Cold Grey Light of Dawn

AN: So, another one. I still really enjoy this universe and writing for it. This is the fourth book to 'Don't Fear The Reaper,' but you don't need to read the others to get what's going on here. This is a spin off of those with a darker Matthew. He's got all the same powers tho. Rated M cuz it will mention blood, death, suicidal thoughts, alcoholism and cutting. Maybe more. This is the only warning, there wont be warnings on specific chaps. If you're sensitive to any of those I'd recommend not reading or proceed with caution.

Started writing on October 21st 2018

Started editing on November 4th 2018

North grumbled looking over the globe. Lights were starting to go out. He knew Pitch was starting to gain power again. He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. He had already turned on the lights and was waiting for the other Guardians.

"Again, North?" Bunny asked hopping out of one of his tunnels. He immediately hopped over to the fire and warmed his feet. "It better be a good reason this time, mate!"

"I only call for good reasons!" North said with a bright smile. The other Guardian just rolled his eyes. Sandy floated in with a question mark over his head. Tooth wasn't too far behind him also questioning what was going on.

"North, just tell us. We can update Frostbite if he gets here." Bunny said impatiently crossing his arms.

"Lights have been going out. Pitch is gaining power again." North said gesturing to the globe. The other Guardians moved closer to the globe. They could see a few lights flickering and going out.

"Are you sure it's just not them getting older?" Tooth asked fluttering her wings nervously.

"Da, I'm sure it's not that. There's too many all at once." The Guardian of wonder said shaking his head. "Pitch must be gaining again."

The Guardians just looked at each other for a moment. It hadn't even been ten years since the last time they had fought Pitch. It normally took him at least fifty years before he got traction again. North gasped seeing Manny. He jumped excitedly poking Bunny's side.

"Look! Manny's picking a new Guardian!" North yelled excitedly.

"Another one? Already?" Bunny sighed exasperatedly.

They had just added Jack a few years ago and before that it was him, but that was centuries ago. They stood back watching the panel on the floor open and the crystal poke through the ground. It locked into place and the moon shone down on it.

"Uhhh." Bunny said looking at the figure. "Who is that?"

"I don't know." Tooth said flying closer and inspecting the statue. She couldn't tell much about the person. They seemed to be tall and wore a big hooded coat. They also had wings. The Guardian of Memories tried to get a look at their face, but she couldn't. It left blank and hidden by a shadow from the hood. The Guardians couldn't tell whether they were male or female.

"We have a problem then. How do we find them if we don't know who it is?" North asked thoughtfully stroking his beard.

"Know who?" Jack asked flying into the pole through one of the windows. He landed on the railing next to Sandy taking a bite of the popsicle he had. Sandy raised an eyebrow at him. "I was with Jamie."

"Let's not get side tracked." Bunny said pinching the bridge of his nose. He gestured to the figure and Jack looked it over. "Do you know this person, Jack?"

"Yeah, that's Birdie!" The winter spirit said with a small smile. It had been a while since the last time he'd seen the Reaper. "Why?"

"Birdie?" Tooth questioned. "Their name is Birdie?"

"Are they new? We've never seen them before." North said and Sandy nodded in agreement.

"No, Birdie isn't his name. I just call him that." Jack shrugged not offering more. "He's older than me. He just keeps to himself mostly."

"What is his name?" North asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'd rather you learn from him." Jack said scratching the back of his neck. He knew he was probably blushing. "He doesn't really like spirits. I mean, he won't attack you unless you do first."

"How do you know him?" Tooth asked raising her eyebrow with a smile. The winter spirit looked down.

"He's just an old friend." Jack said quickly. The Guardian's looked at him suspiciously. "So, why do you need him?"

"Well, this Birdie, he's a new Guardian!" North said excitedly. The youngest Guardian looked surprised. He already knew that Matthew wasn't going to be happy. "So, where do we find him?"

"There's a few places he might be." Jack sighed.

-❄️"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."❄️-

Matthew yawned as he absentmindedly wrapped his wrist. He had got into a fight with a fall spirit earlier in the day. She had only managed to cut him once, but she definitely wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. The Reaper leaned back against the skyscraper he was perched on the edge of. He reached into his pocket taking the phone he stole a few years ago out. He put one earbud in turning the volume up to drown out some of the deaths that were playing out in his head.

The Canadian huffed pushing off the building and let himself fall. He opened his wings last second flying upwards before gliding through the city. He smiled from under his hood spotting what he was looking for. He landed and walked into the liquor store immediately going to the whisky section and grabbing a bottle. The Reaper really didn't care what he drank, but he preferred whisky. He quickly drank the whole bottle and set the empty in the recycling bin.

Matthew didn't know why he bothered drinking anymore. No matter how much he had it didn't do anything for him. It used to numb him, take away some of the deaths he saw. After almost a century of drinking he had an extremely high alcohol tolerance. He could drink a couple bottles and it wouldn't even get him tipsy. There was no point in him drinking anymore, but it was a habit. A bad one. He wondered if he kept drinking long enough if it would kill him.

The Reaper went to the corner store and picked up a few different snacks. He put them into his pocket before flying home. He normally stayed in an old abandoned sanatorium in Canada. There were a bunch of friendly ghosts around to talk to and ward off most people. It was also in the middle of no where surrounded by deep dark forests.

"Welcome back, Matthew." One of the ghosts greeted as soon as he stepped inside.

"Thank you, Sam." The blond said closing the door behind himself. He brushed his hood down. The Canadian stepped through a shadow to the room he always slept in. He was tired and didn't feel like walking up a couple flights of stairs.

Matthew didn't always know how to shadow jump. When he was young, he was approached by Pitch. The Nightmare King had been kind and had taken him under his wing. While they lived together Pitch had taught him how to shadow jump. It was the only good thing that had came out of their time together.

The Reaper went over and settled on the blanket he called a bed. He picked up one of the books he'd been reading and started into it again. He munched on some of the food he grabbed earlier. He yawned again and was about to close his book and sleep, but images flashed across his mind. The blond sighed and stood up pulling his hood back up. He closed and set his book back down before shadow jumping to the roof.

Matthew sighed finding the body. He shook his head and knelt down next to him pulling his soul forward. The boy told him his story and he apologized for the kids pain before sending his soul away.

The Canadian stood back up and was about to fly back home. He looked at his arm seeing the bandages had bled through. He knew he should probably go and get some fresh bandages. He grumbled debating whether or not he cared enough to bother. He was thinking of leaving it and hoping it got infected. He sighed shaking his head knowing he better take care of it.

AN: This fic will be updated every Thursday and Sunday until it is finished! The next chapter as well as the whole fic is up on my patréon if you wanna check it out!