Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians nor the story idea. The story came from rin0rourke on AO3. They have given me permission to write this stories as well as others.
Of course Jack wasn't all that thrilled when he woke up in an unfamiliar place. Trashing the burrow wasn't his intention but he's still not used to his new body. As for seeing the Easter Bunny and annoying the hell out of the bunny, that's a whole different story. He enjoys irritating Bunny but causing him worry is something he didn't intend to do. It's not his fault that he's like this. It may be his stupidity that got him trapped and hurt, but if it wasn't for that other human, he probably would be worse for wear.
The wounds on Jack's body have slowly started healing over the time he's been in the Warren. He notices that they are taking their damned time but at least he isn't bleeding as much anymore. Maybe he should eat some of the greens Bunny gives him but he's not ever hungry. Even in this form he doesn't feel the need to eat like usual. Ever since becoming a frost spirit, he hasn't the need to eat, drink, or even breathe to keep going on. He doesn't know why but he doesn't complain.
Being in the Warren, though, that was a surprise. He never thought he would ever get the chance to be in this place, especially since him and Bunny don't have a good relationship. The Blizzard of '68 doesn't really help with that either. It seems that Bunnymund doesn't mind his presence either, though he was given a good scare the one time. How did Bunny sense him? As a bobcat he has to be different, but Bunny obviously called out for him. Is there something he's missing or is the old rabbit going senile? Either way, he's loving the attention he's getting from the other.
After his second week there, he finally starts eating food. Bunny seems happy with that and even praises him like a pet. The glare from Jack was enough to make the rabbit apologize, but he didn't shy away from the pat on his head like he did the first time. If anything, he wishes for more touches. Pets between his cat ears, scratches under his chin, anything.
Being a cat is starting to affect his mind to the point it drives him crazy. Jack found himself chasing some googies for fun, pouncing here and there with them like a cat chasing a mouse. He even chased his tail once. He chased his frickin' tail! Bunny got a good laugh out of that, which was something strange to hear. Nice but strange. The one thing that really pisses Jack off though is when Bunny gets out a mirror and reflects some of the light from the Warren to make a dot appear on the ground. His cat senses kick in as usual and he finds himself chasing an intangible thing and pouncing on it countless times, knowing full well he'll never grab it but still having fun.
Bunnymund is having way too much fun with him. Not like he'll complain. He prefers this kind of thing as they grow close.
One night changes things as the days keep going by. He's sleeping - in a tree he dubbed as his in the Warren per usual when he's tired - as it happens. He has a nightmare. It's odd because usually he doesn't have nightmares. This one is about the attack on him in his bobcat form weeks ago. The pain really did him in, his paw being nearly torn to shreds and bleeding profusely. The gunshots also cause his stomach to turn. Whenever he hears a gunshot again, he knows he'll be instantly scared and run in the opposite direction. For a trickster who has few fears, this traumatizing experience only created one more to worry about and hide from the others.
He's unable to sleep when he wakes up from the nightmare. He falls off the tree branch as he jerks awake, landing on his feet expertly. When he reorients himself, he paces around a little before heading to Bunny's burrow. Jack usually doesn't bother Bunny when it's obviously time to sleep but he can't be alone right now. Not with the phantom noises of gunshots in his head. So he goes into the burrow and searches for Bunny. He spots him in a nest like bed, blanket over himself even though he probably doesn't need one. Quietly walking over, Jack sniffs the sleeping bunny, nudging him with his nose.
Bunnymund is usually a heavy sleeper but wakes up with a start when Jack prods him. He looks at the white bobcat, noticing his glowing blue eyes. "Why ya here, mate?" Bunny mumbles with sleep sticking to him. "Can't sleep?" Jack sits as he shakes his head, staring at his host with a question in his eyes. It seems Bunny can read him as he hums and nods while patting the open area next to him. "All right. Come on then, lay beside me." Jack's fur bristles a little as he thinks of the implications of this but surrenders to the comforting feeling of being next to Bunnymund. He crawls into the nest and lies down, sleep no longer a thing in his mind as he just wants to relax. He's slowly relaxing but instantly tenses up when he feels arms wrap around him and pull him in.
"Hope ya don't mind, but ya did wake me up. Punishment is yer space being invaded." The rabbit seems to be joking with him but this doesn't sooth Jack entirely. "Relax, mate, I won't do anything else. Rest up." After that, Bunnymund passes out while holding Jack close.
Jack's mind is now too wound up with him being cuddled by Bunny to sleep. He lies there, awake, eyes staring at the wall, thinking about what brought him to this moment. It's definitely not going to last long since they like to keep to themselves, no matter how much Jack actually wants the affectionate touches from Bunnymund. So he relishes in the moment, believing it would be the only night of cuddles he will get from the bunny.
He was wrong.
To think after that night Bunny would actually initiate cuddle sessions. CUDDLE SESSIONS. WITH ME OF ALL PEOPLE. Jack's still in denial but accepts all forms of cuddling from the Easter Bunny when he gets it. Every day now they seem to cuddle an awful lot. He also has been staying beside the bunny, watching him sketch or paint. It's a lot better than just sitting in a tree and moping about his predicament. A curse is a curse, but if he's able to get close to Bunnymund as a bobcat, he never wants to go back into his normal form.
Things get slightly complicated, though, when he sleeps a lot more often. He's so comfortable in the Warren now that he can sleep almost anywhere without any problems. The only thing is that every time he takes a nap, Bunny is yelling his name off in the distance in a not so friendly tone. That always makes him jolt awake and, if he's in a tree, fall off onto the ground. It seems Bunny is starting to sense his original presence again but he doesn't understand why or how. He's stuck in this bobcat form, how the hell could Bunny be sensing him when his original spirit energy is not the same in this feline form?
When Bunnymund fails yet again to get Jack, the winter sprite hears him curse in irritation. "Just how the hell is he getting into the Warren? And disappearing so quickly? That ain't natural. Somethings amiss." His nose and ears twitch a lot with irritation, something Jack finds cute. "Unless there's a gap somewhere I'm not aware of, but that's not possible."
Jack doesn't really like seeing Bunnymund all wound up with anger, so he goes over and nudges him with his own nose. The bunny visibly relaxes and pets Jack's head with a smile. "Sorry, mate. I'm just irritated about a larrikin trespassing is all. No need to worry, yeah?" But Jack's going to worry anyway. He doesn't understand what's going on either and hopes it doesn't hinder any possibilities of furthering the friendship he's making with Bunny in this bobcat form.
"I also don't mean ta scare ya every time he's around," Bunnymund says as he scratches Jack's chin. Boy does he love chin scratches. "I'll try to make it easier for you ta not get spooked."
He keeps the promise easily as he constantly talks aloud while on his rounds through the Warren. If Jack is known to be resting somewhere, Bunny makes sure to have an odd commentary going on when nearing the winter bobcat. There are times when Jack doesn't sleep in the trees as well. He finds that the grass of the Warren proper is soft against his fur covered skin, and the makeshift sunlight is a nice way to sunbathe without getting burned. He doesn't like how he's getting to be too much like a feline but he can't help it.
The weeks slowly pass into months. Jack's wounds heal up pretty well but he nor Bunny make any notions about leaving. Jack's happy in the Warren, the happiest he can recall being. Bunnymund seems to look happy as well with him being around, so Jack is inclined to just stay. He'll finally have a home. A welcoming home. A warm home. Some place where someone waits for him to get back and enjoys having him around. How could he ever think of leaving after growing so close with the Warren and his host?
Note: This is not beta-ed so there might be mistakes.
Ciao: I hope you enjoyed the update! Thanks for reading, dearies! R&R.