"Again. Read it again."
He smiled, turning back to the first page. "You know this is the third time, right?"
"So? I like hearing your voice." Pitch smiled, closing his eyes and turning his face into a beam of sunlight. He still needed the chair, but he was getting better. He reached out a hand, searching for the reason why. Jack chuckled softly, taking the wandering hand in his own. He started to read aloud again, gently stroking his thumb across the soft skin of Pitch's hand. Pitch sighed, tightening his grip on the hand. "I...I love you." He was a little scared to say the words; it was the first time since Pitch had told him in the bathroom of the restaurant. Jack paused in his reading for a moment and looked over at him. He smiled, giving his hand a squeeze before continuing with the reading. "What about you?"
"I want to say those words, Pitch. I do...but I'm going to wait. The time isn't right yet."
"Then what do you feel for me? Anything?"
"I feel an intense amount of affection for you." His free hand moved up to stroke the man's messy hair.
"So like a brother or a friend?"
"No. It's in the way that you want it to be. You're so much more than a brother or a friend to me. What I feel for you is something very akin to love, but like I said...I want to wait until the right moment to say those confirming words."
Pitch turned to look at Jack, his eyes soft. "Take me out of this chair. I want to lie in the grass."
Jack smiled, leaning in to kiss his forehead before scooping Pitch out of the wheelchair and gently laying him on the grass. "Are you comfortable?" He folded up the man's blanket and slipped it under Pitch's head as a pillow.
"Come down here with me." He held a hand out.
A pale hand wrapped itself around that hand, but he didn't lay down next to him, staying safely under the shade of the tree. "Unlike you, I'll burn to a crisp if I'm out in the warm sun for too long." He chuckled.
The man smiled, closing his eyes as he scooted over and moved Jack's shirt up his stomach. He nuzzled his nose against him before laying his head on the soft skin. "Do you mind if I lie here for a while?"
"Not at all." Jack gently stroked through Pitch's hair as he reopened the book.
"I don't care if you want to wait. I love you, and I'm happy as long as you're here."
"Then you will be happy for a very long time."
"Take your shirt off?"
Jack smiled, sitting up enough to strip the shirt from his sweaty skin. "Only because it's so damn hot here."
Pitch moved his head to Jack's shoulder, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him closer. He nuzzled his nose under Jack's chin, breathing deep. "Don't think me rude, but...you're the hot one here."
"That's because I overheat so fast." He grinned. "I don't know how you can stand it here. It's hot from sun up to sun down."
"It's because you're good looking, sweetling. It's beautiful...and it can be romantic."
"I think snow and cold are far more romantic."
"Jack, kiss me."
Jack smiled, turning to press his pale lips to Pitch's. "And here I was trying to save all of these kisses for after our first date," he joked.
Pitch wrapped an arm around Jack's neck, keeping him close. "There's still a lot we can do after our first date. Besides...I'll never get tired of this." He pressed their lips back together.
"Me either." Jack slowly pulled away before the kiss could deepen into anything more.
Pitch fell back on the ground, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Why do you always pull away?"
"Because I want to further things only as I get to know you further. We can slowly grow closer in all ways."
"One little kiss with tongue? I won't ask for it again until you're ready. Just...one? Please?" He pouted.
Jack slowly shook his head. "I want to take things slow, Pitch. French-kissing now isn't taking it slow."
"Even if it's a single kiss? A brief one?"
"Nope. Haven't you ever gone slow with someone before?" He chuckled.
"No." Pitch looked up innocently.
"Then you're in luck. Waiting makes everything so much more special when it happens." Jack smiled, stroking Pitch's cheek.
"Seriously?" He looked skeptical.
"It truly does. I promise."
"I think you're delaying being with me. You act more like a nurse than a man with feelings for me."
Jack rolled his eyes. "A nurse wouldn't have kissed you in the first place."
"How do you know? The nurses here are really nice."
"I know the professional conduct required for nurses, Pitch."
"You're not being very nice. Maybe you shouldn't have come here." Pitch grunted, forcing himself up from the ground and pulling himself back into the chair. "I'm sorry I've wasted your time again. Goodbye, Mr. Frost."
"Pitch, seriously? I used up all of my savings to fly to fucking Australia to tell you that I wanted to be with you, and you're going to get all pissy because I won't slip you a bit of tongue?"
"Yes. If you'll wheel me to my room, I'll give you the funds you'll need to get home, plus a little extra for all the trouble I've caused."
