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theboywithburninghands · 4 months

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All good things must come to an end. This is the final chapter/epilogue to the story taking place in @rottentricks’s universe. Will I return? I may. I love this interpretation of the characters. But, for now, this is the end. Enjoy!

T/W: Suicide, manipulation, sexual innuendos, fantasy racism

Animals Ch. 5: Pigs on the Wing

A green 2000 Honda Accord pulled into the Medical Center parking lot around 2 pm. A fair skinned brunette woman in a black leather coat and a red scarf emerged from the passenger side. She winced a bit at the cold, but marched forward anyway.

“Ella! Wait for me!” her husband, similarly pale, in a tan duster and blue baker’s boy cap, stumbled out of the driver’s side, hurriedly putting his keys and cellphone into his pocket.

“I just need to see her,” the woman replied.

“I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to worry as well,” her husband muttered.

“Vladimir, save your carping for later!” Ella snapped.

A woman with curly red hair and an eyepatch over her right eye stood outside the entrance in a violet peacoat and white-and-pink Pompom hat. She took a drag off of a mostly spent cigarette, dropping it and grinding it into the snow with her boot upon seeing the two out-of-towners.

“Ella and Vladimir?” she asked with a glowing smile.

“That’s us, you must be Ragatha,” Ella replied, giving a thin and nervous smile in return. “It’s a pleasure to put a face to a name. How’s Pomni?”

Ragatha led them inside, tamping the snow off her boots. She led them down the hall.

“She’s just fine! I know you two must be worried sick, but she’s right as rain. She’s eating and drinking, and… well she’s definitely talking. She’s actually talking to some police officers right now.”

“Police offi- Excuse me?!” Ella cried.

“No, no, don’t worry! She did something really amazing! Come on, she’s in here.”

Ragatha led them into room 6. In addition to two local police officers, one of whom appeared to the sheriff if the cowboy hat and aviators were any indication, an enormous rabbitman in a white shirt and suspenders stood off in the corner. He eyed the two of them with mild suspicion, before seeming to understand their relation to Pomni and looking away again.

“Mom, Dad!” Pomni smiled and held out her hands from her hospital bed. She looked tired and her voice rasped, but she had color in her cheeks.

“Oh, honey! I’m sorry we took so long!” Ella went over and grabbed her daughter’s hands. “Are you okay? What’s going on? You’re not in trouble, are you?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, ma’am.” one of the officers, the woman without a cowboy hat, answered.

Ella looked from the police officer back to Pomni. “Pomni, what happened?”

“Well… she appears to have helped us solve a murder case.”

“Oh, is that all?” Vladimir replied distantly.

“What?!” Ella cried. “Pomni, what have you been doing?! You said you were just attacked by an animal, what’s all this about- murder?”

“I’m sorry, mom. It’s been… it’s been a wild few days.”

Pomni turned to the police officers. “Can I fill them in on everything?”

“Might as well, we could stand to hear the whole story over again.” the sheriff drawled.

Pomni told them everything. From the biased detectives, to looking for clues in Kaufmo’s condo, to the Nightwalker, to Jax rescuing her. All the way to the announcement she made on the news. She only left out the part about Jax going to investigate, since she didn’t want him nailed for breaking and entering. By the end of the story, both of her parents looked like they had run a marathon. Pomni paused to take a long drink of water.

“I know it wasn’t safe, or smart, but I needed to do something. Anything. I knew as soon as I saw that fake pill, that…”

“Pomni. It’s okay, I just… it’s so much at once.” Ella admitted.

“Normally you’d be in a lot more trouble, Ms. Freeman. You trespassed, and that evidence you found is inadmissible in court, since it was obtained illegally.”

Pomni looked down. “So there goes my scholarship, right?”

“Well… Dr. Wren came forward and admitted everything. Seems like you were correct. He had been giving Kaufmo fake pills, in hopes of him killing himself and stirring up advocacy for his cause.”

“Bastard…” Pomni whispered.

“So, even though your methods were unorthodox, you did help us track down the real culprit,” the female officer continued. “The sheriff and I agree that we can let you off with a warning this time.”

Pomni’s parents sighed in unison.

