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The idea didn’t come out pretty. It came out ugly, tired, and a little angry. The circus had already gone back to “working” after everyone found out they were trapped there forever, but no one was really functioning. Everyone moved as if they were carrying their own body around, even knowing it didn’t exist.

Zooble was the first to speak, sitting on the floor and disassembling and reassembling her own arm for the third time as a way to relieve stress. “We’re gonna lose it if we don’t burn this off somewhere.” “‘This’ what?” Ragatha asked. Zooble pointed at her chest. “Everything. This stress. These feelings.” Jax let out a short laugh. “Finally someone speaking my language. Of course it had to be Zoobs.” Pomni stayed silent for a few seconds. Thinking. As always. Then she looked up. “Caine,” she called. Caine appeared way too fast, nervous. Lately he had been showing up quicker and quicker ever since he started trying to calm and please everyone more often now that they were all on the same page. “YES! ADVENTURE? PUZZLE? THERAPEUTIC MUSICAL?” “No,” Pomni replied. “A place to… let it out.” Silence. “Let it out…” Caine repeated, blinking. “Controlled violence?” “Exercise?” Ragatha corrected. “Cathartic,” Zooble added. Caine thought. For real. “…okay,” he finally said. “But NO DEATH. AND NO ABSTRACTION. AND NO—” “Relax, boss,” Jax cut in. “That’s exactly the point, so nobody abstracts. If someone dies, we’ll let you know.” Caine laughed nervously.

The area appeared a bit wrong behind a new door Caine created for them. Rubber flooring that squeaked. Punching bags that were way too colorful. Ropes that felt like toy elastic. But there was space. And more importantly: they had permission to use it whenever they wanted. No one suggested fighting out loud. But when Pomni showed up wearing boxing gloves, Jax smiled that crooked smile. “You’re gonna tell me you thought about this too.” “Not ‘thought,’” she replied, opening a small clothing menu and changing into something more comfortable. “It was already in my planning.” He laughed. “Of course it was. You weren’t gonna miss a chance to beat someone up,” he said, doing the same. They stood face to face in a ring tucked into the corner. The others stepped back a bit, checking out what else was in Caine’s improvised gym while watching. “Is this friendly?” Ragatha asked, tense. Jax cracked his neck. “Always is.” Pomni raised her gloves. “No tricks.” “You don’t know me that well,” he smiled. “But I promise I’ll try.”

The first punch was hers. Not strong. Fast and threatening. Jax barely dodged, laughing. “Damn, pom-pom, is that repressed aggression?” She answered with another punch, firmer. “Shut up.” “Wow,” he stepped back, blocking and laughing. “Straight to the feelings.” He moved in. A glancing blow to her shoulder. “You always do this,” he said, circling. “Jump into chaos like you have all the answers. You’re the one who chose to play leader here, jester.” “At least I face the truth. You just run away making jokes!” she snapped, landing a hit on his arm. “IT WORKS!” he laughed, even feeling the impact. “It worked my whole life before miss perfect decided to butt in!” “It worked to survive, not to live! Feelings are part of life, you idiot!” she threw another punch — this one hit his face squarely. The air shifted. The blows got heavier. More real. In both words and fists. “You act like nothing ever hits you!” Pomni yelled, blocking a punch. “Like everyone’s disposable!” Jax rushed in, closing the distance. “Because if I stop the feeling, I break!” he spat angrily. “Don’t you get that?!” “I get it way too well!” she shot back, punching his chest. “I just don’t give up on people because of it! Feeling is what kept you alive last time!” He went quiet for half a second. Then smiled, not mocking. Nervous. Unsure what to say. “Well look at that…” he murmured. “You survive because you genuinely care, or do you just like putting on a show for me?” He attacked again. Harder.

