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Ribbit hadn't been the first abstraction since Jax arrived, but Ragatha had never seen Jax take an abstraction as hard as Ribbit before. She shouldn't be surprised. Jax was always closer to Ribbit than anyone else. But it was still jarring to see the previously happy-go-lucky, jokester Jax acting so subdued. He would just go on adventures, come back to the circus, and go to his room, barely saying a word to anyone.
Ragatha was worried about him. She'd seen this before. After Vixxo abstracted, Rufus wasn't far behind. And from what Kinger had said during his moments of lucidity, Ragatha had deduced that it's not uncommon for one abstraction to lead to others. She was not going to let that happen to Jax.
Sometimes, Ragatha would try to include Jax more in the adventures. Encourage him to have fun. "Hey Jax, look!" she called to him during a zombie adventure. "Aren't these crossbows cool?" In the past, Jax would have been excited about firing crossbows or using similar weapons in an adventure like this. Now he just scoffed at her.
Another time, the group had split up on a museum heist adventure. Kaufmo and Kinger were on one team, keeping watch, while Ragatha was with Gangle and Jax to perform the heist.
Gangle was still rather new. Most people have a bit of an adjustment period before they get used to the Circus and the adventures, and Gangle still seemed to be adjusting. Adventures usually distressed her and she never got through one without her comedy mask breaking. A few weeks ago, Ragatha would have said she admired how Ribbit and Jax could get Gangle to smile and laugh, even after her comedy mask was broken. They'd gotten through to her in a way Ragatha hadn't yet been able to. Now, Ribbit was gone and Jax seemed just as sad as Gangle. If anything, they just seemed to be commiserating now.
Ragatha joined their team because she hoped she could help them both find joy in the adventure at the same time.
"Hey Gangle, isn't this art pretty?" Ragatha smiled as they walked through a gallery, passing by the world's famous paintings. Ragatha recognized The Scream, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Mona Lisa, and Starry Night, amongst others. She'd seen Gangle doodling while they were hanging out as a group, so she assumed Gangle enjoyed art. "Which one is your favorite?"
Gangle thought for a moment, then pointed at a painting of sunflowers. "Did you know that Van Gogh was taking a medicine made from foxglove that's known to make your vision look more yellow? His use of color in painting like this is beautiful, and it's because he was on this medicine."
"I didn't know that! Isn't that cool, Jax?" Ragatha looked around and saw that Jax had trudged ahead of her and Gangle. "Jax!" she called out. "Well," she turned back to Gangle. "I think it's interesting and I appreciate your knowledge. You add a lot to our little group."
"Th-thanks," Gangle stuttered.
"Is this what we're supposed to be nabbing?" Jax yelled back to Ragatha and Gangle.
Ragatha jogged up and saw a case of emerald jewelry. "Yes, that looks like it! Great job, Jax!" Ragatha pulled the tools they were provided out of her bag. "Would you like to do the honors?" she offered to Jax.
Jax sighed, rolled his eyes, and grabbed the tools from Ragatha. But before he could pick the locks, the team got a call on their radio.
"Security is coming your way! Hurry up!" Kaufmo's voice sounded.
"What do we do?" Gangle began to fret.
Jax groaned and dropped the tools. Instead of opening the case of jewels, he simply grabbed the case and pulled it off of the pedestal. The museum alarm began blaring. Gangle's comedy mask cracked, falling off her face as she started to wail.
Ragatha ran to a window and smashed it open. "Great job you two! Now we need to get out!"
Gangle was frozen in place. Jax looked at Gangle for a second, grabbed her, and tossed her out the window. Gangle screamed until Ragatha heard her hit the ground.
"Jax!" she scolded.
"What? We can't get hurt here! It doesn't matter!" he said as he followed her out the window with the case of jewels.
Ragatha knew he was technically right, but she had never seen Jax act so carelessly with Gangle before. Gangle was so sensitive and sounded so scared; she needed their compassion.
...But so did Jax. Ragatha sighed and jumped out the window, joining the rest of her team and ending the adventure.
A few days later, Ragatha found Jax sitting on the floor outside Ribbit's room. He was breathing heavily, legs pulled up to his chest and head buried in his knees. He looked so upset and Ragatha's heart bled for him. She sat down next to him.
"Jax, are you okay?" Ragatha softly placed a hand on his shoulder and felt him flinch under her touch. "You know we all love you and care about you, right?"
Jax took a deep breath and shrugged Ragatha's hand off of him. He lifted his head from his knees, not looking at Ragatha. He sounded almost out of breath when he told her, "F[%$!#] off."
Ragatha was stunned. Before she could think of a reply, Jax stood up, turned, and walked to his room.