“All of that said, we don’t want you poking around in police business anymore,” the sheriff said. “You got incredibly lucky that our perp had no spine. If he had decided to shut his mouth and get a lawyer, he probably would have walked.”

“I know. I just…” She looked across the room at Jax. They locked eyes. “I knew you had the wrong guy…”

Jax gave her a small smile.

“We did,” the female officer said. “And for that, we owe Mr. Kingston an apology.”

The sheriff seemed to clam up a bit, but he chewed his lower lip and walked over to Jax.

“On behalf of the Autumnvale Police Department, I’d like to apologize for the mistake we made.” he groused.

“…Thanks,” was Jax’s curt reply.

The sheriff nodded stiffly then motioned towards the door. “Let’s go, Melissa, paperwork ain’t gonna finish itself.”

He stepped out the door, the female officer smiling at Pomni’s parents.

“Pleasure meeting you two, enjoy the rest of your day.”

She followed the sheriff out of the room. Pomni’s father looked at Jax, the rabbit-wolf blinking in response.

“You rescued my little girl, sir,” Vladimir said.

Jax got to his feet after a moment. Even though Vladimir was the tallest in the family, he only came up to Jax’s armpit.

“Just doing the right thing, Mr. Freeman…” he muttered. Pomni had to swallow a giggle at how shy the crossbreed was acting around her dad.

“Thank you so much… I’m forever in your debt, Mr. Kingston.” Vladimir extended a hand. Jax looked at Vladimir’s hand for a few moments before he took it in his own enormous mitt and shook it gingerly.

Ella approached the butcher as well. She opened her mouth to say something, finding no words. She threw her arms around Jax, who jolted and held his arms out to the sides.

“We owe you the world, sir…” she whispered tearfully. The top of her head only came up to his diaphragm.

“Uh… I uh… Y-Yeah, thanks. I mean- you’re welcome.” Jax stammered.

“Mom…” Pomni whined, blushing.

Her parents stayed for as long as they were allowed, chatting with Ragatha and septuple-checking if Pomni was alright and that she for certain had everything she needed. Jax mostly stood outside the room, sizing up anyone who came too close. It wasn’t until Pomni called him inside the room that he began to speak more to her parents.

“So, you’re a butcher, Mr. Kingston? Is that a very lucrative business in this town?” Vladimir asked.

Jax had to think for a moment. Lucrative. What did that mean again..?

“Erm… yes. I have a lot of customers.” he replied after a pause.

“I’ve been a satisfied customer for years,” Ragatha added with a glowing smile. “He’s got the best bacon, the best pork chops, the best steaks- oh my gosh, you guys need to try my steak and eggs tomorrow! It’s the blue-plate special!”

“I’ve had one of his steaks… they’re amazing.” Pomni said, sucking on a cherry menthol drop. The hospital thankfully had some of those in stock along with the lemon-honey kind.

“Wow, I’m surprised. The drive into town seems like nothing but wheat and cornfields…” Ella said.

Jax made an unpleasant sound in his throat. “I hate corn.”

“I was going to ask. You are part wolf, right? Are you an omnivore?” Vladimir asked.

“Dad…” Pomni chided, but Jax raised a paw at her and nodded reassuringly.

“Yeah. I eat meat and greens. Just not corn. Fuc- Uh, screws with my stomach.”

“Well, that’s no love lost, really. As a dietitian, I can tell you that corn is mostly just starch and sugar,” Ella said. “And I can tell you’ve been eating right, Mr. Jax.”

“Mom…!” Pomni exclaimed.

“What? He’s in excellent shape. You could learn a thing or two from him, Pomni.” Ella’s tone became a bit more stern. “You’re not just eating instant noodles and toaster pastries, right?”

“No, mom…” Pomni grumbled.

“I make sure she’s well fed, Ella, don’t you worry.” Ragatha chirped.

There was a small commotion from down the hall as Gangle, in her beret and holding her libretto for A Winter’s Tale, hurried in along with Zooble. Jax looked up from examining his own bicep and smiled at his cowboy friend.

“Hey, ‘Secret Admirer.’” he said, a knowing gleam in his moon-yellow eyes.

Gangle spoke up before Zooble had time for a retort.

