[TADC] 📜🎪 M A K I N G ◦ A N ◦ N P C ! - Act 17

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M A K I N G ◦ A N ◦ N P C !

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⊹˚₊·‧Chapter 17: Compassion

“H-hey. That’s not what I meant.” She heard Jax comment.

Ragatha chuckled. “Not? You just said I should use it to my advantage, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but. Funny stuff. Not… like…”

“Does this make you feel uncomfortable, Jax?” Ragatha asked, both sweetly and teasingly, while gently stroking Pomni’s head.

Pomni heard Jax clearing his throat. “Your ruthlessness is neat, but your new confidence is freaking me out.”

“And why is that so, Jax?” Ragatha inquired further, her hands caressing Pomni’s face.

Pomni felt her heart rate increase; Not just because of the position, or how exquisitely her beloved ragdoll was touching her, but also because of the way she was talking to Jax. Again she could feel that Ragatha knew him well — and that she was dabbling in challenging him.

He stared at her. Then huffed. Then said, “This just got weird. I’m going to bed,” and got up.

Pomni turned her head, now lying on Ragatha’s knee with one cheek, and without higher brain functions, impulsively asked, “Are you jealous?”

The former lovers both stared at Pomni with shocked faces.

It took Pomni a couple of seconds to process the fact that this was a rather intimate and tactless question.

She hadn’t meant it teasingly. Not even slightly. It had just slipped out; in a way the relaxed situation had made her believe was okay.

Thinking that they might’ve been closer than they actually were, probably.

She wasn’t even sure why she felt the need to ask this; Maybe because if he actually were, she could somehow help him cope?

Or simply because she wanted to know: How was Jax, as somebody who once was her partner, dealing with her not only being pregnant but even being pregnant with somebody else’s baby? Furthermore, someone she wasn’t ashamed of? Someone she even proudly admitted it to in front of everyone?

She thought about his challenging behavior in the labyrinth. And when she caught him in Ragatha’s room the other day. 

It could have been his usual troublemaking. 

But it also could’ve been a way to cope.

“Pomni…” Ragatha whispered, while Jax still stared at Pomni in disbelief at what she had just asked.

Pomni wanted to apologize. But… no. She shouldn’t. This should be addressed. And then it should be treated with respect. They all deserved it.

Feeling adrenaline pumping through her veins and washing her brain clear of most love-rapture, she got up.

“I’m. Going. To bed.” Jax eventually repeated, his face portraying the absolute opposite of amusement.

Pomni got closer to him. “Then just answer the question, please.”

The fact that Pomni wasn't backing up seemed to be beyond Jax's comprehension. Pomni heard Ragatha gasping behind her.

“What the f██k is wrong with you? You were nothing but a drooling fanatic just a minute ago, and now you dare ask such questions?”

Pomni nodded. “Yes. Please answer.”

His expression of disbelief turned into blatant anger. 

“How about you strip down for me, Pomni, huh?” He asked, pointing his finger accusingly at her, leaning angrily forward. “What about you? Are YOU jealous, knowing that your girlfriend came to me for solace? That she still comes to me for care? That she cried in my arms when she found out, not in yours? That I can give her so much more than you can, huh?!”

Pomni stared at him.

“No. I’m not,” she answered softly. “In all honesty, I’m grateful.”

Jax seemed thrown off balance. His breathing faltered. He stuttered some noises, then added, laughing sarcastically, “Who are you trying to fool here, jester? You can't seriously think that I’ll believe you. You are the loser here! You are the pathetic one. You begged Ragatha to stay during our sewing sessions because you couldn’t stand the thought of us being alone again.”

“That’s not what happened!” Ragatha now tuned in, and Pomni could feel her developing anger.

As much as she appreciated her trying to defend her, this was not where Pomni wanted to go. 

She lifted her hand a little behind her, signaling to Ragatha to lay low. Ragatha seemed to understand, because she didn’t talk further.

“Looking at how anxious and useless you have been, I’m honestly baffled by what she sees in you!” Jax continued, his anger audibly growing.

“I think you do,” Pomni gave back, calmly but without any ill intent. “You expressed clearly how much you wanted a clown golem, too.”

