Yeah... I just can't seem to let this idea rest. It keeps popping up in my head and now its not just one chapter, its several.
Enjoy this New Years gift - Will post as I come up with them. Hope you can enjoy.
In hindsight, Bunnymund realises he could have handled his actions after Jack's revelation a little more diplomatically.
But after so many centuries of assuming he was the last, finding out there was another Pooka to pass on knowledge, to share the world with, could anyone blame him for wanting to spread the word?
North was the first. With Christmas only two months away the man was in full stride, so had been slightly perturbed when his very short cookie break had been interrupted by a very enthusiastic rabbit all but leaping onto him and crowing about Jack and Pooka's.
Once he'd managed to calm his old friend down (with the help of a few strong armed yeti's), he'd gotten the full story, and lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Jack is Pooka? Hah! He kept that secret close."
Bunny had chuckled, unable to stop grinning. Before he left, North patted him on the back and wished him both luck, for if any two guardians could do with a deeper kinship, it would be the spirit of Easter and Winter.
Tooth's face had burst into a bright toothed grin at the news. She'd been desperate to see Jack's teeth when they'd first met to see if the rumours were true, and had been more than a little disappointed the spirit had been so wrapped up, refusing to let her peek. Now she knew why, and had an excuse to convince the winter spirit next time he was around. Baby Tooth was just as happy, and she and her sisters burst into happy squeaks and aerodynamics in for them both.
Sandy was the only one who didn't seem quite so elated. But then, Bunny was 90% sure the Sandman already knew. It's hard to hold it against him though.
When he returns to the warren, he remains in good spirits, and busies himself with shepherding his eggs while waiting for the Guardian of Fun, the Pooka Jack Frost to heal and return.
However, when said Guardian of Fun returns to the warren, a good week, three days and four hours later (not that Bunny had been keeping track or anything), he fires a shot of frost at Bunny cold enough to freeze the eggplants next to him solid.
"Hey ya gumby!" Bunny yells, landing and trying to gauge the damage. He doubts the poor thing will survive. "Those don't grow back easy!"
The caped Guardian doesn't seem to listen, choosing to advance and fire another shot. The sentinel eggs are already racing towards him, but Bunnymund doesn't dare risk another misfire. His boomerangs are out and the first projectile takes the hit. The second forces Jack to dodge, allowing Bunny to get behind and pin him to the ground. The staff goes flying out of range, and Bunny finds himself with his hands full of angry Guardian. Jack continues to struggle, but the attempts become more half hearted when he realises Bunny isn't going to let go. Without his staff, he's pretty much defenceless, and idly, Bunny decides they'll have to do something about that.
"What the blighter's gotten into you Frostbite?" Bunny snaps. "I thought we were over this."
Jack's laugh is broken and bitter. "Gotten into me? What were you thinking?"
When Bunnymund only looked confused, Jack slams the ground in rage.
"Didn't you think, that just maybe; just maybe, I would want to tell the other Guardians what's under this cloak myself? When I was, you know, ready for the whole world to know?"
Bunny faltered, his grip loosening. "I only told the Guardians."
"Only told...have you met North? The man has just about every influential spirit on speed dial! His phone trees are thicker than most phone books. And he just loves to share good news!"
The frost spirit made another leap for freedom, this time managing to jerk the still Pooka off his back and rolling to his feet to get to his staff. Inches away from wooden security, Bunnymund slams into him again, this time keeping him upright but pinning his arms to his sides. His hood is ripped away and feet kick out erratically (he's dug out another pair of boots, and tied his ears down again, the idiot), but doesn't have the experience to make a hit. The physical option cut off from him once again, Jack uses his second best weapon, his voice.
"Do you have any idea how unnerving, how terrifying, it is, to find out something you've kept hidden for centuries isn't so hidden anymore?" he hisses, pulling his muzzle from under the scarf, blue eyes trying to glare behind him. "All the winter spirits ambushed me wanting to stroke. My. Fur!"
