Eventually Pomni shoved the door open and slammed it behind her, her eyes tired and frustrated. “So…how did he fry your circuits this time?” Jax asked.

Pomni averted her gaze from him, hugging herself, “...it was the toy she gave me before she died. I thought I lost it but…Caine was hiding it from me. Because it hurt him to see it!” Pomni scoffed, rubbing a non-existent tear away, “It doesn’t matter if I needed it for comfort as a kid, his feelings matter more! It’s not like he buried himself in his work and ignored his only child while she was grieving! Oh wait! He did!”

Jax pursed his lips, he wasn’t great at comforting others - his only purpose was to kill after all. But Pomni was a special little robot, tying his internal wires into many knots, “Pomni…”

“Just…just leave me be,” Pomni looked up at him, pleadingly.

Jax nodded, she needed her space, “Okay.”

Part of him wanted to stop her, but it was best to let her walk away for now. He hated seeing her hurt…because it annoyed him of course! Not because he felt sorry for her. No…definitely not that. 

.

.

.

“JAX!”

The drone groaned when hearing the familiar voice, “Need anything Rags?”

The redheaded robot grunted at his tone, “Your pet’s gone loose! She’s tearing our base apart!”

Now this was new to Jax, Pomni wasn’t usually a ‘destroy first talk later’ kind of girl, “Did you see anything wrong with her?”

“I don’t know!” Ragatha suddenly paused. “Oh no.”

Jax raised a concerned brow, “‘Oh no’ what?!”

“Her eyes,” Ragatha paled. “They were yellow.”

Jax froze. The only time Pomni’s eyes were yellow was during the cabin trip…where she killed whoever was in her path.

Jax pushed past Ragatha, spreading his wings as he zoomed back to their base. There he could see Pomni, settled on top as she gnawed on the head of a deceased drone - like a damn animal.

“Heyyyy Pomni,” he slowly approached her, the female robot cocked her head in his direction. “How about we put down the dead remains and clean up this mess you made, yeah?”

A distorted giggle left her throat, throwing the head away and beelining for him. Jax didn’t get a moment to prepare himself when she body-slammed herself into him, shoving him into the ground, “What’s wrong Jax? I thought you out of everyone would appreciate a little blood and gore from time to time.”

Jax struggled underneath her, she had gotten stronger overtime, “First of all, we don’t have blood hon, we’re robots. And second, I’m not gonna let you do something you’ll regret when you’re lucid.”

“Hmm, fine,” she hummed. Her tail rose above him, the feral mouth on the end of it grinning madly at him. Like a wolf ready to pounce.

Jax made a disgruntled noise, wrapping a leg around Pomni’s waist and pulled her off him. He stood quickly, flapping his wings as he hovered into the air, “Come on Pomni, you gotta snap out of it! Don’t let your dad make you go crazy!”

Now that got Pomni’s attention, but not for the reasons Jax hoped for, “Caine? Hehe. I’m sure he’ll make a good meal. After all, he never cared for me. So why should I care for him?”

Her own wings spread, turning to fly to the dorms. Jax had to act fast, bringing out his gun from his arm and firing it towards an abandoned building. He watched as the rubble fell in front of Pomni, blocking her path. She turned to him again, her smile unfeeling and heartless, “Don’t get in my way Jax, I have no problem with getting rid of pests.”

“I have years of experience hon,” Jax grinned, determined. “You got nothing on me.”

Something flickered in her eyes, “We’ll see.”

Her hand flicked, the familiar triangle symbol from her hand appearing as it wrapped around Jax’s waist, throwing him into another building. Jax squeezed his eyes shut when he was thrown into the glass, shattering around him when he landed on the floor. Okay, that hurt.  But it wasn’t his first rodeo.

He flew back out again, circling Pomni and dodging her attacks. Whatever he did, he couldn’t hurt her. What was it that worked last time she was like this…wait, he got it. But it was definitely gonna sting. 

He fired his gun into the sky, creating a distraction. Pomni’s eyes darted up briefly, that was all he needed. He flew towards her, wrapping her arms around her tight. When she tried to use her symbol again, his gun switched to a blade and blocked the attack before it could happen. Her tail reached for his - here it goes. 

Jax brought his arm up, letting her stab him with his own tail. Yup, that stung. But it did the trick. Pomni’s eyes flashed from yellow back to its regular red and blue at the realization of what she did, “Jax?!”

Her facial features glitched for a moment, her body going limp. Jax was quick to catch her, holding her bridal style, safe and secure. He stuck his hand into his mouth, letting it heal quicker as she came to. “Hey sleeping beauty, feeling better?”

“Ugh, no, whasss happenin?” Pomni blinked, slurring her words.

“Oh you know, just a little chaos and destruction,” Jax told her. “You kinda had a breakdown thanks to your dad.”

“I’m sssssorry,” Pomni replied apologetically and sad. She looked like a kicked puppy.

“Nah, it’s fine,” Jax smiled down at her. “It could’ve been worse.”

