2010
Shortly after the party with his siblings, Sera had taken to giving Jack what he deemed 'his much-needed space'. She'd finally – reluctantly, with great hesitance and only after making him promise that he would be careful– allowed him back into the world. And it had only taken her twenty years to do it, Jack thought with a smirk as he stretched out in the branches over-looking his lake.
Well, more like eighteen years and six months, Jack corrected himself. And ten days, six hours, thirty five minutes—he could practically hear mom scolding him to stop the 'smart-lip', as she liked to put it. Jack smiled fondly at the thought.
He'd spent the last two months on his own, first zipping down south for a light dusting. Then he'd gone up north to Santa's workshop and he'd almost made it inside. He'd gotten a whole leg in the window before the yetis showed up! That was further than he'd ever made it before, and Jack figured it was a sign. He was going to get in there, and he was going to see the workshop, very soon now.
After that, Jack had made his way back to Burgess to check on his town. It was bigger than the last time he'd seen it, and he took great joy in exploring the new area. He did a quick sweep through the town and over his lake to make sure the growing town hadn't damaged his home in some way, as growing human civilizations were known to do. Then he went to check on the Bennett family.
He'd been drawn to the family for as long as he could remember, through every generation. Last time he'd been in town, Cassandra Bennett had been starting off in high school. Now, she had a few little ones of her own. This year's newest additions were Jamie and Sophie Bennett, ages seven and one respectively, and they were without a doubt the cutest pair of kids on the planet.
Sophie had the wildest mop of blonde hair ever seen on a toddler with a pair of happy gem green eyes that took in wonder the way only a young child could. Jamie was the most curious kid Jack had ever seen, perfectly happy to spend all his time outside and trying to discover everything in the natural – and supernatural – world. Jack was happy to spend as much time as he needed to get to know them.
That was how he'd been spending the last few months. Watching Jamie and Sophie and the other kids of Burgess and getting to know them. There were no urgent needs of Winter for him to look after, so he had all the time he wanted to spend with the kids, and maybe even get them to see him. He had no responsibilities to look after, no over-protective mother hanging over him like a shadow, nothing to do.
He was hating every minute of it.
Jack hadn't quite admitted that to himself as he lounged in the trees and watched the kids below play on the ice (he'd made it extra thick when he heard them coming, because something deep inside him clenched in terror at the thought of those kids on ice that was too thin). He'd worked too hard and waited too long for his freedom to be hating it. But he was noticeably unhappy. He was….kind of bored, if he was totally honest with himself.
It was Summer up in most of the northern hemisphere, and while he and Magec were friends – and Jack wouldn't have minded seeing him again all that much – he didn't want to tempt fate by screwing with the other Seasonal's 'turf'. So winter-fun-time up north was out of the question, and Winter down south was too warm and snow-deprived for Jack's taste, so that was a no-go, too. It was too soon for another attempt on the North Pole as he and the yetis were in the middle of an unannounced, one-sided truce.
There was always playing with the kids, he supposed. But it was only so long that Jack could delude himself into thinking that he was accomplishing anything before one of them walked through him and his world came crashing down around him.
Jack guessed that was the root of his displeasure with his freedom: he was lonely. Almost three hundred years now, and no one in the human realm had seen him, and nearly everyone in the spirit realm hated his guts, or simply ignored his existence.
Three hundred years, Jack thought again with a heavy sigh. No one had seen him in three hundred years. And it was looking like that would never change.
Jack pulled his knees to his chest at that thought and tried to swallow past the lump that suddenly lodged itself in his throat. This was getting depressing, and it was not at all how he wanted to spend his time. He needed to think of something to do, fast, before there were tears.
Jack scratched his head in thought and almost hesitantly, a suggestion crossed his mind. He could go visit Sera… No! He thought with a fierce head shake. No, no, he'd just gotten out and about, he couldn't go back to his prison already!
But then again, his calmer side reasoned, he was lonely, and it had been a while since he'd spoken to anyone. Maybe just a quick visit.
And from there, a heated internal debate broke out in his mind.
He could stop by really, really fast, grab a bite to eat, maybe spend the night ….