She took a deep breath, dodging the next hit. “No.” “Then why do you always look at me like you’re waiting for me to fall?” She slammed her fist into his shoulder. “Because I am waiting for you to fall. And I pay attention so I can catch you!” He laughed, but it hurt. “And you always try to catch everyone!” he shot back. “Like it’s your responsibility!” She stepped in, closing the gap. “Because someone has to!” They were too close now. Breaths mixing. “And who catches you, Pomni?” he asked softly. She hesitated. His punch came light. Almost a touch. Clearly he didn’t want to hurt or knock her down. “I don’t need it,” she lied. “Pretty lie” he murmured close to her. She answered by shoving him into the ropes. “Stop pretending you care about me! Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t care if I abstracted?” He laughed, breathless. “I’m literally letting you beat me up on purpose so we don’t lose our minds and abstract. Does that look like pretending I care about you or not?” The mood shifted. It wasn’t just anger anymore.

“You hit well,” Jax commented, barely dodging. “You get sexy when you’re angry. And you fight better too,” he added to provoke her just to try to punch her. “Shut up,” she replied, blushing… and landing another hit. “See?” he teased. “Confirmed.” She advanced, forcing him back. “You provoke because you’re afraid of being taken seriously!” “And you command because you’re afraid of losing control!” They exchanged quick blows. Too close. “Do you trust me?” he suddenly asked. “Maybe.” “Fair,” he smiled. “I trust you more than I should.” She shoved him again. “Idiot.” “Less idiot than you.” They laughed in the middle of the exchange. Tired. Sweaty. Alive. One wrong move and Jax lost his balance, falling seated. Pomni ended up over him, gloves still raised. Silence.

“You gonna hit me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. She took a deep breath. “No.” She offered her hand. He took it. “Good fight, pom-pom.” “Good emotional discharge, purple rabbit.” He stood up and they stayed there a second longer than necessary. Too close. “We should do this more often,” he commented. “Cheap therapy,” she replied. Around them, the circus felt… lighter. Not healed. But breathing better. And for the first time since the truth… stress finally had somewhere to go.

They were still holding hands when they realized it. It wasn’t immediate. It was slow. Strange. Uncomfortable. Heavy breathing. Sweat dripping. Clothes clinging to skin. Pomni was the first to let go. Way too fast. She looked away like she’d been caught doing something forbidden. “Why am I looking at him like this? He’s literally a purple rabbit… a DIGITAL PURPLE RABBIT… why does he look—” She squeezed her eyes shut. “My God… where’s my humanity?!”

Jax wasn’t doing any better in his thoughts. He ran a hand over his sweat-damp ears, trying to catch his breath… but ended up staring at her for too long. The short top clinging to her body. Her chest rising fast with her breathing. Her flushed face. His brain completely short-circuited. He felt weirdly attracted to what he was seeing. “…fuck,” Jax muttered quietly. “This is illegal somewhere. It has to be.” Pomni widened her eyes, confused. “What did you say?” “Nothing!” he turned away way too fast. “I just… said you fight well.” Silence. They looked at each other again. For one dangerously long second. And it was awful. Because now they were both way too aware of each other. Pomni crossed her arms, trying to act normal. “You’re… way too sweaty.” “You are too,” he replied quickly. Nervous. “I-I know!” “I KNOW TOO!” More silence.

Zooble coughed from the corner while passing by with some weights. “You two are being weird at a low-budget romcom level.” “Shut up!” they both snapped at the same time. Ragatha laughed nervously. Pomni cleared her throat, avoiding his gaze. “I’m gonna… get some water.” “I’m gonna… take a shower.” They spoke at the same time. Again. Jax practically fled, walking way too fast.

As soon as Jax got into the bathroom and closed the door, he pressed his forehead to the wall. “OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG,” he muttered in pure panic. “What is happening to me???” He looked at his wet reflection. “You’re a digital rabbit in a post-apocalyptic circus, and you felt attracted to a sweaty clown girl!! Congratulations. You evolved wrong, you asshole!!”