I'm so glad you ladies and gents enjoy this so far! I'm still contemplating how far to take this... Next part might be the last! Let me know what you think! 3
~InAllMyYears

The two were beneath the tree by the river once more, and having no better luck than they had had before.

"Like this?"

"Well, almost, but you gotta hold it like—"

"Bunny, this is pointless!" Jack set the half painted egg down, tossing the brush down as well. He crossed his arms across his chest and looked at the source of his frustration sitting next to him beseechingly. "I just can't paint like you do. It's all technique this and hand position that, complimentary colors and… artsy stuff! Don't you ever just, you know, paint for fun?"

Bunny huffed, setting his supplies down as well. He picked up the egg Jack had been painting, careful not to put his fingers in the still wet paint. He had been going for a pink base with a green haze on top, but had applied the second brush too soon and too harsh. The bristles had deposited uneven splotches of green over the delicate pink, causing them to mix in some places and leave bare scratches on others.

He turned it in his hand, considering Jack's question.

"You know I don't paint all of these eggs," Bunny glanced up at the teen, just to be sure he was paying attention. He was. "I couldn't do that. I'm good, but even North can't make all them toys." He considered the egg in his hand once more. "The ones I do get to make… Well, they're right special. I get to give a piece of myself to the rest of the world, and that's a major honor." He stood, walking to the edge of the dye river, no longer paying full attention to the words he was saying. "When you have that opportunity, it can't be anythin' less than your best, yeah? I've been doin' it so long now, it's like breathin' for me. It's somethin' beyond fun, beyond makin' myself happy. It isn't fun, but it isn't meant to be fun. It's somethin' a… bit more'n that, I guess."

As his words caught up with him, his ears fell down in embarrassment. "Sorry Frostbite, I hadn't meant to bore ya with all that. You don't hafta—"

Bunny felt a hand on his arm and looked over to see Jack standing next to him, a solemn expression on his face, also looking out over the river. He hadn't even heard the kid move.

"I get it. Something more than yourself… I understand." Those icy eyes met his own, and Bunny was surprised to see them lacking their usual impish sparkle. "I didn't realize… you felt…"

The words trailed off, and Jack went back to looking over the river, obviously deep in thought. It almost disturbed him to see the kid like this, without his customary smirk. He hadn't expected his rambling to make any sense, especially not to the King of Jokes, but he couldn't help feeling like there was a whole different side to Jack he had never known was there.

But perhaps that was because he had never looked.

Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to snap him out of his reverie, and so did the first thing he could think of.

Wrapping his arms around the kid's waist, he sat down, pulling Jack down with him, settling him in between his legs on the grass.

"What the-? Bunny what are you-?!"

Ignoring his protests, Bunny leaned over to grab the half-finished egg, Jack's now dry paintbrush, and the small jar of green paint. "I told ya I was gonna teach ya how to paint, and I ain't known to be a quitter." He placed the brush in Jack's hand, fitting his own over the small white appendage. "And I never took yerself for one either. So, ready to try again?"

Jack stared for a moment, confusion and just a bit of awkwardness filling his features. Just when Bunny was ready to back off and apologize, the kid's face bloomed into a breath-taking smile, eyes lighting up with the challenge. With an affirmative nod, Bunny cleared his throat, tearing his eyes from Jack's face and resting them firmly on the egg before them.

"Right then. See, your hand needs to be gentler, Frostbite—the paint I make isn't very thick, and can run easy…"

As time passed, the two grew comfortable with their position, Jack in Bunny's lap, Bunny hovering over him, adjusting his pressure and technique. And when they finished that egg they tried another, and another, until Jack took his hand from Bunny's with a smile.

"I think I've got the general idea, Cottontail. Mind if I give one a try? On my own, I mean?"

He looked up, chuckling at the suspicious stare plastered firmly to the spring spirit's face.

"No more color slapping method, I promise!"

With a grumbled allowance, Jack hopped up from his seat, scooping one of the still bare eggs gently into his palm, and plopped down once more beneath the tree.

After eyeing him for a second or two, Bunny reached for his own brush, and the two proceeded to paint, with no more sound than the rushing river and the calm breeze.

"Done!"

The sudden exclamation nearly caused Bunny to ruin the pure yellow coating on the egg in his hand, and he glanced at his pupil in mild annoyance. And had to stifle a chuckle.

On top of the random assortment of colors which had splattered on Jack face earlier, it was now decorated in rich purple and blue, a single splash of which had crossed his eye. The thought which popped into his head next sobered him immediately.

He wanted nothing more than to recreate the shade of blue that floated in Jack's eyes with his own paints.

"Uh, Bunny, did you hear me?" Shaking his head, Bunny was embarrassed to notice Jack had been waving his hand before his own eyes, but he had been too lost in thought to notice.

