Falling Through Time 7
Past
Time seemed to pass far too quickly for Jack's muddled mind. He fought hard not to be snippy or bratty toward these "young" Guardians. It was hard to think of them in any other way. They weren't his Guardians yet were at the same time. He could aspects of his North in Nicholas yet at the same time he saw an arrogant young man not afraid to charge head first into any situation and that certainly including Jack's situation. The young Cossack had all but announced to the entire village that Jack was just like him and Bunny and seemed to beam at the idea that he was no longer the only human that had to be believed in to be seen. While it sort of annoyed Jack – he was not used to have anyone throw an arm around his shoulder and dragging him around just to introduce him to the villagers, okay Nicholas's older self did pretty much the same thing the first chance he got but that was beside the point – he was actually pretty grateful when people began seeing him and took to him as if he were just another child of the village rather than a Guardian or a spirit to be feared.
Of course it helped when Katherine – good Moon the girl wasn't much younger than him and was destined to be Mother Goose! – began writing stories about him. The funny thing was they were some of Jack's favorite nursery rhymes from his youth. Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick was apparently inspired when she had been following him around and asking endless questions and he had tried everything to dodge her including jumping over the camp fire and running off to the forest. She had followed holding a lit candle and carefully placed it on the ground before climbing the tree after him.
"Seriously?" Jack moaned, tired of her endless questions. Was it really that strange to have someone so pale and with his hair color way up in Northern Russia? He should have just claimed to be British and be done with it. "Katherine, can I please have some alone time. I need to think."
"About what? Have you talked to Nightlight yet? If anyone knows anything about anything it's Nightlight," the girl called up.
Jack sighed. "I'm going to bed." Carefully he jumped, cautious of the girl on the branch below him and landed smoothly on both feet. He leapt over the candle and proceeded back to Big Root. That night Katherine told the other children the silly tale and soon the other children believed in him.
He didn't even want to think of the incident that inspired Jack and Jill. Needless to say "Jill" was Katherine and running up hill with a bucket and a crazy girl was not a wise move. And Jack and the Beanstalk…well that had nothing to do with him Katherine was just on a roll and had finally stopped pestering him to write her stories. Both Ombric and Nicholas were highly amused by their antics and joked around endlessly about Katherine having a crush. If anything that made Jack flush nonstop. Katherine on the other hand seemed nonplused by this. Once she had what she wanted she'd ignore Jack until she was done writing before asking more questions. In the end Jack told her what he could but left out enough details to finally bore her but by then she had already created a dozen or more stories.
Bunnymund didn't seem so amused and he watched Jack cautiously. For the most part he had remained either in Ombric's library or at the Warren, wanting to be with Jack yet staying a safe distance away. Jack was almost relieved. He couldn't screw up history and out of all the Guardians it was Bunnymund's life he was terrified of screwing up. He needed his mate but the Pooka wasn't his mate in this timeline. If he even hinted at the idea that in the future they were lovers it could destroy everything they had. So Jack stayed as far away as he could, either hiding in the forest or working out in the valley, practicing the tai chi his Bunny had taught him over the decades since they had become lovers. It was relaxing and next to his own fighting style it was the only defense he presently had. His powers had yet to return. Moving slowly he did each form with fluid precision and let his mind go blank. There had to be a way to get back home, he just needed to clear his mind and let the answer come to him.
. . .
Bunnymund leaned against a poplar tree and watched Jack in silence. He hadn't meant to follow Jack, he really didn't, it was just he had questions, too many that Katherine had been unable to get out of the boy. He would never admit to it but had actually paid the young Guardian to pester the boy about his past and where he came from but the boy was like a closed book. He wouldn't spill the beans on who he was. Mind you he was a great inspiration to Katherine, she hadn't stopped writing since she met him.
He ran a paw over his ears, feeling more out of sort than he had in centuries. No human made him feel the way this boy did, not even Nicholas whom he had come to love as more than a friend and brother at arms. No, this feeling was one he had not had since before the genocide of his race. Not since the death of his mate.
"Ah…there you are," Nicholas almost sung as he came out of the woods to stand next to the Pooka. He placed a hand on Bunnymund's slim shoulder. "I swear, I've never seen you so nervous. You would think you were looking at a ghost when you look at that boy."
Bunnymund gave him a dirty look. They had both figured out that Jack was not necessarily alive but rather a spirit but for Nicholas to crack such a crude joke was uncalled for.
"Yes, yes, I know. My bad. But you haven't been yourself since his arrival. What troubles you, my friend?" Nicholas said, raising his hands to show he meant no harm.
