This was co-written with Jarjarblinx1.
"Pitch...are you sure about this?" Jack looked over at his lover worriedly as they rode closer to the ranch. "What if they come for me because he knows who I am?"
"North would never betray us like that. You're safe." Pitch smiled, leaning across the short distance between them to lightly kiss him. "You'll never be free of me."
"But he doesn't know me! How do you know he won't let word get out?"
"Because he loves Fairy and she's loyal to me. One word from the both of us and you'll just be another face, nameless on a ranch in the middle of nowhere."
"Y-you're sure?"
"No." Jack froze, Blizzard stopping in her tracks. He looked at his mate with scared blue eyes. "I'm not sure, but I have miles and miles of land. I'll make him disappear if I have to." Pitch turned Mischief around to stand beside Blizzard. He cupped the back of Jack's neck, pulling him close. "I will never let anyone take you from me."
"Promise me. Promise me you'll never let me go," Jack whispered to him.
"If I ever let you go, they'll have had to take you from my cold, dead hands. If I ever let you go, I will fight until my dying breath to get you back. I swear it." He kissed Jack deeply.
After a few moments, Jack reluctantly pulled away. "I love you."
"Not yet. Come back here." Pitch had his eyes closed, leaning forward a little more.
"Not too much more...or I may never go back." He smiled and let his mate kiss him again.
"Give me just enough. Take me almost to the point of no return." Golden eyes opened slowly, full of lust and devotion.
"But, knowing you, you'll take it all the way even when we know we should get back." He chuckled softly.
"I promise I won't go any further. Just take me to that limit." Pitch groaned, a hint of pain seeping into his eyes. "Please."
"Did you really think I could deny you the first time you asked? I was only delaying the inevitable..." Jack leaned further over Blizzard's side, his arms wrapping tightly around his mate's neck and pulling him closer.
Pitch quickly wrapped an arm around his lover's body and held him as close as he could without de-seating him. He only allowed Jack to pull away for short gasps of breath. "You're mine. No one can take you from me."
"I'll hold you to that." He smiled breathlessly at Pitch.
"Please do. I like it when you need me." Pitch also smiled, nibbling on Jack's lower lip. "It makes me feel...whole."
"As it does for me." He reached up to gently stroke his lover's cheek.
"I wish we could stay here forever, just like this...but we can't." He pulled away reluctantly, clearing his throat to calm himself. "If he makes you feel uncomfortable, in any way, tell me. I'll make him disappear faster than a drought in monsoon season."
Jack nodded, once again settling himself back in his saddle and taking the reins. "Let's get this over with, cowboy."
"After you, colt." Pitch circled Mischief around his mate, sending teasing glances to him. "Unless you don't think you can catch up with me."
"The real question is can you see anything through the dust you'll be eating!" With a grin, Jack and Blizzard took off, bolting across the fields.
Pitch laughed, quickly catching up to the two. "Enjoying the view of my bum, colt?" Pitch wiggled it around a little, laughing as Mischief took off.
With a soft growl, Jack lifted himself up into his racing form, the two friends seriously racing now. With them both actually trying this time, he easily flew ahead of his mate and wiggled his own ass back at him with a smirk. When they got to the barn, Jack slowed down, turning to look back at Pitch. "Don't challenge the jockey to a race, cowboy. You will lose."
"I never intended to win. I just wanted an excuse to watch that juicy bum of yours." He chuckled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I have a small confession to make, colt."
"Yes?"
"When you first told me about who you actually were...I was upset with you."
Jack frowned. "Why?"
"Because I kept teaching you how to handle and ride horses, and meanwhile you knew how the whole time." Pitch looked over with a sly smile, jumping down and leading Mischief into his stall.
The younger man laughed. "Oh, my poor cowboy. I can still pretend I don't know if you wish it."
"I'll let you have that. Of course, if you want to act ignorant in bed, I won't mind that." He laughed as he brushed Mischief's hair.
