Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

??? popped into a colorful place, filled with blocks, a checker colored floor, a place you'd see kids playing in basically. All in a...circus tent? ??? shook his head, standing up and dusting his body off, when he noticed he wasn't...sure what he was. Actually. He didn't look right, yellow gloved hands with only four fingers, purple arms...Pink overalls. And did he- have long ass ears on his head? Where's his hair??

"What the %$!#?" He cursed aloud, and cursed again when he couldn't curse. "What the %$!#?!"

His ear twitched when he heard voices coming towards him, causing him to glance around and ran to hide behind a red curtain. A chest piece- possibly a king? in a purple robe came around the corner, holding a hand with another chest piece, a darker one- seemingly a queen. She was leading the king, talking with him. 

"My queen, I didn't hear anything-" The king followed her willingly.

"Well I did, Kinger! I swear. It's about time for a new one to join too, since Soya abstracted..." She mumbled the last part, seemingly a little upset by that fact.

"Queenie, sweetheart, I don't doubt you did. You've always had a better ear than me." He retorted, giving her a smile with his eyes. There was something else in his eyes, something like...love.

The queen looked at him and leaned into the king- Kinger, nodding and giving him a smile back, before looking ???’s way. She watched as the curtain shifted, a soft smile within her eyes shown, nudging Kinger before softly calling out.

“Hello kiddo, it’s okay- You can come out.” The queen, Queenie? spoke very softly, and gently- almost like a mom…

???’s eyes weld with tears slightly, he didn’t know what was going on anymore. Why was he here? All he remembers is exploring an abandoned building with his friends, getting dared to put on the headset…And now he was here. He gulped, slowly walking around the curtain.

“Oh! A rabbit.” Kinger observed, a little memorized by him, by the looks of it. 

Queenie gave a small giggle at him, letting go of his hand softly before shuffling over to the stage. “My name is Queenie, that is my husband Kinger.” She introduced them.

??? opened his mouth to try and say his name, but he didn’t…Know his name. “Why can’t I remember my name..?” He spoke aloud, a few tears slipping down his face. 

“Unfortuantly none of us can remember our names. Myself and Queenie named each other actually.” Kinger smiling deeply at the queen.

Queenie smiled at him and nodded, looking back at ???. “What would you like to be named?”

“I…Don’t know.” He said softly, taking a deep breath.

Queenie thought for a moment, seemingly far back in memories, before focusing back on him. “What about the name Max?” She suggested.

“Awhhh” Kinger awwed, them seemingly sharing a thought with their eyes. 

??? thought for a moment, before speaking. “Jax. I like Jax.” 

“Oh, lovely name!” Queenie smiled with her eyes, nodding quickly. “Caine, Ribbit, Wriggle!!” She called out. 

A floating pair of teeth with two colored eyes suddenly appeared. He was wearing a suit and had a top hat, with a cane. A worm on a string that was striped green and orange slithered around the corner, a green-teal frog with a white stomach and rose cheeks, bowtie to match his smiling expression walking next to him. Jax’s eyes stayed trained on the frog over the others. He looked…Nice. Like he can befriend them.

“Ahh! A newcomer. Welcome to The Amazing Digital Circus! My name is Caine, and you are?” The floating teeth said, making big theatrics as he spoke, a bubble with teeth popping out of his top hat.

Jax had to force his eyes to work, forcing them to unlock from the frog. He stared at the floating teeth for a moment, having to think before responding. “I’m Jax.” Something in his head said to say his pronouns, so he did. “He/Him.” 

“Oh good! You’ve already named yourself! We should–” Caine started, but was interrupted.

“Caine? I think it would be a good idea if we let him settle a bit first. Maybe for our adventure tomorrow we can do an on foot tour.” Queenie suggested, Caine seeming to think about it for a moment before quickly nodding. 

“Yes yes, I think that’d be a good idea.” Caine said, waving his cane and a table appeared, a spread of food appearing. “Well, it is dinner time!” He said.

