A/N The T rating is for later chapters. It will be light and more of a "better safe than sorry" thing. Hope you like this, let me know. :)
Jack had decided to spend the night at his lake. He always thought better without the distractions at North's. He awoke early in the morning and was now leaning against a tree, trying to think. "Okay, he began out loud. "First find Bunny and confess my feelings, then, talk to Tooth and finally," he smirked. "plan revenge." The winter spirit straightened. "First confessions." He ran a hand through his hair. "So how do I start?" he asked himself.
Jack began walking the length of the frozen water. "So Bunny," he shook head. "No, should use his first name." he started again. "Aster, we've known each other for a while now. I know we haven't always got along but for the last few years we've been friends and well I, I...I really sound stupid." Jack stopped and hung his head. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly he lifted his head back up, trying to find some confidence. "Okay Jack, you can do this." he told himself before he turned around and began pacing back to his earlier spot. "You talk to him all the time." He stopped once more when he reached the point he began. "Yeah," He smiled confidently. "Of course I can do this." He gripped his staff with both hands and stood it up in front of himself pointedly. "I'm Jack Frost! I'm the Guardian of Fun! I control the snow, ice and cold! I" he hung his head once more with a sigh. "I can't do this." His head shot up again when he heard some laughing. Some voices sounded a short way away from him. Curiosity got the best of him and Jack followed the sound.
In a clearing Jack heard one familiar voice and another strange one. He kept his distance and stood behind a tree. Peering out he saw two forest fairies talking and laughing. He recognized one as Krystal, one of the first fairies he had meant after Tooth. The other he didn't know by name but was sure he'd seen her around.
"I don't think you should, Flora." Krystal began.
"And why not?" Flora questioned, braiding her long hair.
Krystal watched her friend. "I think he's already interested in someone, that's what I hear anyway." she crossed her arms in front of her.
"Who?" Flora asked as she tied a band of flowers around the end of her braid.
Krystal shook her head. "Do you ever talk to anybody?"
Flora frowned and knelt to look at her reflection in the frozen lake. "I'm talking to you."
Krystal rolled her eyes. "Lucky me." she said sarcastically. "Anyway, I think he likes Jack Frost."
Jack started from his spot behind the tree once he heard his name. He knew he shouldn't spy and had planned on leaving until that moment.
Flora laughed. "Jack Frost!" she stood up and turned towards her friend. "Ha! Why would the Guardian of Hope like Jack Frost?" She brushed the sleeve of her dress with a hand.
"Bunny," Jack thought, surprised. He then thought of the sprite's last remark and felt annoyed. "What does she mean, why would he like me?" He questioned aloud then clapped a hand to his mouth, hoping he hadn't been heard. It was clear he hadn't been when the fairy known as Flora continued.
"I know they're friends and all but.." she trailed, looking for the right words. "We're talking about the spirit of Easter." Her friend looked at her curiously. "He's a representative of hope and new life, he's intelligent, and quick, and those tattoos," she sighed airily with a smile on her face.
Jack couldn't help but smile too, being able to relate. When he first realized his feelings for the Pooka, he had surprised himself.
When first meeting the Easter Bunny the winter spirit would have never expected himself to fall for the other spirit, he always seemed grumpy and arrogant. Over time though, the young Guardian realized there was more to Aster. Jack noticed the spirit had plenty qualities, both human and Pooka that he found attractive. There were the ones the fairy had listed then there were others. Along with Aster's intelligence, speed and tattoos (tribal markings), Jack also found an allure in his fellow Guardians' lean frame and powerful limbs. His smile grew wider. "Of course," Jack thought. "There's also his accent and those ears." Jack laughed quietly. "I was joking to a certain degree about the "Ear fetish" to North and Sandy but there is something about their keen hearing and the way they show Bunny's emotions." Jack's smile turned sly. "I wonder what fascinating sounds he'd make if I'd give them a bit of a tug while…" Jack shook his head after he felt his face begin to heat up, trying to clear his thoughts. "Time to derail that thought." He said aloud.
Flora then shook her head. "Then there's Jack Frost," she said with harsh tone. "I guess he's cute and all, but he's just a kid."
Jack narrowed his eyes at the fairy's comment. "I'm not a kid." he whispered to himself bitterly. "Who does she think she is anyway? Where does she get off talking about me like that?" he thought with a frown. "She was talking about Bunny, she likes him too. But he likes me, he wouldn't choose a vain, air-head of a fairy over me, would he?" Jack wondered as he began to worry.
The winter spirit looked at the fairy again. She was pretty, he supposed. She had long, raven hair that was now braided, a heart-shaped, tanned human face, a deep blue dress that fit her curvy body, fell past her knees on her human legs and had draped sleeves, and a long green, white and blue colored peacock feathered tail. The young Guardian frowned. "He still wouldn't choose her." The sound of laughter startled him.
