Ice Cubes
Summary: There was a reason why Jack always kept the windows open.
Open Window
Bunnymund had always thought, that the reason Jack always kept the window open was because the winter spirit wanted to make sure that no room was too toasty in his presence, especially since North had always kept the fire roaring in the fire place for him and Tooth.
Being a winter spirit, it was normal for Jack to always make an already cold room colder. And Bunny, although begrudgingly, had decided to accept that weird quirk of the frost child in the face of eternal camaraderie.
But sometimes, a room can only get so cold.
He had not meant to do it. It was really a foolish reaction brought about by the energy spent after Easter and with North's fire place had been doused by foolish elves carrying a bucket of water- what they were doing with it, only Manny knows-, add to the fact that Santa's workshop was like 0 degrees for a rabbit of Spring, and with Jack taunting him, teasing him, throwing snowballs at his face every couple of minutes…
Bunny could only take so much.
His nerves were frayed and he felt so tired and spent… All the joy and happiness at another good Easter was squashed back by irritation and frustration brought about by North's cold home, the elves, and especially Jack Frost.
And when Jack- silly, silly Jack- went to unconsciously open North's ridiculously large windows, a flurry of snowflakes and a good strong wind blew at the pooka, making him sneeze and shiver and…
Bloody hell! He wasn't taking this sitting down!
And Bunny, with all the irritation of a very tired Pooka, jumped towards Frost to close the damn window because- damn it! Wasn't it already too cold fer ya' ya gumby?- And he threw the young winter sprite aside, - although not too hard because no matter how irritated Bunny was, he was never heartless- staff clattering to the ground, as he struggled against the wind to wrestle the windows closed.
For a moment, the light brought in by the white landscape and the open window dimmed, and Bunny looked back at his companions in relief.
Tooth was looking at him incredulously while Sandy was tilting his head. North had a raised eyebrow at him and Bunny had the decency to look ashamed at lashing out. His green eyes turned to Jack who was on the floor, shivering slightly.
For one normal moment, the Bunny thought the sprite was laughing.
"Ah Bunny, I know how you hate cold, but Jack mean no harm!" North said as he patted his belly while walking towards the distraught Pooka.
Bunny sighed. "Yeah I know, mate but-!" However, before Bunny could continue what he was saying, he was suddenly startled by the loud sound that shook the windows. The Easter Kangaroo jumped a good two feet in shock as he turned to stare at the wind howling in agony outside. "Crikey! Frost! Your wind's too loud! Call it off why don't ya'?"
The winter spirit didn't answer as all four guardians turned to him. Bunny's ears flopped. "Frostbite?" The youngest guardian didn't respond and Bunny had this sinking feeling in his stomach, that the subtle shaking of Jack's shoulder did not mean he was suppressing his laughs.
Taking one cautious step, Bunny reached out a hand, "Frost- Oof!"
A cold figure that barely weighed more than a spindly chair, collided with Bunny, making the Pooka huff out a breathe in surprise. He placed his paws on Jack's shoulder trying to steady him.
"-window…" Was the small whisper and Bunny looked down at the thin figure in his arms.
"What?" Bunny said in a gruff tone
"Open. The. Window." Jack stated in a hoarse tone. His eyes were shadowed by his bangs and Bunny was pretty sure that the shaking form the other boy had gotten worse. But Bunny didn't let this disturbing knowledge budge him from his earlier decision.
"Not on yer nelly." The Pooka snorted as he tried to push Jack back. "It's already as cold as it is here Frost! I don't need yer wind or snow to make it even colder! I mean, crikey I'm a Spring guardian! Can't I get a little warmth in the coldest place on earth?"
But instead of laughing or throwing a jab like usual, Jack fisted the Easter Kangaroo's fur and the bunny winced at the cold frost spreading on his chest. Jack started to speak in a soft tone that barely escaped shaking, "Y-You d-don't u-understand… window, the window s-should always be open… E-Escape, I h-have to escape…"
Escape? Bunny thought worriedly and instead of pushing the brat further away, he held the other's shoulders steady. "Oi, what do ya' mean? Ya' ain't goin' anywhere! The meeting's barely started!"
