Monochrome.
Ch. 7
A/N~ Auugh…the shortness of this chapter is KILLING ME, but not as much as my wrecked back. Seriously, I don't know WHAT I did to suddenly feel like an 80 year old, but I somehow screwed up my lower back something fierce. That being said, it's a bit hard to write when you either have a stabbing pain above your ass, or are numb from an ice pack in the area. So I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but eh, I suppose it's necessary in a sense…? *Muse!Pitch hits me with a leek* ow…
So please enjoy! Next up for an update, Snakebite! XD
Pairing: N/A
Genre: Humor, hurt/comfort, tragedy, adventure.
Rating: T (for swearing and violence)
Enjoy!
~S~
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Very few times have all of the Guardians faced down Pitch all together, and in one of their domains no less. It was even rarer that Jack has ever seen such colorful expressions and emotions on their faces. He had never seen North look so stunned yet determined. Tooth had never looked anymore confused yet fierce in that moment, and Jack had never seen Sandy look so conflicted, yet hopeful. And Bunny…Jack has seen the Pooka mad before. But right now, he looked absolutely furious.
"You are a fucking liar." The Pooka snarled.
Pitch, or rather Kozmotis, only regarded Bunny expressionlessly. There was no flicker of doubt or wrath in those gold eyes, no flashes of mirth and dark intent. And just in looking at that pale, yet so lively face, Jack somehow knew. This was not Pitch Black.
"I cannot say I blame you for your doubt," Kozmotis said, "It has been quite a while since my name was so much as cursed or uttered."
"Like hell it has! You have the gall to use that man's name as a cover-up for this sick game?" Bunny pointed his boomerang threatening at the man, "You got five seconds to explain yourself, or I'll make certain you and that man's name stays dead!"
Kozmotis didn't even flinch. Rather, he held up his hands in a show of not being a threat, and carefully maneuvered onto his feet, pushing himself up so he was standing. The Guardians tensed, but the man made no move to attack or flee. Rather, he let his hands slowly fall back to his sides, limp and unarmed. He looked Bunny in the eyes and spoke.
"I can already tell you will not take my word for it. But perhaps you will take another's…" slowly, his eyes averted to the short gold man hovering with his whips by North's feet.
Bunny hissed, ears pinning back, "Don't you dare get Sandy involved you sick freak."
"I only ask he give his opinion," Kozmotis said, "Actions speak louder than words. And one cannot lie to a star who can look into the hearts of people and see their goals and dreams."
"What is he talking about…?" Jack asked meekly from behind Kozmotis.
"This bloke thinks he can trick Sandy into seeing something in him other than his black heart," Bunny snarled, "But it ain't happening. We're taking this sod out!"
He looked about to loose his boomerang, but a small hand caught his wrist before he could throw it. Looking down, he saw Sandy holding his wrist and shaking his head. Bunny stared in disbelief as various images formed over Sandy's head, his free hand gesturing to Kozmotis.
"You're not actually considering this are you mate?" Bunny rasped.
Sandy nodded, and looked over to North and Tooth, as if he were also asking for their support. Tooth looked hesitant and with trepidation at the man who called himself Kozmotis, while North looked suspicious yet thoughtful.
Jack, meanwhile, was looking between the tall man and his fellow Guardians. He wasn't sure what to think right now. On one hand, he just knew that this man was not Pitch Black. But what was his word against theirs? Sandy seemed wanting to give the man a chance, but the others expressed doubt like they wore it on their sleeves. He gripped his staff tightly, finally opening his mouth to speak.
"Guys…" he started, catching everyone's attention – including Kozmotis', "I…I think we should give him a chance. I…I really don't think he's lying."
"Mate, he's lied, tricked, and wormed his way into situations like this before, making us think he was an ally, but he ain't." Bunny growled.
"Please, just…" Jack sighed, "Just trust me…please?"
