It was hot. So hot. He's never been this hot before. Both in his past life and in his present. Burgess wasn't exactly a desert. And ever since he became a spirit. All he ever visited were snowy places. Like mountain peaks, tundras, the Artic Ocean. He coud never stand the warmer climates. He had very low tolerance for heat. Every time he visited Hawaii or Guam or any tropical island. Really. He would get so tired. Like he was fading. Like he was melting into steam. And no matter how hard he tried. He could never summon his frost. The heat messed with his brain. It made it so hard to think. So hard. His mind. It couldn't focus. Hard enough. Just like now. Actually. He could fall asleep. Right here. And never wake up again.
"Oi! Jackie boy! You alright, mate?"
Bunnymund's voice rouses Jack from his stupor. His eyes, drooped half-closed, flutter open again. He blinks, looking up at the spring spirit.
"'Sfine, fine. Jus' shleepy." He slurs, listing a little to the side.
It was the day after Christmas and North had invited all of his fellow Guardians up to the Pole. It was the year's end festivities, a big, self-congratulatory pat on the back. They had all taken the time out of their busy schedules, which weren't really busy. In a surprise twist, it was Jack who had his hands full. The party was during day time, so Tooth and Sandy weren't working. North just finished his big, annual run. And Bunnymund, well Easter wouldn't be for a couple more months. But December was Jack's time, all the weeks up to March were prime snowfall oppurtunity. Still, it was his first year's end party. He'd never been invited to a party before. Well, he'd never been a Guardian either. It had sounded like fun and Jack never turned down a good time. So, he went.
The first half had been enjoyable. There was drinking and feasting. Music was played. They exchanged gifts, something Jack hadn't known about. But North only clapped him on the back and winked.
"There's always next year, Jack." He chuckled.
And Jack had paused then, breath caught in his throat. The promise of a future, of a next year and all the years after, weighed heavily in his chest. A warm, tiny burden nestled in the hush of his pulse. He barely managed a nod, a jerk of his head really. But North understood well enough. He was awfully wise like that. He laughed his great, booming laugh and ruffled Jack's hair. The winter spirit tried not to lean into his touch. Well, not obviously at least. He failed miserably but North was kind enough not to comment.
The general pleasantries were followed by dancing, with Bunnymund demonstrating his prowess at hip hop.
"Who'd ya think invented the sodding style?" He had smirked, catching Jack's stunned expression.
The party really took off then. Everyone had eased up and let loose. Jack even caught Phil shaking it a few times. It had been one hell of a celebration, but it ended far too early. Sandy and Tooth had to take off when night fell. They had floated and fluttered away, more than a little tipsy if their shaky flying meant anything. Jack had never seen Sandy soaked before but if it happened at every year's end party, then he'd never miss one. Drunk Sandy involved table tops and lampshades and a rip-roaring, good time.
It hadn't been the same after Sandy and Tooth left. The party ended up dying then. But North wasn't about to let them all disperse just yet. He had proposed a cooling off activity, something to get them all nice and relaxed. The year's end party was supposed to be a reward for all their hard work. And there was no better reward than putting up their feet and kicking back. So, North had proposed a banya.
A banya was a trip to the sauna. Surprisingly, it was Bunnymund who pointed out the glaring flaw in the plan.
"Uh, North? In case you forgot, our newest recruit is a winter spirit. You know, ice, frost. Things that can't stand heat."
Jack scowled. "Aw, come on Bugs Bunny. I can stand a little steam."
"Are you sure? I don't want you fainting on us." Bunnymund barked out a laugh.
"Like you should be talking. Rabbits can't handle high temperatures, am I right?" Jack sneered.
Bunnymund twitched. "I can handle it a sight better than you can, Frostbite."
"Is that a challenge?"
"I sure ain't asking you to dinner."
"Gentlemen, please!" North broke in, clapping their shoulders. "This is supposed to be relaxing. No need to make it competition."
Now, all three sit around a steaming pile of heated rocks. They are all stripped down to their skin. North has with him a bushy branch, just an ordinary branch like he plucked it right off a tree. He probably did. Every now and again, he swats Bunnymund or Jack with it. He claims it is to improve circulation, but he is having far too much hitting them.
"You whack me again, Nick. I swear, you whack me with that branch o' yours, and I will pluck the hair from your beard." Bunnymund snaps. "I mean it, every last strand."
North laughs, shaking his head. Still, he puts down the branch. "Okay, but you are missing out."
"I think I'll live."
Bunnymund leans back against the walls of the sauna. He has to admit, it isn't a horrible way to spend the evening. Just sitting around, stewing in the warmth, he could consider this relaxing. It's nice and quiet. But that's probably 'cause the heat took the wind right outta Jackie's sails. It's really the only way the kid could sit still for so long.
