Jack had to ignore the bile-like taste in the back of his throat. She really planned on living here. Here! In Burgress.
His chest felt tight and he felt too warm. Seeing as it was impossible to keep up with the summer themed play he began to drift backwards and up until he was far away from the laughter and motion.
Slowly at first and gaining speed Jack flew away. Moisture announced itself at the corners of his eyes. The drops were whisped away by the icy wind he created freezing and falling down.
He couldn't lose Burgress. He couldn't.
But he also couldn't fight her without destroying it. He would need help and without the forming decision even yet made his body flew in a blur of crippling speed. He was on his way he realized to the North Pole. Smiling at the knowledge he rubbed his eyes clear and leaned into his flight quickening his speed.
By the time he'd reached the North Pole his enthusiasm was inkling away. North was always busy and the guardians always frowned upon getting close to an individual child as he did with Jamie, as humans are not immortal.
What could he say that would make all the guardians climb out of the woodwork ready and willing to help him?
Danger.
"Danger!" There was no going back now he thought as he yelled right above Norths workshop. "The children in Burgress are in danger!"
Summer was elated. Not only was she believed in the children couldn't get enough of her. After frying nearly half a dozen eggs on the sidewalk, hard boiling the other half just by placing them on her rock, warming a nearby pond for swimming, climbing trees with children, sending strong winds behind children on bikes to speed them along, pushing swingsets and merry-go-rounds she was content to sit on the porch as the children ate popsicles. It was an incredible day, but now in this moment of peace something was off.
She looked around and saw a retreating shadow. Jack was leaving? A spike oh hurt and indignation shot through her. He was just going to leave? Without a word or a reason? She snorted and turned away missing the frozen little drops that hit the ground and melted quickly. She rubbed her own eyes and blinked unwilling to show her displeasure physically.
"Where Jack?" Sophie asked poking her arm.
Summer frowned and turned away. "He left, why? Aren't you having fun?"
"Popsicle melting." She said sadly.
Summer was suprized as Jamie started to laugh suddenly. "Sophie! Jack is the spirit of all of winter! Not your walking freezer. He probably had to make it snow somewhere." He chuckled. "Now come inside. I have to get the Popsicle off your face before mom sees you."
The slightest trickling of hopefulness lapped at Summers mind. "He did not even say goodbye." She stated indignantly.
"Ah Jack hates goodbyes." Caleb told her off handedly. A smile played at Summers lips.
"Oh really?"
Caleb nodded. "But he always comes back."
Smiling full force Summer beamed at them.
"Why? Do you...like him?" A girl asked giggling. A few other girls giggled while the boys groaned.
Feeling her face heat up she shook her head. "No. I just thought it was rude of him."
Yeah sure like the kids believed that.
Bunnymund held tightly the sleigh squinting his eyes at the force of the wind. He didn't mind going places fast he'd just prefer he was in control. And not in a sleigh, high, high above the tiny...tiny ground.
Still he held himself somewhat upright and attentive as Jack explained their new enemy. She had brown eyes. Not really important information, but okay a profile's never bad. She carries a large rock that she nearly brained Jack with. And worst of all she was trying to cook the children of Burgress! If Jack used his powers around her it could create a tornado. Never good.
Finally the sleigh came to a stop and Bunnymund breathed a, "Whew." as he caught his breath. Finding himself a bit dizzy he stood and evacuated the sleigh very happy with the solid ground on under his feet.
North clapped his furry shoulder violently. "You okay Aster? Look green in face."
Frowning sharply he displaced the large tattooed hand. "I'm fine. Now get off me ya tosser!"
Tooth flitted about nervously and Baby Tooth followed suit. Sandy tried to calm her with reassuring images of teeth, but not being the real things they couldn't keep her attention.
She turned to Jack a pleading look on her face.
His expression hardened knowing what she wanted. "Fine. Just this once." He said and immediately regretted it as an onslaught of fingers pryed around his mouth. Gleefully Tooth and Baby Tooth squealed at his white teeth. He then pushed her away.
"Guys this way." He said flying into a warm wind.
They followed him barely noticing the change in temperature he detected.
Back in the sleigh Bunnymund thought unhappily.
Jack was serious Sandy noticed, but also a little bit uncertain. His expression flitting like Tooths wings. He wanted to ask questions, but now was not the time as suddenly Jack dived down landing on the hood of a car before a strange girl.
"Jack!" She said gleefully. And then catching herself said coyly. "Oh you left? I hadn't noticed."
"The other guardians are here it's time for you to leave."
Hurt, confusion, curiosity, and anger danced across her face. "This." She said sharply motioning around a large stone in one of her small hands. "Burgress." She enunciated. "Is mine."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is no-!"
"Jack." North said annoyedly. "Where is danger?"
Jack pointed at the girl. "Her!"
Tooth made a sympathetic face. "Jack honey you made it sound like she was cooking children. Everything seems fine."
Appalled Summer gaped at Jack for a moment. "They are a little bit sunburned! That goes away! Unlike Frostbite!"
"None of the children in Burgress have frostbite!"
"No thanks to you!"
"At least in the winter they land in snow! What happens when they fall out out of a tree now?"
"They don't because the tree's not covered in ice! And at least they can walk now without falling down in all that snow!"
"How are they supposed to play outside without snow?"
"I don't see how they can play with it! It's always in the way!"
"Right because burning eggs on the sidewalk and boiling eggs on that rock is sooo much better than a snowball fight!"
Bunnymund scoffed. "You can't boil eggs on a rock! You need water."
Biting her lip Tooth nodded. "And it wouldn't hurt the kids to lay off the cocoa. All that sugar..."
Jack glared at Tooth and Summer glared at Bunnymund. "There's nothing wrong with that!" They defended.
Sandy shrugged and figures of shovels and seashells appeared above his hand. 'They can play in the sand' he seemed to say.
Jack crossed his arms and frowned. "You guys are taking her side!"
The guardians mumbled their responses.
Scratching the back of his neck North said,"Seasons are meant to change Jack."
Insulted Jack retorted. "Yeah I'm sure you'd love Summer in the North Pole!"
Poof! A snowball crumpled over the side of Jacks head. "Jack! I said hey!" Jamie yelled.
"Where'd you get a snowball?" He asked.
"I always keep a few in the freezer. Can you and your girlfriend work out some kind of deal? Everyone's tired of you guys arguing!"
His vicinity to the summer spirit suddenly too near Jack lept back. "She's not-!"
"You kept snow?" She asked in shock.
"Duh! Everyone keeps at least a few snowballs around. We have a lot of snowball fights!"
Jack gave her a smug look. She returned it in a mocking way crossing her eyes. He stuck out his tongue, she tugged at her eyelids, he pushed his nose up.
"Jack! If there is no emergency I must go back to pole. Prepare for Christmas."
"And I need to collect teeth!" She flitted off and came back with a tooth. "This was lost today. He fell out of a tree and made it loose. Then he tied floss to it and had an older brother pull it."
"See! Kids are falling out of trees!"
"Kid! One kid! And how many kids have you sent sledding into couches!"
"He told you about that?"
"Yeah. Even showed me a picture."
"Guys!" Jamie shouted. "The guardians are flying away!" He pointed at the retreating sleigh.
Angry Jack took off after it. "Hey! Are you guys just gonna let her wreak havoc on Burgress?"
Another murmur of awkward agreement bubbled forth from the guardians who could speak. Sandy merely shrugged and smiled bashfully.
North got an idea. "Easter Bunny why not stay and watch children? Make sure none are boiled like egg?" He winked.
"Awe no!"
