately as he tries not to come again.

“Shh,” Pomni hushes. “Hold it back.”

She doesn’t even want to risk him going soft.

Jax’s breathing is so labored. Pomni wonders if they’ll go long enough to fog up the windows.

“I’m gonna–” Jax starts.

“No you’re not,” Pomni whispers. “You’ve got this.”

Jax tries his best, she can tell. He’s almost got himself calmed down, Pomni thinks, but then he shudders.

“Oh…” Jax’s frame starts trembling.

“Wait–” Pomni gasps.

But it’s too late.

Jax thrusts up inside her again, but this time he doesn’t stop. He starts fucking her without restraint and Pomni wonders if he genuinely can’t help it.

His cock starts twitching and Jax cries out, not even pushing it in all the way as he fucks her desperately. He fucks her the whole time he comes and she can’t even feel it twitching, though she knows it is.

Did anything come out? She can’t tell. Her heart is racing.

Pomni settles on Jax’s lap with his cock all the way inside. They catch their breath a bit, Jax’s head bowed so he can’t look at her.

They’re so horny it’s a little funny.

“S-so how is it?” Pomni asks.

Jax gives a shaky laugh.

“What, your [BEEP]?” Pomni hears him swallow. “Ten out of ten.”

“I didn’t necessarily mean on a numbered scale,” Pomni says, a little deadpan.

“I’m sorry you’re right. Five stars.”

Pomni snorts softly.

“Seriously though,” Jax continues. ”So [BEEP]ing good.”

Pomni kisses at the base of one of his ears. “Good.”

“I uh, don’t tell anyone I came immediately,” he mutters, sounding embarrassed.

“I won’t,” Pomni reassures, then rocks her hips a little. “You’re still hard.”

Jax’s palm slides down along her back, and then he grips her hip with a little squeeze. “That’s right. I can still rock your world. Just go slow.”

“Slow it is.” Pomni puts her hands on his shoulders, balancing herself.

She starts to ride him slowly. For a while the car is filled with only the sounds of their breathing and the thick tension between them that’s finally getting worked out. Not that Pomni wasn’t into the idea of sleeping with him, but Jax has been jonesing for it.

Jax’s breathing starts to pick up and Pomni slows down further, helping him back down from his orgasm. Jax lets out a miserable sound.

“When we get back to the Circus,” he finally says in a quiet voice. “Let’s go straight to your room.”

“Oh?” Pomni smiles, moving her hips down onto him all the way, then in slow circles, grinding onto him. “What for?”

“Holy [BEEP], Pom,” Jax groans, pressing his hips up into her. Then he gives a low, amused snort. “And you know, I was thinking we could make some greeting cards-”

His breath hitches and he tugs Pomni’s hips down, making them both gasp.

“Just kidding, I want to do this until we pass out,” Jax says against her cheek before pressing kiss after kiss to it.

“Mm–” That’s so cute. Pomni starts to move her hips in little humping motions, fucking herself down onto him. It’s hard to tell who’s breathing harder. “I wanna– come–”

Jax groans, starting to hump up into her in return. “Don’t talk dirty like that, [BEEP]--”

That barely constitutes as dirty talk, but Pomni gets the sentiment. Everything is in technicolor with Jax.

“I’m gonna–” she gasps.

“Pomni–”

They both keen as their bodies come together, Jax tugging her hips down so she can’t move. This time she does feel him twitching as he gasps and moans and lets out all sorts of sounds Pomni didn’t know he was capable of.

Which fair enough, because she didn’t know she could make the sounds coming out of her mouth.

It’s embarrassing.

Exciting.

When Pomni squeezes Jax for one final time she lets out a little squeak and her hips jerk against his grip. Jax makes a sound of overstimulation and slooowly drags her up off his cock.

“Too much?” Pomni asks, squirming as she feels his cum leak out of her.

“‘Course not,” Jax claims, but Pomni isn’t so sure.

She leans back to sit on his thighs, peeking at his expression. He looks dazed. Pomni smiles.

“That good, huh?”

“Haaa, yeah,” Jax says a little dreamily.

They look at each other then lean in at the same time to start kissing again. For a while they just make out, holding onto each other.

When they break away Jax asks in a breathy tone, “Wanna do it again?”

“Sure,” Pomni says with a little laugh. “Y’know, your [BEEP] is really nice. I like the shape.”

She can feel him tense slightly, regarding her almost suspiciously. “You’re just saying that.”

