Y/n's pov
I stood in the cramped little space, my heart racing—not just from the thrill of the game, but from the strange, almost dreamlike realization that I was hiding in a circus unlike anything I’d ever imagined. The air was thick with the circus’s scent, a faint mix of cotton candy and popcorn that somehow lingered even here, tucked behind the garish curtains.
But what struck me even more was the physical closeness between Jax and me. I could feel the brush of his soft, purple fur against my skin whenever we shifted slightly, a reminder of just how small this hiding spot really was. And for some reason, this simple touch sent a sudden warmth rushing to my cheeks. I could feel my face heat up, a faint blush blooming despite myself, and I found myself trying to stand perfectly still so he wouldn’t notice.
Jax, though, seemed entirely unbothered, completely at ease as he leaned back and grinned, that mischievous gleam in his eyes. “You look nervous,” he said, his voice low and teasing, as if he was keenly aware of the effect this was having on me.
I managed a small laugh, trying to brush it off, but that faint blush wouldn’t go away. I could barely tell if it was from the adrenaline of the game, the disorienting strangeness of the circus, or simply from being this close to him.
Jax's pov
I felt… weird, standing this close to them, closer than I’d usually let anyone get. It wasn’t like me to get hung up over something so small, but I couldn’t deny it: there was something odd about having them right there, barely an inch away. I kept my usual smirk on, didn’t let a hint of that weirdness slip through, of course.
I noticed the slight pink creeping across their face, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of amusement. They looked flustered—probably from being cramped up in here with me. Part of me thought it’d be funny to mess with them about it, but for some reason, I felt a little awkward myself. It was stupid, really. I’d usually get a kick out of watching someone squirm like this. But right now? I couldn’t shake that feeling; it sat there, just under the surface.
Still, I wasn’t about to let them catch on. No way. So I just leaned back, kept that smug grin on, and let the silence linger.
“Hey... is... someone here?” Gangle’s voice drifted through the air, just a little too close for comfort. I felt y/n tense beside me, but I quickly placed a finger on their lips, signaling for them to stay quiet. They nodded, and I could swear I saw their blush deepen, which made me stifle a chuckle. The awkwardness radiating off them was almost palpable, and for some unknown reason, it was kind of amusing to me.
Silence enveloped us again, and we heard two distinct 'beep's echo through the circus— Kinger and Bubble had been found. Time ticked away, and I kept my eyes on y/n, who was trying to suppress the nervous energy between us. Five minutes had passed since the start of the game, and suddenly Caine's voice boomed through the entire circus, “Congratulations to all our participants who haven't been found! Including Ragatha, Pomni, Jax, and y/n! You can come out of your hiding places!”
Y/n started to move, clearly ready to escape our little hideout, but I quickly pulled them back by the arm. “Shh! That’s a trick; there are still a few seconds,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice low yet firm. They looked at me, eyes wide, as if they were trying to gauge my intentions.
Just then, we heard two more 'beep's, indicating that Pomni and Ragatha had fallen for Caine’s ruse and had been found. I couldn't help but smirk at the irony; they had been so confident in their hiding spots.
Then came the blaring alarm marking the end of five minutes and thirty-two seconds. I stood up, offering my hand/paw to help y/n get up too. “Congratulations to our winners, Jax and y/n! Goodbye!” Caine’s voice rang out once again before he vanished, teleporting somewhere else in the circus.
I turned to y/n with a smile, ready to bask in our victory together. “We made a good team, don’t you th—” But before I could finish my sentence, they were already making a quick escape toward their room, head down, that unmistakable blush still on their cheeks.
I shrugged, feeling a mix of confusion and amusement. Was it my teasing nature that had scared them off, or was it something else? I’d usually poke and prod at everyone else, but with y/n, I felt… different. I had actually offered them help without the usual sarcasm.
As I headed to my own room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Laying in my bed, I stared up at the ceiling, mulling over what had just happened. I hadn’t tried to annoy y/n the way I did with the others. Instead, I had actually been protective. It was strange, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.
What was happening to me? Why did I feel so weird about it? Whatever it was, I decided I didn’t have time to overthink it. I needed to get some rest. But as I closed my eyes, y/n’s flustered face kept popping into my mind, making it harder to drift off.
