N/A: Okay, for anyone who wants to enter in the poll I believe it is working so if you want you can do that. I'll probably it close tomorrow morning? I just want to know what you guys think. Anyway off to the next chapter. This didn't turn out as well as I hoped but...eh. I's really short but again its just another filler chapter till the real project I wanna work begins. That and Sandy had kinda been back-seated lately. Sorry Sandy!
Chapter 7
For the rest of the day, Bunny and Jack remained in the living room. North had given Bunny the remote to the TV hidden behind the fireplace wall. Had North made it fit there, the Pooka didn't know. But it was better than the theater room, where the screen hurt his eyes. Bunny had casually flipped through the channels hoping to find something entertaining for the child. He had immediately ruled out SpongeBob. He heard that show once- an only once- and knew it had to be the worst thing created in the history of …of ever. The sound of the character's high-pitched voices set the Pooka-s ears reeling and his teeth clacking. So, no, Jack was not watching that wretched program. He had tried animal planet, hoping that there would be a segment on deer prancing through meadows or a hummingbird colleting nectar. But no, there was lions tearing into fresh meat, blood flying everywhere. What they were eating already unrecognizable. Bunny had started hitting channels so fast it was surprise he didn't break the remote. Afterwards he settled on Despicable Me that was playing on Disney Channel. For the moment, the toddler was entertained. This was both good and bad. Seeing as soon after Bunnymund fell asleep. Yeah, this was a very bad thing.
"Bunny? Bunny? Bunny, did you fall asleep?" Jack asked, poking the Pooka's side. After a few minutes he gave up settling to sit on the couch. Then he started wiggling around. The movie was getting boring compared to the now sleeping Bunnymund. A small smile graced the toddler's face before got up and walked around the room gathering up supplies. When he was done he sat on the ground in front of the Pooka. Supplies scattered around him as he looked through his colors before selecting a green and red washable marker.
Bunnymund was going to learn an important lesson. Never, ever fall asleep when watching a hyperactive, winter-spirit toddler unless you are prepared to handle the consequences.
"Jack? Bunny? You guys it's time for dinner!" Tooth called. She flew into the room, the TV was still on, as Jack popped his head up on the other side.
"Coming!" he said shimming off the couch before racing down the hall way.
"Bunny, come on, it's dinner time," Tooth called as she floated down the hallway after the little boy. Bunny slowly got up lumbering down the hallway while rubbing sleep from his eyes. He wandered into the kitchen before plopping down into a seat. Jack was sitting in the high chair, the tray hadn't been closed yet so he could still get down. Small hands came up to his mouth to stifle giggles. Sandy floated over to the boy, a question mark above his head. The toddler only pointed at Bunny before peals of laughter escaped him. The little man looked over at Bunny before he too burst into silent laughter.
"What's so funny?" Bunnymund asked, looking between the two. Jack and Sandy glanced at each other before breaking out into fresh giggles. Tooth and North came over to the three, questioning looks to match the confusion that was written on Bunny's face.
"What iz it? Why you two laughing like hyenas?" North questioned. That was until he and Tooth both took one look at Bunny's face. North joined the other two in laughing at the oblivious Pooka and while Tooth tried to put on a stern face, she couldn't help the giggles that escaped her.
"WHAT are you all laughing at?!"
"Bunny, when was the last time you looked in a mirror?" Tooth asked. Bunny stared at her for a second, a paw coming up to wipe at is face. He took a spoon off the table, flipping it around to see his reflection. Oh, that boy was gonna get it.
In the time that Bunny was sleeping, the toddler had taken an array of Magic-markers an doodled all over the Pooka's face. It was clear that he had favored the red and green markers as those two colors were used the most. Random scribbles of blue and pink zigzags littered Bunny's face. What he assumed was red and pink blotches on his cheek made to look like blush. Purple covered the space above his eyes like eye shadow. And lastly, there was an orange line around his lips.
"Snowflake, you are so done for," he said. Jumping at the still giggling boy, before the Pooka started attacking the boy's sides. Jack shrieked and tried to squirm away from Bunny, as he was relentlessly tickled. He wiggled out of the chair before running down the hallway with the Guardian of Hope fresh on his heels.
"Boys! Get back here before your dinner gets cold," Tooth called. Thumping feet sounded down the hallway before Jack burst back into the kitchen diving behind Tooth's legs.
"Mommy! Save me!" Jack said, as Bunny ran back into the kitchen.
"Oh no, mate, you get back out here and take your tickling punishment like a man," Bunny said.