No, no! That's just the Stockholm syndrome talking! She's inside your head, man, convincing you that you want to be locked up. It's the oldest trick in the book. Don't give in, Jack! Don't give in!
It wouldn't be all bad. And he really wanted to talk to someone who would talk back.
He was independent! Independent and happy for some time to himself.
But it was too quiet all by himself.
She would mother him to death!
That was her job.
He didn't wanna.
Yes, he did.
No! No, he didn't.
Yes.
No!
Yes.
NO!
Yes! No! Yes! NO! YES! Noyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyes! No!
Definitely, no!
X
Jack shifted nervously as he stood at the threshold of Mother Nature's domain. He couldn't believe that he'd talked himself into this. It wasn't too late to turn back, he told himself as he eyed the trees. He could turn around and fly away and no one would ever know. Well, Sera would know, because she knew everything. It was not just one of those mom-myths: she really did know. But still, no one would judge him for it. He could just head back to Burgess and play with the kids some more. Yep, that was the plan, he decided as he tried to force himself to turn around.
Except…. the kids had walked through him, already. Even imaginative Jamie Bennett, who believed in almost everything that no one else did, had passed right through Jack like he was nothing more than a puff of cold air. And that was what kept him rooted in place and staring at the trees.
Maybe he was a little shaken up after that, and who could blame him? It was awful to have someone, let alone several someones, pass through you like you weren't there. It tore the breath right out of your body, left you feeling hollow and alone and afraid. So maybe he needed someone to help remind him he was real after that. And there just weren't that many people who could do that, so this wasn't that pathetic. Was it? No…. a little…..yes, it was, it totally was.
He just had to suck it up and go back. Really how did he expect anyone to see him if he gave up that easy, he just – why was he moving into the trees? His feet were taking him into the forest without his say-so, the little traitors!
Jack barely took a step into the forest before Sera found him.
"Jack? Are you all right? Is something wrong?"
The feeble resistance left Jack's body as he turned to face her. Sera stood just off to his left, palm placed gently against the base of a rotting oak. She looked at him, confused and mildly concerned as he only continued to stand there and stare back at her.
"No, nothing's wrong," Jack assured quickly, flashing a quick smile and rubbing at the back of his neck. "Nothing has to be wrong for me to stop by."
Sera raised an unimpressed brow and waited for him to go on.
"I just…. I was just hanging out back home, and I figured….this is a very big place all by yourself, so I decided to come check on you." Every word was tested ever so slowly as it fell past Jack's lips. Yeah, that sounded totally natural, Jack thought, scowling at himself.
Sera lifted her other brow and shook her head with a fond smile. She crossed the distance between them and patted the boy's shoulder, and all the tension he'd been carrying since the kids walked through him drained out of Jack's frame.
"That's sweet, honey," she said, pretending just for conversational cooperation that she believed him. "By 'home', I take it you mean that pond your so fond of."
"Lake. And yeah."
"Don't take that tone with me," she scolded with a mock scowl that neither of them bought. "I keep telling you to find a proper home if you're not going to stay with me."
"I think it is a 'proper home'."
"Don't you give me smart-lip."
Jack hid his smile under an annoyed scowl. Sera sighed heavily but didn't bother to hide her own smile. It was so good to have her boy back. After forcing him to stay with her for twenty years, her home was suddenly much too quiet with Jack gone.
"Well, if that's where you insist on staying, I may as well feed you proper before you go. I take it you haven't eaten?" When Jack just shrugged, Sera sighed heavily again and moved off, motioning Jack to come along.
"What have I told you about taking care of my body?"
"My body, you mean."
"No, we've discussed this. I own it until you turn eighteen."
"But I'm never going to be eighteen," Jack sputtered.
Jack's scowl at the distant sing-song reply of "Exactly" wasn't all for show this time, but he still had a happy smile under it. It was good to be home.
After a good meal, Sera managed to convince Jack to settle in for the night. Granted, it hadn't taken much to talk him into it, but Jack put up a good show of complaint. It was a matter of pride.
"You don't need to tuck me in, you know."
"I know," she agreed, "it just brings me joy." Sera settled by his head and fussed over his hair a bit. Jack whined and shoved the hand away, and she gave a laugh.
