Chapter Text
The harsh echo of friction rang through the circus tent. If anyone were around surely they would hear the sound of dead weight being dragged across the floor. She didn’t know where the others were at right now but she was glad they weren’t to be found.
Jax made a murmur and she turned to check on him.
Still passed out.
Gangle sighed with relief and continued to pull him by the legs. She was not built to carry anyone let alone Jax who was taller than her. At least the floor of the tent was flat and smooth. Gangle wouldn’t have to worry about hurting him by dragging him over sticks and stone.
Perhaps she should have left him there. It wasn’t her responsibility to make sure Jax was okay but, she knew that wouldn’t be right, she couldn’t do that… Despite how much she wanted to.
Initially after he coughed, vomited and passed out, she sat next to him for a bit. Waiting to see if he would come-to. Waiting to see if anyone else would come by and take charge.
Why did it have to be her? Why Jax of all people?
Hoping no one showed up now, she didn’t want to be seen in such a predicament. How would she explain? She knows what the others thought of her; weak, feeble, sensitive. Everyone was waiting for the day she would snap, abstract and take Jax down with her if he was close enough.
But she didn’t hurt him, honest! Something happened to him… he’s sick maybe? That’s usually why people vomit. Though this was a weird case and the evidence of that was still all over the both of them.
Which was disgusting, yes but, despite the initial substance coming out a fluid goo, it seemed to solidify into… petals? Flowers? That didn’t make sense to her. But nothing in the Digital Circus did. Maybe this was just some fucked interpretion of a stomach bug to Caine…
Who she was looking for now. Surely he would fix up Jax and she could be on her weary way.
Jax mumbled again and stirred, this time showing proper evidence of consciousness. She gave a soft gasp and put his legs down before he could notice.
He groans, “feels like I was kicked in the gut,” voice rough.
Gangle hunched over brushing her hands together. As if hoping she would turn invisible and he not see her.
“ You, ” but he did see her. “What did you do?!”
“Huh?!” She was shocked, she was trying to help him this whole time! “Noth-nothing, Jax!” It comes out as a whimper.
He coughed something ugly. The kind of cough when you choke and spit up.
Gangle grimaced as he continued until his lungs finally found solace in removing what was lodged in it, falling into his hand.
Another pink flower
“Right. That’s what was happening,” he said roughly, tossing the thing behind him then pushing himself to stand.
Gangle looked back and forth, shielding the lower half of her mask with her strands.
“I was looking for Caine…” she says timidly.
“Is that how I got here now?” His eyes narrow, smile ever present.
Avoiding eye contact she hesitates before gently nodding. “I thought… Maybe he could help you,” she says, moving her makeshift shield higher on her mask.
Before Jax could snark back, speak of the devil and he will appear, with a puff of smoke.
Gangle flinched and hid behind her hands as Jax rolled his eyes. What a show off.
“Hello my performers!” He says enthusiastically, “I couldn’t help but hear my name! It was then I realized we were missing two party members!” he takes a pause at that, “so I thought, why that must be them! Trying to join in on the fun they’ve been missing out on!”
Gangle still held her strands close as she looked up to Jax, hoping he’d say something first.
He did, “oh what a shame, guess I’ll have to take a rain check on that one.”
Jax side eyes Gangle who was still staring, it made him feel nauseous just looking at her. Gangle quickly looks away from him, but took the hint.
“I think… I think Jax is sick.” She says in a soft voice.
“Oh?!” Caine questions.
“Um, he… he’s thrown up a few times already… he keeps coughing and- and…”
“They’re this ,” Jax finally adds, pointing toward the top of Gangle’s mask. She looks up toward her forehead.
“A camellia?!”
Caine spins into a puff of smoke again, this time taking Gangle and Jax with him before reappearing through more. A small theater set of what looked like a doctor’s office was now in place. Jax and Gangle sitting on a plush bench.
Gangle looks around startled, Jax tries to hold in a retch.
“Hmm… yes I’ve heard of these symptoms before!” He flips through a large book. Dressed the part to go with his set; as a nurse.
Gangle looks over to Jax who is once again coughing and wheezing. He’s looking dizzy from the sudden change of scenery and position. She wants to ask if he’s okay. But Jax is like a snake always ready to strike against kindness and weakness. He coughs, too tired to wipe his mouth of some of the contents that spew out.
