Chapter Text
They landed back in the circus main room in a loose, slightly tangled pile.
For a moment the world felt strangely hollow.
Gone were the roaring jungle winds, the thunder of falling stone, and the chaotic adventure music that had followed them through the temple like an overenthusiastic narrator.
All of it vanished the instant the portal snapped shut behind them.
The sudden stillness made the whole adventure feel unreal.
For a few seconds no one moved.
Then a collective groan rose from the pile as everyone started untangling themselves from each other.
Limbs shifted. Ribbons snagged. Someone’s elbow accidentally jammed into someone else’s side.
Eventually Ragatha pushed herself upright, brushing dust from her dress before stretching both arms high above her head with a relieved sigh.
“We did it!”
Her voice cut through the quiet like sunlight through clouds.
Gangle sat up next, hugging herself tightly as nervous leftover energy buzzed through her. She started carefully shaking bits of cave dust from her ribbons.
“We didn’t even die!”
Kinger suddenly glitched out of the pile with a faint pop and reappeared standing neatly beside her.
“The jungle has forgiven us!” he announced with quiet certainty.
Then he blinked, noticing her.
“Oh! Hello Gangle! When did you get here?”
Gangle sighed softly but couldn’t help the small smile that appeared.
“Welcome back, Kinger.”
Behind them, Zooble was angrily snapping their disconnected parts back into place with sharp clicks.
One arm rotated wrong before being forcefully twisted back where it belonged.
“I swear to every digital law of physics,” Zooble muttered under their breath, “if Caine turns me into a statue again—”
Pomni barely heard the rest.
Thank God she had landed on her back instead of her stomach.
Her whole body felt like it had been run over by a steamroller. Now that the adrenaline was gone, exhaustion crashed into her all at once.
Her legs felt heavy.
Her head fuzzy.
Every muscle in her back screamed from hours of running, panicking, and the tight knot of fear that had lived in her chest the entire adventure.
Without thinking, her hand drifted down to rest lightly over her stomach.
She rubbed small circles there, pressing gently as if checking.
Please still be okay.
Her breath caught as she felt carefully for the small firmness beneath her palm.
Then she found it.
The familiar little hard spot.
Pomni let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
They were okay.
Still there.
Still safe.
Across the pile, Jax hadn’t been nearly as lucky.
He had landed face-first into the floor.
Now that everyone else had finally gotten off him, he slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his face with an irritated scowl. He looked fully ready to start yelling at Caine the second he saw him.
But then he noticed Pomni.
Specifically—
Her hand on her stomach.
His brain immediately went into full panic mode.
Wait.
Was something wrong?
Was the kid okay?
Were they—
Then he saw her shoulders relax.
Saw the small smile that spread across her face. Pomni glanced over at him and lifted her hand, making a small “OK” sign with her fingers and a bright reassuring grin.
Jax exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“Don’t scare me like that,” he muttered quietly.
Pomni rolled her eyes.
Right as another wave of exhaustion crashed over her.
“Hey guys?” she said softly. “I… think I’m going to lie down.”
Jax stretched beside her, lifting both arms over his head like he hadn’t almost been crushed by a collapsing cave five minutes ago.
He yawned dramatically.
“Yep. I’m done for the day. See ya, losers.”
Ragatha glanced between the two of them.
Her expression shifted for just a second before she smoothed it into a warm smile.
“Good idea, Pomni. Today was… a lot.”
She clapped her hands gently.
“Tomorrow we celebrate surviving!”
Gangle nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Celebration! And tea! And maybe a small nervous breakdown—right Zooble?!”
Zooble looked up, still annoyed, but some of the tension left their shoulders when they saw Gangle’s hopeful excitement.
“…Yeah. Fine,” they muttered.
“Relaxing tomorrow sounds good.”
Kinger suddenly raised one hand dramatically.
“To the impenetrable fortress!”
One by one the group began drifting toward the dorm hallway.
Their footsteps echoed softly across the black-and-white checkered tiles.
The circus grew quieter with every step.
Pomni walked slowly.
Her exhaustion made every movement careful.
Jax slowed too.
Neither of them said anything.