"No." Jack stood up, crossing his arms. "For one, I don't need your damn money. Two, you need to stop acting like a spoiled child. Relationships involve two people, Pitch. Just because I won't do something you want yet doesn't mean you get to go storm and be all 'Boo hoo. Poor me. I didn't get what I want.' I don't know what the old me used to do, but this Jack doesn't put up with that kind of shit."
"I forgot. You're not my Jack, are you? You're Audrien's Jack. You aren't meant for me anymore. That Jack died long ago." Pitch turned his head and closed his eyes. "Please leave. I'd prefer not to have to look at Audrien's soulmate anymore."
"I'm not Audrien's. I left him, because I wanted to be with you, you idiot. Though you seem to be trying to push me away now. Please don't tell me this is one of those 'I want you when I can't have you, but I don't want you when I do have you' things?" His shoulders scrunched up, and he looked sadly at his feet.
"I looked at you, and for a brief moment, I saw my Jack again. The love in your eyes...it reminded me of what we had and what he...you gave up. Now that you're here, I'm realizing that you're nothing like him. The man I loved is gone, and now there's just...you. You don't love me! We're pretending for the sake of some dream!"
"Why? What the hell did I do to make you think that I don't love you? Whatever it was, you clearly read it the wrong way, because I do. Do you realize what I gave up for you? I broke an honest man's heart so that I could have yours again!"
Pitch turned to look at him, his eyes dark with anger. "An honest man? I don't know why you bothered. Go away, Jack. Go home to your honest man. Heal him with the love designed by him. Fuck him with the body molded by him. Fuck off and leave me alone with my Jack!"
"I'm not leaving. I broke his heart because I thought you were worth it. He only wants me to be happy, and I was happy until you started to pull this...this bullcrap. I love you, you idiot." Jack leaned down, grabbing Pitch by the back of his head and crashing their lips together in a searing kiss.
"I'm not worth it. I'm a selfish man with needs. My Jack understood this. You don't. You've been molded into someone I don't recognize. I don't...I don't love you anymore."
"I've only known you for a few weeks. Give me a chance to learn!"
He pushed Jack away. "No! No..." Pitch felt angry, hot tears come to his eyes. "I want my Jack back. I want my soulmate back. You're not him. You'll never be him!"
Jack stumbled back, his heart beating painfully fast. "Was this your plan all along? Get me to give up everything to be with you again so that you could ruin me? Is that all you wanted? To break my heart as badly as I broke yours?" He could hear his voice rising. "Is this all just revenge to you?!"
Pitch wrapped his arms around himself, bowing his head to hide his face from Jack. "I don't know. I don't know...I wanted my Jack back, but now I think he's never coming back. I wanted something that now seems impossible." Pitch shook his head, bowing it more. "I should have died. I was so close when you came. I could have had my Jack again. We would have been together again."
"Your Jack could still come back if you would just give me the chance to try."
"No. He's not there anymore. I used to see a glimmer of him in your eyes. Now, all I see is a man I don't know at all. You have the same name, but you're a stranger to me."
"I...I hate you!" Jack turned, scooping up his shirt, and ran, the pain in his chest becoming too much as tears streamed down his face.
ZZ
deLuna froze when a smaller body bumped into him. "Excuse me."
Jack didn't look up at him, mumbling a "sorry" before continuing on down the streets of Sydney.
"Well, well, well. Didn't think I'd see you here of all places, Mr. Frost."
"Excuse me? Do I know you?"
"A funny joke, Mr. Frost. I thought we had an agreement."
"An agreement?"
deLuna sighed, clearly annoyed, "Yes, Mr. Frost, an agreement."
"I really think you must have the wrong person, sir."
"I don't think so, Mr. Frost. You are in love with my nephew, are you not? And he with you?"
"Who's your nephew?"
"Pitch Black. Mr. Black to you."
"You're Pitch's uncle?"
"'You're Pitch's uncle?' Yes, Mr. Frost, I am he. Now, enough with the jokes. What are you doing here?"
"I...I was just visiting Pi-" He stopped himself. "I mean Mr. Black."
"And why would you be doing that?"
"Because I love him."
"Love. Love is what has brought him here, Mr. Frost. Why do you think I told you to stay away from him? You're toxic. Can you not see that?"
"I-I don't mean to be..." ...stay away...
"No. You never do. You never mean to drive him to the brink of sanity. You're an innocent little lamb, aren't you?"
