Chapter Seven
Jack was the first awake in the morning. He yawned quietly looking down at Matthew. He looked so peaceful using the Guardian's stomach as a pillow. His wings were relaxed at his sides still looking like they used to. He knew the Canadian hadn't like the sharp feathers. He was nervous to hurt anyone with them by accident.
The Guardian raised his head to look down at his feet. He felt a weight, something that was pulling at the blanket. The winter spirits eyes widened seen a nightmare curled up at his feet. The mare raised her head looking at him. Her eyes weren't gold anymore, but a light violet. They matched Matthew's eyes. She looked nervous lowering her ears. Jack gave her a sheepish smile and she just snorted lowering her head again. She didn't seem like she was going to attack so he wasn't going to either.
After a while, the Reaper woke up. He yawned loudly moving up closer to his husband. He hummed pressing warm kisses to his neck. He still looked half asleep.
"Morning Birdie." Jack said. Matthew just grunted in response. "We've got a visitor."
The Canadian look down where he was looking and smiled. The mare stood up and walked closer to them. She lowered her head and Matthew petted her. He could smell a bit of fear coming from Jack and the mare. She relaxed at his touch, but the Guardian was still nervous. Jack shifted slightly and the mare took a step back.
"It's okay Onyx." Matthew said calmly. His voice was still scratchy. The mare lowered her head again cautiously. "The mares are pretty skittish. Pitch manipulated and abused them. They won't hurt a fly."
"She seems a lot more mellow." Jack commented. Onyx moved and sniffed him. He stayed still and let her. The mare licked his face and hair. "Hey!" Onyx just snorted in his face moving back to Matthew. He laughed lightly petting her again. "I'm not a popsicle you know."
"She must think you're pretty cool." Matthew teased. The winter spirit sighed and rolled his eyes. Onyx pushed her snout into his hand again wanting more pets. "They do like attention though."
"I can see that." Jack grumbled. He sounded jealous. The Reaper smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "You know, I do too."
"Of course." Matthew hummed pressing more kisses to his neck and jaw. Onyx moved and licked him again. The winter spirit groaned pushing her away. He laughed as the mare just licked his hand instead. "I love you." He hummed kissing the Guardian again.
"I love you too, Birdie." Jack smiled. Matthew rolled on top of him as the winter spirit pulled him down for a proper kiss.
Onyx huffed and whinnied gaining both their attention. The Reaper laughed lightly sitting back. Jack sat up as well with a slightly annoyed smile. The mare used her snout to push him back down. Matthew laughed as she kept licking the Guardian's face. He squirmed and tried to get Onyx to stop licking him.
"She's mean." Jack said after he finally managed to wiggle his way out from under the Reaper to hide behind him. He peaked out looking at the mare. "And slobbery."
"They still need a bit of work on attention I guess. They're so touch starved they want a lot." Matthew smiled petting her again. "They'll calm down."
"I hope so." Jack smiled kissing his cheek. He reached out petting Onyx again. The mare leaned into their touch. He was still surprised how calm and gentle the nightmare was being. It seemed like they had adopted Matthew's personality.
"I'll probably be hanging around Pitch's lair for a while. Just to make sure they're okay." The Canadian said. He didn't want to be away from Jack again already, but he had to watch the mares. The winter spirit seemed to share the same feeling.
"Pitch's lair? Why don't we make it our cave?" Jack suggested with a small smile. The Reaper looked at him surprised. "Well, that way you're not traveling between the two. Besides, I think this place is getting a bit small."
"It is big, but it's a maze and really dark." Matthew said hesitantly.
"I can figure it out. I want to be close to you, if you're working there then I don't mind being there." The winter spirit said. "Could always get lights."
"If you want we can move there I guess. It's closer to the pole too and it's cooler for most of the year then here." Matthew said. "All of Pitch's stuff is still there. I haven't touched it."
"It seems like a good idea. I don't think the mares will fit here so we can go there." Jack smiled kissing him again. "We can get rid of Pitch's stuff and make it our own."
"Okay." The Reaper agreed with a smile. The winter spirit smiled brightly back putting an arm around his waist.
Matthew was happy that nothing was different between them and Jack wasn't scared of him or the mares. He was the most important person to him and he should have known he didn't need to worry. He felt some tears coming into his eyes as he thought about it.
"Birdie?" The Guardian of fun asked seeing them as well. Matthew carefully crawled into his lap and wrapped his wings around them. Onyx curled up around them as well.
"Sorry." The Reaper mumbled. Jack just rubbed circles into his back. "I put off coming back for a bit. I was terrified you'd hate me. I killed someone and became the spirit of fear."
"I could never hate you." Jack sighed holding him tightly. "You had no say in it. The only one I hate is Manny. He's just as bad as Pitch in my opinion. He shouldn't have done that to you, but it doesn't change anything. I still love you. I will always love you."
"I know I shouldn't have worried. Thank you." Matthew said kissing his jaw. "I love you."
"You don't ever need to worry." The Guardian said. "When I said I was going to follow you around forever I wasn't lying."
"I'm also worried Manny'll give me your name or one of the Guardians names." The Reaper shook his head. He needed to get the thoughts out of his head. "I can't hurt you or them. I don't know what I'd do."
"We'll have to deal with it if it happens." Jack said with his eyebrows furrowed. He wouldn't put it past the man in the moon to do that. He seemed to enjoy testing them. The winter spirit wanted to take both their minds off the thoughts. "Do you want to start moving today? We don't have much to take."
"Yeah. More time for you to figure out the maze." Matthew teased standing up. He offered the winter spirit his hand and he took it.
The Reaper pulled him up and Onyx got up as well. Jack smiled putting his hands on Matthew's hips. The mare nudged the Guardian of fun's back pushing him closer. She snorted and disappeared as he smiled. The Canadian intertwined his fingers behind Jack's neck looking into his bright blue eyes. He blushed slightly realizing he was looking back. The winter spirit smiled and leaned in. He quickly closed the distance between them.
AN: I have started a Ko-Fi! If you like my writing and would like to support me, I'd love a coffee! Link in my profile or just find Fave101 on Ko-Fi explore tab. Nothing will be changing rn for my post schedule, but with college soon updates could slow a bit.
