Hey, guys! I'm here with the first official chapter of Becoming a Guardian!
I don't have anything more to say between the last update and this one, given that they were back to back, so we'll just get on with the chapter!
~ Care ~
Just a few days ago, if you'd told me that I'd soon be sitting in Santa Claus' sleigh, on my way to the North Pole, having just helped defeat the Boogeyman and been made into a Guardian of Childhood...well, I probably would've wondered how the hell you could see me first, but then I'd laugh in your face at the thought. Or scoff. Yeah, come to think of it, I'd probably be a bit more sarcastic about it.
And yet...here I am.
I'm sitting in Santa's sleigh.
I'm on my way to the North Pole.
I helped defeat the Boogeyman.
I'm a Guardian.
...this has certainly been an eventful few days.
Even now as I sit on the back of the sleigh, Baby Tooth perched on my shoulder, I'm not quite sure what to think. A part of me is happier than I've ever been in my life. The other part doesn't even believe this is real.
I mean...how could it be possible? Just a few days ago, I was literally nothing. LITERALLY. I was a ghost, a shadow...like I didn't even exist.
Now, I've got the company of four spirits who actually don't want to kill me, and even a handful of believers to boot. Honestly, it's...it's almost too good to be true.
I shake my head in pure disbelief, then take a deep breath...and immediately wince because of it. Damn. The adrenaline from the fight with Pitch must be wearing off. It feels like I've got a couple of broken ribs from both of the falls Pitch caused me. Oh, well...nothing I haven't handled before.
"Jack, are you okay...?"
I regret to say that I jumped a little more than I should have at Tooth's concerned voice, causing another stab of pain in my ribs. Luckily, though, I'm able to shake it off enough to answer her.
"Ah, yeah," I say. "Why do you ask?"
She frowns slightly. "You looked like you were wincing...are you hurt?"
In response, I just give a slight shrug. "I'm fine," I tell her. "Just a little bit battered. Bruises, scratches, broken rib or two from when I fell...that kind of thing."
...yeah, apparently that was NOT the right thing to say.
Now, all the other Guardians (sans North, who's focused on driving) are staring at me in shock. A golden exclamation point even appears above Sandy's head to accentuate his surprise.
"Ya mean ta tell me..." Bunny says slowly. "...that ya fell outta the air, broke a couple ribs...and then kept on fightin'!?"
I blink. "Um...yes?"
"Jack, that's dangerous!" Tooth exclaims. "You could have gotten even more seriously hurt!"
"Well I mean, that is kind of what happens in a battle," I point out. "I could've gotten seriously hurt at any time."
"That's not the point, Jack..." Tooth tells me. "You shouldn't have been reckless..."
I raise my eyebrow skeptically. "Reckless? A couple of broken ribs is basically a paper cut by my standards. I was totally fine and still am. I've had worse."
Sandy looks at me curiously, as though asking how much worse I mean. I consider simply not answering, but...knowing them, they'll end up dragging the answer out of me sooner or later. Besides, it's not that big of a deal.
"Just a bunch of different types of injuries," I say with a shrug. "I've been stabbed, slashed, strangled, bludgeoned, burned...you name it. Like I said, this is nothing."
...apparently that was ALSO not the right thing to say. Now even more horror is present on all of their faces, along with something new...guilt.
Damn it.
Now, I could quickly cut in and tell them that it wasn't their fault, but...something stops me. Technically, they did have a hand in it by ignoring me all those years...Bunny especially was involved, as I've received numerous punches and kicks from him whenever I've done something stupid on his holiday. Which...was often. So instead of making any kind reassurances...I say nothing.
"Oh, Jack..." Tooth murmurs. "We had no idea..."
All I can really do is sigh and say, "I know."
There's a long silence.
However, soon, the silence is broken by North, whom I hadn't even realized was listening. "Well, then!" he calls over his shoulder. "We will have to make up for it by helping you now! Once we get back to Pole, we will take you to infirmary and get you treated!"
I...didn't know the North Pole even had an infirmary. Guess there's a lot more to that place than I've seen so far...
Oh, right, guess I should say something. "That's...really not necessary..." I protest. "I'll be fine on my own." I don't really want them worrying about me...it just feels too weird to have someone care.
North, however, only laughs. "Nonsense! We will get you back in top tip shape in no time, you will see!"
...yeah, no, I'm not getting out of this any time soon. Though I suppose I could take this opportunity to ask my most pressing question at the moment.
"Why do you care...?"
This silences them yet again. However, Tooth recovers much faster this time. She smiles slightly and says to me, "Because you're worth caring about."
Never heard that one before.
Though I'm honestly not sure if she's lying to me or not, I give a hesitant smile in return. I decide not to say anything more. It looks as though they don't mind.
We continue on through the peaceful sky in a general quiet, though it's less awkward and more comfortable than before. Even Bunny isn't freaking out about our altitude, but that's probably because he's too tired from the battle to panic.
Maybe I should let myself relax a little bit too...usually, doing something that would let my guard down like that would only spell a load of pain for me, but the Guardians legitimately seem to care now. It could just be that they feel bad for never interacting with me before they were forced to, but...I don't know. It seems like it could possibly be something more.
"What do you think?" I whisper to Baby Tooth, so quiet that the others don't hear. "Are they being genuine about all this?"
The little fairy merely smiles and pats my shoulder as though comforting me. This time, I don't have to force the smile that forms on my lips. After all, she could be right. Maybe the four of them really are starting to care.
And maybe, just maybe...letting myself be cared for won't be so bad.
Hope you guys enjoyed, and i'll see you back here next week for Chapter 2!
Sapphire316, out.
