To hurt the one you love

By End of grace

A/N Thank you for the wonderful response for the first chapter. Its was so nice that I decided to continue with this. I know I made Bunny come across as a jerk in the last chapter but he has his reasons. Also I have put that there is Bunny/Jack mentioned in the summary, I remind readers that this IS a North/Bunny fic, if that is not your cup of tea, please hit the back button now.

Chapter two: Bunny

Bunny closed the door to his hut and leant against the door heavily, his paws rubbing his face and his heart beating madly. He had done it, finally done it, he had called things off with his oldest friend and lover. He had expected a lot of anger and made be even to have a punch or two swung at him but he had not expected North just to ask him too leave as he did. In fact he would have rather the punches instead of the horrible hurt look that North had given him.

"Damn it! Why is North acting as this is all my fault! He's just as much if not more so to blame" he muttered to himself as he pushed himself away from the door and decided to get to work. He had picked up a large empty box and started to fill it with the knickknacks, gifts, North's things that he had left over the years and photographs of him and North together. He was annoyed but not overly surprised when he had to find another box when the first one had gotten full. Seriously why did North have to give him so much junk? Alright some of his gifts had been more practical and thoughtful but why did he need an egg timer in the shape of an egg? It always irritated him when North bought him some silly gift even on the holidays, he never asked or wanted anything from the man so why give him stupid things like this.

"Probably another one of his so called jokes about my egg collection or another swipe at Easter knowing that blow hard!" Bunny hissed as he yanked open a drawer and stuffed the many lover letters North had sent him over the years in to the box.

That had been one of the many problems with their relationship, the sheer lack of respect that North had for him and his work. Always saying how his holiday was more important then Easter. How he was only making chocolate and painting eggs as if it wasn't a big deal. He was the bloody bringer of spring! Kids believed in him and loved his chocolates. Did North not respect him at all? At least he never committed over a million accounts of breaking and entering every year. At least he wasn't a judgemental fat git, what was the point in punishing a kid for being naughty anyway? They were kids! They were bound to be naughty at some point, it was the whole point of being a kid, to learn they boundaries and how to be good people. He worked a hell of a lot harder then North and he did it all on his own. It had been a small blow to his pride when he asked the guardians for help that year and for what? Only for Easter to be ruined anyway and for North to telling it everything was fine and he had all year to make things right and not to worry. How dare he say that! It wasn't his holiday that had gotten ruined. Had things been different and Christmas had been ruined he was sure North would have been just as or even more upset then he had been over Easter. Of course what did he know about men right? As North always seemed to point out that he was an alien on this world and knew little about their ways. And why would he want too? Men were idiots! He had said it then and he will say it now, man couldn't be trusted. They never cherished the light in their lives and always behaved badly. North was no exception. Then there was North's weight. Alright ok he would put his paws up and admit that he could take some of the blame for that since over the last seven hundred years or so he had been feeding North's sweet tooth with many different chocolates. Yet surly North had some form of self control? Did the man ever exercise? He must be doing something right since he was more then able to hold his own when they fought Pitch a few years back. It could be a something as simple as kids belief, they knew Santa was a jolly fat man, so that was what North became. At first Bunny did not mind the belly, he enjoyed rubbing it and poking it as North enjoyed stroking and petting him, but lately it was just in the way and a hassle. And do not get him started on how much North took the mick out of his egg collection. Didn't North get it? He had been alone for hundreds of years without anybody but his eggs. They were important to him and what does North do? Laugh at him for it and call his collection stupid. Then, more annoyingly, goes out and finds all these stupid egg gimmick things and gives them as presents and expects him to be grateful? Stupid idiot. Then there was the blood name calling! Rabbit man! Man Bunny! Honestly, he was a bloody pooka, not some furry rodent with long ears! Fair, North had not called him those names in a long time, but now and again they would pop up and it really rubbed him the wrong way. He hated being called those names, he was the last of the pooka race, he took great pride in it and it hurt when North called him those names.

