Kozmotis palms the cellphone he keeps on his person at all times. He is a busy man, chief of operations to no small town business but Constellation Corporatons. The company has its fingers in many pies, from toymaking to dentistry to publishing, even to weaponry. He is aware of a few government contracts with certain Army departments, developing some sort of nightmare to unleash upon their opponents. It's a favorite amongs his pet projects. With so many irons in the fire, it is imperative he keeps his cellphone on hand.

Kozmotis sees this Bunnymund character, and he is perfectly aware of his name despite evidence to the contrary. He watches the ruffian move into an obviously aggressive stance, spouting bodily threats. He does what every sensible person would do. He prepares to call the police. The Pitchiner estate has security on the grounds at all times. It would take a mere five minutes before this E. Aster Bunnymund finds himself dragged kicking and screaming from their property. Alas, it was not to be, for none other than dear Jack rushes into the room.

Dear, precocious Jack. Such a blight to his existence, he is.

"What the hell is going on here?" His son all but yells.

"Language, young man." Kozmotis reprimands, removing his hand from his robe.

Jack ignores him as he is often wont to do. He affixes their guest with a questioning glance. "Buns, are you fighting with Pitch?"

Kozmotis scowls. "It's Papa, Jack. You must call me Papa."

At last, Jack slides his gaze over to him. There is a muted contempt in his frown. "Yeah... no."

"What is going on here?" Katherine chimes in, peeking out from behind Jack.

A surge of happines bursts in Kozmotis's chest. The emotion near embarasses him in its intensity. He finds he cannot be bothered to care and crosses the room in two swift strides. For if Jack is to be his bane, then Katherine is his balm. He throws his arms around his little girl, draping himself across her shoulder like a particularly bony shawl.

"Oh Katherine, darling." He buries his face in her locks. "Your dear brother is so cruel to me."

"Seriously?" Jack groans. "You are so embarassing."

Kozmotis permits a pleased little smile before sobbing out. "You see! You see the slights I suffer?"

Katherine pats him on the back with a well-practiced gentleness that spoke of the countless times before. "There, there Father. I am sure Jack means no harm."

"I only wish to keep him safe." He nods. It is an honest reply, perhaps the most honest he's been this entire morning.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!"

"Language!" Pitchiner snaps, nearly inaudible through the buffer of Katherine's hair.

"Will you please stop controlling my life?!" Jack snaps.

Kozmotis hears stomping and removes himself from his daughter. He turns and watches with a wary gaze as Jack stalks over to Bunnymund. The brute has relaxed his fighting stance yet his hands stay fists at his side. There is a tightness about his form, muscles flexed and ever at the ready. He keeps an eye on Kozmotis, up until Jack nears him. Kozmotis finds it positively delightful. Bunnymund is scared.

"What took ya so long, Jackie?" He huffs.

Jack smiles sheepishly and runs a hand through his hair. "Sorry. We had an accident with the closet."

Bunnymund barks out a laugh. "The closet? Didn't I get you outta there awhile back?"

"You ass." Jack snorts, punching Bunnymund on the arm. "You know that's not what I meant."

Kozmotis watches the exchange with a keen eye, picking out all the tiny details. He notes the tension slipping from the cur's stance. His fists bloom open, all signs of prior distress melting away. Kozmotis catches the casual touching. Jack runs his knuckles down Bunnymund's biceps. The tramp sets his hands on the slope of Jack's waist. They can't seem to stop touching each other, rubbing here and petting there. But, Kozmotis observes, they can't stop smiling either, lips settled in a happy curve. They appear to forget the world around them, utterly at home in each other's company.

"When was the last time you witnessed Jack truly happy?" Katherine politely inquires.

Kozmotis scoffs. "Yesterday, when we visited the ice cream parlor."

Katherine heaves a deep sigh. "Father, please."

He grits his teeth and crosses his arms. He know the truth his daughter desires. The truth is never. He's never seen Jack truly happy. Ever since he first met the boy, not four years back but eight. He had been around Katherine's age then, a forgotten little waif in the corner of Lunanoff's office. He hadn't cried but the twist of his mouth was no smile. And now, here Jack is. The truth is, Kozmotis has never seen Jack like this. It isn't happiness but bliss.