“Nope, I mean it,” Pomni assures him with a peck to the lips.

He looks at her a little moodily then looks away, muttering almost under his breath, “....did you want to see it?”

Pomni is admittedly a little surprised, but it makes her happy he’s trusting her with it. She nods and sits back a little more.

“Only if you want to show me.”

His expression falls a little flat like he doesn’t like it being about what he wants but he finally gives a little nod. “Yeah, it’s fine. But if you laugh I’ll throw you out the window and drive away.”

Pomni snorts.

“What’d I say,” Jax warns, making her giggle harder. His mouth pulls up in a slight smile and then he looks at her seriously. “No laughing.”

Pomni gets herself under control, trying not to laugh in her attempt to keep a straight face. “Serious.”

He gives her a look then helps ease her back on his lap. Pomni looks down.

Jax’s cock is roughly the shape she imagined it. It thickens a little from the base, swelling just a bit before tapering off into the tip. It’s a shade of pink rather than the purple of his skin and seems to be coming out of him.

He looks to be about half hard, though he perks up a bit when Pomni tentatively reaches forward and rubs her thumb along the side.

“Well?!” Jax demands, cagey.

Pomni looks up to meet his eyes. “You don’t gotta be embarrassed. It made me come so hard.”

His eyes flash defensively, and then he looks flustered, then a little pleased, mollified by her response. “Yeah it did. More than once.”

He waggles his brows. “And it’ll do it again, too.”

Jax lifts Pomni, shifting her onto the seat beside him before moving to tug his shirt off. “Go on, lay down and we’ll make this work. I wanna be on top.”

As Pomni shifts onto her back she sees the sky outside the window, a sea of stars. Even as they start to fuck again she stares up at it, mesmerized. Steam is starting to creep at the corners of the window.

Jax moves inside Pomni for a long time, the two of them gasping and moaning as they fuck faster. And come. And fuck again.

At one point while they’re taking a moment to recover Jax lays on top of Pomni, tugging at her hair. He’s long since kicked the door open in the cramped space and the cool air feels good on their heated bodies. Jax mumbles to her,

“Even if we have to stay at Spudsy’s forever I’ll be sane knowing I can come back to this.”

It makes Pomni’s heart ache. She makes a soft sound of agreement.

“Yeah… I know what you mean.”

She didn’t know it could feel like this.

The two stay in the car until dawn, clinging to each other and sharing in their budding love. It’s still in the early stages, still so delicate, but Pomni is confident they can survive after their little honeymoon phase.

Or maybe, she thinks, it’ll never end.

—

Day 12

Pomni sits in Orbsman’s office, hands clenched on her knees as she watches him talk with animated frustration into his phone.

Well maybe if your mother wasn’t such a [BEEP] then I wouldn’t feel the need to insult her casserole!

Pomni is just about to leave even though he was the one who said to come in. She starts to stand up but Orbsman holds the phone away from his head.

What was it you needed to speak with me about, Pomni?

“W-well,” Pomni starts. “I wanted to ask about the college program. And…”

She lifts the burger that’s been sitting on her lap for the past five minutes and sets it on his desk. “Wouldn’t want you getting hungry!”

Oh that’s so thoughtful. I’m starving.

His desk is covered in burger wrappers.

Orbsman starts going off about the opportunities Spudsy’s offers and frankly the whole thing sounds like a scam. Pomni’s eyes dart between Orbsman and the phone. Who the hell is he married to? Honestly, it’s a matter of is there even anyone on the other end of the line.

Orbsman bites into the burger that Gangle had slathered in stupid sauce and Pomni swallows thickly. This had better work.

... which is why I’ll need your routing number for– but don’t worry about that, Orbsman says, waving his free orb. He pops the last of the burger in front of his mouth and it disappears.

“That all sounds just great,” Pomni says. Orbsman dabs at his mouth with a napkin and suddenly Pomni is out of things to say. “Um, uh, uhh–”

Oh, I’m not done. The career paths are limited too

“O-oh…”

The Spudsy’s corporation cares about your future, so we opt to mmmmicromanage it, Orbsman starts to slur. Then he starts laughing. Wait, what are we talking about?

“Right…”

Just then there’s a knock at the door and Zooble opens it without waiting for a response.

“Hey boss,” they say after giving him a discerning look to determine if he’s sauced up. “The cop NPC says he’s here to talk about irregularities in the pension fund.”

Orbsman gets WEIRD.

