Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pomni looks at Jax as they distance themselves from the group together. The fascination for this peculiar rabbit has grabbed hold of her, and yet she always feels like she's sitting on a ticking explosive barrel, lighting a new match with every step that could set everything ablaze.

Jax is a conglomerate of ambivalent behavior and disorder patterns. How far has he strayed from humanity, and how much has this world, this form, and the madness already taken possession of him?

Pomni is still with him even after all the misery she endures. She tries to keep her soul, to preserve the woman she was, even though more and more is being torn from her and driving her toward despair.

Perhaps that's why it's so enticing to approach him. She feels like he's the abyss she keeps staring into; it reminds her that her heart still beats, that her soul still exists.

Maybe there's something bright behind all the behavior, the ambiguities, something that shines and has been preserved. Perhaps she hopes that if there's genuine warmth hidden in this sarcastic, violent and manipulative rabbit, she herself, no matter how low she falls, has a chance to find herself again.

Jax's confident, exaggerated stride, reminiscent of a self-absorbed nobleman, is intimidating when one looks at the much smaller and noticeably more timid Pomni beside him. Yet, there seems to be something that binds the two together.

They continue moving forward, with occasional revelations, thoughts, and jokes interspersed. And added to this is a Jax with a warmth that almost comes across as comforting.

When they arrive at the corridor where the residents' rooms are located, Jax hesitates, wanting to brush it off, dismissing the whole thing as a bad idea. However, Pomni seizes his hand with her small, gloved one.

A twitch in Jax's face is quickly masked by a self-assured demeanor as he declares, "So you wanted to see something other than what I thought? But hey, who better to help you with that than me?"

Pomni flinches. It should have been clear to her that he reacts to emotional support with rough physicality. Expecting him to fully open up and show vulnerability is too high a demand. He's more like a dog that needs to be let run free, or else any effort would end in him cowering.

But she doesn't want to succumb to this provocation, doesn't want to give him a free pass to make her feelings seem ridiculous. So she tugs slightly at her costume as she speaks: "I think... well, I'd like that, but that's not possible, is it?"

Something that visibly surprises Jax. While he reels internally, he searches for a cool line, something that could save him. Then he has it: explain it matter-of-factly, with an air of superiority in every word—that makes it less concrete.

So Jax begins: "Haven't you noticed? Look around. None of this is real. Look at yourself and me. We're just caricatures of living beings now. Zooble isn't even that anymore, as a pile of trash. We can shape the world, we can shape ourselves, we do it all the time.

But Caine has forbidden it, and as if the good Pomni would do something like that."

Pomni looks at him with wide eyes. The realization hits her, and it has not the effect that Jax likely intended. Because she sprints off to her room, still holding Jax's hand tightly, while he stands in the hallway with a very long arm.

The elastic band-like energy, Jax dashes after his hand and gives Pomni even more confirmation that her new world is a canvas. That she is not the brush being swung by others, but can immortalize herself on this surface.

She pulls down the bewildered Jax and begins kissing him. And he is too enticed that in this moment he cannot give space to his self-doubts. So he reciprocates her kisses repeatedly until Pomni interrupts them.

Before he can say anything, she stares at him decisively: "We can endure pain but not die. We are not bound by the limits of our bodies or physics, right?"

But the question seems rhetorical. Before Jax can say anything, she pulls his mouth back to hers and places the hand she's held since then on the few neck she has.

Jax doesn't need any explanations. He kisses while strangling her differently strongly, and she is increasingly excited by it, snorting excitedly. Jax is not the kind of rabbit who cares much about how fulfilling it is for everyone involved. But if she only got a whiff of tenderness, it might be enough for her, at least for the moment.

Everything on her body is part of her body. The data can be changed, but her shoes belong to her as much as her eyes do. Therefore, undressing is not an option. So she closes her eyes and tries to imagine how she was.

Instead of the blue-red fabric that adorns her legs, something else should be revealed. It takes some time, Jax's strangling doesn't make it easier for her, but she is glad that he does her this service.

As his eyes look down at her, he sees her vulva and his grip on her neck loosens significantly. Even their kisses are interrupted. Now it seems to be the time for him to do the same. The idea of falling to his knees before her and giving her pleasure doesn't seem like an option.

She misses her breasts and their play, but this change requires all her concentration. And while Jax seems to change as well, Pomni appears to be quite certain about this. There's no room for error in this world and if the strangling excites her, why shouldn't it?

As Jax gets closer, he penetrates her silently and gives the impression of being more of a bunny than a dominant figure. How long has it been since she felt anything like this? Since someone felt her? Too long. So it's okay.

Jax pants as he continues to thrust inside her and seems to enjoy it. Pomni moans softly as she exposes her neck, which he eagerly continues to strangle. Her own hand moves downward, stroking her clitoris. If he keeps up with the strangling and penetration, and she helps out, it could become something really intense.

As she glides her hand over the inner vulval lips, circling back to the clitoris, minutes pass and Jax remains steadfast. Does he know that she's racing against time, trying to win, and does he want to support her? Maybe there's more to him than she initially thought.

Are they up to ten minutes? Fifteen? Or less? But he'll pick up the pace again before climaxing and stopping thrusting. Unexpectedly, this happens, but she can be sure it won't have any consequences or?

"Don't let yourself get distracted," Pomni thinks and continues massaging with a firmer pressure than before, aiming for another climax. Jax slips out of her, but his hand stays at her neck. And then it happens - she feels it. It's about to happen. As if she's moving an object over an obstacle with every movement.