"He said he wanted me back. I-I left everything for him. To be with him."
"When will you learn, Mr. Frost, that I don't care? My nephew is my concern, not you. You can die for all I care, just so long as my nephew doesn't. I want him happy, Mr. Frost, and his happiness does not include you."
...you've ruined him, Mr. Frost... Jack shook the thoughts from his head. "Th-then why did he tell me he loved me just a few weeks ago? Why was he so desperate to have me back? I hurt him before. I knew it was a miracle he still wanted me, but I decided not to waste my chance...and look where that's gotten me." His arms wrapped around himself tightly. ...become a joke...you're just the little slut who destroyed him...he will be jobless and pointless...
"It's gotten you where you deserve. You can't possibly understand the hell you condemned him for the past five years. You see, you're like a drug, Mr. Frost. Lovely, addicting, can make any man believe what he wants to believe. What my nephew did in begging for you is the same as anyone going through withdrawals. And, like a drug, you've ruined him. Again."
"I..." He stumbled back a few steps, putting a hand to his head. I created him...and I can destroy him... "You...you're the reason I left, aren't you? This deal we made...it was because you didn't want us together. Wasn't it?" ...you'll never see him again or try to get in contact with him...like any whore, you grew bored and sent him away, telling him that you never loved him...Pitch Black is just another name...
"There we go. This elusive memory of yours is finally coming back, I see. Pity it couldn't have happened sooner. Perhaps we could have avoided the struggle to keep my nephew from cutting himself in your name all over again."
"It was your fault. You're the reason his heart is broken beyond repair. You're the reason we're both so unhappy!"
"Again with the blaming. You like to do that a lot. Blame other people for your choices when they don't go right. You blame me because I had to fix the mess you created. From your behavior, I can guess my nephew finally realized his mistake. And let me guess. You blamed him for coming to Australia, hmm?"
"You're a bastard. You're just a selfish bastard who cares nothing for the happiness of his own nephew!"
"I do care. I seem to be the only one who does. If I didn't care, I would have left him where I found him back in America, standing in front of a mirror with a razor to his wrist. If I didn't care, I would have kicked him out the door when he came, sobbing with nightmares about you. Yes, Mr. Frost, I don't care."
"If you truly cared, you would have just left us alone instead of forcing us apart."
"Tell me, Mr. Frost. Was it my fault that you broke his heart this time? Is it my fault we're here? Is it my fault you lost your memory and almost killed my nephew?"
"I..." Jack looked down, gritting his teeth. "Just leave me alone! Why do you find such enjoyment in bringing me pain?"
"Because you bring my family pain. I'm glad my nephew is finally rid of you. You never deserved him, then or now. You can change your appearance and forget as much as you like. You'll still always be the same whore who tried to destroy Pitch Black."
"I wasn't a whore. I loved him." Jack turned and walked away from him.
"I can tell. Say hello to Audrien for us. I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to have you back in his bed."
The younger man didn't answer, continuing to walk away and pulling out his phone. He scrolled down through his contacts, selecting Pitch's name and starting a new text message.
Pitch. I know why I left you. Can we please tal-
Jack froze mid step, putting a hand to his head with a grimace. He pulled the engagement ring off of his right hand. Jack gently kissed the metal, choking on a sob. "I will always love you..." He set it by the laptop, and left...Jack finally let his tears go, silently closing the door before falling to the floor in a weeping mess. "I'm sorry..." His fingers gripped his hair tighter as the pain quickly following the images. Pain in his mind, his heart.
He stumbled, trying desperately to will the pain away. All of it was just too much. Jack suddenly felt himself falling, his phone dropping to the ground with its unfinished text, and his head hitting something hard, before he was released into blissful nothingness.
ZZ
He looked down at the paper with dead eyes, reading the engagement announcements. "Thank you, Kristi. I know I can't...give you much, but I'm willing to try."
The brunette gave him a sad smile. "You don't have to do this, you know? I understand."
Pitch took her hand in his, kissing the engagement ring on her finger. "I know. I want to. I like you, Kristi. I really do. I'm tired of being alone, and at least you understand that I...I can't really love you like that. I love you as much as these cracked shambles of a heart can manage."
"And I love you, dearest." She reached up to gently kiss his forehead. "I will do my best to mend your heart as much as I can."
Pitch smiled. "I look forward to it. You are a good woman, Kristianna Monroe. I hope you heal it enough that I can love you as you deserve."
