Chapter Text
“How close did you say we are to the next key?”
Jax glances sideways at his companion, wiggling the rolled-up map for the laboratory complex in his hand.
“We’re close. Don’t tell me you’re that eager to get rid of me, Raggs. You might hurt my feelings.”
Like clockwork, the insinuation in his reply gets her all huffy and defensive.
“You know that’s not what I meant!”
He does. Not that she’d be wrong to say that either. Everyone was suspicious when he volunteered himself for the role of navigator. And while he did lead them to the keys they need to end the adventure and get back to the tent, he also didn’t warn them of the obstacles, ducking out of the way while they took the brunt of it. Nobody could take the map off of him though, so they just had to suck it up.
“I know. Why else would you stay this long if you didn’t enjoy my company?” he says with a wink.
The doll merely rolls a tired eye at him. His grin widens. He’s the only one who can get that reaction out of her and he takes it as a point of pride.
This whole adventure he has been running her ragged (pun intended). Thanks to his behavior, everyone else was eager to get back to the main realm as soon as they could. Little Miss Doormat stepped aside and let someone else take the return key every time that they found one. Meaning, she had to endure being Jax’s source of entertainment for even longer.
Now it’s down to the two of them. Surprise, surprise.
The laboratory complex is full of all kinds of sci-fi themed obstacles and the colors have a pleasant coolness instead of the oversaturated eyesores he’s sick of seeing. Plus, the futuristic bodysuits aren’t half-bad. Probably won’t consider this Caine’s best work, though it’s definitely better than the duds they’ve been getting lately. Should things continue to go his way, Jax might throw the AI a bone and give him that positive feedback he’s always chasing after.
Speaking of going his way, they reach the location of the second to last key. If Ragatha notices his smile getting bigger, she doesn’t point it out.
As they approach, the hatch to the room opens, revealing a long corridor crisscrossed with lasers and the key at the end of it. Feels like it would be more suited for a heist theme than an experimental laboratory theme. Not that he’s fussing about it, you can’t really expect too much from this place.
Reaching into hammerspace, Jax pulls out a bowling ball and rolls it towards the direction of the key. It doesn’t take long for it to set off a few laserbeams.
Both of them watch as a slimy pink substance shoots out from a hidden turret in the wall, hitting the bowling ball with a hard smack. Then a green one from another. And an orange one from yet another, the impact from the last one being strong enough to roll the ball back to them.
With a low whistle, Jax nudges a stuffed shoulder with his elbow.
“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for ya.”
She doesn’t say anything, solely focusing on what lies ahead. The corners of his mouth slip down. Whatever. He’ll get his kicks from watching her make a fool of herself.
Her floppy ragdoll body slowly and surely weaves its way through the lasers. In hindsight, it helps that she’s wearing a bodysuit instead of her dress right now — a hoop skirt would have made this way more difficult. Being able to see the shape of her legs unobscured is also a rare novelty. He’s almost disappointed when she makes a misstep. Almost. The shot throws her off of her game, causing her to trip the sensors left and right, and then Jax is too busy laughing to care.
By the end of it, Ragatha is covered head to toe in slime of varying shades and hues, clutching the key in her mitten fist. The lasers turn off once she clears the floor. Relief breaks through her fatigued features at the thought of finally wrapping up this disaster.
Jax proceeds to shatter this relief by running over and plucking the key out of her hand.
“Gee, thanks, dollface. It was nice of you to get that for me.”
The doll is so stunned by his audacity it actually takes her a second to come up with a response.
“Hey! Give that back!”
Though she swipes for it, the slime weighs her down too much and he dodges easily.
“Now that’s not very neighborly of you. Besides-” he unrolls the map and hands it over to her- “I saved the best for last.”
Thanks to him hogging it this whole time, she hasn’t gotten a proper look at the layout before this. His gaze follows hers intently as she traces their steps on the sheet, mentally ticking off the areas where all the other keys have been collected. He knows that she’s spotted the last location once her irritated expression melts into one of dread.
The last key is in the Megafauna room, which holds mammoth-sized versions of bugs and critters: ants, roaches, spiders…
…and centipedes.
She tilts her head up to face him, and the full sight of it is even better. There’s a tremble in her voice when she speaks.
“Jax. Could I please have that key?”
Oh this is just too good.
“Or else what?” he drawls smugly. His cheeks are starting to get sore from how wide he’s smiling.
Her mouth closes and opens like a dying fish. The panic only grows more and more apparent as she wracks her brain for a solution.
“Or else I’ll –” she stammers.
“- or else I’ll never talk to you again.”
Something within him goes cold at the idea, which is stupid.
Why would he care?
Jax shakes it off.
“Yeah, still a no.”
Before she puts any more weird ideas in his head, he turns the key as if to unlock an invisible door. The portal materializes and he walks through it, leaving the ragdoll and her worries behind.
***
Ragatha arrives way, way later. Much later than even Jax expected. He’s been loitering around in the main area hoping to see the look on her face and he’s just about to call it quits when the portal appears.
She steps out, back to wearing her classic outfit once again. The thing about being in a video game is that you can go through hell and back without it showing on your avatar at all. Her model is as pristine as ever, though her shaking form and her vacant stare betray otherwise. Caine pops up to congratulate her and she jumps. Unknowingly adding insult to injury, the ringmaster bestows upon her her prize for being last place: a single rubber duck.
It’s only when the AI disappears that she registers his presence. As their eyes meet, she glares at him with an unprecedented fury that makes his chest feel tight. Then she leaves before he could say anything.
Jax doesn’t follow her. It’s like his feet are glued to the checkerboard floor.
The day after, they don’t talk.
Nor the day after that.