"He's over three hundred years old, I'd hardly call him a kid." Krystal stated.
Flora shook her head. "Don't matter, he's no competition to me." she said flipping a stray hair out of her eyes. "Besides, even if Aster does like Jack Frost, doesn't mean the king of mischief likes him back."she replied coolly. "Either way, I can make him forget all about Frosty." The fairy said slyly as she sent her friend a wink.
Jack had heard enough. He stepped out of his spot. "You can, can you?" he questioned sharply, leaning against his staff with an arm resting on it. He glared at the fairies, waiting for an answer.
Both fairies jumped at Jack's sudden appearance. "I knew this lake looked familiar." Krystal thought. "Hi Jack." She gave the spirit a small smile.
Jack returned Krystals' smile before facing the other fairy. "You were saying." he gestured with his free hand.
Flora gave the Guardian a fake smile. "You know it's rude to eavesdrop on people." she said snidely.
"Oh really." Jack tilted his head with a look of confusion. "So is it more or less rude than talking about people behind their backs?" his brows narrowed. He heard Krystal snicker.
Flora gave her friend a cold look before returning her attention back to Jack."I take it you heard all our conversation then?"
Jack shook his head. "Not all, just the insults about me and the parts were you said there be no way Bunny would choose me over you."
The fairy looked at the winter spirit questionably. "Bunny? You address him awfully informal."
"We're friends, all his friends call him that." Jack stated matter-of-factly.
Flora eyed Jack. "Do they?" she said, mockingly. "Seems improper to call the Guardian of Hope by a nickname instead of his first name." she reprimanded.
Jack clenched his staff in front of him with both hands. He growled in the back of his throat. It'd been years since he disliked someone he'd just meant so much. The fairy couldn't compare to the first instance but he still found her irritating beyond belief. The winter spirit opened his mouth to reply but a rustling from nearby startled them.
All three watched as a figure approached them. Jack smiled when he saw the figure was Aster.
"Oi, Frostbite." Aster called to Jack. "Been lookin' for ya, wanted to talk to ya about somethin'" he glanced at Jack's company. "If yer busy I can" he began but Jack interrupted.
"No!" Jack shouted. He realized he had been a bit loud but didn't care. He hurried to Aster's side and cast Flora one last scathing look. "Sorry," he apologized to the other Guardian. "I'm finished here, we can talk."
Aster nodded. He looked back at the fairies. "Didn't mean to be rude, G'day." he greeted them.
Krystal smiled politely. "Hello." she said with a small wave.
Flora stepped forward gracefully, swaying her hips barely but noticeably as she did. She held her hands behind her back as she smiled sweetly. "Hello." she batted her eyelashes and lowered her head shyly.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Could she be anymore obvious?" he thought bitterly. Noticing Aster was watching the fairy intently, Jack coughed loudly to get his attention. "We should go somewhere more," he cast another glare Flora's way. "private."
Aster shook his head a moment then glanced at Jack. "I was thinkin' my warren."
Jack smiled and nodded. "I'm afraid we have important matters to tend to," he frowned sadly. "We have to leave, but it was a pleasure talking to you both." he said with false sincerity before placing an arm across his midsection and bowing to each fairy in turn. Jack turned to Aster and prepared to leave.
Krystal giggled at Jack's theatrics but Flora sneered. "You know," she said shyly. "I would love to see your warren sometime, Aster." She looked at the Easter spirit with wide, hopeful eyes. "It must be amazing if you created it."
Jack stopped in his tracks, turned and stared at the fairy in disbelief. The sugary tone of the other being made him want to gag. "Can she pour it on any thicker?" he wondered. "He's never going to let her come." The winter spirit smirked. He knew his fellow Guardian was particular about who he let in his warren. Since Jack knew him, Aster had only a handful of visitors, which included the other Guardians, including Jack, and Sophie and Jamie.
Aster cleared his throat. "Sometime, maybe." he said politely. Jack grinned triumphantly.
Flora looked up at the spring spirit with a warm look, playing with the end of her braid. "I'm not busy now."
Jack spoke up quickly. "We have plans, have something private to discuss."
The fairy narrowed her eyes briefly at Jack before turning her attention back to Aster. "Just a quick tour, maybe?"
Aster sighed and hesitated a moment before giving in. "Alright, but it'll have to be quick."
Jack's mouth fell open. Flora beamed and Krystal frowned.
"I'll see you around." Krystal started. "I have things to tend to." Before leaving, Krystal waved to each of them and sent Jack an apologetic look.
"Let's go then." Aster said to the two, then tapped a foot to the ground.
Jack hung his head as he followed Flora and Aster down the hole that appeared. He didn't know what but he had to do something so he had some time alone with Aster and that meant finding a way to ditch the fairy.