"But of course." With a grin, he hopped down from Blizzard, leaning up to whisper in his mate's ear. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't have the slightest clue how to suck a man's cock. Please show me how." Chuckling, Jack led his horse to her own stall right beside Mischief's and stripped her bare.
"That is unfortunate, my little colt. Perhaps you would like to come over here for a...lesson." He smirked, pursing his lips to whistle. He occasionally moved to blow in Jack's ear, but then quickly moved away when Jack turned towards him.
"Would you stop that!" He laughed when the air made his ear tickle and he couldn't hold back an unwilling twitch.
"Why? Is it bothering you?" He kept whistling, bending down to clean Mischief's hooves. He swayed his hips in time with the song and glanced up once in a while to catch Jack's blush.
"It is. My ears are very sensitive, thank you very much." Jack crossed his arms over his chest in a small pout.
"Are they? What an interesting little fact. Perhaps I'll have to use that to my advantage later." He straightened, leaning over to lick the shell of his ear.
Jack shivered and let out a shuddering breath. "S-stop it!" He quickly pulled out of reach. "Point of no return, remember?" He blushed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm nowhere near my point of no return." Pitch moved over into the other stall and trapped Jack in a corner. "In fact...I'm far from it." He leaned down, kissing Jack deeply as he pulled him close. The younger man moaned softly, pressing himself against his mate's body. "Are you close to your point, colt? Should I stop?" Pitch pulled away and moved to leave the stall.
"I should say 'yes.'" Jack practically threw himself across the stall, shoving Pitch against the wall with a deep kiss. "But I really don't want to."
"I don't know why you would. Reaching for that point is so much more pleasurable," Pitch moaned, grabbing Jack's rear and squeezing. "Tell me, colt. What would you say if I asked you to let me have you?"
"I'd say 'what the hell are you waiting for? Why haven't you started already?'"
"Would you, now? Tell me, Jack. What do you want to do to me?"
"Every dirty little thing known to mankind." He moaned softly, pressing the bulges in their pants against each other as his lips trailed down Pitch's neck.
"Show me," Pitch whispered as he reached back to grip the wall tightly.
"I'm sorry...but I seem to have forgotten how." Jack bit his lip and looked up at his lover mischievously. "I suppose you'll just have to...show me."
"I guess I will." Pitch kept his eyes locked on Jack's as he crouched down, tugging the younger man's pants down.
"Remember, anything that makes you uncomfortable. I'll be there in an instant and he'll be gone in no time." Jack nodded slowly, giving his mate's hand a tight grip. "Jack." Pitch pulled him close. "I love you."
"I love you too, cowboy." He pulled away gently, giving the other man a small smile.
Pitch pushed the door open but always kept a hand on Jack's waist. He smiled as North approached. "Damn, I had almost thought ya gone, North!" His country accent was back, his British accent meant for Jack only.
"And leave my mate with you sorry sacks? Not a chance!" The big man laughed heartily and shook Pitch's hand.
"She's lived with us for years, ya jackalope! Ya stole her away!" Pitch laughed, shaking the man's hand with genuine pleasure. "And ya, my little fairy. What a sneaky girl ya are."
"I had to be." She smiled at him, but there was just a faint glimmer of that old longing in her eyes.
"Ya lie, girl! I was devastated when ya left!"
"As was she when she left." North slid an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side with a smile. "Came looking at track for job as on-site vet. Thank goodness I decided to take break then and met you first. Do not know what I would have done had I not met her." He looked down at the small woman beside him with a loving smile.
"Stop, ya jackalope! Ya're makin' me jealous!" Pitch laughed, pulling the woman from North's embrace. He gave her a large hug and kissed her cheek softly. "I did miss ya, my Fairy."
"I've missed you too, Pitch." Her lavender eyes were wide as they looked up at him. A small blush was blooming on her cheeks.
"We must have a dance for yer return, Fairy. Like the good ol' days!"
Jack simply stood in the background, watching the scene of friends reunited. He knew Pitch was completely his, and he was pretty sure Tooth was happy with North...but he couldn't help the pang of jealousy that flashed through his mind.
