Dancin' in The Ruins

AN: Yo! This is the sequel to one of my other fics 'Don't Fear the Reaper!' I would recommend reading it to understand fully what'll be going on here! No one asked for this or probably wanted it, but it's something that I wanted to write so yeah…

Started writing on June 14th 2018

Started editing on July 4th 2018

Jack smiled seeing Matthew flying towards him. The Reaper had left home early in the morning to help a soul. The couple decided to meet on the roof of the pole for the Guardian's meeting. Matthew always tried to be at the meetings with Jack. He liked being there and the other Guardians were kind of almost like their family now.

"Hello Birdie!" The winter spirit greeted pulling his husband into a kiss as he landed. Matthew broke away turning to the side and sneezing loudly. "Bless you." Jack laughed lightly. The Reaper groaned sniffling. "Getting sick again?" He asked worriedly resting his staff on one shoulder.

"I think I might have caught a cold." Matthew said sheepishly with a small smile.

"You don't say?" Jack laughed kissing Matthew on the nose making the blond laugh too. "We'll have to stop and get some medicine on the way home."

The Canadian nodded and Jack pulled him along into the pole. He took his hood down once they were inside. They waved at Phil as they passed. The yeti just grumbled at them and the pair laughed. They walked into the globe room and immediately spotted North and Bunny arguing. Matthew sat on the railing watching them while Jack tried to intervene. Sandy floated in seconds later with Tooth not to far behind.

All five of them were arguing now. The blond didn't really know what they were arguing about, the subject had already changed a few times. Their arguments were never serious, no one was actually mad at each other.

Matthew squinted his eyes, he felt another sneeze coming. He took a deep breath and sneezed loudly. He groaned sniffling and rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache starting to coming on. The Reaper didn't hear the Guardian's fighting anymore and looked up to see them staring at him.

"You got allergies Reaper?" Bunny asked raising an eyebrow. Jack flew over and put a hand on his forehead checking his temperature.

"No, just a cold." Matthew sighed leaning into his touch. The winter spirit's cool hand felt nice.

"Cold?" North asked confused. The other Guardians looked concerned. "Spirits cannot get colds!"

"Reapers aren't spirits." The Canadian shook his head. Jack sat up on the railing next to him. He scooted closer putting an arm around his waist. "We can get sick and other stuff."

"Other stuff?" Tooth asked flying closer.

"I can get scars and stuff. Reapers can get drunk and high. We actually have to eat and drink to survive." Matthew explained. He looked down at his feet. "If we're injured or sick enough, we can die."

"What?!" The four Guardians demanded. Even Sandy threw up a huge question mark of sand.

"It's why there's been more than one reaper." Matthew said shaking his head. The winter spirit looked down and away, arm tightening around his waist. He hated talking about this. "We're still partially immortal, we don't age."

"Why? Why would Manny do that?" Bunny asked shaking his head. "Why would he make you like that?"

"Reapers are made by Manny and Death. Death knew how hard our job would be and wanted us to have an out. An escape if we couldn't handle it anymore." The Reaper's eyes saddened.

"But another spirit could kill you." Sandy signed with his sand.

"Yes, it was a risk Death was willing to take." Matthew said shaking his head. "It does take quite a bit to kill a reaper."

"Does Pitch know?" North asked.

"Yes, he's killed a few reapers in the past." The Canadian said. He rested his head on Jack's shoulder. "He came very close to killing me once. I probably would have died if Jack hadn't found me."

-❄️"The trouble is, you think you have time."❄️-

AN: Flashback!

Matthew coughed struggling for breath. He rolled trying to get back to his feet, but Pitch easily kicked him back over. He landed with a cry on his broken wing. He didn't have the will to try again. Both of his wings were broken, his ribs were cracked with a punctured lung, broken collarbone as well as cuts and bruises all over. He'd lost a lot of blood and was weak.

This was only the second time Matthew had fought the Nightmare King. The first time, Pitch had gone easy on him, but this time he was showing no mercy.

"You had your chance to join me, Reaper." Pitch laughed hooking a foot under his chest and forcing him onto his back. The blond shook his head barring his bloody teeth at the man. The Nightmare King just laughed again, scythe in hand looking down on him with a wicked smile. "You should have taken it." The spirit of darkness raised his scythe ready to deal the final blow. Matthew closed his eyes waiting, but it never came. "I think I'll let you suffer."

The Reaper watched Pitch disappear into the dark forest. His laughter echoed off the trees making him shiver. He rolled back onto his stomach with a grunt. His ribs burned as he tried to get to his feet. Matthew's vision blurred and he collapsed back onto the forest floor. He cried out in pain feeling his ribs crack further. He closed his eyes and fought through the pain for every breath. He knew he wouldn't be able to go anywhere.

Matthew heard footsteps coming his way. He hoped it was Pitch coming back to finish him off. He opened his eyes seeing someone with bare feet walking up to him. They started to run spotting him on the ground.

"Mattie!" Jack yelled crouching down next to him. He was about to touch him, but drew back not wanting to hurt him.

"Hurts." The Reaper whimpered. His eyes were barely able to focus on him. He was glad to see the winter spirit.

"Let me help." Jack said with his eyebrows furrowed. Matthew gave him a small nod and he started to freeze over some of the more major cuts. He didn't know what to do with everything else. A raven landed next to the pair and crowed angrily at Jack. "Can Death help? Can you show me where he is?"

The raven narrowed its eyes, but nodded. The Reaper knew Death was really his only option at this point. Jack carefully gathered him up in his arms trying not to jostle him. Matthew clenched his teeth to stop himself from making a sound. The raven begrudgingly led him to Death.

Jack had stayed by his side the whole time, even when Death tried to shoo him away. He tried to help with anything he could, but he was so inexperienced with healing. The winter spirit would never forget the screams when Death had to set the bones in his wings.

-❄️"This morning, with her, having coffee."❄️-

"You stopped breathing at least twice." Jack said quietly shaking his head. "For the spirit of death, he's really good at bringing people back."

"When was this?" Tooth asked worry plastered on her face.

"Along time ago, probably over two hundred and fifty years." Matthew said shaking his head. He had to stop to cough. "Jack and I had only met a few years before then."

"I do not like this. Manny should have fought for full immortality." North said crossing his arms having his naughty tattooed arm over the nice.

"As far as I know, he didn't." The Reaper sighed. "He agreed with Death. He didn't want to make a spirit that was constantly unhappy."

"What about Ground Hog? He's always grumpy." Bunny pointed out.

"He's grumpy, not suicidal." Matthew shrugged. "There's nothing we can do about it now. There's no point worrying about it."

The Guardians didn't look very satisfied with his answers, but didn't push it further. They changed the subject and talked for a little while longer. Sandy and Tooth needed to leave to do their jobs. Jack and Matthew left soon after stopping on the way home to get some medicine. The blond had quickly taken it wanting to get rid of the cold as soon as possible.

Jack had been very cuddly that night. The Canadian definitely didn't mind. He knew his immortality was a touchy subject for the Guardian. He didn't like talking or thinking about it. Jack always worried about Matthew, but knew that the Reaper could take care of himself. He knew not to treat him like glass.

AN: A new chapter will be posted every other Saturday.