Still she has never seen him in such bad shape.
“Hanahaki!”
“Huh?” Her attention is back to Caine.
“Hanahaki, my dear!” His eyes look somewhere distant, and he begins;
“ Hanahaki Disease ; 花吐き病 (Japanese), 하나하키병 (Korean) or, 花吐病 (Chinese), is a fictional disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love .”
Gangle’s eyes widen. Caine continues though faster.
“It ends when the beloved returns their feelings (romantic love only; strong friendship is not enough), or when the victim dies.”
Everything feels far from her, and Caine continues though she is hardly getting any of it through as she thinks of the implications.
Jax in love? She tries to push the thought of it being her away, it’s impossible, it sounds conceded, she’s just being conceded! He would never have feelings for her! He torments her! But he was fine until he approached her today. He’s had a fit each time she’s said his name.
She suddenly thinks of childhood, where little kids bully their crush on the playground. But Jax is an adult! He’s not that immature is he? Besides he’s mean to everyone he’s— mean to her most.
She stares at the ground dumbfounded, lost, she might just throw up herself. Jax looking down at her, he turns his attention up to Caine who’s still rambling on. His own shock and realization making it fussy. The hanahaki probably isn’t helping either.
“And that’s why YOU!” Caine shouts pointing at Gangle, breaking her trance.
“Huh?”
“Are the perfect contender for being Jax’s caretaker!”
“What?!” The two of them shout near in unison.
“Don’t worry! I’m a medical professional, I know what I’m doing!”
Jax begins a sarcastic “oh are you now?” Before he’s cut off by Caine.
“I’m not one to play matchmaker! That’s out of my criteria and doesn’t follow the whole circus theme! Buuut~ feelings don’t last forever right?! Spending more time with Gangle will stomp out those pesky lovey dovey feelings—!” He then turns to Gangle, “and I think this might be a great opportunity for you two to learn to tolerate one another! It’s the perfect time for some character development!” He near singsongs it.
Gangle is too afraid to counter that it’s literally only Jax who seems to have a problem with her and everyone else for that matter. Even if this gives her some new perspective in his behavior toward her.
She makes sure to look away from him.
He notices her sharp turn but ignores it to show face toward a different matter. “Wait—what makes you think this hanna-harky is over her .” He begins coughing and gasping for air after that.
Caine gives a hardy laugh. “Oh Jax,” he approaches too close, “I know everything that goes on in my circus.”
Jax wrinkles the center of his face at that. “And you mister!” He boops where the wrinkled nose would be, “have been harboring this for quite some time!”
Gangle shakes her head. Whispers as if it’ll keep Jax from hearing her. “He’s gotten sick everytime I’ve said his name…” she starts to whine, she doesn’t want to do this, “this sounds like a bad idea.”
Bubble floats over, “just say the word boss and I’ll eat him.” Caine pops him.
“Nonsense! It’s perfect! He’ll have to get used to you saying his name eventually ! Right? And that’s how we’ll cure this thing!”
Jax still holds his grimace.
“Or maybe it won’t.” He shrugs. “We only had one other hanahaki case in Digital Circus history! And it was so long ago I can’t seem to remember the details! Something about a kingdom and walls or some such.” He pauses to reminisce. Scratching the top of his “head,” with cane.
“Anywhooo~ Until Jax gets better you two are excused from any activities!”
“Oh boo how disappointing.” Gangle is somewhat surprised Jax can still pull off his sarcastic tone with his voice sounding so hoarse.
Jax gets up and starts to stride off. “Well let’s go Gangle.”
“Huh?!” She sees him continue off. “Oh.” Standing up she follows after him.
-
Jax wasted no time in getting comfortable. Already laying asleep in his bed for a nap.
Vomiting does put a strain on the body, Gangle supposes having a passing thought of how exactly her form would look through such an ordeal. Sticking a ribbon tongue out at the thought.
Hands full Gangle holds up a flat rectangular device. Turning it on with one hand.
“Here’s your portable x-ray! Be sure to check on the status of his lungs! You’ll be able to tell if it’s getting worse or better.” She recalls Caine saying.
Him and Bubble zipped over as she tried to catch up with Jax and handed her some care packaging that should help with Jax’s recovery.