And you won’t speak about this to your fellow employees. Where is the– where’s the [BEEP] cop?

Zooble stares disapprovingly at Orbsman. Hatefully.

“In the walk-in,” they say.

Orbsman closes his phone without a goodbye to his ‘wife’ who he’s essentially put on hold this whole time and stands, wobbling out past Zooble and nearly knocking them to the floor.

“Would he… actually have anything to do with a pension fund?” Pomni asks, uncertain.

Zooble shrugs. “I don’t think Caine actually knows the intricacies of upper management. Also, he’s drunk so what does he know.”

They peek out onto the floor where they can see Orbsman disappearing into the walk-in.

Immediately Ragatha rushes forward with a chair, shoving it up under the knob. Then they all make a group effort, moving the work station that had previously been bolted to the floor in front of it. Jax had made quick work of that with who knows what.

Orbsman’s yelling can be heard from the other side, but all attempts to get the door open fail. Pomni feels shaky.

“Alrighty,” Jax says. “Time to wreck Spudsy’s.”

Everyone kind of looks at each other.

Then Ragatha walks over to assembly and starts knocking things over with such vitriol it’s a little alarming.

Jax laughs. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

He goes out into the dining area and yells loudly, ”LISTEN UP! If you don’t get out of here all of you will be dead by my hand!”

The NPCs look at each other vaguely.

Then Zooble sighs and goes over to the fire alarm. They set it off.

It triggers the NPCs who all start doing the same panicking emote. Then they flood the doors while Jax goes over and grabs two chairs. He launches one at the NPCs, then another, nailing a total of three of them.

When Pomni looks over, Gangle is stealing cash out of the register. Good for her, it must be a thrill.

Zooble is just standing there shaking their head.

“Hey, Jax!” they finally yell. “You do the gas, I’m not touching it.”

“Oh whatever.”

Jax picks up a chair and goes to the back. Pomni follows nervously, afraid he might get hurt. He glances back at her and smirks, climbing up onto the break room table. The sound of Ragatha screaming at NPCs is audible from the restaurant.

“Check this [BEEP] out, Pom.”

Jax swings the chair low. Then he brings it up high and whacks a gas pipe near the ceiling so hard it breaks in half.

Then he drops the chair, hops down, and grabs Pomni, tucking her under his arm and getting the [BEEP] out of there.

He lingers near assembly, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up. He leaves it on one of the counters.

“Everybody clear out!” Jax yells.

No one needs to be told twice. Pomni notes Jax yoink a couple bottles of stupid sauce on the way out.

They all file quickly out the back. It’s a little exhilarating. Jax locks the door behind them.

“Hurry, go, go, go,” Jax says, pushing Pomni along. Who knows how long they have.

They all hurry out to the front of Spudsy’s, standing in the parking lot as they wait. Did Jax’s plan not work? Are the physics not on their side? What is it?

“Oh yeah.” Jax rushes forward and quickly locks the front of Spudsy’s with Orbsman’s keys. He runs back. “Only a matter of time now.”

“Are we really gonna leave him in there?” Pomni asks with some concern. It seems a little extreme.

“Serves him right,” Jax says. Pomni notes that no one disagrees. “Hey Rags.”

Ragatha perks up, looking nervous. Jax throws her a bottle of stupid sauce. “You earned it.”

“Oh– maybe I shouldn’t,” Ragatha says, glancing at Pomni.

“Oh who cares, it’s a celebration,” Jax says, taking a tiny sip of the other bottle he’d snatched up.

Then Pomni notices something.

“Is that…?”

Pomni’s eyes widen as she sees Orbsman running up to the door, trying to get out. He pounds his orbs against the door in a rage. She can practically hear him yelling [BEEP] you!

He busted through it last night, though. Did he forget he could do that?

“Oh come on,” Pomni says, having second thoughts. “Let’s let him out.”

Jax lights up another cigarette. “Hell nah.”

BOOM

A huge explosion rocks Spudsy’s from the back, a plume of smoke coming out the top as shrapnel goes everywhere. Orbsman falls, waving his arms in a panic. Pomni can see the sprinklers going off inside.

She makes a decision, grabbing the keys from Jax who hollers after her as she runs forward, nearly smacking into the door before scrambling to open it. She finally finds the right key and gets it open a split second before–

BOOOOOM

“Pomni!” Jax cries, running forward as she and Orbsman run his way. The moment she reaches him he’s got her under his arm again, dragging her off. Orbsman falls flat on his face a few yards from the others and goes still.