Kristi rested her head on his shoulder. "So when can you come back to the US? I'd very much like it if you could come to the concert I'll be soloing at in a few weeks."
"Soon, I promise. I just...I need to find the courage." Pitch turned his head, kissing into her hair. "I will be there. I can't let my fiancée perform without her future husband there, can I?"
She smiled. "I'll hold you to that. And I promise I'll try to help you regain your courage."
"You already are. Now, kiss me and go. You need to be back in time for your rehearsals!"
"Alright, alright." She chuckled. "Though I'd much rather stay here with you." Kristi stood up, leaning down to kiss him lovingly.
"Would you?"
"Indeed I would."
"Then stay. Stay with me."
Kristi frowned slightly. "Oh, my dear...I can't. I really do have to go back to the US for rehearsals. If I miss another one, they'll find another soloist."
Pitch nodded. "Then go. Be my lovely little soloist."
"I will." She pulled on her coat. "And you let me know as soon as you're allowed to come back, alright?"
"I will. The moment I'm free, I'll be on the phone with you."
"Good. I'll count every moment until we're together again, love." Kristi gave him one last kiss before rushing out the door, digging her plane ticket out of her purse.
Pitch watched her go, a fond smile on his face. He did love her, as much as he could. What she didn't know and he would never tell her was that he was already dead. There would be no healing, from her or from anyone. He was settling with contentment, and that was all. To Pitch Black, love was dead.
ZZ
There was a knock on the door a few seconds before a doctor stuck her head in. "Excuse me, Mr. Black?"
"Dr. Joy! What brings you to my little corner of the hospital?"
"I know this may sound strange, but do you know a Mr..." She checked her clipboard. "Jack Frost, by chance?"
Pitch stiffened. "Why?"
"He has just been taken into the emergency OR. We've tried contacting his family, but we haven't been able to get ahold of them. We looked in his phone, and you were the most recent person he tried to contact."
"That is strange. I don't know any Jack Frost, though. I'm sorry."
"Very well. I knew it would be a long shot that you could be the same Pitch as the one in his phone. It was just an odd text he was trying to send to him, but I guess I won't bother you with that, Mr. Black. Have a good afternoon, sir."
"Wait!"
Dr. Joy stopped right before she closed the door, looking back at him. "Yes, Mr. Black?"
"What did the text say, if I may ask?"
"Something about knowing why he left and needing to talk. It just sounded like a normal conversation to me, really."
Pitch nodded. "Umm...are you going to see him soon?"
"As soon as he's out of surgery, yes."
"When he's well enough, tell him it's too late and that it doesn't matter anymore."
Dr. Joy looked away from him. "Yes, sir. I'll let him know as soon he wakes up...if he wakes up. Good day, sir."
"You too, Doctor." Pitch watched her close the door before reaching for his phone. "Kristi? Yeah. Don't get on the plane yet. I'm coming too."
ZZ
Mr. Pitch Black and Miss Kristianna Monroe, together with their families, are pleased to announce their engagement. The couple is planning to celebrate their upcoming nuptials on January 7th.
Tooth looked down at the announcement with a frown. "I'm happy for him, Sandy. I am...but what does this mean for Jack? If he ever wakes up, how are we supposed to tell him that the man he left everything for is getting married to someone else?"
"I'm not sure, sweetheart. I have a feeling Jack will find out soon enough anyway. Your brother's tough. He'll wake up. I'm just afraid of what he'll do when he does."
"I don't even know. It's been a month, Sandy! What if he doesn't wake up? I-it's like the accident all over again..." She buried her face in her boyfriend's neck.
"He will. He did then, and he will again. And if I know Pitch, he'll wait. He has his ways. He'll wait until Jack knows."
"I'm scared...I just want my brother back. Even in a coma, he looks so heartbroken."
"He'll come back. If he believes there's any hope, he'll come back."
"I'm not sure he does think there's any hope..."
"Sweetheart...we might have to lie. Find some way to give him hope long enough for him to wake up."
"O-okay." She nodded, sniffling.
"We'll tell him news of Pitch, but...everything but that. He'll find out soon enough, once he wakes up."
"Alright. We'll bring him back. We have to..."
"And we will."
ZZ
The nurses stood outside the door, giggling and talking loudly. "Did you hear about Mr. Black? He's getting married soon!"