He laughed derogatorily. “HA! And you think that’s the same thing!? I also want a worshipping slave, so that makes you a good partner?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Oh, but you thought it! I can see it in your big, smug face. You think you can just waltz in here, without having been through anything all of us others have, without knowing what Ragatha has been through, and just… turn everything upside-down like this!? You’re a mere pastime, Pomni. You’re a cute little clown toy. A puppy who thinks it’s a human!”

Pomni gulped, trying hard to not let his words hit. She knew him well enough to see that he was spiraling.

“Guess what, pet? Once your rose-tinted glasses come off, once you stop being a worshipper, Ragatha will lose interest. Because what else are you good for, then?” He barked while pointing so harshly against Pomni’s chest that she was staggering slightly, ignoring Ragatha shouting his name, “Your ego must’ve been blown out of proportion because of this whole pregnancy spiel, and because—because of Rags proudly declaring your relationship in front of everyone and admitting to you, that you seriously dare to accuse me of jealousy and act all high and mighty as if you were not. I know you are!”

Pomni looked up to him, taking his pointing hand in both of hers.

She didn’t say anything.

In the next moment, Ragatha was next to her, wrapping her arms around Jax, holding him tight.

Pomni sighed in relief. 

She was glad Ragatha had heard what Pomni noticed, too; And that eventually she was able to see through his crude words and hear his sorrow, too.

“What are you doing!?” Jax shouted, trying to push Ragatha away, while he — which Pomni noticed with a keen eye — tried not to hurt her.

Pomni sat down on the table behind her, giving both of them a bit more space for their words and feelings.

“I’m so sorry, Jax…” Ragatha mumbled into his shoulders, and it was clear that she was crying. This made him stop struggling. “I’m so, so sorry for hiding our relationship in the past. And I’m… I’m truly beyond grateful for everything you help me with. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

After some confused seconds, he seemed to decide what to do with the given circumstances, because as he looked at Pomni, he gave her a clearly fake, boastful grin.

“You hear that, clown?” he directed at her, clear smugness in his voice.

Pomni gave him a slight smile.

“Yes, I heard.” She answered, calmly. 

He stared at her. Tried to say something a couple of times, then closed his mouth again.

He looked utterly confused. 

“Hiding you like this is… it’s cruel. You’re doing so much, and I want the others to know.”

“Hey… n-no, wait. That’s not… What I wanted. Why isn’t she jealous?”

“Jax…” Pomni began, “Even if I were jealous, that would be… ok. It’s a human emotion. But this is not a contest. Ragatha isn’t… a trophy, or something. It’s not about us winning. It’s about making sure that she goes through this crazy, incredibly tough scenario as best as possible. It’s about supporting her. Giving her everything she needs in a situation that’s unprecedented. She’s probably the first human in both the real and digital worlds to go through this.”

As he gazed at her in shock, Ragatha huddled even closer, sobbing silently into his shoulder. She was feeling so much for him, Pomni could see.

“You are so right with so many things you said. I can barely take how useless I feel. And that’s exactly why I am so grateful for your connection. Not once did I see you as my rival… I see you as both her and my friend. And I see you as my teammate in assuring Ragatha’s well-being, however it might look like. With or without me as her partner. So… yes. I am very, very grateful for everything you are doing right now, and everything you did in the past.”

Jax looked disturbed beyond reason.

He stared at Pomni, then at the silently crying head on his chest.

He stayed like this for a couple of seconds. Maybe processing Pomni’s words, maybe thinking about what he could say to devalue and hide. Maybe not thinking about anything.

Then he slowly shoved Ragatha away.

This time she let him.

“I’m going to bed,” he eventually repeated his words from earlier; As if nothing had happened.

And this time, he truly sounded tired.

Ragatha and Pomni both looked at him, silently, with Ragatha wiping away some tears from her eye.

He turned around and started to walk away, his hands in his pockets.

After a couple of steps, he paused, slightly turning his head towards the side; enough for his voice to be heard better, but not enough for Ragatha and Pomni to see his expression. Then, he said, “I swear to god, if you tell anybody else about us now, Dollface, I’m gonna punch you. Bad.”

Then he walked around the corner, leaving the two alone.

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