"Now Jack, I know you don't like to be tied down here—stop with the lip," she chided when Jack muttered "taken prisoner" just loud enough for her to hear. "I know you don't like it, but I do miss having you around. So why let's make a compromise. You still get your free reign, but you stay here every… month."
"Every six," Jack countered, knowing Sera wouldn't agree to it and that he wouldn't have wanted it.
"Every three months," she said with an air of finality.
He could live with that, Jack decided, "Deal."
Sera nodded, happy they found a way to give Jack his 'independence' without cutting him out of her care. She rose slowly, mussing Jack's hair once more as she went.
"Mom?" Jack's voice was quiet and hesitant, but she caught it and turned. Jack chewed his lip in embarrassment, but went on. "I missed you."
Sera's heart melted and made her way back over to the bed to place a kiss on Jack's forehead. "You're always welcome here," she promised. "Get to sleep, Jack."
The boy nodded and rolled over to do so and Sera made her way out of the room with a happy smile. After so many years of stumbling about in the dark in regards to raising Jack, they'd finally settled into a pattern.
#
Sera stood staring out the window as the Guardians freed Bunny from the ice.
The ice covered him from his navel to his throat and was caught painfully in his fur, so it was taking longer than anyone would have preferred to get it off him. She glanced over when Bunny hissed or cried out at the pull of ice on his scruff, but she didn't say anything. She hadn't said a word since coming into the room with her declaration of 'I told you so'.
As the others pried the ice off him – and he was going to have a long conversation with the kid about that, Jack could count on it – Bunny threw rapid glances over where Sera kept her silent vigil. She didn't seem angry, in fact she seemed remarkably calm. But the woman wasn't restricted to explosive tempers when it came to her rage; she could be quiet and stew in her anger just as often. Bunny hadn't figured out which was worse, as of yet.
He hissed as a final harsh yank at his fur broke the ice off and dropped to all fours and shook off the lingering cold with a huff. Then the rabbit spirit straightened up with a sigh and made his way over to Sera. She acknowledged his presence with only the smallest glance out of the corner of her eye.
"Sera, I am so sorry he slipped out from me. He just…. One minute he was asleep and the next I was frozen ta the wall."
"I told you he's a slippery one," she said without looking at him.
"Yer being, oddly calm about all this," Bunny noted, giving her an inquiring look.
"Why wouldn't I be?" She sent her own inquiring look as Bunny sputtered.
"Because Jack dropped off the face of the planet? Maybe?" What happened to the over-protective frenzied mother?
"No he hasn't. I know exactly where he is."
Bunny gapped at her for a moment, working his mouth speechlessly. "And yer just now mentionin' this?"
"Yes."
"Care ta share with everyone else?"
"Not really." Sera still hadn't turned from the window, even when Bunny let out an aggravated groan.
"Why the bloody hell not?!"
Sera finally turned away from the window at that, with her face still completely blank and composed. The others made their way over at the sound of Bunny's yell. She glanced at each of them, then leaned up against the sill of the window.
"Well you see, as Tooth pointed out, I haven't put any thought into whether or not Jack wants to stay with you, after everything. This was something of a test."
Bunny went cold. No, no, they couldn't have come this far only to lose Jack after all. "Sera, ya can't take this at face value. The kid was scared and confused, we don't know what he was thinking—"
"You're right. And that's why I find myself unsure of what to do next."
"How much longer do you intend to torment us with this?" North demanded. "Jack is not a tool for you to hurt us."
Despite the clear slight, Sera didn't snap at him. A small crease formed between her eyebrows and she chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. Ticks Bunny knew well; something was bugging her.
"The only thing I've ever wanted is for Jack to be happy and healthy," she said, just above a whisper. "And no matter how much I provide for him, it's not healthy for Jack to only have me. I really want to believe that you'll be good for him."
The room collectively held its breath when she paused.
"There are some things a boy can't talk to his mother about, so, Nick," she turned to North, who jerked in surprise at the use of his real name, "you and I are going to go talk to him. If he reacts well to you, we'll bring back here so Aster can look him over. Then….I'll talk to him, see if he wants to stay."
