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Pomni was so sick of Jax's habit of constantly deflecting and pushing people away, she tried, she really tried to stop the argument from happening but with Jax it seemed inevitable.
"Have you ever thought that this is what causes people to abstract in the first place?!"
Pomni glowered at Jax, clenching her fists in exasperation as Jax turned around, he refused to look her in the eye, his gaze remaining above her as he seethed in anger.
"Oh my GOD, are you seriously gonna blame me for something everybody else did too?!"
Once he started, he couldn't stop. His anger, frustration and panick all building up and causing him to ramble on, taking it out on pomni.
"You don't even know what people are like before they abstract"
He stalks towards pomni, his emotions taking a hold of him. She backs away, frowning at the reaction she'd unwillingly prokoved. She'd never seen him like this, he was always screwing around with everyone but he never got... Well, like this.
"They are NOT pleasant to be around, like, at all! You-..."
He trails off, finally regaining control. His pupils grow to fit his eyes once more, a wide grin spreads across his face as Pomni stutters, struggling to form a sentence after his outburst.
"I- I... I'm sorry"
Her voice is quiet, she glances up at him, concern evident on her face. His eyes narrow slightly as he regards her, he responds quickly, his voice level and not even a hint of the rage that had been there mere moments ago.
"I'm sure you are"
He watches her reaction, when she doesn't respond and her expression darkens slightly he inhales loudly, turning away and rubbing his head with one hand.
"Well... This is awkward. So you gonna shoot me or what?"
He puts a finger gun to his temple, miming it going off as he glances sidelong to see her reaction. To his dismay, pomni just stands there, her arms hanging loosely by her sides and the gun pointed at the floor, her finger not even resting on the trigger.
Pomni doesn't answer his question, still trying to process the argument and Jax's sudden switch up. It was clear that abstracting was a touchy subject for him. He wasn't heartless, she was sure of it. He did care for her, she hoped.
"What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?"
The effect of the question is almost instant, his shoulders slump and his brows furrow. He turns slightly, making eye contact with her as he speaks in a perfectly neutral tone.
"I'd move on... And probably forget about you"
She freezes, her heart sinking as the words echo through her head. A sick feeling gnaws on her, twisting her stomach into a knot. She couldn't tell if this was some shitty attempt at humor or if he was being serious, but either way... It stung. she inhaled slowly, shaking slightly but nodding and trying to play it off.
"Okay... Okay, I understand"
She swallows, turning away from him so he couldn't see the tears threatening to spill from her round eyes. Of course it would be Jax to confirm her nightmare, it was so horrifyingly accurate as well. She pushed the thought away, no one could know. Caine didn't have control of their minds, at least thats what he said.
The gun felt heavy in her hand, she raised it in her palms, staring at the small lines that shaped it. Her heart rate sped up as the world seemed to shake, her vision tunneling on the gun. She held it like a lifeline, gripping it tight enough to make her knuckles turn white.
"Uhh- pom pom? I was just kidding... "
Jax's voice sounded so distant, so uncertain. She could practically sense him staring at her but she didn't care. Her head was buzzing as she raised the gun, staring down the barrel with blank eyes she let out a small sob and pulled the trigger.
𓁹𓁹𓁹
A gasp escaped Jax as he watched Pomni's lifeless form crumple to the ground, the gun clattering out of her hand and onto the ground a few inches away. His eyes widened in shock as he rushed over, his hands hovering over her, hesitating and unsure what to do.
"Uhh- Caine?!!"
He called out, his voice full of emotion. He knew they couldn't die in the circus, but her body wasn't dissapearing like the others did. Wasn't she meant to have gone to the losers corner by now?
He was about to call out to Caine again when her body started to convulse, jerking as small dots of black started to creep onto her form. He scoffs, nudging her form but the dots continued to spread, he narrowed his eyes, a flicker of recognition tearing him apart.