A tiny coil of envy plants somewhere in his chest.

"They're in love." Katherine persists.

"Bah, nothing but childish infatuation and hormones." Kozmotis wrinkles his nose.

Katherine gifts him with a withering glare. Kozmotis takes a quiet moment to marvel how much she resembled her mother.

"I can't believe you ditched me with yer Da."

Kozmotis blinks free of his musings, hearing Bunnymund mutter beneath his breath. He returns his attentions to the couple before him, still delicately entwined. He scowls.

"Aww, c'mon. It wasn't that bad, was it?" Jack teases, flicking Bunnymund's nose.

"Yes." The thug replies glibly, batting away Jack's fingers.

"Poor baby." Jack coos, a hint of laughter in his tone. "Want me to kiss it better?"

"Maybe I do." Bunnymund returns with a callous smirk.

Kozmotis finds his brows flying up as Katherine giggles. A spark of anger bursts a vein at his temple, and he sees red. Before his daughter could stop him, he marches forward, approaching his son.

"Jackson." He hisses through clenched teeth.

The couple stiffens as if struck by lightning. Kozmotis relishes a curl of satisfaction.

Jack mechanically turns to face him, wearing a pieced together expression of panic, anger, and apprehension. "Yes, Pitch?"

"It's Papa." Kozmotis clears his throat. "I would appreciate it if you refrained from displaying such impropriety, especially before your sister."

"Father, it's fine." Katherine protests behind him.

"Alright." Bunnymund agrees amiably. But there is something in the corners of his smirk, something more of a sneer. "Jack an' I can take it somewhere else, can't we Jackie?"

A look of blank puzzlement flits across his son's expression before understanding dawns with a matching smirk. "Oh, yeah. The park's good around this time. Not too hot, not too many people..."

Plenty of bushes to hide behind. Jack doesn't say it but Kozmotis knows the boy well enough to suspect he is thinking it. He starts to object when a warm hand settles on his arm. The touch stutters his tongue and he glances down to find Katherine smiling serenely beside him. She looks to her brother and grants him the slightest of nods.

"The park sounds perfect." She chirps her consent.

Jack beams something wonderful, something that reminds Kozmotis of fresh blankets of snow, gleaming untouched in the early morning light. It is pure in its joy. Kozmotis finds his throat unnaturally parched, a thousand words stuck to the roof of his mouth.

"Great! We better get goin' then." Bunnymund nods. He claps his hands together and performs a shallow bow, winking at Katherine. "Nice ta meet ya, lil' Shiela. You must be the Katherine I heard so much about.

"That I am." Katherine smiles and daintily curtsies. "It is a pleasure to meet at last. Jack has regaled me with many of your tales."

"Only the good ones, I hope." Bunnymund chuckles.

Jack rolls his eyes, shaking his head. "Alright, alright Romeo. Put away that charm before you blind someone."

"Jealous, Jackie?" Bunnymund wags his eyebrows.

"In your dreams, Buns." Jack turns up his nose, sauntering away. "C'mon, the park's gonna fill up."

Kozmotis swallows, stepping between Jack and Bunnymund. He finds his voice. "I have yet to allow this excursion."

Katherine purses her lips, looking thoroughly displeased. Bunnymund starts, tension winding down his spine.

Jack sighs, turning around. "Really, Pitch?"

Kozmotis whirls to face him. "Is my apprehension so preposterous? Am I suppose to let some veritable stranger traipse into my home and whisk my son away? I am your father - !"

"You are not my father!" Jack roars back.

His outburst echoes in the parlour's still, stale air. A loud silence follows. No one speaks, no one moves. Kozmotis feels his breath catch, a knot of air pressing against his lungs as hurt burns behind his eyes, in the closed clench of his fist. He shuts away his gaze and shoulders past Jack, his footsteps quick and light.

"No. Look. I didn't - I didn't mean that." Jack wheezes out, grabbing a hold of his robe.

"Oh, but I think you did." Kozmotis murmurs, head bowed. He shakes off Jack's grip and leaves the room.


A portrait of Pitch: post/40870710206/noconstipationplz-came-with-a-suggestion-of