“Why did you do that?!” Jax demands, clearly freaked out.

“Yeah, Pomni, that was really dangerous!” Gangle says, wringing her ribbons.

“Kind of based, though,” Zooble adds.

Jax glares back at them then turns on Pomni. “Don’t pull that kind of [BEEP] again. [BEEP] Orbsman.”

They all turn to Orbsman who is slowly standing up looking a little charred and generally worse for wear. He’s wavering on his feet. The stupid sauce must still be in effect. But it doesn’t seem as powerful as with the others.

“How did you get out of the walk-in?” Jax demands.

Orbsman glares at them all hatefully. I clipped through

“Oh, that’s bull[BEEP]. [BEEP] Caine and his faulty programming,” Jax says.

NOW YOU’RE INSULTING MY RELIGION?!

Orbsman rounds on them all.

This is it. As cathartic as blowing up Spudsy’s was, they are all going to training and it’s lowkey Pomni’s fault, but that was [BEEP]ed up.

Pomni you are the only one who will be spared my wrath, Orbsman says. You’re all going to trai–

It’s then that something strange happens. Pomni feels herself start to float about a foot off the ground.

She looks around wildly to see that the others are floating too. Gangle cries out in alarm.

And then, just like that, the image of Orbsman in front of the burning Spudsy’s disappears.

Pomni is yoinked out of reality.

—

And thrown to the floor of a brightly colored space that hurts her eyes and her head and her body hurts because she was just thrown to the floor and–

Pomni blinks up at Caine who is floating a few feet above her.

They’re back at the Circus

Is this really happening or did the gas leak cause her to start hallucinating?

“Welcome back, my little bread and butter biscuits!” Caine cries, throwing his arms in the air and waving them. “Welcome to the new and improved Circus!”

Pomni looks around, pushing herself up gingerly. It all looks the same.

Her eyes dart over to lock with Jax’s. He looks like he doesn’t know what to make of it either, eyes alarmed little pinpricks.

“What took so [BEEP]ing long!?” Zooble demands.

“Huh? Oh!” Caine taps the bottom of his gums thoughtfully. “Well, I was having such a hard time picking out the new color scheme. What do you think?”

“Nothing is different!” Zooble practically screams. “Nothing! Is different!”

“Not true!” Caine corrects. “For example, I was trying to decide between this red,”

He throws his arms out. Nothing red changes.

“And this red!”

Nothing changes.

“It literally doesn’t matter!” Zooble yells.

Bubble pops up beside Caine just long enough to say, “It matters to me!”

Then he blips out of sight.

“We were in there for weeks!” Gangle cries. “Like at least two weeks!”

“Barely!” Caine corrects again. He checks his wacky watch. “Yup! Eleven days! Don’t even sweat it!”

“That’s not for you to deci–” Zooble starts, but before they can say anything else, Caine presses on.

“It’s time for your employee evaluations!”

Everyone goes stiff. Pomni and Jax exchange a nervous look and Pomni steps closer to him, taking his hand.

“For the record, this is bull[BEEP], Caine,” Jax says. “You should have sent us on vacation.”

“Employee evaluations!” Caine cries. Then a file pops out of nowhere and he starts leafing through it. “Not gonna lie, it was getting a little rough for you. Morale was low, Ragatha’s productivity was down the drain, and you fought constantly! What a mess!”

Ah. That’s not good.

What will the punishment be?

“I also noticed the little stunt you pulled at the end! It says here in my file,” Caine taps the file obnoxiously. “That you were slated to all get a D-. But while attempted murder of a manager is usually a big no-no, your team spirit at the end moved me! So I’ve bumped it to a C-!”

The file disappears and Caine swings his arm with go-get-’em vibes. “How’s that!”

Oh thank god they’re not being punished

“Caine, if you send us to Spudsy’s again we’ll all abstract,” Jax says with uncharacteristic pragmatism. “We need stimulation and fresh ideas, Caine, we can't stagnate. I need it for my [BEEP]ed up brain. Next I will bite you.”

Everyone nods in assent.

“Yeah, that was horrible!” Gangle cries. “I hate Spudsy’s!”

“I hate working,” Zooble agrees. “I hate working. Give me something creative, whatever, but food service?”

“Yeah,” Ragatha agrees. “Never again.”

“Oh,” Caine says. “Well don’t worry! I have lots of new adventures planned! Do you want to go on one now?”