It didn’t seem to make her feel better. Jax ran a comforting hand through her hair, bringing her head forward to rest on his shoulder, “How about we just heat up some oil and take a nap, how does that sound?”

“Will you hold me?” Pomni asked innocently.

Jax’s vitals sped up, if he could blush he would be doing just that, “Uh, yeah hon. If you want me to.”

“Thanksss,” Pomni snuggled in closer to him. “I’m sorry again.” 

His metaphorical heart broke when he heard her sniffle, “Hey now, it’ll be fine. Soon enough this’ll be something we’ll laugh about in the future. You’ll be alright.”

Pomni sniffed, “Okay.”

The same could be said for Jax when thinking about Pomni. She could be facing the end of the world, and yet she still smiles? Without a hint of fear. Not only that, she would hold wisdom and give advice that not even geniuses throughout the year could come up with - then she would say a ridiculous quip with a stupid smirk as though she was unaware of the insight she gave. He just didn’t get her.   

Right now everyone was taking shelter at Queenie’s home - Pomni’s adoptive mother - resting until Caine inevitably attacked them again. He was on the balcony, looking out at the stars. Nothing but comfortable silence.

“Sup Jax!”

Never mind.

He huffed through his nose, turning to see the speedster come up behind him, holding two mugs, “Mom made some hot chocolate, want some?”

“Sure,” he spoke, turning away again.

Pomni walked over to him, handing him the mug, “Nice night huh?”

“I’m aware of the state of the night, thank you Pomni,” Jax deadpanned.

Pomni pursed her lips,” O-kay then. How about I join you then?”

He didn’t get to protest when she rested her back against the balcony, right next to him. Great, just what he needed. 

“Caine put up one hell of a fight today, didn’t he?” Pomni nudged him.

Jax rolled his eyes, “Are you only going to state the obvious Pomni?”

“Jeez, sorry,” Pomni held her hands up in defense. “Just wanted to make small talk.”

“I prefer silence,” Jax stared out at the stars again, taking a sip of his hot chocolate.

“Okay, cool. Silence! I can do silence, I’m like the best at silencing!” Pomni grinned. “Like you need me to be silent? Then I’m your girl. Like seriously, I am the silence master!-”

“ Pomni ,” Jax growled, not in the mood for games.

“Right right! Being quiet! Starting now,” Pomni stood still, staring out into the night sky with Jax.

Jax was hoping the quiet would make things easier, but even her presence somehow made the hairs on his neck stand. Like she was a magnet constantly drawing him in, “I don’t understand you.”

“So much for being quiet,” Pomni murmured cheekily into her mug.

Jax glared at her, ignoring the comment, “I’ve seen people doubt you and call you a freak, have the world beat down on you again and again yet you always have faith to hold onto and spread to others. Then the next moment, you’re doing something dumb like see how fast you can run while doing a handstand?!?!”

Pomni snickered, “Hey I forgot about that, thanks for reminding me.”

“I just…” Jax pinched his nose, breathing slowly. “How are you so happy?”

“Heh, you really think it’s that easy for me,” Pomni gripped her mug. “You’re right, the world’s been cruel to me. Yet the weight of it is still on my shoulders. But I know that there are still people out there that believe in a better future. I bury down the bad stuff and help them, to let them know there’s a better tomorrow. If I don’t, then who will? And the stupid stuff I do? Well, everybody needs to distract themselves from fear somehow.”

Jax paused, staring at her, “You’re scared.”

Pomni huffed a laugh, it was dry and humourless, “All the time. Then again, you confuse me too. One minute you’re alright working with me. The next you’re chasing me downtown over a bad pun.”

Jax hummed, not noticing he was inching closer to her, “I could find it easier to be more pleasant to you if I understood you a bit more.”

“Well now you do, and now…” Pomni drew the word out a bit.

“I believe…you’re like me,” Jax told her. “You have a lot of pain built up and it’s a mess. So you deal with it the best you can. The bad memories keep trying to press up in front, so you have to be stronger than that. Even when it hurts. And you hate being alone, but you don’t want to infect anyone else with the pain you feel.”

“Yeah,” Pomni nodded. “I’m grateful for my friends, but I feel guilty for wanting to push them away sometimes. Cause I know they help me a lot. Eventually I find it in myself to keep myself open to them, it helps me feel lighter and be able to breathe again.”

“I don’t think I’m ready for that big of a step,” Jax admitted, the familiar vulnerability showing up again.

Pomni only hoped it wouldn’t vanish again so soon, “Well…how about just starting with me for now? I want to know more about the Jax that I haven’t seen much of.”

Jax turned to her, the same sincerity in her eyes again. The sincerity she gave to others when they needed help, despite the storm of a painful past behind her own smile. “Only if you promise to do the same for me…and less puns.”

“Oof, I’ll try,” Pomni giggled. “But now you know where it comes from.”

“Hmp, whatever,” Jax huffed. “Deal?”