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"You know… Sometimes being around you is the best thing in the world…" Kepler spoke, holding the hand of Pomni as he walks with her through the halls of the circus, areas that they have never been before.
"We… Aren't in the world right now, silly…" Pomni spoke, sighing in disappointment a little, however they notice and quickly turn his head towards the jester's direction with a face of worry, squeezing her hand tightly.
"Well… S-Sorry… Heh, but you know… Maybe one day, one day… We will leave this digital purgatory, and find something better to do than exploring the circus like we are right now…" He spoke, chuckling a second after finishing, quickly stopping and wrapping their arms around Pomni, embracing her into a hug.
"Oh-! Heh… Thanks, Kep…" Pomni muttered, she knew Kepler was always so caring, even with the smallest of stuff, Kepler of course cared so much…
"Of course, " Kepler spoke, however they stop for a second as he squints his eyes at the hall around the corner, with shiny stars and colorful galaxy wallpaper around the corner… Kepler stands still while hugging Pomni, who also stands awkwardly.
"Uhhh… Kep?" The jester spoke, wondering if the alien was doing fine, however Kepler spoke with a curious voice.
"Is that… A different texture from the circus?" He spoke, quickly pulling away from the hug and pointing at the corner of the hall, Pomni muttered a quick "huh" before turning around and noticing the colorful stars and black wallpaper at the corner, squinting her eyes.
"Wait… What… Is that?" Pomni spoke, walking slowly towards the mysterious hall, Kepler quickly followed behind as they also walked towards the corner, as they are a step away from the corner, Kepler is the first to step foward and turning around, his eyes widening at the new hidden area.
The corner area reveals a small hidden arcade, with galaxy thematic around the digital walls, with colorful shiny stars and other space-themed stuff, there was basketball games, classic arcade games and even a little ball pit in one of the corners.
Kepler stands there, a small feeling of unease starting to swell on their chest, as Pomni steps into the arcade with him and her eyes lit up, looking around the mysterious and hidden arcade in the circus.
"Wow… This is… New…" She spoke, clearly amused by the hidden arcade, Kepler keeps standing there as he takes deeps breaths, however he quickly goes to reality as Pomni spoke, the alien shooks their head as they take a quick look around too, touching one of the arcade games curiously.
"Seems… Like an arcade, does Caine knows this is here?" Kepler spoke, Pomni rolled her eyes playfully at the emo alien's comment and walks towards one of the games, giving the joystick a try, to see if it works of course…
The joystick moves and the character displayed on the screen of the machine moves, it looked like a mega-man ripoff however… It still worked! Pomni gasps and quickly walks towards Kepler, touching his shoulder in which they just... Stand there.
"We should play with one of these, Kep!" Pomni spoke with joy on her voice, however Kepler stands there, taking deep breaths as they look to one direction of the ground, Pomni tilts her head before noticing that… Kepler wasn't alright.
"K…Kepler?" She spoke, extending a hand towards Kepler, who flinches and starts taking more deep breaths, his heart starting to beat fast, as he starts squatting down and sitting on the arcade's digital floor while still having heavy breathing.
Pomni quickly sits on her knees and wraps her arms around the panicking alien, embracing them into a warm, comforting hug.
As he starts hyperventilating, Pomni starts caressing his hair and arm, while the alien remembers how isolated they were before joining the circus, as far as they could remember, he had severe social anxiety and often stayed at home, never leaving home for two years whole, they were able to leave sometimes but most of those two years alone… Cold… Worrying about the others…
However… Their dear Pompom was there to calm him down, she was there, holding him… Caressing their arm… Being there for them…
"I am here, Kep…" Pomni spoke softly, still caressing them and holding him tightly, Kepler starts taking deep breaths and slightly caressing the jester's arm with their hand, his heart beating more and more slowly, calming down.
"You're safe, sweetheart…" The jester spoke, sometimes when Kepler's social anxiety got really really bad he would have panic attacks, from what she heard it was really bad…
And she cares so much for them…
"You're not in a unsafe place… No one will harm you, you are okay…" She spoke, Kepler started breathing more normally again and stopped shaking, he sighs and looks up to Pomni, who is staring sternly but with a soft smile.
"… I'm sorry, Pompom…" He spoke, with guilt in his voice, Pomni just leans in and gives a soft kiss in the alien's head, still giving a soft smile towards Kepler, not letting go of Kepler.
"It's ok, Kep… We went through this before, it's perfectly ok…" She spoke softly, Kepler sighed, they were most of the time having panic attacks, he has been healing and trying to be more social but… Sometimes it ended up in moments like this one…
However…
Pomni was always there for him, she was there for each panic attack, for any worry…
"…How did i got so lucky, Pompom?" He gives a warm smile to the jester, Pomni giggles and stares endearingly at the emo alien in front of her.
"Well… You just did, you're charming Kep…" She spoke, leaning in for another kiss in Kepler's forehead, the Alien blushes slightly and is full back smiling to the digital world as they stand up and help Pomni stand up too.
"Feeling better enough to try out this arcade?" She spoke, holding the hand of the alien, Kepler smiles and nods without hesitation, walking towards one of the games, dragging Pomni who giggles at this.
Oh Pomni… I wouldn't be so stable if it wasn't for you…