North stared at her, struggling for the right words. "Why me?" He finally said.
Her mouth turned up in a small smile, troubled and sad. "Because a little boy needs a father. And I think you might be what Jack needs."
No matter how he felt about Sera, those words made North's heart swell. He glanced at his friends, then back to Sera.
"Where do we find him?"
X
Jack wasn't completely sure of what it was that sent him flying out of the workshop when he woke. He just knew that he had the all-consuming need to leave, and he'd followed it. He darted out the window and froze Bunny to the wall as he went without much thought.
Jack headed back to Burgess, with his thoughts as numb as he flew. If he'd been thinking more clearly, he would have realized how stupid and potentially dangerous it was to go back to Burgess so soon after what had happened on the lake. Although he must have thought about it on some level as Wind skirted around the lake while it dropped him at his destination, but nothing made a firm imprint on his mind.
He arrived at the graveyard in little time.
The little cemetery was all that was left of his village. It was hidden in the trees, not far from the lake, just a small cluster of head stones. Many of the children in Burgess knew about it; some of the older kids would go ghost hunting or try and spend the night on a dare, but Jack doubted most of the adults paid it any mind.
Jack often wondered how long that would last before progress infringed on it, but now he just wandered through the little grey grave stones. He trailed his fingers over the faded names every now and then as he walked. And didn't think.
He was sitting with his knees tucked to his chest in front of a particularly large head stone when North and Sera arrived. His hood was up, and he was curled in tightly on himself. North exhaled heavily, and all of the fear and unease in his belly left him at seeing the boy safe. He shared a look with Sera, and the woman nodded him forward. She didn't follow as North strolled over to the boy.
He sat down silently next to Jack and put a large hand over his small shoulder. Jack leaned into the touch but didn't speak or look away from the grave as they sat together.
"You worried us," North said after a moment of silence.
"Sorry." Came the small and quiet response.
"Why did you leave?"
Jack tried to force his mind to think of a response. It was difficult, and almost painful, to try and think at all. Too much had happened today to think, his mind was too overwhelmed, with the attack on the lake and the onslaught of his memories. It was all too much, why did have to think of why he came here? He didn't really know, he just….
"I needed to see them," he said as the answer came to him. He glanced up at North and blinked the tears out of his eyes as he looked back at the stone.
North followed his gaze, if only to give himself some time to think about what to do next. He'd helped Jack through mourning before, not that long ago with Sandy's supposed 'death', but this seemed much more daunting a task. He needed to tread carefully.
The headstone would have been just above Jack's waist if the boy was standing. It was made of white marble that was long weathered from the long years of exposure to the elements. The only decoration on its surface were the names, written in frilled carvings:
BENNETT
Charles Humpfree
1698-1775
Beloved Husband
x
Maryann Katherine
1703 - 1783
Loving Wife
North gave a jolt as he recognized the names, particularly that of the woman. The larger spirit peeked over at the smaller, who was still looking at the stone and the names on it with suspiciously shimmering eyes.
"Isn't this…?" he trailed off with a vague motion to the names.
"Yeah." Jack swiped at his eyes, and North pretended not to notice for both of their sakes. The boy cleared his throat to get rid of the slight shake in his voice before he went on. "It was tradition for her to be buried with her husband's family, so it took me a little while to find her. Chris and their parents are buried over that way." He waved off to the left, but kept his eyes forward.
"I would've been okay with it. Well, after I got over the immense weird of someone I considered my brother marrying my baby sister," he amended at North's disbelieving and amused snort. "I'm kinda peeved I never got to have a chat with him about that, actually. But he would've been good to her, and good for her." Jack spoke with a soft smile as he traced his fingers over his sister's name.
Charlie had done well for himself, Jack noted. He wasn't filthy rich by any means, didn't have enough money for a monument, but he was well off enough that he'd been able to afford a special headstone for himself and his wife. Most people just had to make do with sandstone grave markers.
North let Jack alone to his thoughts and studied the headstone. "You've been to see your parents?" He asked after a moment.
Jack nodded absently as he ran his fingers ran his fingers over the names once more. Then he climbed to his feet without a word and made his way to a handful of markers at the far end of the graveyard. North placed his hand on the top of the headstone, closed his eyes in respect, then followed Jack.