Not with the others nearby.
But when they reached the hallway entrance and passed beside each other.
-----
Jax had been pacing his room for the last hour.
So much so that a faint oval-shaped path had started forming in the carpet.
Not that anyone would ever know that.
If anyone asked, he would absolutely claim he had been doing something extremely cool and important.
Definitely not worrying about a certain anxious jester.
And absolutely not walking small circles around his room like a caged animal at the zoo desperate for exercise.
Not him.
Never.
He had tried sitting down.
Lasted about thirty seconds.
Then he stood up again.
His ears twitched as footsteps passed in the hallway outside his door.
Once.
Twice.
Three separate times.
Each time he paused mid-step.
Each time he glanced toward the door.
Each time he considered opening it.
Each time he stopped himself.
Don’t be stupid.
Today was a lot for her.
She’s tired.
She needs space.
She doesn’t need you hovering around like some clingy idiot.
She went to her own room.
Stop being weird.
Jax rubbed the back of his neck and dropped into the chair beside his bed with a heavy sigh.
His foot immediately started tapping against the floor.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thirty seconds later he was back on his feet.
Pacing again.
He dragged a hand through his ears muttering under his breath as he resumed his restless circuit across the room.
He couldn’t sit still.
His thoughts kept drifting back to the cave.
The sound of stone cracking overhead.
The way the ground had trembled under their feet.
The exact moment Pomni had stepped backward without realizing what was above her.
The falling rock.
The split second where his brain hadn’t even had time to think.
His body had just moved.
The memory replayed itself again and again in his mind.
The way he’d grabbed her.
The way he’d pulled her down beneath him.
The way she’d felt against him when he shielded her.
Small.
Fragile.
Protected.
Jax exhaled slowly and dragged both hands down his face.
Why was he feeling like this?
Why was he so restless?
He’d nearly died before.
Several times, actually.
Normally he’d just laugh it off.
Crack a joke.
Move on.
But this felt different.
Because this time it hadn’t been about him.
It had been about her.
And the thought of that rock hitting her instead—
His ears flattened slightly.
Jax abruptly stopped pacing.
“…Yeah,” he muttered to the empty room.
“That’s definitely not a terrifying realization.”
He flopped backward onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
For about ten seconds.
Then he sat up again immediately.
“…Nope.”
Still antsy.
Still thinking about her.
Still half expecting to hear her knock on his door.
Jax groaned and rubbed his face again.
“Get it together,” he muttered.
“You’re being weird.”
He leaned back against the wall beside his bed, arms folded, trying very hard to pretend he wasn’t listening for footsteps in the hallway.
Trying very hard not to think about her big eyes.
Or nervous hands.
Or the way she had smiled at him earlier when she made the little “okay” sign with her fingers.
His ears twitched again at a faint sound in the hallway.
He held completely still.
Waiting.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—
knock knock
Jax froze.
Completely still.
For a moment he just stared at the door.
Like the sound might vanish if he moved too fast.
His heart kicked in his chest.
Then he crossed the room in two quick steps and yanked the door open.
Pomni stood there.
Her hair was messy like she had tried to brush it and given up halfway through.
An oversized sleep shirt hung loosely from her shoulders, one side sliding down just enough to reveal the curve of her collarbone.
The sleeves swallowed her hands completely.
She looked small.
And nervous.
Her fingers twisted together in front of her like she didn’t know what to do with them.
Her eyes were red.
Like she had either been crying or trying very hard not to.
“…You were coming to my room,” she said quietly.
Jax blinked.
“…I was literally about to.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
Neither of them moved.
Then Pomni walked straight inside.
No hesitation.
No asking.
Like she had already decided this was where she needed to be.
Jax stepped aside automatically.
He closed the door slowly behind her.
----
The quiet inside the room felt different from the hallway.
Closer.
More private.
Like the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Pomni didn’t sit.
She didn’t speak.
She just stood in the middle of the room with her back to him, shoulders tight. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her whole body trembling slightly like she was trying to hold together thoughts and emotions that were threatening to spill out all at once.
Jax recognized that posture immediately.
She’d been holding something in for a while.
She couldn’t sleep either.