Pitch turned to look at his lover with a genuine, wide smile on his lips. "It'll be fun! Bunny can play his drum and Sandy his fiddle!" He turned back around, taking in the whole group. "We'll be one big family again!"
Tooth blushed and looked down at her feet. She moved closer to North's side, but her gaze was meant only for Pitch. As much as she tried to hide it, the desire was still there.
Jack frowned to himself, knowing that look well. But, not wanting to cause trouble for his mate, the younger man pasted a smile on his face. "Sounds like loads of fun."
"It will be!" Pitch wrapped an arm around Jack's waist, his heart feeling lighter than it had in months. "Get yer instruments, boys! I feel like dancing!" He laughed, pulling Jack outside as they all rushed out. Pitch led them to a bonfire pit where logs surrounded the area, acting as seats. He plopped Jack down on one as he and the other men went to gather logs for the fire.
Tooth shuffled her feet, her eyes darting nervously between Jack and the ground. Finally, she walked over and sat down next to him. "How have you been, Jack? You and Pitch?"
"I...we've been doing good. There's no secrets between us anymore. No more drama. Just love." He gave her a small smile before going back to carving the little block of ice in his hand with a knife.
"So you two are really close?" She smiled, nodding her head slightly. "That's good. It's good to have no secrets from your mate-"
"Secrets?! There are no secrets tonight!" Pitch laughed, full of joy of the night. They threw the logs down into the middle of the pit. Pitch lit a match and threw it amongst the wood, clapping his hands as the small spark turned into a large flame. "Come, my Fairy! Dance with me as ya once did!" Sandy began to play a tune on the fiddle as Bunny rhythmically beat his drum. Pitch pulled her to his side, one wrapped around her waist. Their eyes were locked as they danced in time with the music, their hands occasionally clasping together over their heads.
Jack stayed in his spot, engrossed in his ice carving until a heavy body suddenly sat next to him. "Your parents came to our track looking for you. Offering big reward too."
Blue eyes stared over at the big man with shock and fear, their voices loud enough only to be heard by themselves over the music. "If you knew who I was, why didn't you tell them? Or...or did you tell them?"
"I did not. No worries, little racer." He patted the younger man's back heartily.
"But why? I'm sure the reward they were offering was too big to ignore. Why didn't you take it?"
"Was big indeed." North chuckled. "Magic horse racing may be industry full of greedy people but not all are bad. I saw you once. After a race. I saw your father hitting you. Did not think anybody would see. But I saw. When you came to track, I knew you. Different eyes and multi-color hair, but I knew you. When parents came by I knew you must have run for good reason. After what I saw at race, I did not blame you. I am not so horrible person I would send you back to that bastard for money."
Jack simply stared at the other man in shock, unable to find the word. "I...you...how can I ever thank you for not telling? You don't even know the half of what I went through with those people..."
The sound of laughing interrupted them. Both men looked up to see Pitch spinning Tooth around, both of them laughing. He finally put her down and gave her a quick kiss to the lips before hugging her. She blushed, burrowing her head in his shoulder.
North sighed, the sound just barely loud enough for Jack to hear. "I am sorry for the way she looks at your mate. I know it must be uncomfortable for you."
Jack looked back at him. "You mean...you see her looking at him like that too?"
"Of course I do. My mate should have eyes for only me. Not your mate too. She should look at me like I do to her. Like you two look at each other."
"But doesn't that bother you?"
"Greatly. Her heart loved him before soul told her to love me. I make her happy but not enough. She still holds on to past love when she should not." He sighed again.
"Well, doesn't she realize how much she's hurting you by doing that? You should tell her to stop! It's unfair to both of you!"
"I cannot. She is happy. I do not want to upset that by telling her I am upset."
Jack frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. He knew it was none of his business what went on between North and Tooth, but he couldn't get over how wrong it all was.