Hovering the device over Jax’s chest she could see the faded silhouette of his ribs past the shape of his lungs. Though shaped like one draws a cartoon, seeing such solids form in Jax’s lungs makes her queasy.
Camellias , she remembers Caine calling them. She took a mental note to find out more about said flower later.
The next item she holds out is… a tube.
“Feeding tube!” Caine’s voice rings out in her head.
She cringes. They don’t need to eat and she doubts Jax will have an appetite so hopes they won’t need to use this.
Next is a variation of medicines. The bottles decorated in singular colors and simple words such as “Pain-B-Gone,” red. "Fever-Beater,” blue, and then just “Antibiotics,” just plane white. Guess you can’t make something sound fun out of that.
“These won’t cure him but they might help dull some of the symptoms!”
Gangle frowns. I guess something foreign in your lungs would cause a fever, the coughing and vomiting. It’s just his body trying to get rid of that invasive flower. Funny to think their immune systems still somewhat work anatomically.
Still the real human body would never have to experience literal weeds growing in it. Maybe all those “swallow a seed, grow a melon in your tummy,” warnings had merit after all.
She took a breath and examined the last items from the kit; Caine’s ‘medical’ book and bags and bags of tea, with added hot plate and kettle. More for his sore throat than the flower thing she thought. It sounded painful when he spoke.
Looking over Jax was still sleeping. Guess she’ll play nice.
“Oh one more thing!”
Going over to a desk she set up the plate. Slipping into Jax’s personal restroom she fills the kettle.
Caine snapped and Gangle felt the energy in her lift.
“It should be a lot easier to handle with this!” She had felt her comedy mask with one stranded hand.
“Thank you, Caine.” She said politely, holding the pile of contents. Jax was gone but she figured where she could find him.
As Gangle lugged to his room she thought how she regretted her appreciation over such a simple mask fix. She didn’t want to say thank you, after giving her this ugly task she didn’t even want to do, but it was the polite thing to do… Gangle hadn’t smiled up at Caine at least. She hopes that was enough to communicate her displeasure over the situation.
A screeching thought wanting to escape, the itch behind her eyes as she continued to walk. The need to scream and cry over the task she was given danced and teased in her head.
But she was good at holding it in. With her comedy mask in play.
The screeching continued until Jax blurted some annoyance behind, startlingly her. The tea kettle had been steaming.
Giving an “eek,” she lifted it and turned the stovetop off.
“About time.” Jax commented and stretched. Flinching as he felt a sharp pain stab in his chest.
Then like a row of dominos it all came back and he choked out some more petals.
“ Ugh .”
Gangle took small but quick steps over with mug in hand.
“H-here.” Jax brushed the petals between his fingers off the bed and stares at the cup. “It won’t fix you but… it will soothe your throat? Hopefully.”
Jax glances at her for a second before grabbing the mug and chugging it down.
Flinching she held up her hands in defense as soon as the mug was swiped. A force of habit when it comes to being around Jax.
Wincing from the heat, he pulls back on the cup, drinking it slower.
Not knowing what to do other than stare, Gangle begins to space out.
She is still shocked. Jax has given no indication of liking her. His behavior hasn’t changed since the day she met him.
Having teasingly pulled a ribbon making it spring back into place. He had that mischievous smile, those narrow eyes. The expression she would come to recognize when he was up to no good.
“How about gangles?” He stares down at her with squinted grin.
“My my! That’s perfect for our newest member!”
Gangle couldn’t remember her name, nobody ever does when they enter this realm. She hadn’t cared for a new one at the time. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about, she just wanted to go home.
Even at the time she could tell it was more of a joke than a genuine suggestion from Jax. Maybe had she been more calm and known this would be the rest of her waking moment, maybe she would have protested, maybe she would have come up with something cute and clever. Or maybe not.
Gangle wasn’t the worst name. Ragatha beamed and called it cute and Kinger bowed with a kind, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Gangle.” The others who were there at the time, also welcoming her with the name.
But Jax took that choice from her. It was a choice she still doesn’t even know if she wanted but, especially with everything that came after, with who she would learn Jax was; she couldn’t help but add it to the piles of resentment she felt toward him.