”No!” they all cry in unison.

“Aw, but I’m so touched you’re excited to be back at the Circus!” Caine sighs happily. “The bananas are back in a bunch!”

Everybody is relieved, which is fucked up. It’s still a little jarring.

“Wait,” Pomni says, looking around. “Where’s Kinger?”

“Huh? Oh yeah!” Caine claps his hands and Kinger appears next to them, doing a swimming motion with his hands.

He continues to swim, stationary, for a few moments. Then he gasps, looking around wildly.

“Oh! Hello, everyone! How was your adventure?”

No one says [BEEP].

“They look hungry, boss!” Bubble pipes up, popping into existence at Caine’s side. He’s wearing his chef’s hat.

“They really do!” Caine agrees.

“Hungry for burgers!” Bubble exclaims.

“No,” Pomni says, shaking her head. “No more burgers. Please.”

Bubble just floats, grinning.

They all settle down for a meal, though no one eats at first. It’s surreal being back at the Circus and, though ultimately a relief, Pomni isn’t sure about being back in a space that’s so wacky compared to their stint with almost real life.

She feels Jax’s hand grabbing hers and looks down, then up at him. He’s grinning at her, but looks a little nervous.

To her surprise, he says nothing. Eventually they all start to eat and the atmosphere lightens a bit, but it still doesn’t feel like they’re really back.

Like at any second they could get sent back to Hell.

But this is exactly what they wanted. And they got a chance to raise a little Hell before they left.

Things turned out okay in the end.

Pomni finally lets out a sigh of relief.

—

After food they all sit in a lounge. It’s a more comfortable setting than the dinner table and that’s when they start to relax.

Pomni sinks into the couch, into Jax’s side as Kinger sets up a projector to show them the adventure Caine had him on. Jax’s arm slides around her shoulder.

“So where exactly were you this whole time?” Zooble asks. “I’m lowkey [BEEP]ed at you for not looking traumatized.”

“Oh, Caine made Fiji!” Kinger says, flipping a switch on the projector. “It was beautiful.”

“You went to Fiji??” Gangle cries. “That’s such crap! Oh my god! I’m so mad!”

Ragatha just sighs.

“Boo, boo Kinger!” Jax boos with a cupped hand by his mouth. “What a loser, eh, Pomni?”

Pomni elbows him.

“I swam with dolphins,” Kinger says, eyes growing a little misty. “They spoke to me in their language. It was beautiful.”

Kinger projects an image onto the wall.

It shows a picture of him in the waters of Fiji. He’s surrounded by sharks.

“Haaaaa,” Jax laughs, pointing.

“Just let him do his slideshow, Jax,” Ragatha scolds. “I want to see Fiji.”

“Hey, I’m not stopping him, I’m just berating him,” Jax protests.

Pomni nudges him and presses a finger to her lips, giving Jax a little smile. He snorts but settles down, rubbing her arm as they watch Kinger’s slideshow. The photos add a puzzling dissonance between the stories Kinger shares and the images they’re actually seeing.

Regardless, it was obviously a great time in a beautiful place.

Everyone is low-key [BEEP]ed about it but at least Kinger got to have fun.

As Kinger concludes he asks about their adventure and the [BEEP]fest commences, everyone sharing their worst stories from Spudsy’s.

Funny how they’re already starting to laugh about it.

“Alright,” Jax announces as the conversation begins to wind down. “I’m sick of all your faces. Me and Pomni are bouncing.”

He slings Pomni up over his shoulder unceremoniously.

“Hey, don’t manhandle me!” Pomni bops his back with her fist even as butterflies of anticipation start in her stomach.

“See ya, losers,” Jax calls back at the others.

Pomni goes limp in defeat, giving a little shrug and wave at the others as she’s carried out of sight.

“Guess who managed to sneak in some stupid sauce?” Jax brags as they make their way to the rooms.

“What, seriously? How?” Pomni asks.

Where?

“Don’t worry your pretty head about it. What do you say we sip a little and do it until we pass out?”

“Pff-!” Pomni gives his back another affectionate bonk. “Sounds good to me.”

“It’s a date,” Jax says with mischief and amusement in his voice.

She’s so excited to be in her own bed again.

They reach Pomni’s room, already kissing as they fumble to get the door open, almost tumbling inside as it gives.

They laugh then start to kiss again, Jax bumping the door shut with his hip.

It’s good to be home.

The End