Jack came to a stop in front of three heavily worn little markers arranged in a line. They were weathered down almost to the point that they couldn't be read, but North didn't need to read them to know who they belonged to: Jack's parents and Jack himself.
William and Abigail had both lived good long lives, well into their seventies. It was an impressive feat for the time, North knew. But he paid them little more than a passing glance as he focused in on the headstone on the end of the line. The marker was just a little but larger than the other two; a testament to Jack's final act, North figured.
Nature had been kinder to Jack's headstone than it had been to his parents'. North wondered briefly if that really was Sera's doing as he read the words that were still perfectly clear on the stone's surface. It was simple, but moving nonetheless:
Jackson William Overland
1698-1712
Beloved brother and son, and hero to any who needed one.
"I'm not sure what they buried," Jack said as he studied his own headstone. "I'm mean, I'm not sure how the whole spirit thing works, but I'm pretty sure this is my body." He waved half-heartedly down at himself, "And even if it's not, they wouldn't have been able to, to get me out from the lake. Too deep."
North wasn't sure what to say to that, and Jack wasn't expecting a reply. So he just joined the boy in studying the little grave.
"So young," North said in a sigh as he placed a hand on the stone.
"Yeah, smack in the middle of puberty. Forever. Awesome, huh?"," Jack agreed with a small smirk, seemingly undisturbed with his earlier thoughts.
North huffed in laughter at that and Jack sent him an equally amused smile. Then Jack settled down in front of his parents' markers. He let out a heavy and shaky breath as he ran his fingers over the surface of each.
"I must have put them through hell," he muttered, almost to himself.
North sighed heavily and sat down next to the boy again. 'Shaky ground here', he thought. Losing Jack would have destroyed his parents, there was no doubt about that in North's mind. But the boy didn't need to hear that right now.
"I am sure they missed you." He started slowly and drew Jack's gaze. "But I know for a fact that they were very proud of you."
"How can you know that?"
"Because it is not possible that they were not."
Jack smiled tentatively at that. Then he looked at the headstone that belonged to his father, pressing the tips of his fingers into the carved letters of William's name. Reality suddenly came crashing back down on him, and loss smothered him. All the breath was crushed from his lungs and left his body in a shaky exhale. He collapsed against the stone and cuddled against it like it was his father's chest.
"Oh Jack." North placed a comforting hand between Jack's shoulder blades as they shook with sobs, biting his lip against his own wave of sadness.
"Did he think I hated him?" North's heart clenched. He shook his head in denial, but Jack went on before North could say anything, "I was so awful to him after Aidan, and then I was sick and I never got that chance to tell him how sorry I was."
North stayed silent and just grasped Jack's thin shoulders, maneuvering him away from the stone. When he guided the boy into his own chest, Jack clung to him like his life depended on it. North held him and let Jack cry himself out – or at least into a lull – before speaking again.
"Did you hate him?"
Jack jolted back from his hold and looked up at him, horrified. "No, no, I—"
"Then he would have no reason to think so," North continued, and his voice left no room for any doubt.
"But I—"Jack tried anyway, unable to think that his father hadn't believed Jack had hated him in his final months of life.
"You were mourning and hurt; he would understand that."
"You sure?" Jack asked, desperate for the reassurance.
"No doubt."
Jack nodded, in relief and accepting the comfort. He rested his head against the man's broad shoulder, and he basked in the feelings of comfort and love as North wrapped an arm around his shoulders and held him tight. They sat like that for some time until North patted Jack shoulder and stood, pulling the smaller spirit up with him.
"Let us return to the Pole. I wish to have annoying Mother Nature off of my back."
Sera glided to the pair, resting a hand on Jack' back. The teenager craned his neck to look at her. North wrapped a heavy arm over Jack's shoulders and pulled him to his feet. Sera kept her hand in place, moving with them.
Jack looked from Sera, to North, and back again. Some light flashed in his eyes, and a warm smile spread across his face.
"Yeah, I'm ready to go home," he said.