Which is why him falling for her was so absurd. He has never pulled back his punches toward her. Now he is tossing his guts out for her? Maybe Caine was wrong… maybe this was some other fictional illness that was similar.
Or maybe this was karma.
If his only cure was for her to return his feelings; he had sabotaged that possibility a thousand times over. He would have to live with tossing up petals and weeds until his little infatuation passed. If it ever did.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer~” her thoughts were broken by that sickening grin.
He’s holding out the mug towards her, gives it a light shake. Taking it she goes to the bathroom sink, filling it with water.
“So what’re we doing? You kiss me, I kiss you and true love breaks the curse?” He mockingly flutters his eyes at that.
She returns to his bedside with water and medicine.
“I don’t love you Jax…” she says in such a whisper had the room not been deathly silent he would have missed it.
“Bummer,” he takes the contents from her and swallows them. Propping his elbow on his blanketed knee, pressing his chin against his hand. He’s frowning but she knows better than to assume it’s due to the rejection.
“So guess I’m stuck bedridden for a while then huh?” His smile returns, pupils side eyeing Gangle.
She rubs her wrist awkwardly. His stares now add a new discomfort. She’s never been this close to him before, at least not without him menacing her.
“I guess so…”
“Well, I wasn’t done with my nap! All that coughing up flower junk really exhausts the body! So good night~” he plops into bed, facing away from the object of his affections. “No need to watch me sleep, creep.”
Admittedly this relieves Gangle, she can finally leave. She paces to the door embarrassingly too quickly. Opens it and shuts it behind her. Glad to be out of there.
Taking a breath. The air feels much easier to take in out here.
Her breather is interrupted by the rip of something.
“Huh?!” She backs away from the door.
“Oh hello Gangle!” Caine waves his fingers, the rest of his hand holding out a roll of… tape?” Back in his usual attire as well.
She looks at Jax’s door.
“Quarantine? Jax–Jax isn’t catchable is he? I thought-“
“Oh nononono.” Caine responds. Finishing lining the frame of his door with the quarantine tape. “This is more to just keep the others from seeing how icky and gross he is!” He waves his hand, tape vanishing. “Wouldn’t want to bring down the mood for the whole circus now would we!?” He holds out his arms and legs to emphasize the size of the place.
“Mm…”
“Is everything okay?” Ragatha walks up with the remaining cast members.
“Everything is fine my dear! Except for Jax! He’s very sick.”
“What!?” Pomni stutters eyeing the quarantine label around his door.
Gangle sees her worry, “no, no. it's not catchable… Caine just wants to…” she hesitates, Caine is right that Jax’s state is gross but her personal worry is if anyone were to see him, they would have questions. Either if they knew the context of the disease or not. “Be safe. Just in case.” She wasn’t ready to have that conversation with anyone.
A muffled fit of coughing is heard behind the door of Jax’s room. It turns to gagging. Everyone winces at the door until it quiets down.
Zooble gives an “ugh,” and crosses their arms. “Not that any of us really care, but how’s he looking?”
Gangle opens her mouth, “bad!” But Caine interrupts. “Which is why I ask all of you to give him his privacy!”
“Don’t need to tell me twice,” Zooble sways their hand in a half-hearted wave as they head towards their door.
Pomni takes this opportunity to leave as well, hunched in on herself, eyeing Jax’s door as she walks to her’s. Opening it she still watches Jax’s as if it might jump after her. Her room is right across from his, it makes sense she would be a bit wary. Digital diseases? What will they think of next?! She gives one last peak in the crack of her door before finally slamming it shut.
Ragatha, having gotten distracted by the display, shakes her head and turns her attention back to Caine and Gangle. Who she’s noticed has been a bit too involved.
Her gaze makes Gangle’s shoulders stiffen when she makes eye contact. “Um, Caine put me in charge of… helping ,” she drags the word, “Jax. Until he gets better,” she adds an awkward shrug, an awkward smile.
“Really?” She raises an eyebrow at Caine. “You think Gangle is the best person for this job?” Gangle tries not to find offense in that.
“Absolutely! I have full confidence in her!” Caine answers cheerfully.
Ragatha looks at Gangle who is holding onto her wrist, staring at the floor. Quiet.
It’s not that she doesn’t think Gangle capable. Just that Jax has been nothing but mean to her since day one. This could be bad for both of them, or Jax just takes advantage of her kindness as usual; treats her like a servant.