“We…Get food?” Jax asked, walking to the edge of the stage and hoping down carefully, physical shutters going through his body as he hit the floor, but quickly shook it off. 

“We always eat, even though we don’t really need to eat or sleep. We’re in a digital world after all- no need to.” Kinger explained over his shoulder, helping his queen to the table and pulling out her chair, being the gentleman he was.

Jax nodded, walking over slowly, falling behind the worm and frog. He watched the two interact from behind, specifically the frog. He was a jokester, but very friendly. Jax quite liked him…

Once Jax got over to the table, he was quite surprised that he was being put between Queenie and said frog, slowly sitting down. He stiffened at the site of corn on the cob, moving back from it. 

The frog looked at him and smirked, reaching over and putting it closer.

Jax jumped out of his seat, jumping behind Queenie’s chair, sending a death stare at the corn. 

Queenie let out a small giggle, rubbing Jax on the head. She carefully loaded up the corn, giving it to Kinger who put it off to the side, far away from Jax.

“t-Thank you.” He stuttered out, getting back into his seat. 

“%$!# Jax, scared of a vegetable?” The frog teased, looking at him.

“Shut up.” Jax rolled his eyes, picking up a turkey leg and chopping on it. His mouth was weird, it took a lot of force to open it all the way, but he could eat through his teeth. He shrugged, figuring he’d push his limits with his body later. 

The frog laughed, shrugging. “Whatever, doesn’t matter anyway. I’m Ribbit, by the way. And the worm is Wriggle.” He said, throwing a thumb over his shoulder to the worm, who was slurping up a noodle. He looked over and waved his tail in a wave, smiling. 

Jax smiled softly, politely, nodding. “Nice to meet both of you.” He said, glancing at his plate afterwards. Kinger said they didn’t need to eat, didn’t he? Well…Honestly, he just wanted to get out of this hell hole. But he had a feeling that if they hadn’t said anything yet, there probably isn’t a way out. 

Queenie seemed to notice his anxiety, laying a hand on his shoulder made him flinch. She gave a small huff of amusement, smiling with her eyes. “Hey, it’ll be alright, I promise. Would you like for me to show you your room?” She asked. 

“y-Yes please, ma’am-” He stuttered, not sure where the ma’am came from, but it slipped out of him none the less. Honestly, he hasn’t used manors like that since he was a child.

Queenie laughed at that, getting up. “No need to be formal, it makes me feel old.” She teased.

Jax nodded, wrapping his arms around him as he walked with her, hugging himself. “s-So this…my new place, huh? My new home?” He asked, having connected the dots.

Queenie let out a small sigh. “Yes…Unfortuantly that’s…how it is, here. But it’s not that bad once you get used to it, really. Everyone is nice, we’re all together, and every day is a new adventure.” She hummed softly, reaching over and softly rubbing his back. “I promise it’s not that bad, you’ll see.”

As they walked, she stopped for a moment. “This is my room, as you can see- and right there is Kinger’s door too.” She addressed, pointing to a door across the hall. “If you need anything, feel free to come get one of us.” 

Jax nodded, glancing at the doors. He had a feeling that he wouldn’t be going to them if he could help it, but it was nice to know where they were, in case…he did have to go to them. Which he hoped he wouldn’t. “Thank you, Queenie.” He gave a small smile, opting to use her name.

She smiled, something he noticed she does a lot, and gave a curt nod. She glanced around and saw the new icon on a door, leading him to it. “Well, here’s your room! Glad to see it’s already registered.” She said, opening the door for him. 

He poked his head in, looking around. It was a simple room, it was purple hued- all sides being purple. His bed was put in the middle with a pink comforter, light purple sheets and pillow case. He had a dresser, a desk, a couple of chests next to the bed and one of the doors, and various items scattered around his room. It felt…Familiar, but neater. 

Jax slowly walked in, looking around. He nearly tripped over a block on the ground, but caught himself on his bed. He shook off the trip, getting a better look at the room now. He noticed a tv now in the corner, making him feel better about his spot. 