North and Sera kept Jack sandwiched between them, and traded gazes over the boy's head. The big man let a snow globe roll out as him palm and guided the three of them through the portal.
X
Everyone jumped to attention when they stepped through the portal, springing up from their lounging positions all at once with their undivided attention fixed on the winter boy. Jack smiled sheepishly and ducked his head under the intense stares sent his way. But before they could crowd boy Bunny stepped to block them.
"No coddling just yet. I've got ta sure he didn't go and hurt himself." Bunny steered the kid away by the shoulders before anyone could voice any complaints.
"Get him settled, then I want to talk to him," Sera said, trailing behind them.
Bunny grunted in response, not slowing his pace. Jack peeked back at her, then ducked his head and chewed at his lip. He glanced at Bunny. The rabbit was probably a little upset about the whole being frozen thing.
"Hey, I'm sorry about, um, you know, freezing you to the wall."
Bunny didn't even pause in his stride as he glanced down at the boy. Then he cuffed him hard on the back of the head.
"OW!" Jack sputtered and rubbed the tender area.
"Apology accepted, Frostbite," Bunny said easily as he kept walking.
"Frostbite?!"
"Yeah, yer not the only one who can give out the annoyin' nicknames. And ya certainly gave it ta me, didn't ya?
"Besides, it suits ya."
Jack pouted at that, annoyed that he couldn't really find any argument for that logic. So he just sulked while Bunny laughed and guided him back up to his room. Sera watched them with a small smile and a head shake.
They made their way to the nearest infirmary. Bunny told the boy to hop on the bed, which Jack did with no protest, then glanced at Sera.
"Give us a minute," she said.
Bunny hesitated, but ultimately nodded and walked out. Whatever happened now, he couldn't do any more to influence it.
Sera watched him go, then sat down by Jack. The teenager looked up at her with a curious tilt of his head. She smiled gently, running a hand over Jack's head. He leaned into the contact with a content smile.
"Been a rough day, hasn't it?" She said.
"Yeah," he whispered. His face twisted at the unpleasant memories. Sera shushed him and pulled him to her side.
"I know a lot has happened, but I need to ask you something. Think you can answer?" Jack nodded and snuggled into her side. "I know what happened with the Guardians today."
Jack glanced up, confused. Then he rolled his eyes. "Were you spying on me again?"
"Of course I was. Focus," she said when Jack huffed in annoyance. "I know what happened, and you have every right to be angry about it. They hurt you."
Jack nodded, hugging himself. Sera tilted his chin up.
"It's perfectly understandable if you don't want to be around them because of this." She paused, let Jack think that over. "Baby, do you want to stay with them?"
X
Bunny paced outside of the room, forcing down the desire to ease drop. Whatever happened would happen, he reminded himself. Whatever happened would happen.
But why was it taking so long to happen?!
When Sera stepped out of the room, Bunny practically pounced on her. She stared at him steadily, leaning against the wall.
"Children are fascinating: their emotions are so simple," she finally said. "The world around them all black and white, even with teenagers. Especially with teenagers. Their love is absolute. And so is their hatred," she gave him a meaningful look. "If you four ever make Jack hate you, I can promise you he'll be the last enemy you ever have. But for now, he loves you with all his heart."
Bunny braced himself against the wall as his went to jelly. "So he's staying?" He clarified, shaking with the relief of it all.
"Yes, he wants to stay with you. And, in light of everything that's happened today, I'm letting him."
"Thank you."
Sera didn't say anything for a while after that. Bunny studied the vulnerable set of her shoulders and moved over to her side wrapped an arm around her. She didn't shove away, and tension Bunny hadn't known he was carrying drained out of his shoulders.
"Aster," she said, her voice just above a whisper, and very fragile. "Don't screw this up again. I can't take it anymore than he can."
He held her tighter. "I promise, Sera."
X
Jack was kicking his feet off the edge of the bed like a little kid when Bunny stepped back in. The Easter spirit studied the kid with a fond smile. Jack grinned back, and the lack of animosity in the kid's expression made the rabbit's heart soar.
"All right kid, strip the hood off so I can look you over."
Jack blinked at him in indignation. "What, why? I really feel fine. No one else attacked while I was gone."