Out of the three of them, only North is properly sweating. Bunnymund could feel sweat gathering on his lips and the pads of his paws. Otherwise, he is completely incapable of sweating. But Jack - Jack isn't sweating at all. The poor bludger is thawing more like.
There's a slight thump and Bunnymund feels a cool cheek settle on his shoulder. The frostbite is still emanating a chill, but it's muffled in a way, hampered by the warmth.
He shakes the kid. "Jack? Jackie? I think it's time we get you out."
"Whazza matter, Bun?" Jack murmurs, barely coherent. "Can't shtand the heat?"
Bunnymund rolls his eyes. "You are something else, you know that?"
He turns to North. The elder man is sitting back, hands folded on his belly. His eyes are closed like he's enjoying a nap. Bunnymund grabs a hold of the branch and swats him right on the chest.
"Oi! North! Wake up!"
North opens one eye. "Yes?"
"I think it's time to head out. I don't think the kid can take much more."
When Jack failed to protest, leaning more heavily against the Pookah, Bunnymund grows frantic.
"North!"
"Yes, yes. You are being correct. It is time to go." North rises to his feet. "C'mon, up! Up!"
Bunnymund wraps an arm around Jack's waist. Sweet Spring, the sprite is frighteningly thin. It feels like Bunnymund could circle his arm twice around the kid, he was that tiny.
"I got you, Frostbite. I got you." Bunnymund murmurs, getting to his feet and pulling Jack with him. "You're gonna be fine, jus' fine."
"Things will get very chilly very soon." North agrees with a wink. "I promise."
The big man opens the sauna doors. The evening breeze greets them with a sharp nip. Poor Bunnymund shivers at the sudden cold onslaught. The cool air almost seems eager to reunite with its master, swirling around the teen and rousing him a little. But Jack remains largely limp and the poor, chilled Pookah has to prop him up to keep him standing.
They are still at the Pole. The sauna sits at the foot of North's expansive workshop, unconnected to the building proper. It sits on the banks of a fair-sized frozen pond. Bunnymund recalls seeing an unusually large fishing hole cut into the ice. It had piqued his interest going in to the sauna. It piques his interest now since they headed straight for it. He hears North shift beside him
"Now comes the fun part." North announces.
"It is all the warning Bunnymund receives before North pushes him and Jack into the pond's cut opening.
Jack had only been vaguely aware of his surroundings. He had never been that hot before. He had no idea he would react so badly to the heat. He had blacked out for a little while, but he woke up soon enough. The fresh, cold wind helped, the sauna's steam giving way to the frigid, night air. He had been regaining his strength. He had just opened his eyes, when he felt himself falling. A blunt blow forced him forward and down.
The splash explodes in his ears. Bubbles burst on his skin like firecrackers. Pin-sharp water floods his nose, his mouth, and he gasps for air only to swallow more. There are knives where his lungs should be. He kicks and he flails but all he does is sink. The surface floats further and further away. He's dying. He's dying all over again.
"Jack, I'm scared..."
He doesn't want to die.
Bunnymund heaves a great, big lungful of air. The abrupt change in temperature hit him like a thundershock. He paddles to shore, hauling himself onto the snowy banks. There's a splash behind him. He turns and finds North playing about. The pond's icy shell floats in pieces around him.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR TINSEL-SWOLLEN MIND?!" Bunnymund screeches.
"You should've seen your face, Aster!" North calls back, swimming to shore. "It was Kodak moment."
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT, NORTH?!" Bunnymund yells.
"It is custom." North shrugs, rising out of the water.
"TO DROWN PEOPLE?!"
"No, no. It is part of bathing ritual, to cool off after first sweat in sauna. It is feeling good, yes?"
"WHAT KIND OF PISS POOR RITUAL IS THA-Where's Jack?"
North blinks and glances around. "I pushed him in."
"Well, he wasn't here when I came up. He must still be..." Bunnymund swallows.
He and North share a look.
"Shostakovich." North murmurs.
There's a strange crackling sound coming from the pond. They turn to look and find the water freezing at an incredible rate. The once shattered ice hisses and fuses together, a smooth, unmarred whole. It bears no trace of ever being broken.
"What... the hell?" Bunnymund mutters.
"Jack..." North whispers.
There's a stunned pause before they recover from the shock. North is the first to move, rushing into action. He clambers onto the pond, prompting Bunnymund to follow.
"Jack! Jack!" They call out.
Reaching the center, North takes a knee with Bunnymund hunched down beside him. He sweeps away the frost and reveals the clear ice beneath. Just in time for the fog-shrouded Moon to peek out, illuminating the darkened depths below.
"Oh, hell." Bunnymund curses.
North bows his head, hands curling into fists.
Deep within the frozen waters, Jack hangs suspended. Eyes squeezed shut. A silent scream etched on his lips. He wore the unmistakable expression of pure, unbridled terror.