He bucked again, his voice descending into curses. But Bunnymund wasn't listening, too focused on the earlier words.
True, North did converse with a lot of the higher spirits, and Bunny hadn't even thought to ask him to keep it quiet. He'd been in too much of a rush to tell the others, that he hadn't even thought about how Jack might feel.
'Kit's been so used to hiding, he can't even consider that he might not have to anymore. He's too scared to even think about it.'
The Pooka feverently hopes that Pitch hadn't caught wind of this particular fear of Jacks. Though it might help explain some of the spirits overly panicked reactions.
Jack, thankfully, hadn't noticed Bunnymund's attention wandering, and as such kept his struggles light.
"If the spirits start spreading the word, soon humans will start hearing about it and it'll all be over!" the frost sprite continued, his anger breaking into anguished moans. "They won't believe in me, they'll fear me. Just like she did."
The Easter Bunny sighed. "Oh kit" he tried to soothe. "You had one bad experience, centuries ago. The world has changed, you've changed. Don't miss the bigger picture just because of one mistake."
"Why not?" Jack snapped. "What's wrong with Jack Frost being nothing more than an animated cloak wandering in on the wind? Its worked just fine until now."
"Because it's wrong!" Bunnymund snapped right back. "You're more than just a piece of cloth. Even the few times we met I never thought that's all you were.
If Manny didn't think you were right for the job then he wouldn't have chosen you. You shouldn't have to hide such a big part of yourself to be accepted!"
The struggling faltered, and the Guardian of Hope had to strain his ears to catch the whispered plea.
"I'm not like you..."
The Pooka shifted his arms, and instead of being pinned, Jack found himself being pulled back into Bunnymund's chest in a crude hug.
"Yes. You are kit. You just don't have any faith in it. We're all gonna have to work on that."
"...All?"
Bunnymund chuckled into Jack's fur. "I told the other Guardians for a reason mate. You're one of us, and you really think any one of them is just going to stand by and not let one of our own get their due?"
Jack doesn't seem to know what to make of that, and Bunnymund takes the chance to bite through the ear rope again before loosening his arms.
"I am sorry Jack. I should have waited so we could tell them together. But I was just so happy I went off without thinking how you might feel about it."
The younger Pooka didn't answer, and instead got to his feet and made a beeline for his staff. He clenched it tight with both hands, but Bunnymund relaxed when it was clear Jack wasn't going to attack again.
"I never planned on telling anyone. Never thought it would matter."
"...You know, in a lot of ways it doesn't."
Jack looked up in confusion, watching Bunny warily as the Easter spirit walked over with an easy smile.
"You're still Jack Frost. Spirit, Pooka, Guardian of Fun, but none of things really matter."
He risks ruffling the fur on Jack's forehead, the smile turning into a grin as Jack allows the action and coaxes the white ears up.
"You're one of us, and North and Tooth and Sandy, they all adored you anyway. And I was more than a little fond of you before all this too."
An eyebrow rose in reply. "Really?" Jack said, with some scepticism, and Bunnymund shrugged.
"Okay, I won't deny that this" he nodded in Jack's direction, "this makes me feel all sorts of things I didn't before. But you already had my respect Jack. You were a good choice for a Guardian, even I didn't doubt that anymore. And none of the others did either."
"...You have to promise you won't tell anyone else. That you'll let me decide when to show myself."
Bunny nodded. "I can agree to that...You know, the lot of them really want to see for themselves. Tooth and her fairies might just faint on the spot when they catch sight of your shiny choppers."
That was rewarded with a laugh. "Guess she kind of deserves a chance. Never did lose any teeth growing up for her to coo over."
The older Guardian smiled, and squeezed Jack's shoulder slightly. "Am I forgiven?"
Jack looked away and shrugged. "Eh, haven't decided yet.
...But it's a start."