"Quit yer whinin' and just do it."
Jack groaned with a pout but did what he was told without further protest. He figured that he was going to have to be on his best behavior for a while, especially after giving them all the scare he did when he bolted. And after freezing Bunny to a wall.
The older spirit nodded in approval and scanned the kid's chest for any signs of trauma.
He was so skinny, Bunny noted with a wince. His body was never really given the chance to fully recover from its brush with starvation and Bunny could see and count every one of the ribs on his narrow chest. His arms were like two brittle twigs and his shoulders stuck out like blades. He was just so….tiny. Bunny couldn't believe he'd never noticed just how small the kid was.
Bunny gave himself a shake and finished his examination. Other than the signs of malnutrition, the kid was in tip-top shape. The rabbit found most of the tension in his shoulders was relieved at that fact.
"So, am I gonna live?"
Bunny snorted. "Don't think ya'll be droppin' off on us any time soon."
Jack chuckled and pulled his sweater back on. Then the boy stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes with a happy sigh. Bunny sat on the bed with him and settled against the wall with his own sigh and closed his eyes as well.
"When yer on yer feet again, I'm gonna start teachin' ya ta manage yer abilities," he muttered, half to himself. "Well, as long as yer mum doesn't kill ya fer poppin' out like that."
Jack tensed and sat up slowly. Feeling the slight shift on the bed, Bunny cracked on eye open to peek at the kid. The boy's face was utterly terrified, with just a hint of confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't worry. She won't literally kill ya, although she may ground ya for the rest of eternity—"
"Not that. The part about teaching me. What do you mean?"
"Sera didn't tell ya about that?"
Jack shook his head, his expression still terrified.
Ah, Bunny thought as he turned to face the boy. He figured Jack would have some trouble coping with that. He squeezed Jack's far too skinny shoulder and tried to smile reassuringly.
"Well, ya see kid, ya have a very powerful Gift. I'm gonna help ya get a handle on it."
Jack shook his head with his brow furrowed in confusion. He didn't want to get a handle on….whatever it was that he could do. He just wanted to pretend it never existed.
"But I… There's no need to teach me anything," he said, his face alight with hope. "I haven't, I don't have any kind of 'Gift', I haven't for three hundred years."
"Ya didn't have yer memories for three hundred years. That changes everythin', kiddo."
"But I, I don't…"
"Jack, ya can't ignore this. It's a part of ya."
"I don't want it!"
Bunny sighed, squeezing the boy's shoulder. "That's very smart, Jack. The power ya have… it's strong, and it's dangerous. Bein' afraid of it is a good first step to handlin' it the way ya should. But ya can't just ignore it."
"I killed a man," Jack whispered.
Bunny winced. "It was an accident, Jack."
"That doesn't make him less dead."
"No, no it doesn't," Bunny agreed with a sigh. "But Jack, Jack look at me." He pulled the boy's chin toward him again.
"Yer life was in danger, and ya lashed out with everythin' ya had. That is a natural response, and it does not make you a bad person. Yer not a bad person.
"Now I know yer scared, it's normal. Ya don't want ta risk hurtin' anyone else, I get that. But ya need ta understand, this is not gonna go away just 'cause ya ignore it. All that's gonna do is make it so ya don't know how to control it when it needs ta lash out."
"And I'll hurt someone else," Jack muttered as he filled in the blanks.
"Only if ya don't know how to control it."
Bunny smiled again patted Jack's shoulder. Jack jolted and took a surprise breath in through his nose as a wave of warmth washed over his mind. Comfort, understanding, Don't worry, kid, I'll watch over ya.
Jack jerked away, staring at Bunny in confusion. The giant rabbit looked just as shocked.
"Well, that gives ya a definite answer on whether or not ya still have it."
"You could tell?"
"I an old spirit, kid. And I'm a telepath, I know when someone's doin' a read on me."
"A telepath?" Bunny nodded in response, happy to see the kid more curious and less terrified. "Am I a telepath?"
"No, yer an empath."
"What's the difference?"
"I'll explain it all later, I promise. Right now I just need ya ta tell me how long ya've been gettin' these flashes."
