★ LABYRINTH ★ JAX X GN! READER || TADC

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~third-person/omniscient bystander pov~

As jax lay in his bed, his hands folded across his chest and his eyes glued to the ceiling, he realized he had only two option: number one- he could cut you off. Simply not speak or acknowledge you until he got further intel on who you really were. He scratched that off immediately, everyone would grow suspicious, especially with the fact that he never left anybody alone.

Number two- he could snoop around. I mean, he was good at it. He had keys to every damn door in the circus minus an exit. But with that came risk, he was clumsy. He couldn't risk it. It was a good option, but the cons heavily outweighed the pros.

The last he let out an exasperated sigh at. He could grow close to you. Give you attention and bathe in yours. Of course, it would still be in the way that he was used to: teasing you, making fun, etc. But slowly he could grow softer, and that's the part he dreaded. Once you trusted him enough, he would learn who you truly were. It would be a long and strenuous process (especially on his part, as he dramatized it), but he concluded that it was worth it for the future of finding an exit. 

He rolled over on his side, his smile faltered and his eyes tired. He never thought it would get this...complicated. He believed from the very start it would just be a matter of luck and fortune, but it had gone way past that belief.

but hell, you didn't seem too bad...

he didn't know how you would ripen up to him even though his first impressions had been so sour. But he assumed that in a matter of time..

He sunk his head deeper into his pillow as his eyes wandered over to the nightlight plugged into the wall. One thing he would never admit, among other things, is that he was petrified of the dark. Luckily he was able to muster up the corsage to ask Caine for one (obviously not admitting his phobia in the process), and it's been in his room ever since.

He turned back to his ceiling and rubbed his eyes with his gloved hands, groaning. If he should start this whole process, he might as well start now...

~y/n pov~

My muscles strained as I carved another line into the wall next to last one. I sat back on my knees and sighed in relief, wiping my forehead with the back of my wrist. I couldn't believe I had almost forgot. Maybe I really was starting to lose track of time, maybe it had been a week. Months. Years...

The circus was dark, and my eyes were lidded with exhaustion, as if just marking the wall had drained everything out of me. But as I felt my eyes close and my body slump in front of the yall, a sudden knock at my door made me jump.

"J-just a minute!" I called, rolling my eyes in retrospect at remembering that the rooms were soundproof. I stood and pressed my body against the desk, groaning with effort as I slid it back into place.

I stepped to my door and opened it, immediately disappointed when I saw Jax leaning on the doorframe with a smug smile on his face. He wore blue-and-white striped pajama pants with a plain gray t-shirt. I crossed my arms and looked away. "What do you want?"

"I came here to really apologize, Y'know, third time a charm- right?" I glanced back up at him. "Go on..."

Jax took a deep breath and dropped his smile, which surprised me. Maybe he really was serious? 

"I'm really sorry I made such a bad impression. I understand this whole digital world thing is a lot for you to handle, and I shouldn't have been dogpiling on that. It was a lame thing for me to do."

My eyes widened. It was a genuine apology, as much as I could tell of it. It didn't seem forced or anything like that...I pondered it for a moment, then realized I was staring right into his eyes, his face dimly illuminated by the glowing decorations on the hallway walls. The silence between us crackled like lighting with tension, and I looked away again.

"Thank you Jax...that was really...that was really nice." Jax's smile returned, softer this time. "Well, I'm glad we're ok. I don't mean anything personal when I tease ya', it's just...Y'know, how I cope." He chuckled lowly. I smiled, his words sinking into my conscious in a slightly disturbing fashion.

"Well...I'm gonna hit the hay. Seeya tomorrow, newbie." He winked and gave me tired finger-gun, walking back to his room. I waved him goodbye. I closed the door behind me and stood there for a solid minute. Jax...apologized? I was considering that Ragatha perhaps sent him to redo it after his shitty apology the second time around, but this seemed...genuine.

I could kinda understand his first impression. I mean, new meat, not used to everything, vulnerable...

Tiredness taking over my senses, I stumbled over to my bed and collapsed onto it, haphazardly wrapping the blankets around my body as I fell asleep near instantly, Jax's words still swimming circles around in my head...

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───