"Jack, what does Bunny mean? Are you leaving already?" Tooth asked as she hovered closer looking at Jack in worry. Sandy was already on the boy's side, tugging at his hood in worry.
"Window… I-It should be open. Always open." Jack said as he pursed his lips. His body shaking even more and everyone exchanged looks worriedly.
"Bunny, give the boy a chance, eh? Open the window." North said as he looked at his old friend. Bunny looked scandalized.
"Bloody hell no! Look mate, I came all the way here from the warren right after Easter! So can't ya give me a bloody break and keep the windows closed just this once? I mean, I wouldn't mind it so much but as you can see-" He motioned to the fireplace drastically. "-yer drongo elves put the fire out! Sheila and I are freezin' our tails off!"
Tooth shivered but shook her head. "It's fine, I don't mind. I want Jack to be comfortable." And her amethyst eyes turned to Jack in worry. Bunnymund groaned, rolling his eyes.
"What? Frostbite ain't a ninny! He can take a little warmth. Can't ya' Frostbite?" Bunny said in a tone that challenged Jack to say otherwise.
But instead of a reply… Jack let out a barely audible whimper.
The sound reached four pairs of ears and eyes widened as the sound sliced at their hearts. It was soft and the tone was so heavy and the sorrow so suffocating that-
-that, for one reason or another, Bunny found himself pulling away from the winter sprite and turning to push the windows open.
Everyone else's reactions were as instantaneous as Bunny's. North immediately called for a yeti, Sandy made dolphins from his golden sand, surrounding the distraught boy, while Tooth took over the task of holding Jack steady by his shoulders.
It was strange.
Bunny had thought, as he cursed and tried to pry the lock of the slippery iced windows open, that before now, he had never ever heard the winter sprite let out a sound remotely close to that. He had heard bitter laughs, pained grunts, and the like. But never ever had he heard the winter sprite so much as sniffle or whimper.
And maybe, that small sound, coupled with the subtly shaking shoulders, was what undid Bunnymund. And in begrudging acceptance- half excuse and half in worry- the Easter Bunny of Spring and Warmth, decided, that a little more cold might do the room good.
And no, apparently it did not matter that his legs were already shaking.
The wind's reaction on Bunny's prying open of the window was as instantaneous as the others. Tooth yelped and backed away as a small cyclone enveloped the frost child and Sandy- who barely weighed anything- was thrown away at the strong gust. North stood his ground, however, as he called for the yetis once more.
Bunny was pushed aside, as Jack was suddenly picked up by the gust of the wind, staff already being taken by the bodiless entity as well.
"Oi!" Bunny said, rushing to their youngest guardian, but before he could say anything more… Jack was already gone. Nothing more than a speck in the winter horizon, almost blending with the white cloudy sky.
And the guardians were left behind, a gapping mess of confusion.
"Uh…" North was the one who recovered first as he scratched his head in concern. "What had just happened?"
Of course, that incident had long passed. The memory was almost a year ago, and summer was nearing once more. The North Pole had finally caught up with the rest of the world and was slowly warming, and Jack had made it his personal ambition to keep all windows and doors open and to let more of the wind and coldness in.
And Bunny couldn't complain about it.
It's not that he didn't want to. But the Easter Kangaroo figured that a few hours of coldness was worth it…if it meant that a certain winter guardian was happy. Bunny was okay with anything, as long as he never get to hear that sound come out of the Spirit's lips again.
Bunny sighed as he looked at the guardian of Fun, napping beside the window sill a peaceful expression on his face. He couldn't help but wonder if Jack knew that Bunny knew the reason why he always kept the windows open.
E-Escape… I have to e-escape…
Escape, he had said. The winter child was always looking for a way to escape. Physically, metaphorically? Maybe the first or the second, maybe even both. Jack was always trying to find an escape route.
An escape from loneliness, an escape from a world of hurt and pain... an escape from any situation.
An exit.
Jack always had to have an exit.
When things were too much, when things were too sad, when he felt too open and vulnerable… He always had to have a window or two open for him to escape the harsh reality and bury himself in a blanket of snow.