Maybe she needed him right now too.
Jax watched her carefully, choosing his next words like they were stepping stones over thin ice.
“Alright,” he said softly.
Softer than he meant to.
A short pause filled the room.
“What’s wrong?”
Pomni slowly turned around.
Like she was gathering courage just to face him.
Her eyes were glossy.
“You jumped in front of me.”
She said it slowly, seriously, like she was still trying to process the words herself.
Jax leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms, irritation creeping into his voice.
“…We’re still doing this?”
He huffed.
“Why can’t you just drop it?”
The moment the annoyance hit his voice, Pomni snapped back like a struck match.
“You took a direct hit to my stomach, Jax!” she shot back. “You stupidly threw yourself in front of me again!”
“It’s fake!” Jax said, raising his voice as he lifted his shirt slightly and tapped the spot where the impact had been.
The skin there was perfectly normal.
“Look. Nothing is permanent here. Caine fixed it right up!”
Her voice cracked.
“That’s not the point!”
Jax stopped smiling.
Because the anger in her voice wasn’t really anger.
It was fear.
“You scared me, you f#%king idiot!” she burst out. “I don’t want you being reckless for my sake!”
The words landed harder than the monster ever had.
Jax’s brow furrowed, taken aback by the force of it.
Pomni wiped her eyes quickly, suddenly realizing how loud she’d gotten in the quiet hallway hour of the circus.
She exhaled shakily.
“I—I’m sorry for yelling,” she muttered. “It’s my stupid hormones all over the place. I’m mad because you’re an idiot.”
Jax scoffed.
“Oh, I’m the idiot?” he shot back. “You literally volunteered to run back into the dangerous cave earlier!”
“It wasn’t dangerous! And I had Ragatha—I can take care of myself!”
Now Jax’s temper flared to match hers.
“Oh yeah?” he snapped. “Like the guardian and the cave-in?! Yeah, great plan!”
His ears flicked back as the words came out sharper than he intended.
“Just let me take care of both of you!”
The sentence echoed through the quiet room.
And suddenly the weight of what he’d just said hit both of them.
They froze.
The anger drained out of Pomni’s face first.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Both… of us?” she asked quietly.
Jax stiffened. F#$k.
Realizing what he’d just admitted out loud.
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Pomni’s expression softened.
“…Jax,” she said quietly.
He groaned and dragged a hand down his face.
“Yeah. Yeah, I said it.”
He gestured vaguely toward her stomach.
“Congratulations. Your idiot bodyguard has attachment issues now.”
Pomni stared at him for a second.
Then—
Despite everything—
She let out a small, exhausted laugh.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Jax rubbed the back of his neck, clearly annoyed at himself.
“Yeah well. Someone’s gotta keep you two alive.”
Pomni stepped closer to him.
Slowly.
Her voice was softer now.
“You didn’t have to jump in front of me.”
Jax looked at her.
Really looked at her.
The lingering fear in her eyes.
The tiredness pulling at her shoulders.
The protective way one of her hands had drifted back to rest over her stomach again.
His voice dropped quieter.
“…Yeah. I did.”
Pomni blinked.
Jax shrugged, trying to sound casual.
“I didn’t even think about it.”
That made her eyes sting again.
“You’re such an idiot,” she whispered.
Jax snorted.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Then, more quietly—
“But I’m your idiot.”
For a moment the room went silent again.
The tension that had filled it earlier slowly melting into something softer.
Pomni stepped forward one more time.
And before Jax could react—
She wrapped her arms around him.
Tightly.
Burying her face into his waist.
Jax froze for half a second.
Then his arms came up around her automatically.
Holding her just as tight.
Neither of them said anything.
But neither of them let go either.
----
After a few quiet moments, Jax felt Pomni slowly start to relax in his arms.
At first it was subtle.
The tightness in her shoulders softened and the rigid tension she’d been holding all evening slowly melted away against him.
He noticed everything.
The faint shadows beneath her eyes; the way her hair had fallen messily around her face.
And the small space her stomach created between them now when he held her close.
That sight alone made something strange and warm tighten in Jax’s chest.
He didn’t fully understand the feeling yet.
