Chapter Text
They had settled on the changes that they had talked about. Freezing up if Caine had the intention to hurt someone. Any creation had to be viewed by Kinger before he could make it available for every player.
Caine had seemed to be okay with it. "I don't want to hurt any of you either.. so I think freezing me is a good alternative", he had said while offering an unsure smile to Kinger. "Is it alright if I create other spaces too? After I did the one you asked me too? Maybe you will like them too.. If not I can scrap them!"
Kinger had seemed to think about it for a moment before he smiled back at him. "I wouldn't mind. I can see how hard you try. Let's just focus on our little project first, okay?"
After their little talk Kinger enabled Caines creating skills. He made sure that it wouldn't hurt him and that the AI was comfortable with the changes. It took about 30 minutes for Caine to restart.
The chesspiece was sure that it would turn out alright. What could go wrong now? Hopefully not much. Caine did deserve a break.
He flinched as Caine suddenly sprang up and right in front of him. "Can we start now? Can we? CAN WE?"
The chesspiece chuckled amused. He knew that Caine was excited but it was still suprising.
"Sure. But I have one more request. I want you to add whatever details you like now. Just please don't add or change anything drastic or dangerous. It's a place to relax", he requested, still smiling. "I'm really interested in what you'll make. I trust you"
Caine beamed at him before he suddenly hugged Kinger. For a moment he froze as the AI whispered many thank yous.
For him it was really a big deal huh? Kinger hugged him back then, patting him on the back. "Your welcome. It's nice to see you happy"
The hug didn't last long as Caine relased him. "I'll start!"
Now the programmer got to watch him while the AI was in his element again. Well he couldn't exactly see what he was doing as Caine was gesturing in the air in front of him but he knew that he was programming. His gaze switched between the list they made and whatever he did in front of him.
"I'll let you do your job. I need a good rest. I'm so tired the past few days", Kinger shrugged and hopped of the stage. "Just come to me whenever you are done"
Caine just nodded distracted. He was way too focused on his work.
Kinger really trusted him. Maybe too much but he didn't regret it so far. So he made his way to his room. Usually he didn't use it, he prefered his pillowfort but since it was gone he would rest there.
Hopefully he felt a little better after he would wake up.
.
.
.
But Kinger couldn't rest as much as he wished he could because in the end he always thought about the situation with Jax and Caine. So he decided to get up and finally take care of it.
He found him pretty fast, still in his room with Pomni.
"Hey Jax, could we talk for a moment?", he asked, sounding serious. Pomni gave the rabbit a little push which earned her an annoyed glance from him. But suprisingly he got up and nodded as an answer. "Lead the way I guess"
"Oh don't worry. I'll just go to Zooble and Gangle", Pomni said instead and got up too. "See ya later" she waved and left Jax' room.
Jax just plumbed on the bed again appearing bored and annoyed while watching Kinger who was settling down next to him.
"So.. I think I didn't really understand why you locked Caine inside a box. Care to explain?", asked Kinger calm.
Jax wasn't as calm as he appeared. Before the bucket incident he didn't even know that Kinger could be sane like that. He didn't really knew what the chesspiece really wanted and how he would react. So what would be smarter? Something to cover it up or the truth? He settled something in between.
"You seriously ask me this? Dentures tortured us. Maybe you got lucky but the rest of us didn't. I wanted some revenge. And wasn't that a lection? How could I know that he would react like that? And now shit already happened. Not much I can do now", he just shrugged not meeting Kingers gaze for a moment.
As he did he froze. Kingers gaze was unsettling. Still he recovered fast and gave him a smirk. "What, came he crying to you?"
Kingers answer wiped his smirk out of his face instantly. "You are just scared, aren't you? Whatever he did to you, you are making sure that he won't do it again. That's why you chose the box. So he couldn't escape. Jax. This was the wrong way. He can't do it again"
"Pff where did you pull that from? Stop trying to read between the lines, there's nothing there", the bunny replied instantly, completely unnerved. He tried to bring himself to smile again. It looked twisted. "I'm not scared"
Kinger just hummed. "The way you act makes it pretty clear to me. You are scared and you cover it up so no one can spot it. Your reaction now makes it pretty clear to me. However that doesn't apologise your behaviour. Caine noticed that he was wrong and apologised. You can't say you did the same"
Jax just narrowed his eyes, one foot was tapping on the ground nervously before he got up. It was a sensitive topic for him and he wouldn't just talk about it. Might aswell say what he probably wants to hear. "You think you know sooo much. Just leave it alone. Fuck, okay I will apologise to that jaw"
But the chesspiece just looked him up and down. He nodded a little thoughtfully and got up too. "I was really angry at you. For what you did to Caine. But.. people do a lot of things when they are angry or scared. This is why I forgave Caine. I'm willing to try to help you, if you do the right thing regarding him. I would really like to get along with you. What do you say?"
Then he offered him his hand. Jax just stared at the man then at the hand, completely frozen. He could try to push him away like he did with Pomni. It worked well that time. How many people would he hurt before.. yea before what? Before they would leave him alone. And in the end it would only cause him more pain. He was tired of pretending but how could he do anything else?
He just didn't want to be vulnerable. So what, would he just push everyone away and abstract somewhere alone like he almost did already? That wasn't a nice way to die. He didn't even want to die.
Would he regret not taking this offer like he regretted pushing Pomni away? Like he regretted.. no. He wouldn't think of that.
His breath quickened and he looked at Kinger again who just gave him a convincing nod. Then slowly, just slowly he was about to shake his hand. Mid way he stopped. "Under one condition. This stays between us. I don't need a Zooble in my business"
"It wouldn't be very helpful hm? No. I said I'll help you. That won't include anyone else until you are ready"
And this was enough for Jax to take Kingers hand and he shook it.
It would be the last time he would trust anyone. If it wouldn't work out then he could still push everyone away and abstract somewhere alone.
What did he really have to lose?