As he looked around, he noticed a small mirror on his desk. It called to him, so he went over and finally got a look at himself. He looked…Weird. His eyes were just. Yellow. With no whites, his pupils moved weirdly, not to mention his mouth. His teeth didn’t move, just…the skin? Over them. It was really weird and not like real life, but what else was new. And the ears?? Those were something else to get used to. But…He would, eventually. He made himself relax, before looking back at Queenie.

Queenie watched like a proud mom, seeing him physically relax made her relax herself. She stepped in slowly, waiting for him to ask her not to enter- when he didn’t object, she walked in fully. She watched him walk back to his bed and sit down at the foot of the bed, seeming not wanting to take up too much room, even though it was his room.

He watched her walk over to his dresser and open the drawers, nodding like a mom. 

“You have other overalls to use, and a few other clothes. Oh, and of course a bathroom too.” She said, pointing to the brown door he noticed earlier. “We don’t need it, but it is nice to have a shower once in a while- especially for the ones of us with hair- or fur.” She said, walking over and softly ruffling his head.

“g-Great, thank you, Queenie.” He appreciated her taking the time to run everything down for him. He had the urge to call her mom- but he held it back. He was exhausted- that’s why things were just popping into his mind like that. Yeah, that was the reason.

She seemed to have a sixth sense like a true mom, and gave him a pair of pajamas, turning around and shuffling a few things around so they weren’t in his foot path while he changed. The items she gave him were a pair of shorts colored in lavender with bunny backs on them and a muscle shirt, plain light green. Jax slid off his overalls first before pulling on the muscle shirt and then the shorts, kicking the overalls by his dresser for now like he did when he was home. 

He looked back at his bed, poking it a bit and shifting it a bit… It had been, a while, since he slept in a real bed- or his own bed really. As he crawled into the bed, something in his brain said to make a nest- like an animal. Instead, he pushed it down, opting to just lay down like he normally would.

Queenie walked over just after he settled in, carrying something. “I found this while picking up a few things,” She hummed, and in her hands was a beat up lion plush. It was missing a good bit of her mane, and had a few patches and stitches- but otherwise in really good condition.

“Sunshine!” Jax’s tough guy exterior broke completely upon seeing the plush, taking it from Queenie’s hands once she offered it to him; half away snatching it from her. “How did she get here…?” He questioned aloud. 

Queenie smiled softly, sitting down on the bed next to him. “Sometimes the circus gets ahold of memories and transports special items into here. It’s happened in the past to others.” She spoke honestly, reaching over and softly rubbed his head, seeing him stuck in his head.

“My Naan got her for me. I named her sunshine because she’d always sing the sunshine song to me when I was upset.” He said, brushing his fingers through the somewhat matted mane.

“You are my sunshine?” She asked, guessing the name of the song.

“y-Yeah, you know it?” Jax asked, looking up at her. He didn’t really mean to question her about it, but he did. 

Queenie cleared her throat, beginning to softly hum before her voice picked up. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy- when skies are gray” She sang as she tucked Jax into bed, watching his eyes slowly droop. She could tell he was fighting sleep, not completely feeling safe, which caused her to keep going with the song. She was going to make sure her new child got the proper sleep he needed, no matter how she had to do it. 

Jax woke up startled, looking around, but all he saw was white, and floating cubes. He was so confused, where was he? 

Off in the distance, he heard voices. He carefully got up slow stepping- only to realize he was floating. Instead, he opted to swim, moving closer to the voices.

“Damn, where’s %$!#?” One of the voices asked, a boy with a blurred face. 

“No clue, we dared him to put on the headset and then we heard a scream- and when we looked back he was gone.”

“Maybe he got so scared he ran away.” A different voice suggested, laughing- causing the others to laugh.

“Yeah, ran away with his tail tucked between his legs. What a scaredy rabbit!” The first voice said, laughing.

“w-What? N-No!” Jax said, reaching out to the boys but hit a wall. Instead, he opted to hit on it. “I’m right here! Guys! Help me!!” He said, louder, banging on the wall.