But he knew one thing for certain.
It mattered.
His eyes lingered downward for a second longer than he meant them to before he forced himself to look back at her face. Pomni looked tired.
Really tired.
Jax sighed quietly.
“I think it’s time we get some sleep, short stack,” he murmured gently.
His hand rested at her back as he guided her toward the bed. Pomni followed easily, too exhausted to protest.
But she let out a small surprised sound when Jax suddenly bent down and scooped her up bridal-style.
“Jax—!”
He ignored the protest completely.
Carefully lowering her onto the mattress like she weighed nothing.
The bed dipped softly beneath her weight as Pomni shifted slowly, carefully, like her whole body was still recovering from the chaos of the day. A second later Jax climbed onto the bed beside her.
Automatically, he slid behind her and pulled her back against his chest spooning her naturally like he’d done it a thousand times before.
His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her gently closer. He hadn’t realized how badly he wanted that contact until it was there.
Pomni melted against him almost immediately. Like her body had been waiting for that closeness to come back. The back of her head rested against his collarbone.
She let out a slow breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
“…My back hurts,” she murmured quietly.
Jax huffed a soft laugh against the top of her head.
“Yeah?” he said lazily.
“From running… or from smuggling our lil' bean?”
“Jax.”
Her voice held no real irritation. Just tired fondness.
Jax smirked faintly.
But his hand was already moving.
Slow circles along her back gently.
His fingers kneaded carefully along the muscles beside her spine, working out the soreness. His touch was warm through the thin fabric of her sleep shirt.
Pomni sighed almost instantly.
A soft, relieved sound escaped her before she could stop it.
“…That helps… a lot.”
Jax’s smirk deepened slightly. He loved the little sounds she made. But instead of teasing her about it, he just kept going.
Slower.
More careful.
His palm flattened against her back as his thumb traced soothing arcs along her shoulder blade going lower.
Her breathing slowed.
Her weight leaned more fully against him as she allowed herself to relax.
Jax leaned down slightly after a moment.
He pressed a soft kiss against her back through her shirt.
Pomni shivered.
“…Jax.”
“What?” he murmured playfully.
“You’re being… nice.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
She shifted slightly, turning just enough to glance back at him. Her cheek brushed his shoulder as she looked up.
“…Why now?”
Jax shrugged lightly.
His forehead nudged gently against hers.
But his voice came out quieter and a bit more husky.
“Maybe I like you or something.”
Pomni rolled her eyes.
But the corner of her mouth lifted into a small smile she couldn’t quite hide.
Jax reached forward, brushing a loose curl away from her face. His fingers lingered in her hair for a moment.Then his hand slid down to cup the side of her neck.
And his lips followed.
A soft kiss just beneath where her ear would be followed by a playful little nip.
Pomni’s breath caught.
The warmth of his mouth against her skin sent a small shiver racing down her spine.
His other hand rested at her waist now, thumb brushing circles there. Another kiss followed lower along her neck where Jax licked a small stripe down.
Pomni’s fingers curled into the bedsheets.
Warmth spread slowly through her chest down her spine and a pulse between her legs.
“J-Ja...."
He stopped her mid sentence as his voice dropped near her ear.
“You started this by knocking.”
She let out a quiet nervous laugh.
“I came to yell at you.”
“Yeah?” he murmured.
His lips brushed her cheek before sliding down along the curve of her jaw.
“Seems counterproductive.”
Pomni tilted her head back without realizing it, giving him easier access.
Jax didn’t miss the invitation.
His kisses slowed.
More lingering.
Each one softer and more deliberate than the last.
His hand drifted along her waist again moving downward.
His fingertips brushed her hip before resting there.
Then his thumb hooked lightly against the edge of her waistband.
Teasing.
Pomni’s breathing hitched.
Her fingers tightened in the sheets.
“J-Jax…”
“Hmm?” he hummed lazily.
“You’re doing that on purpose.”
“Doing what, Pom-Pom?”
She shot him a look over her shoulder.
But she didn’t move away.
His thumb brushed along her hip again, slow and absentminded. Then his hand drifted , settling along her exposed thigh.
Pomni inhaled softly.