Pitch pulled away from Tooth, smiling down at her. She looked up at him, her eyes bright. Behind them, the fire gave each of them a dark halo around their bodies. He finally let her go and walked over to Jack. "Come, colt. Dance with me." He held out his hand, looking longingly at his mate.
Jack quickly shook his head. "I-I don't dance."
"I'll dance with you, Pitch." Tooth came up behind him and took the outstretched hand. She led him back into the middle, leading him into a dance. This time, his eyes would look up once in a while, sad confusion in them.
Eventually, Sandy and Bunny grew tired of being left out of the festivities. They put down their instruments and came into the middle to dance. With the additional bodies present, Tooth pulled Pitch away before Jack could notice.
Jack sat by himself on his little log, carving away furiously at his ice as his shoulders continued to tense up as the night went by. He didn't know how long it had been, but he finally noticed that his mate and Tooth were missing. Jack shot to his feet, looking around quickly. "Pitch?"
Pitch appeared from out of the darkness, stomping back towards the fire. Tooth ran behind him, looking at him desperately. She grabbed his arm and forced him to stop and turn around. "Pitch, you have to listen to me!"
"Fairy, ya promised ya would not speak about that tonight!"
"Pitch, you know it as well as I do..."
"I know nothin'."
"You know I'm your mate."
With a growl, Jack stormed over and pushed the woman away from Pitch, not caring about the fact that she was indeed a woman. "Back the fuck off my mate!"
"Colt!" Pitch stepped in front of Tooth, blocking her with his body. "You back off."
"Don't you 'colt' me! All she's doing is hurting everyone who cares about her! She needs to fucking realize just how badly she's doing it!"
"Now is not the time to discuss this," Pitch growled. He turned around to help Tooth to her feet. "I will not tolerate violence on this ranch, do ya hear me? That is the one thing I will not tolerate!"
"Then I won't touch her again. But now is the time to discuss this." He moved closer, standing over her. "Tooth, you have to stop being a selfish bitch and get over it already! Yes, I understand that you used to love Pitch and hoped you were his mate. I felt horrible when I realized that I took your love, and I would have understood if you needed a little time to get over it. But it's been months now. Not only that, but you've found your mate. Your actual mate! The one who is the other half of you, and you ignore him and treat him like shit as soon as you're back here! Tell me how that's fucking alright! You have a man right fucking over there," he pointed angrily back at the campfire where North stood in shock. "Who is kind and thoughtful and loves you with every fiber of his being and would do anything to make you happy. Even keeping his own sadness to himself so he doesn't upset you. You twowere meant to be together, but you ignore him in hopes of chasing down a fruitless and hopeless love! You hurt me by staring at my mate in a way that only I should ever be allowed to look at him!" Tears were streaming down his face by this point. "You hurt Pitch by dashing his hopes of a normal friendship with you with your untoward advances! You hurt your mate with how you look at another the way you should only look at him!" Jack turned heel and ran, ashamed of himself for his outburst. He slammed the barn door shut behind him and bolted into Blizzard's stall, hugging her desperately as he sobbed.
"What the hell was that, Jackson?!" Pitch slammed the door behind him, a look of rage on his face.
Jack flinched at the noise and buried his face against Blizzard's side. "I-I'm sorry. But I couldn't just stand there and take it anymore!"
"You made a fool of yourself! What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that she needed to back off, and clearly nobody else was going to do it."
"I had things perfectly under control! You didn't have to interfere! Damn it, colt! I'm ashamed of you!"
"Under control?! Apparently I did have to interfere, because for the umpteenth time your 'control' of the situation wasn't fucking working!"
Pitch growled, crossing his arms. "Get out."
Jack could feel his magic bubbling inside his body, feeding off of his anger, and he knew he needed to leave. Without a word, the younger man quickly packed up his small backpack of things. He swung up onto Blizzard's back and the two took off into the night, a trail of ice on every living surface following in their wake.
Pitch slammed his hand against the wall, hanging his head and keeping a hand on his hip to ground himself. He looked out into the night, looking in the direction he had seen Jack go. He kicked the door hard. "Damn it!"