“Guys! We should turn on the-” Gangle noticed Vladimir and Ella, holding her libretto a little closer to herself. “Oh, uh… excuse me. Hi, am I interrupting?”

Pomni’s mom smiled and got to her feet, shaking one of Gangle’s ribbons. “No, not at all. I’m Mirella Amadeo, Pomni’s mother.”

“Hello,” Vladimir said shortly.

Pomni smiled a bit, her mom was always the most social in the family.

“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” Gangle said with a nervous but happy laugh. “My name is Gangle, and this is my friend Zooble. Their pronouns are they/them.”

“Howdy,” said Zooble, doffing their hat.

“We should turn on the news, it’s gonna start any minute! Channel 03!”

Pomni picked up the remote from the nightstand and switched on the small, wall mounted CRT television in the corner of her room. When the screen fuzzed with snow, she pressed a few buttons before the picture flicked to black, then to an animated intro for the 5 o’clock news.

“ADC News: Your window to the world,” a smooth-voiced man announced.

The picture cut to a well-dressed cougarman and human woman behind a glass desk in a somewhat futuristic-looking newsroom.

“Good evening, I’m Robert Watts,” the man began.

“And I’m Jennifer Silman, and this is ADC News. Our top story tonight…”

The camera zoomed in on Silman, a screen over her right shoulder showing a photo of the Autumnvale Regional Medical Center.

“…the ongoing homicide investigation of Autumnvale man Kaufmo Hawkins has taken yet another startling twist. Earlier today, Pomni Freeman, the young woman rescued from a Nightwalker attack by the previous suspect Jax Kingston, gave an explosive accusation in front of Autumnvale Regional Medical Center.”

The picture cut to footage of Pomni talking into the megaphone earlier that day.

“You’re not a hero. You’re a freak! All you did was bully a man that everyone loved into killing himself, then you made the guy who was already the town pariah into the main suspect because it looked good to defend him!”

Pomni covered her face with her blanket, her parents looking at her incredulously. Jax gave a proud smirk. The picture cut back to the cougarman news anchor.

“The man Miss Freeman accuses in that clip is Dr. Cole Wren, Autumnvale’s 64-year old psychiatrist…”

A photo appeared over his right shoulder, showing a mugshot of Dr. Wren. His eyes were hollow and his expression vacant.

“…who Miss Freeman accused of prescribing fake antidepressants to Hawkins, in the hopes that he would take his own life. Wren swiftly turned himself in after being accused, and, according to the APD, confessed to everything.”

The picture cut to a high ranking officer, who the screen identified as Commissioner Waylon Richmond, at a press conference. Flash bulbs blinked intermittently as he stood on a podium.

“The coroner’s report shows that Mr. Hawkins had no trace of antidepressants in his bloodstream at the time of his death… He had to have been off of them for months.”

It cut to the mugshot of Dr. Wren again, with the male news anchor narrating over it.

“The reason? Wren says that he wanted to be seen as a pioneer for social justice, framing Autumnvale’s butcher Jax Kingston…”

It cut to an image of Jax being handcuffed and let into a squad car. He glared daggers at the camera.

“…for the crime. Kingston is a crossbreed and has faced tremendous prejudice both as a child and an adult.”

It cut to Kinger, sitting in his living room, looking forlorn.

“When he was a boy he would come home from school with bruises and cuts all over… He said the other kids trapped him in the jungle gym, poked him with sticks and threw pebbles at him. They said he was a ‘[censored]’ and belonged in a zoo or the circus… he was only seven.”

Pomni looked at Jax. He simply watched the screen, poker-faced, with his arms crossed. The news footage cut to a picture of Dr. Wren shouting into a bullhorn in front of the crowd of protestors.

“Wren confessed that he wanted to have Kingston wrongly convicted so he could lead a protest for crossbreed rights, to not only raise awareness for the cause, but also to be seen as a hero. ADC News, Robert Watts.”

The footage cut back to the newsroom, the female anchor turning to the male.

“I gotta tell you Rob, this entire case was like something out of a spy thriller. So many twists and turns!” she exclaimed.

“I have to agree, Jen, and we have to commend the work of the young lady who brought this accusation forward-”

Pomni swiftly mute the television and covered her face, which had turned tomato-red.