“Oh well, we’ll see him at school probably. Let's get out of here and get drunk so we can forget about this night.” The second voice said, leading the group away.

“Sounds good, and we should stop by that one store. I’m starving for some rabbit!” All the boys laughed at the joke, and something in Jax broke, making him kick away from the screen as he breathed rapidly, glancing around, trying to find a way out.

“h-Hello? c-Caine? Kinger? m-m-Mom?!” His voice started to get louder as he spoke, shouting into the void, tears starting to stream down his face. He sniffled, tears getting worse as his fear heightened. 

“Anyone?!”

Chapter Text

Jax woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as he tried to calm himself down. He glanced around, in this mostly-unfamiliar place. As he glanced around, he noticed Sunshine on the floor. He quickly reached down and grabbed her, curling up tightly with her in his chest. He hyperventilated, rubbing his face against her different textured fur to calm himself down. He wanted to go to Queenie, he really did- but he didn’t feel like he could. 

She DID say that he could, but- he…Was too scared to, to put it into all honesty. 

“m-Mom?” A very young Jax spoke softly, holding a nearly new Sunshine in his hands.

“Ugh. What? It’s 3 am.” Jax’s mom said, annoyed voice poking through, going into a coughing fit from her smoking habit.

“I had a nightmare…” He spoke honestly, taking a step towards her.

“Okay? And? What do you want me to do about it? Go back to bed, turn on a light if you have to. Just leave me alone.”

Jax shook his head at the memory, just curling up tighter. He held Sunshine as tight as he could against his chest, not moving from his spot. Eventually, slowly, his body calmed down. As it did, his eyes started to droop, and he fell back asleep.

When Jax awoke for the second time, it was to knock at his door, and Ribbit’s voice came through.

“Jax? It’s time to get up- It’s breakfast time!” He croaked, shuffling slightly from behind the door.

Jax groaned in an answer, forcing himself to sit up. He rubbed his eyes, stretching and somehow cracking his back. He let out a yawn, this being one of his first times really opening his mouth completely. He quickly remembered that there was someone at his door, quickly shouting to them.

“i-I’ll be out in a second, go ahead without me!” He spoke on reflex, honestly he had no clue where anything was in this digital hellscape, but he’d figure himself out.

“If you say so!” He called through the door, and Jax watched his shadow disappear before he got up. 

He made his bed, something he did when he was in beds- but he never had done it to his own personal bed in a long time. He walked over to his dresser and poked through it. Most of his outfits, or clothing items, were overalls. It seemed to be his character’s thing, which was odd but he wasn’t going to question it. Instead, he found a hoodie in one of the drawers, pulling it out to look at it.

The hoodie was a plain black hoodie with a pocket on the front, perfect size for Sunshine…

No, he could be strong. He didn’t need her support out with the others.

He slid the hoodie over his current attire, covering himself nicely, then headed out of the room. He looked around, everything was still the same as last night. He shrugged, heading back the way that he and Queenie took the night before, ending up in the main area. Once he stepped out of the hallway, he heard the echo of voices, and he followed them. 

“The meat is more for Jax- He seemed to go for that more last night.” Queenie was explaining the menu, looking up when she heard footsteps. “Ah! Speak of the Oryctolagus cuniculus.” She hummed, smiling at her own joke.

“Ooo- Good one honey.” Kinger smiled. He pulled out a chair for Jax, in the middle of everyone again. 

“Thank you Kinger.” He thanked politely, walking over and sitting down. The king gave a nod and bow, before walking back to his usual spot. 

“Did you have a good sleep?” Queenie asked, setting down a plate of food in front of him. Bacon and pancakes, which looked a little…like him.

“I slept fine-” He said, it wasn’t the complete truth but it also wasn’t a lie. He gave a small smile at the plate. The bacon were his ears, banana was his yellow eyes and mouth, and chocolate drizzle for his pupils and lines of teeth. 

“Like it? Kinger made breakfast.” Ribbit butted in, Kinger waving a fork, eyes closed in a smile.