He was terrified, and they could see it. He was scared they would not take his word for it, would not trust him. That Easter day all that time ago had left bitter wounds on all of them, but none more so than Jack. He could barely trust himself from that day on, and his doubts of the others having faith in him had diminished greatly. It wasn't until time had passed, and much reassurance had been given, he slowly began to trust in their words, and in turn believe they trusted him. And this would determine just how much faith they would put in Jack.
"Please?" he implored again, hands tightening impossibly on his staff.
The Guardians regarded one another uncertainly, hesitation plain as day in their eyes. Bunny still held his hateful glare, locked solely onto the being he saw as nothing more than a shadow impersonating a long dead man.
A moment passed, with Jack practically holding his breath, the Guardians mentally contemplating, and Kozmotis standing by patiently as he awaited their verdict. Tooth, North, and Sandy eventually looked back at him, and North nodded to the Sandman.
"Be careful…" he muttered to the Sandman.
Sandy nodded eagerly, before he cautiously floated up to Kozmotis, silently banishing his whips. The two stared at one another, almost curiously. The others were shocked to see a very tiny, almost miniscule, smile form over Kozmotis' lips, directed at Sandy. The Sandman gave a tentative smile back, and gestured for Kozmotis to come closer. Leaning closer the Sandman, the smaller of the two placed an open palm against Kozmotis' forehead, and the other against his chest. Both shut their eyes, and Sandy's natural glow seemed to brighten and engulf the other man.
The Guardians held their breath, all anticipating something awful, yet most of them hoping for a positive outcome. North and Tooth were silently hoping this man was in fact who he said he was, while Bunny was just hoping he would get to bash his skull in.
A moment passed before the glow subsided, and their eyes opened. And to the others' shock, Sandy's were wide and staring at Kozmotis in clear awe and admiration. Blinking dumbly, Sandy's face suddenly broke out into a huge grin, and he turned and gestured at the others wildly.
"Sandy…?" North asked, amazingly unable to keep up with the rapid images forming and disintegrating over Sandy's head.
Waving his arms, Sandy looked at Tooth, and gestured her to come over. The fairy queen felt put on the spot, staring wide eyed at Kozmotis. She didn't budge, and Sandy rolled his eyes, planting a fist on his hip as he gestured again for her to get her tail over there this instant.
Kozmotis's mouth twitched in a slight smile, "I believe he wants you to see something."
Sandy nodded vigorously, and Tooth frowned. Looking at North, the Russian man regarded the fairy woman, and then Kozmotis critically. He nodded to Tooth after a moment. Swallowing, Tooth clutched her rapiers as she flitted over to the duo, feathers flared in hesitation and anxiety.
Once close enough, Sandy gestured to – of all places – Kozmotis' mouth. Then he pointed to his own, showing his teeth and pointing to a specific one Tooth was all too familiar with. Gasping, she dropped all sense of hesitation – and her rapiers – and flitted over to Kozmotis. Shockingly, she pried open his mouth, startling a surprised noise from the man, and looked into his mouth.
Her jaw dropped, eyes wide.
"It's still there!" she exclaimed suddenly.
"What's still there? His snake's tongue of which I have yet to rip out?" Bunny growled, all patience lost.
"No! The tooth!" she probed further into the man's mouth, eliciting a strangled noise from his throat as she ran her finger over each tooth in his mouth. Sandy silently giggled at everyone's expressions at the display.
"Toothy, I am not sure we understand…" North interjected, becoming worried that Tooth would lose her fingers if Kozmotis decided to bite down on her dainty fingers.
"Don't you remember?" Tooth said, peering further into his mouth, "When I punched Pitch after his defeat, I knocked out a tooth – a tooth I still have locked away in my Palace. But it's right here!"
"What?" Jack, curious, shuffled over and stood on his tiptoes so he could also see into Kozmotis' mouth. And lo and behold, he could see that every tooth was accounted for. In fact…
"They look…"
"Oh my gosh, your molars are simply glimmering! Do you floss often? Oh, what kind of tooth paste do you use? Do you use an electric brush or classic manual? Oh and your canines are simply divine!"
Sandy seemed to be the only one able to see how uncomfortable Kozmotis was getting with Tooth digging around his mouth and gushing at his dental hygiene. Covering his mouth to keep in silent giggles, he gestured over at the very stunned, very much looking like he needs a drink, North.