“Please no more…” she begged.

“No more? Pomni, you’re a hero! You got a vile human being arrested!” her father declared.

“I’m not a hero! I just…”

“Impostor syndrome, it’s a bitch.” Zooble said.

—

Visiting hours ended at 5:30, so soon enough it was time for everyone to head out. Pomni was gently encouraged by both her surgeon and her parents to stay overnight to let the bites knit and in case any of her stitches popped. Pomni agreed. She had work she needed to do, but her parents insisted they would call her school and inform them of the situation so she could get an extension. Besides, she didn’t much feel like moving anyway.

Her mother and father (and Ragatha) all kissed her goodbye and wished her a peaceful evening, her parents promising to return as early as possible with breakfast. Gangle lent her a book to read, the works of Eugene Ionesco, and Pomni politely accepted it even if she was too tired to read much of anything. Zooble merely bid her goodnight, but, after everyone left, squeezed Pomni’s hand and thanked her “from the bottom of their heart” for helping Jax.

As for Jax, he excused himself to the restroom a few minutes before closing time. He remained missing as everyone said their goodbyes, but a few minutes after Zooble left, he returned.

“You’re gonna get in trouble…” Pomni said with a weary smile.

Jax smiled right back, his sharp teeth on full display. Pomni was either too familiar with him or too fuzzy inside to be frightened of the sight of it anymore.

“I’ll risk it. You know, I still owe you for helping clear my name. Even if Caine bailed me out, I’m sure the cops would have been gangstalking me for ages…”

Pomni shook her head. “You don’t owe me a thing. You saved my life and got me the clue I needed to get a confession out of Wren. We’re even Steven.”

Jax chuckled. “Alright, so we’re even. But what if I wanted to give you something anyway?”

“Depends on what you wanted to give me.” Pomni replied, as coquettishly as she could given her exhaustion.

Jax walked across the room and knelt at her bedside. “Just a question. Would you ever want to go out and see the town together? Preferably not while I’m carrying you, unless you enjoyed that.” Another wolfish smile.

“Har har. But yeah, I’d love that.” Pomni replied. “As soon as I’m feeling better and get some of my work done.”

“Sounds good. …You know…” Jax looked at the floor, still maintaining a smile. “I was kind of hoping to give you something else.”

“I was kind of hoping you’d give me something too.” Pomni replied, taking a hand and petting one of his ears. They were thick and shaggy. She wanted to cuddle one.

Jax knelt forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. He had gained a bit more confidence since their last kiss a few hours ago. Pomni felt the tip of his tongue on his lips, fighting the urge to slide her own hungrily into his mouth, but she overcame her id. She was in the hospital, after all, there was a time and a place for that sort of thing.

She held the back of his head gently, keeping his lips against hers for a good half minute. He let out a low, long but gentle rumble against her lips that tingled her all over, giving her gooseflesh. Oof, the thought of hearing that right in her ear…

The kiss broke, Pomni petting his ears and tickling under his chin. He crooned happily. She kissed him again on the forehead.

“Alright. More tomorrow, you don’t need to get in trouble again.”

“Okay. Promise?” he asked with a tiny, eager smile.

“I promise.”

Jax nodded and gave her another toothy grin. It was so threatening before… He passed by the sheepwoman nurse as he went through the doorway.

“Sir, visiting hours have-”

“Already leavin.’” Jax replied, holding up a hand without looking at her.

He walked to the front door, hands in his pockets. It had been a day of firsts. The first time he’d ever had a guest to his house that wasn’t his parents, the first time he’d ever been really thanked for doing a good deed for a stranger, the first time he’d ever been kissed by someone other than his family… Hell, three kisses in one day. That was pretty amazing. His first girlfriend. Was she his girlfriend? Maybe. It was surreal to think about. Girlfriends and boyfriends weren’t for him. For two decades now, he’d grown to accept this. But, here he was.

He half expected to wake up back in jail. A pleasant dream his mind had cooked up about a pretty customer he met at his shop, right before those three dick-swingers woke him up behind bars and told him they were transferring him to prison for the rest of his days. Where had they gone, anyway? Probably back to the big city. They hadn’t done much of anything other than find planted evidence and get shouted at by a cute little lady. What men. Muy chulo.

