Sunday Prompt: A Sacrifice for Love- Love isn't easy, and often times there are compromises, even sacrifices. They differ in severity, some sacrifices are able to be forgotten in time, others are life changing. A relationship with one can ruin relationships with others. With beings like Pitch and Jack where both are working through their isolation, there are sure to be some changes whether it's with ones they know, or within themselves.

Jack cried as he frantically tried to stop the bleeding. The blood just kept coming, coating his hands as they pressed against the hole in Pitch's chest. He wanted to freeze the blood but he knew he wouldn't be able to control how much he froze from how panicked he was.

"Jack," a wheezed voice came from Pitch. "Calm down." He lifted a pale grayed hand and rested it over Jack's hands.

"No!" he yelled back angrily as he pressed down harder on the wound, causing Pitch to flinch. "You're hurt! You're going to die! And, and," he let out a broken sob. "I'm so s-sorry!" It was his entire fault. If he had just stayed back like Pitch told him…Another sob came out of his parted lips with his head lowered in shame.

"Jack…Jack, I'm not going to die," Pitch muttered tiredly.

"Yes you are," he cried as he moved his head to look at Pitch. His tears long turned ice, stuck to his cheeks, making them feel heavy.

The dark man gave a weak chuckle. "Haven't I said before that you can't kill fear?" he said slowly as if he were about to fall asleep any minute. "Just let me rest…"

"No! Don't fall asleep!" If he weren't panicking before, he was now. He's seen what happened to humans that fell asleep after getting hurt like this. They never…they never woke up again. Why? Why didn't he listen? "I'm so sorry!" he cried out as he bowed his head over Pitch. His body was shaking with every sob that racked his body.

"It's okay, Jack," Pitch whispered as he tightened his grasp on Jack's hands. "It's not your fault." He let out a low grunt as he forced himself to sit up. Jack tried to push him back down, but Pitch only pushed his hands back.

"You shouldn't sit up," Jack began worriedly, he wanted to go on but Pitch silenced him by pressing a bloodied finger to his lips. He could feel the blood freeze at the contact with him.

"Let me finish," Pitch said weakly. His other hand pressed against the hole in his chest as black sand started to move toward it. "If it was anyone's fault, it would be mine… I should have known you wouldn't listen to me," he let out a chuckle that turned into a rough cough. "Even, even now you still don't listen." He smiled at Jack, making Jack freeze in the spot. He rarely ever saw Pitch smile. Why would the man be smiling at a time like this?

Jack knew the truth in Pitch's words. He rarely listened to the older man. If he could, he would make sure to go against every order the man would give him, even if it were sensible. Like not insulting a fae that had a tendency to attempt killing anyone who bothered him. Jack raised a shaky hand up to Pitch's and removed it from his mouth. "I'm sorry," he whispered. He couldn't even look the man in the eye as he apologized. "I'll listen next time."

A deep chuckle came from the man before him and Jack looked up at him confused. "I doubt that," Pitch laughed. He looked better now that the nightmare sand had stopped the bleeding.

Jack glared at him. "You don't believe me?" he hissed.

Pitch smirked down at him. "No. I don't. Nor will I ever believe you'll change something so fundamental about yourself," he answered.

Jack was ready to ice Pitch's ass –hurt or not- when the man reached out and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't believe I would like having you any other way," Pitch continued. Jack nearly slumped as his anger left him. "But I wouldn't mind you at least thinking over what I say. I would rather not be stabbed through the chest again," he said somewhat teasingly.

Jack bristled at that. "Yeah, well, don't expect much."

"I never do," Pitch said laughing.

Jack glared at the man. "Gee, thanks."

"I aim to please," Pitch returned with a halfhearted shrug.

"Why are you so…happy?" Jack questioned. He tried to find the right word for how Pitch was acting, but nothing really came to mind.

Pitch yawned. "I blame blood loss," he said as he seemed to understand what Jack meant. "Now, would you mind taking us home? I really need that nap."