The late afternoon sun shone bright on Jack's frosty white hair. He was currently debating whether to enter the dark tunnel below him. He'd gotten the call sometime earlier. God, why couldn't he just resist? For the life of him, he did not understand why he came at every beck and call.
Of course, he knew the reason he couldn't stay away. It was simple fact that he was bestowed with a glimpse of happiness and it became addicting before too long. The pain though. For most, that would be enough incentive to stay away but not Jack. He sighed and jumped down into the hole, landing light on his feet. No doubt that he knew he was here now. Frost followed his footfalls as he crept down the blackened tunnel.
By the time he made it to the center of the labyrinth, Pitch was already there with a smile. The globe on the highest point in the room granted the only light. The little bright dots each one showing a child that believed and proud of it. Would they be proud if they ever knew what he'd done and still did? Pitch laid a hand on his shoulder to which Jack jumped. He hadn't noticed he moved.
"Jack, you're thoughts are away from me this evening. Tell, what is the matter?" The smooth voice ran over Jack's ear like a lullaby. His shiver was not one of the cold. Pitch's hand tightened ever so slight before moving to Jack's collarbone. The small caress did little to relax Jack.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about the snowfall that Rhode Island isn't going to get tonight." There. A subtle half lie. That should calm him. Pitch closed his eyes and moved in front of Jack once more, "Their problem. A bit less snow is going to hurt anyone." Jack winced at the carelessness that Pitch displayed. He didn't seem to remember - or care - that it would hurt Jack if he didn't do his job. The frost sprite stood there leaning on his staff.
He jumped when Pitch took one of his hands. Pitch merely smiled. The gleam in his eyes betrayed whatever he was trying to hide and all Jack saw was the joy at feeling his fear. Damn him. Damn Pitch for making him feel this way. The shade tugged him forward, close enough so that he could place a deceiving kind kiss to Jack's forehead.
Jack knew his fear was good; that fight or flight reflex reacted strongly whenever he was around Pitch. For the life of him, he could not leave. His hold on him was far stronger than Jack wished to admit. He had Jack so twisted around that he thought that he deserved no better. Jack had every knowledge of just what the shade could and would do. Why did h stay?
Maybe it was because Pitch was the only one who payed him any mind. Pitch was the only one who cared, even if it was in his own sick way. It wasn't healthy and it certainly would end horridly. Still though, there wasn't much he wasn't willing to do for him. Whether it was play house maid or help him bring nightmares to the children he loved so much. Pitch had that hold on him, and yet, he only ever blamed himself.