Yet the one thing that upset and annoyed Bunny the most about North was the fact that he was their leader. He was the second eldest next to Sandy and out of him and North, he was the smarter one with all his inventions. He was from a far superior race and had travelled though space. The fact that he helped the earth and helped its counties long before North was even born seem to matter very little to the Manny when he appointed North as the leader of the guardians. He often moaned about this with Sandy who was just as old and more powerful then he was, but the small gold man would simply smile and shake his head. He was happy that North was leader as was everyone else. Because North was a people person while Bunny was not. While Bunny was happy with his few close friends, North wanted to be friends with everyone and he was. Bunny felt the guardians should only be concerned with their own business, North disagreed and set up the seven holidays cancel, that bought the seven main holiday leaders together as well as invite other holiday spirits to bring up their problems. Bunny tended to hold grudges like the blizzard of 68 while North was all for forgiving and forgetting like when Jack skellington tried to take over Christmas. People liked North and wanted to follow him and he was able to motivate them in to doing better, while he found many spirits like the groundhog annoying. It rubbed Bunny's fur the wrong way. So when he and North became lovers, he insisted on being on top where he should be but it was also a large turn on to have such a powerful man beneath him.

He had almost filled the second box when he saw North's Valentine's gift still sitting on the side with its card. His heart gave a painful twist but he ignored it as he placed the gift in to the box and sealed it down. He did feel like a bit of a heel for how he acted on Valentines and for leading North on while starting his courting of Jack Frost. Why didn't he just tell him then that they were over? Why say he would go over there and spend the night as he had done for the last seven hundred years or so? Because he was afraid, despite how things were between him and North, he had no real desire to hurt his best friend. Yet would could he do? Ever since his last rut his dreams have been filled with a white haired youth with a cocky smiled and blue eyes filled with fun. He had invited Jack the warren many times over the past year, allowing him to freeze over a few of his eggs and lakes, just so he could get to know the boy better. Jack seemed happy in his company but he was weary of Bunny and his temper and always in a rush to get to other places and have fun. Bunny was sure that once he approached Jack about being his lover, Jack would settle down and give him a chance. He looked down at the two boxes and sighed. He could just send them too the pole but there were some good memories in those boxes and he did not wish to get rid of them. Plus he was sure that sending them so soon after their break up would be like rubbing vinegar in North's face and he refused too do that. Instead he picked up the boxes and carried them to his room and placed them in his wardrobe out of the way. Now if he could only do the same to this part of him that was still calling for him to go back to North.

-Line Break-

Bunny held up his long green coat against his wardrobe his nose and whiskers twitching. He wanted to look his best today, but he wasn't sure if Jack would take him seriously in it, as Jack had never seen him in clothes before and might find it funny and laugh at him. When he decided he would no longer wear his coat, North found it odd and had laughed, but it was quickly followed by other activities that had North stripping as well and often. He shook the thought away and picked up his brush and started to groom his fur. Getting to places like his back was a chore but he managed. He remembered how much he and North would spend grooming one another, his paws combing though North's hair as North would rub oil in to his fur. They shared baths and swims in the lakes, resting against one another's shoulders, enjoying each others embrace. He highly doubted that Jack would help him groom since the youth barely groomed himself up. It was likely that Jack didn't even own a comb. He strapped on his leather bracers and single strap holster before placing his boomerangs in side of it and looked in the long mirror.

"Looking good mate" Bunny smiled as he checked himself out "Jack won't be able to resist" Then his eyes fell on to his bracers and his smile fell. North had made these for him, one of his more practical gifts. They were made of thick leather with beautiful celtic stitching and an amber stone. "For the love of Easter, stop thinking about that know it all, I'm going to go and find Jack and then I won't ever have to think about that over weight blow hard again"

-Line Break-

With spring in full gear it did not leave Jack Frost a lot of places to go were it would be cold enough for him to cause some mischief but it still took Bunny a good part of the day to find him. He found him on a island in the north west of Europe called Berk and he was already wishing he was wearing his coat it was freezing. The hail stones were larger then his paws for moons sake. As he closed in on Jack's scent, he smelt two others, one spirit and the other a reptile of some sort. As he came to a clearing he found Jack resting up against another boy as they laid against a sleeping dragon. Was a sleep, the dragon slowly opened its green eyes and growled at him.

"Toothless, go back to sleep bud, he's not here for a fight" said the brown hair youth who gently nudged Jack awake. Jack yawned and snuggled closer to the other boy, making him laugh "Jack you got to wake up, the Easter Bunny is here, I think he wants to talk too you"

"Huh?" Jack blinked awake and saw Bunny standing in the clearing, not looking to pleased as he glared at them. "Oh...er...give me a second Hiccup. I'll go talk to him"

Jack flew up to Bunny and took his paw and quickly dragged him away back in to the wood.

