Chapter Four

AN: Getting dressed with wings would be a pain. Especially when they're now sharp, but shhh. I honestly have no idea how he'd get a shirt on and off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Matthew sighed stepping through the shadows back into the cave. He had just gotten back from helping a soul. He'd been in and out the last couple of days or what he assumed was days. He was still getting used to being the spirit of fear. He still hadn't had time to go home. The Reaper wasn't sure how long he'd been away. He was a little bit nervous to go back. He missed Jack so much, but with his new job he was terrified that things would change between them. Every time the fear and nerves started to creep up on him he could smell a sweet scent.

The Reaper was starting to get used to that scent. Going to help souls it was there. Even just flying around it was there. People were afraid of everything and anything so the scent was every where. He was trying to balance all the fear, he knew there had to be a healthy amount of fear in the world. He always wanted more of that scent. At first his cravings were a bit hard to control, but he was getting used to them.

Matthew snapped out of his thoughts knowing there was a raven trying to find him. He was able to feel the shadows and when something was in them. He hummed and stepped through one quickly finding the bird. It cawed at him and landed on his shoulder. He carefully untied the message on its foot and read it; Death wanted to see him. He hummed tiredly starting towards the cave exit with the raven on his shoulder. Onyx popped out of the shadows and neighed at him. He smiled gently and pet her.

"I'll be back later. Just pop in if you need me." Matthew said quietly as he went. The mare nudged his back pushing him forward. He laughed lightly and flew out of the cave. The raven flew from his shoulder and he followed. It didn't take them long to get to Death's door. He knocked and heard him call for him to come in. "You wanted to see me?" He asked finding him in the library.

"Yes, how are you?" The man asked seeing him enter.

"Pretty good. Starting to get a hang of the new stuff. Still haven't figured out the feathers yet." Matthew said with a small smile.

"You'll figure it out." Death said reassuringly. He sighed. "Anyways, I called you here because there's a very important meeting today. It only happens every thousand years. I unfortunately cannot go, but there has to be a representative from me, there."

"That's me?" The Reaper asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. You'll also be the peacekeeper, use what ever powers you need to keep the spirits from fighting. Only a reaper's magic will work during this event." Death explained. Matthew nodded slowly. "I'm sorry for the short notice. I completely forgot."

"That's okay." The Canadian shrugged. "Where is it?"

"Its close to Mother Nature's gardens. Only about a mile past it. There'll be a light." The man said. He waved for him to follow and lead him into his room. He dug through his closet pulling something out. "You'll also have to wear this. It's a formal event so a uniform is required."

"Great." Matthew grumbled sarcastically taking the clothes from him. He held it up to get a look at it. It was a stereotypical Grim Reaper robe, but had gold trim around the edges. It looked like the one he used to wear years ago. Death left him to get dressed. He hid the dagger in his robe and pulled the hood up. He came out and the man smiled.

"Have fun." Death said sarcastically. The Reaper rolled his eyes. He wasn't looking forward to this. He was glad he didn't get much notice, less time to worry about it. The man lead him to the door and gave him a pat on the back. "If you leave now, you'll get there a bit early."

Matthew sighed and nodded. He spread his wings and started to fly. He really didn't want to go, but he knew it was important. He wondered if Jack was going to be there. He hoped he was just to have a bit of an anchor. The Reaper had spent five centuries avoiding spirits and knew what they thought of him. He flew over Mother Nature's gardens and spotted a light not to far away. He flew for it and saw Mother Nature waiting out front.

"Hello, Miss Nature." Matthew greeted respectively. He'd met her as well as the older more influential spirits over the years. They visited Death when he was there occasionally.

"It's good to see you, Matthew." Mother Nature said with a smile. She pulled him into a hug. "No hoods here, sorry."

The Reaper just shrugged and pulled it down. Mother Nature moved the vines away and he stepped into the garden. Inside it looked like a regular ball room. He sighed in slight relief only seeing spirits he'd met before there. Faith, Time and Destiny were talking quietly in the corner. Matthew didn't feel like going to talk to them. He didn't want to have to try and explain if his voice gave out. He instead leaned against the wall. He had zoned out quickly closing his eyes and wasn't paying attention.

"Mattie?" Jack asked. The Reaper opened his eyes with a small smile. His eyebrows furrowed seeing the winter spirit looked like he was about to cry. He quickly pulled him into a hug. Jack clung to him. "I'm sorry, Birdie. I'm so sorry."

Matthew's eyebrows furrowed further. He could smell his husband's fear. It was sickeningly sweet and overwhelming. He hated that he was wanting more. He carefully wrapped his wings around them. The Canadian stepped back through a shadow pulling Jack with him. He took them through the shadow to one of the other empty back gardens.

"Jack? Are you okay?" The Reaper asked quietly hugging him tightly. The Guardian shook his head and buried his face in the crook of Matthew's neck. He carefully rubbed circles into Jack's back trying to calm him and chase the fear away. "What's going on?"

"Please don't leave. I'm sorry." Jack said quickly.

"I'm not going anywhere Jackie, I promise." Matthew said pressing a kiss into his hair. The winter spirit calmed at his words.

"Why did you leave? What did I do?" He asked looking up at him.

"You didn't do anything? I've only been gone a couple days." The Canadian said confused. He could still smell his fear. He didn't know why he was so scared. He knew they had fought the night before the wave, but they had made up and were fine.

"Birdie, it's been two months." Jack said slowly.

"W-what?" Matthew stuttered eyes wide. He knew he lost track of time, but he didn't think it was that long. "I'm sorry." He apologized.

"You're not mad at me?" The winter spirit asked hopefully.

"No! Not at all." The Reaper said. Jack sighed in relief hugging him tightly. "I love you. I'm sorry, I didn't know I was gone that long."

"Where have you been?" The Guardian asked pulling back slightly. He still kept a hold of him. Matthew did as well. He moved his wings and tucked them behind his back. He cringed slightly at the scraping sound. "What happened to your wings?"

"Well, there was another wave." The Reaper started. He didn't want to tell him here. He bit his lip nervously looking down. "Some other stuff happened too. I'll tell you and the Guardians together. I'd rather get it over with all at once."

"Okay." Jack said. Matthew could smell a bit more fear coming off of him, but it went away quickly. "I love you. I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." The Canadian hummed as he was pulled down for a kiss. "I love you."