But there was no use arguing with the artificial intelligence, especially at this hour when she was ready for bed. Ragatha slowly breathes in then out. Shrugs. “Well… Gangle let me know if you need any help, okay?” Like a mother talking to a child in over their head.
She nods, if anything just to reassure Ragatha. Ignoring how the tone makes her feel.
Ragatha smiles and walks to the door next to Jax’s. “Good night Gangle, Kinger,” she nods at them both. “…Caine,” she says with less sincerity, as he’s still just floating there.
“Oh!” Ragatha vaguely gestures to the side of her own head. “Cute accessory by the way! It suits you!” She finally gently closes her door.
Gangle makes a small confused hum. Reaches toward the top of her mask. There she feels the dry petals of a flower.
Plucking it off her head she looks at it. A yellow camellia. She frowns.
“Well I’ll see you all in the morning! Rest well our new nurse!” Gangle cringes at the title. Keeping the expression as Caine pats her on the back, then poofs away.
The hall is empty, with only her and Kinger left. She looks up at him. He’s been silent the whole time, lost in thought. A blank stare at Jax’s door.
She looks at the door then back to him. Then the flower.
“Um, Kinger…?”
He doesn’t respond. She doesn’t want to frighten him, but she does need his attention.
“Kinger?”
Nothing.
She decides to step in front of him and wave.
“AHH!” “AHH!”
They both jump.
Kinger breaths, and his eyes squint with a smile, “oh Gangle! You have to stop sneaking up on me like that!”
Gangle can’t help but smile back toward him. Kinger may have a few screws loose but he’s always been kind to her, and his antics often make her comedy mask feel sturdier.
“Kinger, do you know anything about this flower?”
She holds out the wilting bloom with both hands.
“Oh!” Kinger gently takes it in his own. “A camellia.”
Gangle smiles, she figured Kinger would have some knowledge on them. She could have asked Caine but he tended to go on an explanation with needless additions and add-ons. At a speed that’s inconceptual.
Meanwhile Kinger kept it short and simple. Though he often got distracted if the explanation went on too long, pushing him in the right direction would bring him back. Besides it was nice to get the explanation from a more emotionally invested someone. She thinks he likes plants.
“Shrub blossoms! They bloom in late summer. Though it can be cultivated through multiple seasons. They come in all sorts of colors!” He looks at the flower in hand, blinking one eye before the other. “Yellow often symbolizes longing.”
Gangle looks down. Longing huh?
“Fitting for us in the Digital Circus don’t you think?”
“Uh…” thinking of her eternity here is surprisingly not on her mind right now. “What do they mean when they’re pink? Red?”
“Hmm. Well…” He stares somewhere distant. She assumed he was looking for a memory so let him be. Until enough time passed and she waves a ribbon in front of him again.
A more subsided shout this time, he looks down at Gangle. “Oh Gangle! What were we talking about?”
She softly gives him a smile, “pink and red camellias.”
“Right! Well camellias symbolize love already, so a red one would speak of how passionate the love is! Pink being the longing desire of being with your love…”
“I thought yellow was longing?”
“Yes well flower meanings aren’t set in stone. I can hardly keep up with all of them myself!”
He is smiling down at her and Gangle beams back with a little hum.
“You know I gave Queenie a bouquet of camellias once.”
Gangle’s eyes grow wide with fascination. Queenie was already long gone and rarely discussed when she arrived so the woman was a mystery to her. The little passing mentions of her always intrigued her though.
She sounded like a kind and warm woman.
“Yeah? How did that go?”
“I was a love sick fool at the time! Just vomiting with affection!” Gangle wrinkled her face a little at that, vomit not really a phrase she wanted to think about right now. Her smile didn’t falter though.
“You two always sounded so cute together.” She holds her hands against her cheeks. Cooing at the thought of them.
“She’s the love of my life! Always has been always will be!”
Gangle’s smile lowers. She keeps face for Kinger’s sake though. They stay silent for a bit.
Eventually his smile fades as well. “What were we talking about?”
“We were fixing to go to bed.”
“Oh right! Good night, Gangle!” He waves as he walks down the hall to his room.
Gangle waves back and heads to hers.
Queenie was a lucky woman.