Tooth opened the door, looking out and glaring at the nurses. "If you wouldn't mind, could you please take your gossiping somewhere besides right outside my brother's room?"
"How is your brother, by the way? How's he enjoying being awake?"
"He's been sleeping mostly, but your gossip subject is a little touchy for him. So if you could go somewhere else, we would very much appreciate it."
"Does your brother know Mr. Black?"
"Yes, he did. Please don't stay here and keep bringing up bad memories. He's already found that its more pleasant to sleep than listen to your gossiping."
"It's strange. When Mr. Black was here, he denied knowing your brother. Said he had never met a Jack Frost." They pointed to a tag outside the door.
"Well, then he lied. The two knew each other very well. Now, please leave before I file a complaint that you nurses were disrupting my brother's rest."
The nurses moved on, sending glares back. Sandy came up behind Tooth, laying a hand on her shoulder. "He woke up and...heard some things."
Tooth sighed, her shoulders slumping. She went back inside and took Jack's pale hand in hers. He jumped a little and turned in her direction. "Tooth?"
"Yeah. It's me, Jack. How are you feeling?"
"My head aches a little, but that's nothing new."
"How much did you hear?"
Jack's blind gaze moved to his lap. "E-everything..."
"Everything?" He nodded slowly. "I'm so sorry, Jack. We weren't going to tell you."
"He doesn't love me anymore...and I don't know why. I-I'm not that different from before, am I?"
"Yes and no. There are some things that are the same, but you're a different person. You're who you would be if you had never known Pitch."
"What was I like before? None of you ever told me because you were afraid of me remembering him. Well, it's too late for that now. Tell me, Tooth."
"You were less confident, at least until Pitch came. Mum kept chasing all the guys away, so you never really bothered getting close to anyone. Pitch changed you, Jack. You were so happy when he was around. The two of you were so in love. If I didn't have Sandy, I would have almost been jealous."
Jack felt a tear sneak out, immediatey absorbing into the bandages on his face. "And now I've lost it all..."
"Maybe not. He's not married yet."
"There's no chance, Tooth. We're not even in the same country, and I can't see, for goodness' sake! There is no hope for us."
"Do you love him, Jack? As much as you did then?"
"I don't know. I still can't remember."
"Then do you love him now? Just as you are right now?"
"I do. I don't know how...but I do."
"How much?"
"Enough that I left Audrien for him. Enough that I spent every last cent I had just to come see him."
"If he was here right now, what would you say?"
"Th-that I love him...and that I'm sorry I'm different now. But that even in the few weeks I remember of him I've grown to love him more than I have anybody else."
"He's coming back, Jack. He's in America for Kristi's recital, but they're getting married in Australia. Nearby, actually."
"I..." He sighed. "It's still useless. I can't see, Tooth."
"Jack, would you want to go see him? At least try, if you could?"
"Y-yes."
"I'm going to take the bandages off." Tooth reached behind Jack's head, taking the end of the bandage and winding it around his head. She slipped the end from over his eyes, dropping the bandage to the side. "Open your eyes. Slowly, so you can have time to adjust."
Jack slowly opened his eyes, letting out a choked sob. "A-are they open?"
Tooth gasped. "Can't...can't you see me?"
"N-no. They said it might take months to get my vision back, but...there's still nothing."
"Your eyes...Jack, you wouldn't believe it."
"What? What's wrong with them?"
"They're blue. They're your old blue!"
"Wh-what?!"
"Your eyes aren't brown anymore. Your eyes are back to normal. Blue!"
"Why? Why is this happening?"
"Jack, you're coming back! You need to see him."
"I can't..."
"You must! He still loves you! You need to help him realize it!"
"No he doesn't. He made it very clear, Tooth."
"Don't listen to him! He does love you, and you love him! Why are you giving up now when you're so close?"
"Because my heart is broken."
"He's the only one who can heal it. You know this."
"He doesn't want to."
"He does. Give him that chance."
"He didn't give me one."
"Be the better man, Jack!"
Jack closed his eyes with a sigh. "How far away is the wedding?"
"Maybe an hour's drive?"
"When is it?"
"In a few days. Five, to be exact."
"A-alright. But you'll have to lead me around."
"We will...until Pitch takes over, that is."
"If he takes over."
Tooth leaned forward, kissing Jack's forehead. "He will. He loves you too much not to."
"We'll see."
"Don't be afraid, Jack. He'll be yours again. You will know that happiness again."