"Oh, ah…Toothy? Please be taking fingers out of mouth?" he said lamely.
"Hm? OH!" Tooth veered back as if struck, smoothing her feathers back and trying to control the coloring of her cheeks, "So sorry! But they're lovely! You rarely see that in other spirits, especially darker souls and-" Tooth suddenly gasped and turned to look at North and Bunny, finally releasing Kozmotis' mouth.
"This isn't Pitch! Pitch's teeth are atrocious! But his, they're just so…!" Tooth squealed, feathers ruffling excitedly.
Kozmotis massaged and flexed his jaw with a quirked brow, while everyone seemed to finally lock back onto him with their colorful array of expressions. Both Sandy and Tooth looked very much like they had won the lottery, while North looked stupefied and dumbfounded. Jack, while still confused and unaware of who this man was, looked quite accomplished with himself in trusting his own instincts. Bunny though, he did not look convinced…
"You're basing all of this on the fact he finally started brushing?" He growled, before looking to Sandy, "And what about you? What did you see in his head?"
Sandy pursed his lips and wagged a finger at Bunny, shaking his head. That's confidential, he was saying. After all, it wasn't polite to share ones dreams and wishes if they did not want them known. It's what made them so special.
"North, you cannot be buying this!" Bunny pleaded to the Russian.
North frowned, pursing his lips together as he regarded the other man. He suddenly glared at the man, striding up to him purposefully. He crossed his beefy arms together and studied Kozmotis critically. Reaching out, he firmly grasped the slighter man's chin and turned his face from side to side. Sandy had to giggle at Kozmotis' stunned expression, eyes blinking owlishly as his head was turned this way and that.
He finally let go of the man's face, and averted his gaze to the sword strapped to Kozmotis' hip. Eyes narrowing further, North studied the minute details and etchings in the scabbard and sword handle. He looked back at Kozmotis' face, studying his eyes. Both were slightly widened in open caution, but there was no hint of fear or trepidation. He looked North square back in the eyes, and made no move to avert his gaze.
"Hmm…" North hummed grimly, stroking his beard.
The others continued to look on, breaths held and wondering what it was North was seeing in the man. A pause filled the air, suddenly tense and thick like fog. Jack swallowed, suddenly on edge. There was no way North was buying it, he looked far too serious and critical. He didn't believe Jack, or Tooth, or even Sandy…
Everyone suddenly startled, when North's seriously set mouth suddenly contorted into a huge grin.
"HAH!" everyone jumped as the Russian crowed and suddenly picked Kozmotis up by his biceps, eyes alight with delight and smiling face.
"General, you old dog, it is good to see you alive and well! Welcome to Santoff Clausen!" giving a Russian exclamation, he kissed both sides of Kozmotis' face before setting the stunned man down on his feet.
North's bellowing laughter drowned all sound within the bowels of the Workshop, and he planted a heavy hand on Kozmotis' shoulder – minding his injuries surprisingly.
"Come! We must have cookies and eggnog!" he crowed, leading the speechless man to the door, "Jack! Please be collecting General's things, we have much to discuss!"
"WHAT!?" Bunny shrieked, his voice somehow reaching a decibel that should not have been possible for one of his stature.
"Bunny! Is rude to shout, you are in presence of General!" North chastised.
"Like hell I am! How can you be buying this shit!?" the Pooka snapped; he looked close to losing his hair, he was so stressed.
"Bah, skeptical. You must have faith in North!" the Russian bellowed. And ignoring Bunny's indignant sputtering, dragged the still quite stunned Kozmotis up the stairs towards the main Workshop.
The others were left stupefied, watching their leader lumber up the stairs, his jovial voice hollowing behind him as he babbled to the man in his grasp. They all blinked owlishly, their brains still trying to catch up to what had just happened.
Sandy was the first to regain himself, shrugging before clapping his hands with pitchers of eggnog floating over his head. He quickly flitted after North. He was no sooner followed by a loudly protesting Tooth; she didn't want Kozmotis to get cavities!