"Okay enough," Tooth replied, pulling Jack out from behind her legs, "Now, Jack apologize to Bunny."
"I'm sowwy, Bunny," Jack said, looking up at the Pooka. Bunnymund just chuckled scooping the child up before placing him back in the high chair. He took the wet rag that Tooth handed before swiping across his face, effectively getting rid of all of the ink. He then took a seat and began to eat with the rest of the Guardians.
It was around seven o'clock that Sandy had to leave. Children would be heading off to bed and required sweet dreams for the night. It was also at this time that Jack, still hyper, latched onto the man. Wide, pleading eyes looked up at the Sandman.
"Can I go with you?" Jack asked, tentatively. Sandy looked at the others. Jack really needed to be in bed in an hour but…
Sandy nodded, quick images filling the space above his head as he explained that he would bring the boy back on his trip over Norway.
"I'll meet you in Norway, no need to come all the way back to Santoff Claussen," North said, he bent down next to the eager toddler as Tooth fluttered over handing him a coat. North slipped the child's arms through with ease and zipped the coat up. It really wasn't necessary, seeing as Jack did retain his powers and didn't need a coat or shoes. But it would put the Guardian of Memories' mind at ease. North put both of his hands on the boy's thin shoulders, causing the Toddler to look up at him, "Now, you be very good boy for Sandy. No Trouble, no disappearing. You stay right next to him the entire time, understand?"
Jack nodded, a grin forming on his face before he ran over and gave Tooth a big hug, waving good bye to Bunny, and giving North a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Sandy weaved an airplane out of sand, fastening the boy into the back seat before flying off. They passed the globe and waved good bye.
Sandy flew out of Santoff Claussen and in to Canada. The first half hour was just short trips seeing as the top half was not- as populated. Sandy then moved down into the US. He started in Oregon and worked in a zigzag direction. Each heavily populated town received hug dinosaurs. At one point he had allowed Jack out of the plane, placing him on the back of one dinosaur. Sandy had watched as the child whooped with joy as he rode the dino around the city. Afterwards, the boy had taken a ride on a horse, Pegasus, and dragon. For the most part, the toddler just watched Sandy make the dreams. This was the most surprising for the Sandman. The usual hyperactive child just sat eyes intently watching the masterpieces Sandy was making. The Sandman couldn't help the smile that graced his face, it had been a long time since of the other Guardians had watched his work. Sure, Christmas and Easter were awesome. But the works of art that the Sandman created? They were master pieces yet no one but the children enjoyed them. Tooth always praised Bunny's designs and North's presents but few ever took the time to see what Sandy had made. Sure eventually the dreams could only be seen over the boys and girls heads but still. Each dream was sculpted just for that specific child.
It was around midnight that Sandy finally made it back to Norway. Jack had long since fallen asleep. The excitement quickly wearing the little boy out. He was currently curled up in the back seat of Sand's plane, a sand bunny held in his arms. North's sleigh came into view as Sandy passed over the town of Oslo. He flew his plane next to the sleigh making a walkway out of sand and handing Jack and the sand bunny over to North. The Guardian of Wonder chuckled. It seemed Jack always a rabbit when he fell asleep whether it was Bunnymund, a stuffed rabbit, or a sand one. There always seemed to be one present.
North waved a farewell to the Guardian of Dreams and climbed back into his sleigh. Jack curled up in the Cossack's lap, mumbling I his sleep before quieting once more. A quick trip later and soon North was carrying Jack back to the living room. The toddler had one hand slung over North's shoulder where the sand rabbit was still held while Jack's thumb had found its way into his mouth. North walked into the living room where Bunny and Tooth were watching TV.
"Someone has come home," North said quietly, to not waken the child. Tooth looked overa small smile gracing her face as she spotted the two. She flew over before gently taking Jack in her arms, a small giggle escaping as she saw the bunny. Jack cracked open eye open before snuggling into Tooth's embrace, "Night, Mommy."
"Night, sweetie," Tooth said. Bunny stood up and walked over pressing his nose to the child's hair before giving him a quick kiss on the forehead. He eyed the sand rabbit in the boy's arms and turned to North.
"Ya know, Snowflake is developing a serious obsession for rabbits, not that I'm not flattered or anything but still," Bunnymund said. North let out a laugh.
"You should be happy; boy has taken shrine to you. Needs rabbit to sleep with. This toy second best," North said as Tooth left the room.
"Yeah, I am. It's better than getting' called a kangaroo all the time. I mean, seriously, mate. Do I look like a kangaroo to you?"
"Ah Bunny…"