"Bunny what are you doing here? You hate the cold" Jack asked looking slightly nervous "Is there something going on? Is it Pitch?"

"No Jack, it's got nothing to do with Pitch, I just came here to talk to you about something important" Said Bunny as he crossed his arms against his chest, glaring slightly at Jack "Who was that you were with? A friend of yours?"

Jack's pale cheeks changed to pink as he rubbed the back of his head "That Hiccup, he's the guardian of dragons and the spirit of the dragon holiday that is celebrated on this island. He's a really big deal here and...and...he's my boyfriend"

Bunny's teeth clenched and his irises narrowed as his temper bubbled "Boyfriend?"

"Yeah" Jack laughed and smiled happily unaware of Bunny's change in mood "We've been friends for a while and he asked me to be his just recently. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys but I didn't know how you guys would handle it and..."

"And what about those Valentine chocolates I made you, didn't you think they meant something?" Bunny snapped his arms now resting by his side his paws curled in to fists. Jack frowned and stepped back from Bunny his hold on his staff tightening.

"You said they were a peace offering. A sign of our friendship you side and that you didn't mind if I shared. So I did, I shared with Hiccup"

"I meant share them with the kids in Burgess not him!" Bunny hissed "Jack how could you...?"

"How could I what Bunny? Why are you acting like this? Your acting as if your jealous and why would you be? You have North"

Hearing his ex's name made Bunny snap back to his senses as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Sorry Jack, I guess I was just shocked that you had someone already, but is he really good enough for you? I mean there is a lot better spirits out there and..."

"HEY! Hiccup is a great guy Kangaroo! How dare you judge him with out getting to know him? Hiccup is one of the coolest guys I know, he's almost as cool as North, I mean he has dragons for crying out loud, real dragons! Plus he lives here on an island where it snows almost all year round. So I can be with him all the time and...I really really like him Bunny"

"And what about me Jack?" asked Bunny as he placed his paws on Jack's shoulders "What if I gave North up for you?"

"What? Why would you? You love North and I know for a fact that North loves you with all of his heart. I think of you guys as family, North being my dad and you like an older brother kind of. And besides aren't you too old for me? I mean aren't you older then North..."

"I'm still in my prime Jack. I'm a lot better lover then that kid could ever be..."

"But your still way too old Bunny, it would just be creepy! Wait why are we even having this conversation? You wouldn't give up on North and I have Hiccup now" said Jack as he broke free of Bunny's hold, looking up at Bunny with a frighten and concerned look, his staff in front of him glowing blue. "I'm with Hiccup Bunny and I'm happy with him. If you don't like it then its tough"

Bunny pulled himself up to his full height and looked down at Jack, his eyes seemed void of any emotion "Is that really what you want Jack?"

Jack frowned, not really sure about what Bunny was asking "Yeah...I'm sure"

Bunny bowed his head and hissed though his teeth "If that's what you want"

Jack barely had time to jump out of the way when a tunnel opened just in fount of him and for Bunny to jump down it with out a second glance. Jack looked down at the now closed ground frowning, disliking the sick feeling in his stomach that was telling him something really bad was going on.

-Line Break-

Bunny huffed and flopped on to his bed surprisingly calm and feeling slightly numb. For some reason he was not as upset as he thought he would be at founding out Jack was taken. He wasn't surprised that he scared Jack either, he had come across to strong and aggressive. He thought he would be more annoyed and may have even challenge Hiccup to a fight but that would not have made Jack happy nor did he really want to fight. He was unexpected relieved at the fact that Jack had turned him down, that he didn't have to come up with ideas on how to woo Jack in to being his lover. Now that he had spoken to Jack and had been turned down, it was like a great weight was off his shoulders, like an itch had finally been scratched. Now, he felt...empty...lost, the overwhelming desire he had for Jack was gone, like it never existed. He hadn't been in love with Jack, not like he had been with North, he simply wanted Jack, desired him but that was it. He felt like a complete an utter fool. He had given up on his lover was even cruel to him and led him on while trying to seduce someone who was already taken. Now he was day or two away from his rut and he had no one to share it with. He use to be able to hibernate but that was before have a lover for so long.

"Arrrraah! Forget it! I can't think on an empty stomach" growled Bunny as he went to his kitchen and started to prepare the vegetables. He put the a large pot on the stove and filled it with vegetable stock and water and then looked around for his egg timer.