He stepped outside. It had dipped down into 20 degrees, but it felt good. Bracing. Tonight he’d stoke a fire and make some beef stew, maybe chicken soup. Something good for a winter night. He wanted to call Zooble and tell them what happened. No, wait. He didn’t have a phone. What the hell was he thinking? Call up his best friend and gossip about a relationship? That sounded more like the kind of girl that would have picked on him back in school.

“Hey, freak.”

Speak of the devil.

Trevor took a drag on his cigarette, stepping out from behind a parked truck.

“Hey, Cyclops. That your truck? Or you taking a leak behind it?” Jax smiled, showing all of his teeth.

Trevor snorted mirthlessly. “I suppose you think you’re in the clear since the mayor decided to pardon you. Am I right?”

“Well, the guy who actually did it turned himself in. So, yes. I can tell you’re just broken up that it wasn’t me that killed the comedian. I can see tears in your eyes- sorry, eye.”

Trevor’s lips peeled back in a snarl. “Hilarious. You oughta be a comedian. I’m laughing real hard on the inside.”

Jax tilted his head in mock curiosity. “So, why’re you here, Trevvy-boy? You want a kiss?”

“I’m here to tell you, mutt, that you’re not off the hook. I still owe you for this-” Trevor pointed to his eyepatch. “-and just cuz you got a little bleeding heart from the city to call out that quack, doesn’t mean you get to walk.”

“Hm? What, are you saying you did it, Trevor?”

“No, I’m saying-”

“Yeah, you don’t have the spine to kill someone.”

Trevor’s lip curled upwards again. “I’m saying, I think you did it, and you got Little Miss Moneybags to bribe the mayor into bailing you out.”

Jax snorted. “Please. You honestly think I got that kind of influence?”

“I do know that Miss Daddy’s Money in there is a bleeding heart, who’d probably fall for your sob story.” Trevor grunted. “Maybe even get a wittle cwush on you. Isn’t that right, half-breed?”

“Aw, someone needs new material. Look, you gonna take your shot, or no? ‘Cause I’d like to go home.” Jax said, passing by Trevor and stepping out onto the road.

“Hm. So you’ve not had her.” Trevor said pensively. “Funny. She had a great time with me.” Trevor grinned lasciviously and lolled his tongue out.

Jax stopped walking and turned to look at his bully. “What did you say?” His pupils dilated, his yellow eyes gleaming rings of bloodlust.

“I said Miss Richie Rich had a go-”

In an instant, Jax rushed towards Trevor. His claw flashed in the orange sunset, rocketing towards Trevor’s face. The wolf instinctually raised a hand to block the swing, but it was too late. His claw was within jabbing distance of his one good eyeball. He feebly braced for impact, even as the claw rocketed past him and poked him gently on the snout.

“Boop.~”

Jax prodded Trevor on the nose, pulling his claw back and smiling mischievously. Trevor growled and rubbed his nose with the back of his arm.

“What the fuck was that, freak? Huh?”

Jax shrugged. “Today has been the best day of my life. I feel too good to fight you. Besides, I know for a fact Pomni wouldn’t even touch your cretin ass, because she’s my girlfriend.”

“Yeah right-” Trevor began, only for Jax to spin about on his heel and head off towards his house.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“I’m not done talking to you, freak!” Trevor shouted.

“Yeah you are.” Jax replied.

“She’ll see you for what you are! You’re a monster! I know you are!”

“Yeah yeah yeah. Keep shouting. You got nothin.’” Jax replied, and he began to whistle.

And as the sun dipped below the horizon, gleaming an iridescent orange, no more words were exchanged. Both of them knew Jax was right.

—

So, I don't feel alone on the weight of the stone

Now that I've found somewhere safe to bury my bone

And any fool knows a dog needs a home

A shelter from pigs on the wing

#the amazing digital circus #funnybunny #jax x pomni #tadc jax #tadc pomni #oh no cringe #the amazing digital murder mystery #tadc butcher au #tadc kaufmo #tadc ragatha #tadc zooble #tadc gangle #tadc kinger

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