In the globe room with Tooth, Sandy, North, and Bunny, Jack felt something so permanent and yet so brittle. Being the unsure and free-spirited person he was, Jack felt like he needed an escape route just in case things didn't work out, just in case he gets hurt and couldn't take being hurt. Just incase, everyone suddenly decided he should go and leave them be.
Just in case.
This was probably how Jack saw it: Friends were not a constant thing in his life. Family was something even rarer and something he had never ever experienced before. Thus, for him there was no guarantee
There was never any guarantee.
Running a hand through his long ears, Bunny approached the winter spirit. His eyes lingering on the beautiful view outside, the moon shining down on the winter spirit gently.
But open windows, can also mean other things. This was Aster's thought as he placed a paw on the cold snow white hair of the youngest guardian. Jack snored peacefully and Bunny laughed at the sound.
Acceptance, opportunities…
Hope.
No one had ever opened a window of opportunity for Jack. No one had ever tried to accept him, every spirit and legend automatically turning their backs on the new mischief created from ice and snow.
Even children and their houses kept their windows closed from the onslaught of winter and coldness. And staring at the cold frosted and closed windows for three hundred years might've given Jack a paranoia, a need to always keep every window he sees open.
Because he was tired of rejection and fear.
Tired of closed doors and windows, of warnings in the cold nights telling children to keep him out.
Tired, so so tired of it.
So Jack shows his frustrations and sadness in simple acts: opening a window, giving a meaning that anyone was welcome, that no one had to suffer three hundred years of bitterness, loneliness, rejections, and closed windows like him; that he, Jack Frost, was always welcome, trying to assure himself that yes, the guardians would always keep the windows open and the workshop welcome for him, their little ankle-biter.
Always.
And at the less depressing thought, Bunny couldn't help but smile a bit as he placed his paws on Jack's shoulder grasping it tightly, showing in that small action that they were never going to leave him and always, always keep the window open for him.
"Jack." Bunny called softly as he shook the winter sprite, trying to wake him. Pooka ears could hear North's thundering footsteps on the halls, calling for everyone to gather for dinner. "Jack, mate, it's time to wake up. North's callin' and we don't wanna keep him waitin' do we?" The rabbit said, chuckling.
Jack blinked, as though jolted from his thoughts and he turned to the Easter bunny. He turned to the window and then back at Bunny. A small smile turned his expression soft. "Yeah."
Bunny patted him in the shoulder and helped him down the window ledge.
They both made their way to the other guardians, but not before Bunny made sure the window was open.
For Jack.
Edited: So, this isn't an arc, Hibernation is a separate story now.
Notes: So we're nearing the 70 reviews mark, I'll make you guys a challenge! The one hundredth reviewer can request me any one-shot that will be added here. He or she can ask for the next arc of a certain story or else give me an idea for the next chapter!
And on another note, the first three reviewers on the tenth chapter will get the same prize, so keep your eyes peeled!
Night-Fury1: I overdoses the Bunny and Jack fluff here, I hope you enjoy it!
Sleepery:*gives virtual hug* No need to run away! Thank you for always reviewing!
FrostFan:I'm not really fond of cursing XD But maybe I'll try that angle if you give me a more clearer idea of the story you are thinking!
Misato92:Thank you very much for that compliment, it made me smile today and I am thankful to God for the fact that I can write! :D Thank you very much!
Dragowolf:Thank you for your worry over my health! I will update as soon as I can!
Special thanks to Cayran, TheJoyousrosser, Cat Flower Queen,and the guests.
And also with regards to that idea about the 'hope is Jack' thing... I was wondering if anyone would make it for me XD But if you guys really liked it that much, I guess I can squeeze it in with Ice Prince. I mean, if you guys really want to read about it XDD
So, a funny thing happened recently (I don't know if you'll read this rant but haha, I hope you do) it has sometthing to do with the Rainchapter. I was asking the sky for a sign that there should be a second part (since a lot of people want a second part) and well, never ask they sky for sign again.
It rained. Hard. For five freaking days!
I'm glad I got the sign, but sometimes there's something called too much.
But I was happy! I LOVE the rain very much ^^!
So yeah, that's the end of my rant. Thank you! And please review if it's not too troublesome!