"Damn it where did I put that stupid thing" Bunny growled as he looked around a bit more before slapping his muzzle. "I put it away in that box didn't I! Oh all stupid things..."

Bunny turned the stove off and stomped back to his room. He threw open his wardrobe and yanked the two boxes out, tearing the lids off in anger. The eggtimer was sitting next to to his unopened Valentine's present and card. Bunny went to pick up the small egg but his eyes wouldn't leave the lovely wrapped box. Would it really hurt to open it now? Besides if it was one of North's stupid ideas, he could do with a laugh, he thought as he picked up the box and sat back down on the bed and pulled out the gift. He slowly pulled off the ribbon and used his claws to rip the bright paper. Gently Bunny opened the box and peered inside and gasped loudly as he pulled out the large egg. Its shell was the colour of sliver, had a pebble pattern and glistened like a diamond. It was a Himalayan great snow goose egg. How did North know he needed this egg for his collection? The only time he was sure he had mentioned it was way back when they first met with Katherine. He felt his throat tighten as he held the egg close, overjoyed that his collection was now complete.

"I have to go and thank him! This is the best gift he's ever given me and..."

Then his thoughts came to a screeching halt when he remembered that he had dumped North only the other day. Also the older spirit would most likely be even more up set over the fact that he had only just now opened his gift. Bunny's insides gave a lurch as he placed the egg back in to its box and pulled the larger box towards him. Inside were photographs and North's love letters as well as a few of North's personally belongs like his soaks. Bunny picked up the pictures and slowly went though them one by one, looking on with fondness as the memories of happier times flooded back to him with each image. There was one of him feeding a blindfold North chocolates. He had been baking all day with new ideas and wanted North to be his taste tester. There was another one of both of them covered in various coloured paints were he had helped North decorate Santoff Claussen. There was one of North showing his bare shoulder to the camera showing a beautiful Easter egg tattoo. Bunny gave a small chuckle remembering how annoyed he was at first that North had poisoned himself with ink again but still having the winter spirit marked with Easter had been quite the turn on. There was one of his birthday party with North holding the cake as he blew out the candles. He had been mortified at first when North threw him a surprised party for his birthday but then he could not remember anyone else ever doing so, so he was both happy and grateful to his lover for his thoughtfulness.

Another sharp pain went though his chest and a strange wetness around his eyes made him dump the photos harshly back in to the box. He went to put the box back in the wardrobe when he saw the unopened card. Sitting back down, Bunny picked up the card and sighed loudly before opening it. The card was hand made as it had been every year, covered in red glittered hearts and eggs and bright bold red words "To my lovely Valentine" on the fount. Bunny rolled his eyes and shook his head as he opened the card expecting to find some cheesy poem. Yet inside on both sides of the card was North's hand writing.

Dear Aster,

First, Happy Valentines my beautiful pooka, may our love continue on in to the future dah? Did you like your gift? HA! I know you Aster, you have bad habit of always opening gift first and card second. I hope you do like you gift, fact is I know you will, its the last egg for your collection no? I remember how you could scarcely contain yourself when Katherine told you all that she could remember about the egg. Thinking about that time, I remembered I was unkind to you and rather rude, calling you Rabbit man and such. I truly was pig headed dah? The follies of youth should not be an excuse for my hurtful comments but I hope you have forgiven me. I apologise as well my love for taking this long too get it but the geese are very protective of their eggs as you well know.

I want you to know that I love you with all my heart Aster. These hundreds of years would have been unbearable with out you beside me. I know I have said some hurtful things over the centuries but know I never meant any of it and that many of my comments were meant in jest. I have never truly thought that Easter was better then Christmas, as it is my second favourite holiday of the year, seeing how much hard work you pour in to each egg, each one more wonderful then the next. The way your eyes light up when you look though your egg collection telling me about each one. You are truly the most beautiful creature that I have ever seen Aster and I am truly humbled that you have picked me to be your lover. Know that you have my heart now and always.

Truly yours

Nicholas

Large wet drops fell on to the card, smearing the ink as Bunny let go of the breath he was holding, tears dripping down his muzzle. He pulled the card to his chest and hugged it tightly, truly wishing that it was the man that wrote it instead. His heart was banging like a bass drum and thumping painfully in his chest as if it was trying to break out.

"Sweet moon! What have I done?"

To be continued...