Not stopping him.
Her body leaned back against his warmth wanting more.
After a long terrifying day, it felt nice to simply exist together.
Pomni leaned closer into him. Her head rested near his shoulder as his lips returned to her neck. Soft kisses and nips.
D@#n if felt good.
His hand slowly slid higher along her thigh again. The room felt warmer. Her breathing grew heavyer.
For a moment the rest of the circus didn’t exist.
Just the quiet room and the growing tension between them.
Then suddenly—
Pomni tensed.
“…ah—”
Jax froze instantly.
His head snapped up and his hands lifted away immediately.
“What happened?”
Pomni inhaled sharply, pressing one hand to her stomach.
“Cramp…”
Every trace of smug teasing disappeared from Jax’s face. Concern replaced it instantly. His hand moved gently to her side instead.
“Are you okay?”
Pomni took a slow breath.
“…Yeah.”
She exhaled tiredly.
“Just… another long night.”
Jax frowned slightly at her stomach.
“…Kid’s got bad timing.”
“Shut up,” she muttered weakly.
She shifted closer to him again.
“…I think they’re saying it’s time to sleep.”
Jax sighed.
But his arm wrapped around her again immediately. Pulling her close.
“…Fine,” he murmured.
Jax pouted dramatically as Pomni shifted again, carefully adjusting herself on the mattress. For a second he thought she might move away completely. But instead she settled back against him. Right where she had been before.
The moment her back touched his chest again, Jax felt the tight knot in his chest loosen. His ears relaxed slightly.
Good.
He wrapped his arm around her again instinctively.
“...Can we pick this up later?” he muttered, half teasing, half hopeful.
Pomni rolled her eyes even though he couldn’t see it.
“Yes,” she sighed. “Later.”
Then after a second she added softly,
“…Can you get the blanket please?”
Jax perked up immediately like a dog hearing a treat bag.
“Oh. Yeah. Obviously.”
He leaned forward slightly, grabbing the edge of the blanket at the foot of the bed and pulling it up over both of them. The soft fabric settled around them, trapping warmth beneath it.
Carefully, Jax shifted their position.
One arm slid beneath Pomni’s head so she could rest on it like a pillow. The other wrapped around her waist again before drifting lower until it rested across her belly.
His hand spread there gently. Careful and protective.
Pomni sighed softly as she relaxed into him.
Her fingers found his almost automatically, lacing through them where his hand rested over her stomach.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
The only sound was the faint hum of the circus lights outside and the slow rhythm of their breathing.
Jax stared down at where their hands rested together. His thumb rubbed slow circles across her stomach unconsciously.
After a moment he spoke quietly.
“…I can feel their heartbeat.”
Pomni’s fingers tightened slightly around his.
The room stayed still for another second before she whispered softly,
“Yeah?”
Jax swallowed.
“…I can’t believe this is really ours.”
Pomni smiled faintly at that.
“…Mmm.”
Minutes passed.
Her breathing gradually slowed. Each inhale softer than the last. Finally getting the rest she needed.
Jax stayed awake a little longer.
Just watching.
His chin rested gently against the top of her hair. He listened to the quiet rhythm of her breathing. The way her body curled instinctively closer to him even in sleep.
His hand never moved from her stomach. His thumb kept tracing slow protective circles there. Almost like he was reassuring himself that they were both still there.
Still safe.
Still real.
After a long moment he spoke again. So quietly it was almost lost in the stillness.
“I love you.”
Pomni was half asleep already. But she heard it. A small sleepy smile tugged at her lips. Her fingers squeezed his weakly in response.
Jax’s chest tightened.
He pressed a soft kiss into her hair.
“…And I’m not letting anything happen to you,” he murmured.
Outside the room, the circus lights slowly dimmed as night mode settled over the strange digital world. Artificial stars flickered quietly across the simulated sky.The circus finally went still.And by the time the night fully settled over everything—
Jax had fallen asleep behind her. His arms still wrapped around Pomni like a shield. Like if he loosened his hold even a little, the world might try to take her away.
But tonight it didn’t.
Tonight the circus was quiet.
And for the first time in months, Pomni slept peacefully.