Only Jack and Bunny were left in their dumbfounded states, the smaller of the two biting his lip uncertainly. Bunny just looked like he was going to yank his fur out. Jack looked over at the wide eyed Pooka, somehow not nearly as amused as he should be at the other's gaping expression. He looked to the door then, and after a moment, he shrugged.
"Hey, can't beat them, join them." He said. Quickly gathering the armor and clothing laid out on the floor (wow, this stuff is heavy, Jack thought), Jack flitted after the retreating Guardians.
"Hey, wait up!" he called, leaving Bunny behind.
Now Bunny was alone. Staring at an open door, in the dark, in the bowels of the Workshop, ready to gouge his own eyes out if it mean things could go back to normal. He was not the least bit sure what he was supposed to do now. Panic? Throw a tantrum? Go after them? Stay there?
It took him all of ten minutes to decide what to do – and this was only after he was scared out of his wits by a pipe spewing steam at his backside and sending him scurrying up the stairs after the others…
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"I am telling you North, this ain't who he says he is!"
"Bah! Nonsense! Who else could best me in a fight other than the General himself?"
"What about Tooth!? If she can wipe the floor with you, I have no doubt this imposter can!"
Four pairs of eyes swerved back and forth between the two arguing spirits, two of them slightly exaggerated, while one was amused, and the other was blank. Sighing silently, Sandy shook his head and offered a glass of eggnog from his otherwise half full tray.
The man made as if to accept or decline the offer, but was stopped as Tooth snagged the cup away.
"No Sandy! Do you have any idea what this stuff will do to his teeth? Not to mention someone's breath!" she chastised.
The Sandman's cheeks puffed up in irritation, throwing up sand images in argument to the Tooth Fairy. Jack, sitting on an armchair beside Kozmotis', blinked dumbly, before he averted his gaze to the quiet man beside him. He felt a bit of sympathy for him. No doubt he was thinking how crazy these spirits must be to be acting like this in front of him.
"Sorry, this is normal," he said, catching the man's attention, "You get used to it over time though."
A nod from the dark haired man, "I imagine it is the only solution to such a situation. One must adapt."
Jack blinked, looking stupefied. Kozmotis raised a brow at the sprite.
"…did I say something wrong?" he asked slowly.
"Wha? No! No, I just…you've been so quiet all this time, I guess it's still surprising to me to hear your voice." Jack said, his cheeks coloring. God how lame did he sound right now?
Kozmotis chuckled – it was so unlike Pitch's raspy and malicious laugh. His was airy though, deep and almost like the rumble of a cat's purr.
"My apologies. It has been some time since I held a conversation with someone, let alone multiple people," he said, before he cocked his head curiously, "You are Jack Frost, correct?"
Jack didn't seem able to answer, as he only nodded dumbly. The General cracked a tiny smile, just a small quirk of his lips that seemed almost patient; fatherly even.
"I figured as much from your powers, and overall personality. You fight quite well, with spirit." He said.
Again, Jack found his cheeks flushing. It was rare that he was ever complimented, let alone by what was – in a sense – a complete stranger. He felt almost proud of himself, and could not stop the huge grin from breaking over his face as he resisted the urge to preen.
"Thanks! You fought better though. Literally wiped the floor with all of us actually…" he said. Kozmotis shrugged.
"Centuries of practice." He said calmly.
'Centuries…' Jack thought, stunned. He had to wonder just how old Kozmotis was – he certainly wasn't human.
He recalled the Guardians telling him how ancient they were, including Pitch. But how old was Kozmotis? By how he acted, Jack would assume he was older than even the Guardians. There was a certain age to him; not an age defined by his physical appearance, but in how he held himself. By the way his eyes seemed to shine like bright suns behind the moon. How it seemed, if Jack looked close enough, he could see millennia of history playing out behind those eyes. How decades would be crossed in a mere blink of his eyes….
"I've had enough of this!" Bunny's shout broke Jack out of his thoughts, catching everyone – including Kozmotis' – attention.