“It’s…It’s perfect. Thank you, Kinger.” Jax spoke honestly, nodding at him. The king seemingly blushed at his response, waving him off. 

“It was no problem kiddo, we try to do something special every time someone comes.” He said, looking past him as Wriggle verbally lets out a frustrated groan, getting up to help the worm. “Excuse me.” He said politely to Jax, walking to the other side of the table and helping the worm cut up his food into pieces that make it easier for him to eat.

“Thanks, Dad…” Wriggle said, seemingly frustrated at his incompetence to eat on his own, having to be treated like a child. 

“It’s no problem Wriggle, you can always just ask for help.” He patted the worm on the head, making sure he was able to grip the fork with his tail before walking back to his seat. 

“Hate this stupid model…” Wriggle mumbled under his breath, stabbing a pile of cut pancakes and shoved them into his mouth. “Can’t do anything on my own anymore.” He mumbled with his mouth full.

Jax and Ribbit glanced at each other, Jax gulping dryly. He didn’t know Wriggle- like, at all. He didn’t really talk yesterday, and he hasn’t spoken to the worm at all. But Ribbit had a look in his eyes that more than likely meant something bad. 

Queenie cleared her throat from behind Jax, causing everyone to look at her. “Why don’t we count our blessings right now? We have each other, we made a new friend last night! We have a lovely meal made by Kinger, and we have fun every day without having to worry about the real world.” She said, trying to be as light hearted as she can, but it didn’t really seem to help, as everyone did miss their real lives outside of the circus.

Before it could get anymore awkward, Caine popped in front of them. 

“Hello my pretty pansies! I hope we’re doing better this morning! We’ll be doing our tour-adventure after lunch, to give our newcomer a proper while to settle in. How’d you sleep anyhow?” He said, floating in front of Jax on his stomach, looking like a girl at a sleep over as he kicked his feet, his chin(?) resting on his hand as he floated.

“u-Uh- Good, ish…Was, really weird.” He said, looking back down at his breakfast, barely eaten yet. 

Caine stared at him, hummed softly for a moment, nodding his head. “As long as you can sleep to make yourself feel better at the end of the day!” He stood up straight in the air, his cane twirling. 

Jax looked back up at him, nodding a bit. “r-Right.” He managed out, glancing at Wriggle before taking a bite of his food. “So…What are we doing until lunch?” He wondered aloud, glancing side to side when he realized he did. 

“I’m glad you asked, Jax! I…Have no clue!” Caine laughed, a force laughed, looking at each of them. “Hmmm…How about coloring and music!” He suggested, waving his cane and a pile of books appeared with different art supplies and a pile of paper next to it. 

“Enjoy!” He then disappeared.

They stayed quiet for a moment before either going back to eating or just picking at their plate. Jax personally took a few bites of food but didn’t want to eat, he never really ate when he was alive either. 

“Thank you for breakfast, Kinger.” He thanked, smiling at Kinger. Jax got up from his chair and headed back to his room to change. His arms wrapped around himself again, slowing down his steps as he got around the corner. The rabbit’s mind raced, not on one particular thing, multiple things running through his mind. He gripped his arms slightly, taking off towards his room. 

Jax threw open the door, shoving himself inside and shoved the door closed. He took a deep breath, leaning against his door for a moment as he let his brain calm down. His brain flashed thoughts of the dream from last night, which caused his breathing to hitch again. 

He looked over at his bed, walking over and grabbed Sunshine, nuzzling her a bit. “You’ll never leave me, right?” He asked the plush softly, even though he knew the answer. He took another deep breath before setting her down so he could change.

Jax grabbed a pair of overalls and pants, debating for a moment before going with the pants, switching out his sleep shorts for them easily. He took off the tank top underneath, slipping it out and threw it on the floor with his shorts. 

He crawled back into his bed, curling up with Sunshine for a moment; trying to calm his head still and heart. He closed his eyes, feeling himself drifting slightly as he laid there.