A/N Okay, so this is my first fanfiction! YAY! I'm not quite sure about publishing my own story, but I wanted to give it a shot.
"All right! First Guardian meeting with Jack! Let us get started." North boomed, giving a jolly chuckle(well, a chuckle for him, but it was really more of a guffaw). He smiled broadly at the four guardians sitting in front of him, all squished together on a not-quite-large-enough sofa.
"Second meeting, technically." Jack mentioned absently, eyes wandering the workshop. Wow. I wish I lived somewhere like this. He was still awestruck by the impressive globe room, and in all honesty just wanted to fly around and see everything, but he kept his expression an indifferent smirk. "And what's the couch for?"
"First guardian meeting since Pitch incident, then." North amended, "And couch is for bonding. We are team now! And teams must learn to get along, hence close space." Not even taking a breath, the cossack immediately dived into an extremely detailed "summary" of how his week of preparing for Christmas had been. Jack didn't really listen, but he tried to avoid disrupting North's speech. I wonder how many Yetis I can get to faint if I knock over that pile of toys. "And despite ze wrapping paper incident, all ez sorted out. Of course elves are now banned from the..."
"I think we got it, mate." Bunny interjected, pausing as the three other listeners breathed quiet sighs of relief. "You've probably earbashed us for longer than the actual events you're describing." Thank you, Kangaroo.
"Ha! I guess you are right. I will quit the chitter-chatter. More for me to say next week, no? Who wants to share next?" Here we go again. Jack was itching to move. To let the wind carry him. To do something.
Tooth jumped at the segway. "I have so much to share! Where to begin? I'm finally back in the field and there is just so much teeth and theteetharejustsomuchcooloerwhentheyarerecentlydemouthedand . . ." Teetering on creepy again, Tooth. Don't want another Sophie incident, do we?
Not for the first time that day, Bunny interrupted. "That's ace and all, sheila," Bunny may have his flaws, a LOT of flaws, but at least he knows when the others' explanations are going too far. "But North . . . What did ya say about next week?"
North glanced at Jack, whose attention had been caught by Bunnymund's questioning tone. "Yes, yes. Guardian meetings are weekly from now on."
Tooth smiled, but the glow didn't reach her eyes, her eyebrows slightly scrunched together. Sandy clapped his hands together, appearing to be thrilled. Bunnymund, on the other hand, was anything but. "We never had many of these meeting before, North. Why start now?" The Pooka stared pointedly at Jack, his eyes accusing.
The winter spirit's eyes widened. "Wait. You're not having these because I joined, are you?" He narrowed his eyes. What, because I'm new they have to keep an eye on me? Jack thought back on the previous Easter. No. This has nothing to do with being new. They think I'll get into trouble. That's all I am after all, at least according to Kangaroo. "Well I don't need you guys to babysit me. I won't mess up you guys' stupid reputations if that's what you're getting at."
North stuttered over his next words. "What? Jack, no. O-of course we don't..." Can't even think up an excuse, North?
Tooth broke in, "Jack, I'm sure North justs wants you to feel comfortable with us. As do we all." Sandy placed a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder, calming him down, a little.
"Yeah, right." Jack muttered, but threw in a playful eye roll. Even if they still didn't trust him. Didn't like him, even. It was better than before. Better than being alone. I won't mess this up, Jack told himself.
"Look, Frost. You've proved yourself a Guardian when we defeated Pitch, but you're still the same spirit who messes things up for everyone." The Guardians of Wonder, Memories, and Dreams turned hardened glares on Hope. Jack simply kept his head down, cringing slightly as his concerns were said aloud. He's right. He's right. He's right. "I mean, there's your usual disruptions, but then there's '68 and with last week's ruining of Easter . . ."
"Bunny." North's voice was soft, but harsh. "That's enough, and not what I had in mind at all." Then why couldn't you explain that earlier?
Bunny chose to continue, but spoke more carefully under the watchful eye of an intimidating Sandman, Santa Claus, and Tooth Fairy. "I wouldn't blame North for wanting to keep you in line a bit, is all I'm saying."
Jack raised his head, an eyebrow quirked up. His smirk grew wider as he glanced from guardian to guardian. Just pretend you don't care.
"Look, no big deal. I make messes. I cause trouble. Just who I am, I guess." Sandy frowned at the casual self-deprecation, even if it sounded insincere coming from Jack's natural sarcastic voice. "I've been fine without these little, 'let's check up on Jack' meetings for 300 years. Don't need to start them now."
Silence.
Jack just wanted the matter to drop. Sure, he wanted attention after all the time he spent alone, but not this kind of attention - the attention where he wasn't exactly sure what they were thinking. Though, admittedly, it was better than none. He may be one of them now, but the Guardians were busy, and he was definitely not worth taking time out of their lives. Bunny obviously agreed. Tooth seemed stressed at the mention of the regular meetings, though she would never say that. Sandy seemed happy enough, but who could really be sure with him?
And North. North either felt a misguided obligation to make him feel welcome, as was the excuse for the sudden periodicity of the meetings, or he truly felt that Jack would make a mess of his position. Neither prospect made the boy feel particularly warm and fuzzy.
"Jack, I didn't mean to say anything that . . ." Bunny sighed, ears flattened back. Not willing to discuss the topic that was dangerously looming— Jack's 300 years of solitude, or its consequences - he went in a different direction. "I need a little help preparing for Easter anyway, so the meetings will actually benefit me and keep me on task."
Bitterness filled Jack's mind. There goes Peter Cottontail, backpedaling. I already know how you really feel about me. You make that VERY clear, oh I don't know, EVERY time you see me. Jack fought back these thoughts, ashamed. Sure, Kangaroo was a jerk to him, but didn't he deserve it? He had ruined Easter twice, after all.
"See!" North exclaimed. "Meeting is excellent idea for all of us. We get to know Jack and we help each other with holidays. Everyone leaves happy."
Jack smiled. Not a real smile, of course. That expression was reserved for the children. "Sounds like a plan." Don't mess up. Don't mess up. Don't mess up. They may not like you, but don't get yourself kicked out. I don't want to be alone again. And though Jack really did not want to be alone, he still felt that he was.
"And Jack. None of this is meant to insult you. You are very good guardian." North smiled broadly.
And Jack continued smiling.
Because that was all he could do.
Because even if these guardians didn't trust him, didn't like him, and had ignored him, they could still see him.
Because he did not want to be alone.
A/N Thanks for reading! I would really like some constructive criticism on this story(because it's my first), so please review and tell me what you think.