"Er, sorry Jackie, what was it you said? I was zonked out for a bit there."

The sprite scoffed good naturedly. "Obviously. But I finally finished an egg, and it doesn't look like 'shite'," he lifted the egg in his hands for further examination and, hopefully, approval, with another one of those breath-taking grins of his. "At least, I don't think it does. What do you think? And be honest, I can take it!"

He set the egg in Bunny's open palm, eagerness flooding from every feature.

The egg wasn't the prettiest googy Bunny had ever seen, but it was certainly more than passable. It had a deep purple bottom, which faded to a slightly lighter blue towards the top. It was just lightly dusted with white splatter and haze. It resembled a winter expanse as it might look if nightfall were just falling.

He smiled. Typical winter spirit.

"What's the smile for?" Jack asked nervously, crawling a few inches closer. "I know it's a little bit wintery for an Easter Egg, but it's like my first real try, so I thought it would be ok if it was a bit off! I mean, I know you aren't really going to use my eggs, and I don't think it looks too bad—"

"Snowflake!" the once-rambling mouth popped shut at the unexpected nickname, eyes drawn to the smirk on Bunny's face. "You did a bang-up job. Real good for a first one."

As the words sunk in, light frost dusted pale cheeks and pearly teeth were exposed in a grin. "Really? You mean that?"

"It ain't a masterpiece, but she's apples," Bunny said, examining the egg once more. "Real beaut, promise."

He handed it back to the winter spirit, heart fluttering at the pure joy on Jack's face. "Why don't you keep that one, as a memento? You're right, it's too wintry for Easter," Bunny leaned back, deliberately adopting an air of nonchalance. "But who knows? You keep practicing, maybe I will hide some ah yer eggs."

Those icy blues widened in delight. "You-you mean it? Really? You'd really hide one of my eggs?"

"I said some," The pooka corrected with a smile. "And only if ya keep practicin'."

The last thing he expected was the Guardian of Fun to throw himself at him in a rib crunching hug. "That would be so amazing! I promise I'll keep practicing, all year if I have to!"

After overcoming the shock, Bunny smiled, patting the spirit on the head. "You do that, Snowflake."

And the rest of the day was spent in practice and light-hearted banter, until the sun began to set.

"Well, looks like I ought to head out," Jack said reluctantly, grabbing his staff and stretching. "I'm sure you're really busy, what with Easter just around the corner," he took lightly to the air. "I guess I'll see you around, thanks for showing me how to pai—"

"Now wait just a tick there, Snowflake," Jack's cheeks frosted lightly at the new nickname, but it was thankfully unnoticed against his already snowy skin. Bunny stretched as well, gathering the canvas bag into which he'd packed his supplies. (Jack most certainly did not admire the way sleek fur looked over rippling muscle, no sir.)"I believe yer the one that said I was capable enough o' missin' a few days of production, and I might be a few days ahead of schedule. So how about it, wanna come back tomorrow? See how much o' my lessons you remember?"

Jack floated there in surprise for a minute before letting the wind drop him lightly back to the grass. "W…What? You want me to… Come back?"

The pooka looked rather sheepish at the question, ears falling flat, rubbing the back of his head, refusing to meet Jack's confused eyes. "Well, yeah, I guess… It was, I dunno, nice, havin' company, and you seem real determined to practice, so I figured…"

"I'd love to."

Green eyes snapped to bright cerulean, growing brighter by the second.

"I'd love to come back tomorrow," the sprite grinned. "And I promise, no pranks this time. Just good old fashioned practice."

Bunny took a few steps forward. "Ya know… I'm startin' to find maybe I don't… really mind yer jokes as much as I thought I might've… before."

Again, a shocked silence. Then Jack burst in mischievous laughter, much to Bunny's horror.

"Oh, Cottontail, you should not have told me that!" More laughter bubbled from the kid, and the Guardian of Hope ignored the way the sound made butterflies riot in his stomach. "You thought it was bad before? Just you wait-"

"Remember mate," Bunny stepped even closer, a wicked grin of his own on his face, effectively cutting off the laughter, "there will be payback for any pranks you pull in my Warren. Got it?"

Jack hopped onto the passing breeze, still smiling, though his heart was pounding ferociously. He gave a mocking salute, to which Bunny rolled his eyes, and followed that breeze out of the Warren.

Once the pale boy had disappeared over the crest of a hill, Bunny turned to make the long, relaxing trek back to his den, but was stopped by two thin, pale arms wrapping about his waist.

"Thanks, Bunny," a voice murmured from behind, but the owner had flown off before he could turn and reply.

With a grin on his face, the pooka made the leisurely walk home, eager for tomorrow.

DON'T PANIC! I promise not to leave it there, though it seems like its come to an end :) There will be at least one more part to this (Unless for some reason I decide to continue it.) R&R!