Hello all! This is the first in my one-shot series in my Stranger AU. If you have any requests, please tell me ASAP! I hope you all enjoy this story! This one is really short, but I suppose it's better than nothing. Review! With ideas if you have them!
Title~ She Knew Better
Summary~ Jack had been alone a long time, and no one can walk away from that undamaged. The Guardians didn't always see, but Emma knew better.
"FROST!" Bunny ran after the mischievous winter sprite. The spirit of time and sister to said winter sprite, Emma Overland, giggled as the six foot tall rabbit ran past. His ears were frozen together by a bow made of ice.
"It was just a joke, Bunny, calm down." she chastised gently stepping so she blocked the hall and her brother could dart to safety.
"I'll be soaked when this melts." he growled, crossing his arms. She sighed and put a hand on the ice. it melted and soaked his fur, but evaporated within seconds.
"Better now? I'm not supposed to use my powers like that." she said.
"How did you do that?" he asked, patting his head fur where it had once been soaked.
"I sped up time, and I won't do it again. Jack plays tricks to make people smile, he always has. It's what makes him Jack. You need to loosen up. He tricks you so often because you so rarely smile." she explained.
"He's trying to make me happy?" Bunny asked. Emma nodded.
"It's just what he does." she replied.
Emma stood to the side that night at the monthly meeting. On the first of every month each Guardian met up to report.
"The snowstorms are coming up great, and there have been no signs of blizzards trying to form, but it's still early in the season so I need to be careful." Jack reported.
"I thought you make the blizzards." Tooth said, confused. Jack laughed.
"I can only make so much weather, Toothy. I generally just send it where it needs to go and keep it from building up too much. Kind of like herding sheep, actually." he said.
"I hope the weather doesn't give you as much trouble as that ram." Emma said, her tone playful.
"That old thing was as mean as a snake, and you know it. But yeah, the weather is normally worse. I've just had three hundred years of practice now instead of seven." he said.
As Tooth, North, and Sandy all reported Emma couldn't help but study her brother's behavior. Sure, he set his staff down but it was always within easy reach. She'd noticed the past few months that fewer of his smiles were genuine, and she often caught him with a lonely look on his face, staring at nothing even if he seemed happy and playful and Jack around the other Guardians.
She knew better.
You don't go three hundred years with nothing but a name and the wind undamaged. She could tell it had left a few scars on his heart. She seemed to be the only one he didn't keep at an arm's length, and it had taken over a month to get to where she was. Of course, she'd had to open back up to him as well.
Guilt swelled in her. She'd left him alone. She knew and she'd abandoned her brother when he would never leave her, no matter what. She'd caused him to die. Even if she knew no one blamed her, he didn't blame her, she still blamed herself.
She was stirred from her thoughts by North's hand on her shoulder.
"Meeting is over, Emma." he said. She smiled.
"Thanks North. I'd better be getting home." she said.
"You seem troubled. Can I help?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head.
"Not really. It'll just take time." she replied.
"Why don't you stay here tonight. It is late, and you seem tired." he said. She smiled.
"I'd like that. Thank you." she said.
The Guardians may not see how three centuries of loneliness had hurt Jack. But she knew that they'd make up for it even if they didn't realize it. Simply by caring, they would help her heal her brother.
They may not see it, but she knew better.