The Pooka wasn't sure what to say. He had yet to tell anyone what he smelt from the mixture that was Jack's scent. "He's…He's not from this time," he finally said. He looked away from Nicholas to watch Jack's graceful movements.
"Are you certain?"
Nodding, Bunnymund met his friend's gaze once more. "You can't smell it but I can. He smells like us…like the Guardians. I can smell you, Toothiana, Sanderson and…me all over him. I smelt it the moment I saved him from Pitch. Nicholas, he called to me. He actually called to me. The only ones who know how to do that are the Guardians and the villagers. How would he know to do that unless…"
"Aster, what are you saying?"
He shook his head. He wasn't really sure. He knew with every fiber of his being that Jack was out of his time. "He's marked."
"Marked how?"
How do you tell your lover that your mate from the future is standing before you? Bunnymund wondered silently. His closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. "Nicholas, it's hard to explain. Just trust me he's not here to cause harm. He's lost and afraid. With luck, when Nightlight returns we can figure out a way to help Jack."
"You can't simply find out where in time he's from?" Nicholas asked confused that the time traveler couldn't simply return the boy to wherever it was he belonged.
Bunnymund gave a snort of laughter. "It's not that easy. He could be a few decades or centuries, maybe even thousands of years into the future."
"Bah, why would he have my scent if he's from centuries of thousands of years in the future?"
A small smile lit the animal spirit's face.
"Aster? What aren't you telling me? Aster, I'm serious!"
Bunny hopped away from him. "I think your bird lady friend is returning," he said, nodding toward the teal and blue figure high in the sky. He grinned when he saw Nicholas dash back toward the village as Toothiana angled herself toward it.
Jack didn't seem to notice anything around him but his own movements. His arms moved in sync with his legs and looked very precise but they were that of someone still very new to the art, an art Bunnymund had created and only a select few in the Asian world knew. It was an art form that someone like Jack shouldn't know if he were from this era. It was rather fascinating watching someone do his tai chi. Still, there were some of his movements that were off and Bunnymund couldn't help the need to correct them.
Jack gasped when his wrist was grabbed and warm fingers moved up the back of his hand to curl around his fingers and place them into another position. Another paw went to his hip and gently pressed down. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice breathy. He had tried so hard to avoid Bunnymund and now here the Pooka was touching him just as his Bunny would.
"You need to dip lower when doing this move and you fingers are supposed to pinch like so," Bunnymund said, moving with Jack as the youth took the next pose.
Jack's heart raced as he tried his best to focus on his movements and not the feel of warmth against his back. He kept his eyes closed and tried to think of his breathing, in and out, in and out. Why was Bunnymund wearing a jacket? Why did he have those silly glasses? Did Bunnymund have bad eye sight and no one told him? Man, Bunnymund was so nice and warm just like his Bunny. His mind began to wander and his movements slowed as he thought of his Bunny guiding him through the poses as he often did when they practiced together.
"Bunny," he whispered, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. For a moment he forgot where he was and was able to pretend it really was his Bunny holding him and without thinking he turned his head just a little bit but it was enough to rub the top of his head under Bunnymund's chin. The Pooka stilled put didn't pull away. Then, taking a chance he was sure to regret, Jack tilted his head upward, silently begging for a much needed kiss.
Relief filled him when Bunnymund gave in and nuzzled him. It wasn't quite the kiss he wanted but Jack was happy nonetheless. He leaned into Bunnymund, happy to finally find something to hold onto.
. . .
Preset Day
Bunny dropped the book he had been reading while sitting in Jack's usual window seat. His chest tightened as if someone had taken a fist and grabbed his heart. His heart raced and breathing grew rapid. He had never felt like this before and it frightened him. Something was wrong, something was very, very wrong.
"North!" he yelled as he tried to get to his feet. "Nicholas!" His vision grew blurry as the pain increased. He placed his hand over his heart but before he could get more than a step or two his legs gave out and he fell to the floor with a thud. "Jack…" he whispered before darkness stole his vision and fear seized him.
"Aster!"
The voice sounded as if it was far, far away and Bunny had to blink to see past the blackness. He almost laughed with relief when he discovered it wasn't his eye sight that had gone but Pitch's black robes swishing around as the newest Guardian knelt next to him. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you," he murmured before closing his eyes and passing out. He barely felt the Guardian of Courage lift him up or heard the buzz of the others rushing to help, all he could think of was Jack and how much he needed his mate right that moment.