He let out a strangled cry, was she abstracting?? His mind screamed at him, a chaotic mess of panick, guilt and fear. What could he do? He couldn't get Caine, no way. He would just dump her in the cellar, she hadn't fully abstracted so maybe he could do something.
"No, no, no, no, NO! You are not doing this to me Pomni!"
He snapped out of his shock, grabbing her shoulders and shaking them. Not even caring that the darkness was spreading onto his hands as well. He groaned, yelling in frustration when she didn't respond. He grabbed her arm, trying to pick her up and carry her but the abstraction was taking over. He exhaled shakily, not letting go as it consumed them both.
𓁹𓁹𓁹
Pomni groaned as her eyes fluttered open, she slowly sat up, glancing around groggily as she tried to work out where she was. The room was white, it looked like the box that she had been stuck in for the intermission thing.
This wasn't right... She had meant to be somewhere, it was all so fuzzy. She frowns standing up, a noise sounded behind her and she whirled. A purple bunny stared back at her, looking equally confused as he jumped to his feet.
"Uhh, what is this place?"
She shrugged, narrowing her eyes, he seemed familiar but she couldn't place it. The bunny glanced around before his gaze landed on her again.
"Who... "
He trailed off, his eyes widening in realisation.
"Pomni?"
She froze, that name definitely sounded familiar. He obviously knew her and she felt like she did too.
"I'm... I'm sorry about before, I didn't mean it I just-"
He sounded panicked, his eyes glued to the ground as he apologized for something she had no clue about. He cut himself off when he saw her blank expression, cursing silently to himself he stepped towards her.
"Pom pom, I didn't think you'd take it seriously. I didn't think you'd-"
She glances at him, narrowing her eyes as his name flickers into her mind.
"Jax, W-what happened?"
His eyes widened in surprise, frowning as he regards her again. His voice is hesitant but blunt.
"Uh- you blew your brains out and abstracted"
She pauses, her pupils turning into small scribbles as she registers his words. She nods slowly, glancing around again and trying not to be sick. She stays like that for a few minutes before a thought comes to her, her eyes flickering back to Jax.
"So why are you here?"
He doesn't reply, looking awkward. She raises her eyebrows, she'd never seen him speechless before, he always had a quick quip or a smartass response. Had he... been trying to save her?
"Aww, you care about me?"
She smirked, her tone was mocking but she was secretly happy. Jax scoffed, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head slightly.
"I don't care about any of you!"
His voice was frustrated and hostile but pomni could tell he didn't mean it. She gives him a knowing look.
"Sure, so how did you end up here then?"
Her voice is innocent enough but her smile gives her away. He turns red, struggling to come up with words. She observes this with delight, not pushing the matter. He mutters something under his breath in frustration before sighing and facing her with a sincere expression.
"I'm sorry pom-pom"
His voice is the most sincere she's ever heard him, she has to do a double take to make sure he isnt being sarcastic. She nods, stepping towards him. Before she can comfort him he continues.
"I didn't mean it at all, It was a stupid attempt at fucking with you and I truly am sorry."
He doesn't meet her gaze, glancing at the ground in shame instead. She frowns, realising that nothing censored his swearing. She stifles a laugh, amused that this truly is the only place Caine can't reach them. Jax's face falls, dismay displacing his guilt.
"What? So I open my heart to you and you laugh?!"
He doesn't even sound angry he sounds more hurt. She tries to hide her smile, feeling slightly bad.
"No, no it's not that it's... I l've just never heard you actually swear before"
He raises his eyebrows, slightly more relaxed now that he knows he isn't being laughed at. He scoffs, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable"
He exclaims, throwing his hands up in the air to add to his annoyance. She smiles sheepishly up at him, she hesitantly offers a hug to him, still wary of how that ended last time.
"Friends?"
He sighs, nodding slowly and letting her hug him. She squeezed him tightly, and he rested his hands on her shoulders. They stay like that for a few seconds, not even noticing a small light slowly enveloping them.