The Pooka stomped on towards the subject of the argument, and he pointed a clawed paw at the calm man with teeth bared and fur bristled.
"If you are who you say you are, then prove it!" he snapped.
"Bunny…" North said warningly.
"No! We cannot believe this bloke until he gives us solid proof! We can't afford to be tricked by this sod if he is in fact Pitch just pulling our legs!" Bunny argued.
And somehow, in a way, he was right. They could not take a risk in being tricked by the Boogeyman. But each of them – sans Bunny – was so sure of who this man was. Though Jack knew not of who Kozmotis was, he knew he was definitely not Pitch Black.
"And what would you have me do to prove myself?" Kozmotis asked calmly. Bunny sneered, seemingly aggravated by the man's at ease behavior.
"Whatever you think it is will convince us." He growled.
"You mean convince you." Kozmotis shot back.
"Yeah! Cause I ain't buying this act!"
"Hmm…" Kozmotis hummed thoughtfully.
Silence fell upon them all as Kozmotis seemed to think on what he was going to say or do. It was tense, and not the least bit helping in the other's own doubts. Jack was openly glaring at Bunny, as if he were insulted that he would think Kozmotis was anyone else but who he said. The Pooka ignored him though.
A blink later from gold eyes, and Kozmotis looked up at the towering Pooka, a strange emotion swirling in his eyes.
"I am sorry." He said.
The others stared, Bunny's ears dropping to the side of his head in a stunned stupor. The others looked at one another for help, but were unable to come up with just what he was apologizing for. Bunny finally frowned and pulled his ears back, clenching his fists.
"What about?" he growled.
"For your loss." Kozmotis said softly.
Bunny's eyes widened, and somehow the others could see how he seemed to blanch under his fur. Something seemed to click in North, Tooth, and Sandy's eyes, and they all visibly cringed. Jack, however, seemed completely lost on what the inside topic was, and only gazed on as Bunny veered back as if about to be struck.
"Wh…what…?" he rasped.
Kozmotis' face changed then. He looked pained, as if the whole weight of the world was bearing down on him. His age seemed to catch up to him, and he somehow seemed older. It took Jack a moment, but he soon recognized what that emotion in his eyes was; shame and defeat.
"I am sorry, for what he did, and what I in turn allowed him to do," he said softly, his voice calm yet lacking its resigned tone. He sounded more compassionate, yet almost pleading, "I wish I could have stopped him from taking so much from you. Your home, your life, your history, your very people. Truly, I wish it had never come to the very end of a whole race. Your grandfather and I were close, he was one of my lieutenants. And the last thing he saw was my face as he was-"
"SHUT UP!" Bunny suddenly pulled a knife from his bandoleer, and held it up high as he readied himself to plunge it down.
"Bunnymund STOP!" North bellowed.
Bunny didn't listen, and with a rage filled roar, brought the knife down…
And was thrown back by a blinding burst of light.
Stunned, the Pooka groaned as he sat up from being thrown to the floor like a ragdoll. The others, eyes wide, looked up towards the skylight over the Globe. And to their shock, the Moon shone down his powerful charges of Moonbeams, all of which surrounded Kozmotis in a protective barrier. Awestruck, it was North who finally found his voice and regarded the Man in the Moon.
"Manny…is he who he says he is?" he asked imploringly.
The beams flashed briefly, before a lone shaft broke off from the others and slid over the Guardians mural in the center of the floor. The floor split open, and the Moonstone rose up from its hiding place.
Everyone was openly gaping now, but none looked as flabbergasted and horrified as Bunny.
"No…" he rasped, he and the others staring at the image that was shown in the crystal.
The form of the knight, of Kozmotis, appeared within the crystal, flanked by his dark horse and sword in hand. There was no denying what the Man in the Moon was trying to say to them all.
Kozmotis was a Guardian.
To be continued…
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A/N~ Once again, apologies for the shortness, but a pain in the ass is a pain in the ass no matter how you slice it and it makes things difficult. I promise to do better next time though! 8D
Much love to you all!
~S~