She squeaks out, her whole body jerking, as her moaning mixes with deep, heavy breathing. Jax lets go of her neck and looks at her for a moment.

Pomni snuggles into the bed and processes the steady pulsation between her legs, the waves creeping up into her brain and filling her with lust. The warmth and security that triggers the hormones.

Hesitantly, she stretches out her hand towards Jax, but he sees his chance and escapes, prompting Pomni to call him a "coward" behind his back. So she's left with only pillows and blankets to satisfy her longing for closeness beyond sexuality. Finally, the bunny has gotten away from her. But maybe this isn't the last time. Maybe there's still more to discover.

Chapter Text

Ragatha sat silently with Kinger on the sofa arrangement where everyone usually found their place, lost in thoughts of Pomni. She had been gone with Jax for a while now, and despite today’s adventure, which had demanded a lot from Pomni, Ragatha had hoped to spend a little more time with her.

If she had gone alone to her room, her thoughts would have constantly circled around Pomni. Pomni was definitely the focus of her current fixation. But the fact that she got along so well with Jax worried Ragatha deeply. Was it only because of what a terrible person Jax was, or were there other reasons too?

Ruminating wasn’t helping her at all, and Kinger didn’t seem to need her help with his eggs at the moment. Perhaps it was a good moment to check on Pomni, maybe she needed help as well.

Ragatha wandered toward the rooms, and seeing Pomni wasn’t in the hallway, she approached her door. To her surprise, it stood wide open. A cautious glance inside, followed by a, “Pomni, are you in here? Are you okay?”

Her gaze fell on Pomni, and she studied her as she lay there, clinging to her pillow on a small wet spot. Worried, Ragatha blurted out, “What happened? Did Jax hurt you?”

Pomni sat up, visibly upset, and began loudly with a “NO,” but after a brief moment added much quieter, “Well… not really. Jax was just being an asshole again… sorry.”

Ragatha stepped a few steps into the room. “Do you want some company? Do you need anything?” Unsure if she could truly help Pomni, she was still there. She had to be, Pomni was her last chance.

Thoughtfully, Pomni lay back down and turned her head toward the wall. Ragatha fidgeted uncertainly and muttered, “I… I’ll just go then… you probably need some time for yourself.”

But Pomni tapped the empty space in front of her and said, resigned, “Come, you can keep me company. I need you.” A nervous giggle escaped Ragatha, and softly she repeated, “You need me?” Her face had never looked happier. Cautiously, she moved to the bed, afraid her newfound happiness might break.

Ragatha lay down beside Pomni and immediately said, in her excitement, “So… I’ll just turn over then.” Pomni shook her head slowly and reached for her hand, intertwining it with her own.

Ragatha stared at Pomni in surprise for a few seconds. She began to think: This is exactly what I want, but what does Pomni want and think right now? It’s okay to be here if she needs me. If I can support her, she’s happy with me… but if she wants more than that, what can I give her? I would disappoint her, again and again, like everyone else.

Pomni moved closer to Ragatha, lowering her gaze slightly. She wanted Ragatha, somehow, yet uncertainty remained: would she hurt her, or confuse her with the intensity? After all, she could only guess.

Softly, Pomni asked, “Is cuddling okay for you?” Ragatha nodded cautiously. Pomni tried again, “Kissing too?” Ragatha hesitated. Pomni spoke again, “Oh, okay, that might be a bit much, I guess. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Ragatha drew Pomni close and kissed her. The first kiss was still awkward, unexpected, confusing for both. Something that faded with every kiss, replaced by other feelings.

What initially resembled a vague peck quickly turned into passionate kissing. The more kisses they shared, the easier it became. The weight that had pressed so heavily on both their hearts faded into the background, while other feelings and thoughts became clearer.

They didn’t want to waste a single moment in which Ragatha could experience Pomni this way. All doubts, grief, and worries had to be silenced while she lost herself in Pomni’s lips.

As closely as possible, without disrupting the kissing, they pressed together, lightly stroking each other, every movement carrying a trace of physical desire.

But after what had happened with Jax, they both knew it wasn’t a good time for sex. The day had only just begun, and Pomni had already been gone with Jax for several minutes. Now only the others, or at worst Caine, might interrupt, something they could do without.

Yet Pomni was certain: at another time, in another emotional state, she wouldn’t reject Ragatha. Whether Ragatha would be ready, however, was hard to tell. Despite her warmth, her behavior and the grief driving her were very ambivalent.

Still, Pomni couldn’t resist a little playful urge. While cuddling, she flipped Ragatha onto her back, laying herself on top, her hands tracing Ragatha’s face and hair. The kisses grew a little wilder.

Ragatha always felt somewhat isolated from the group. Her body was there with the others, yet she felt little belonging, as if tolerated, but no one really wanted to be with her.

Yet as Pomni perched on her, openly desiring her, it felt somewhat like this wouldn’t always be the case, like there was hope for healing, belonging, and love.

This feeling caused a light ache in her chest. After all, the chance was high that everything Pomni sought was someone else – someone not as insensitive and exhausting as Jax.

Even as Pomni slid her tongue into Ragatha’s mouth, she still doubted whether the voices were right, whether she would be forgotten by tomorrow. Something that filled her with such fear that she held Pomni even tighter.

Actively, she traced Pomni’s tongue with her own and wanted to savor every second left before anyone could interrupt. This moment, whether dream or reality, was to be experienced and preserved.

Even the desire to tell Pomni what she was thinking and feeling had to yield to caution. Ragatha lay there, experiencing, enjoying, and hoping it would never end.