Jack blew his bangs out of his eyes. "I don't know. I, I think I got something from North when he picked me up from the graveyard, maybe."
"Sounds like this is comin' back faster than we thought," Bunny mused with a hum of interest. Then he frowned in confusion, "Why were ya in a graveyard?"
"I wanted to see my parents."
"Ah." Was all Bunny said.
That small sound of understanding summoned a fresh wave of grief. Jack folded in on himself, trying to blink the tears out his eyes. He sniffled, much to his horror, and just did the best he could to breathe past the lump of loss lodged in his throat.
"It gets better, Jack," Bunny whispered.
"When?" The question came out with a sob and was nearly unintelligible through the tears. Jack shook his head in embarrassment and wiped at the dribble of snot hanging from his nose. He couldn't believe he was actually crying in front of Bunny. Smooth, Jack, he chastised himself. Way to act mature.
"I can't say. It could be a few months or a few years, that depends on ya. But, one day, ya'll be able ta think of them, and it won't hurt as much. Ya'll be able ta think of the good times and be happy."
The older spirit placed a hand on the younger's shoulder, obviously without much conscious thought, and gently brushed their foreheads in an intimate display of comfort.
Jack wasn't sure what triggered it, mainly because he still had no idea how this whole thing worked. Maybe it had something to do with a subconscious desire to know just what made Bunny such an expert on grief. Maybe it was just the fact that Jack's emotions were in turmoil and left him more open to his 'Gift'. Whatever the reason, as soon as Bunny brushed his shoulder, a whole new wave of emotions and memories came crashing down on him.
Grief and fear and horror, fire bodies smoke everywhere screams whereweretheyhehad togettothem!
Bunny broke the connection with a jerk and almost fell of them bed in his haste for distance. Jack stayed frozen in place, watching with guilt and horror –who's was it, his or Bunny's? – swirling in his chest. When Bunny drooped forward and clutched his head and trembled like Jack had not even a few minutes ago, the guilt spewed over into words.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to I don't know what happened I'm sorry" he said in a rush.
Bunny held a hand up and shook his head to stop any further babbling. Jack shut his mouth accordingly and waited. The rabbit took a minute to run his hands over his face before he straightened up. There were no signs of tears, but he was still clearly troubled.
"It's fine," Bunny said, "I should've….. touch is a common trigger for early empaths, I should've known better. It's fine."
"Do you want to talk—"
"No!" Jack jumped at the harsh interruption and Bunny took a breath to soften his tone. "No. One trauma at a time, Frostbite." Jack nodded in understanding. Bunny took another deep breath to steady himself. "Tell me more about yer graveyard adventure with North," he said. It wasn't the most subtle of subject changes, but Jack didn't push it.
He shrugged. "Not much to tell. I checked in my parents and Mary….. oh yeah, she married Charlie."
"Yer sister?"
"Yeah."
"Married one of yer mates? Really?"
"Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about it either. Although now that I think about, I think that means Jamie and Sophie are my great niece and nephew, or something. That's awesome!" He decided with an excited bounce.
"I'm sure the 'biters will be thrilled," Bunny agreed.
Jack beamed at the thought and then settled back down with a thoughtful frown.
"What's on yer mind there, Frostbite?"
"Just thinking." Bunny waited while Jack got his thoughts together. "Did you remember me?"
"As a kit?" Jack nodded in response and Bunny let out a huff of laughter. "Yeah, I did. Didn't recognize ya, which is a bit of a blow ta my powers of observation, but I remember ya.
"Bit hard ta forget someone that ballsy, and stupid."
"Hey. It wasn't that bad."
"Ya threw a rock at a wolf so it would chase ya."
"I was nine, it was the best thing I could come up with!" Jack protested with a laugh.
"Doesn't make it less stupid. That being said," he continued over Jack's indignant 'Hey!', "it was brave. And ya did good, kid."
"Thanks," Jack said with a light blush and embarrassed smile. "And thanks for, you know, keeping them from eating me."
"Any time, Frostbite." He smiled and gave the boy a little nudge with his shoulder and then climbed off the bed. When Jack did the same he casually draped an arm around his shoulders. Jack tensed, waiting for another wave of foreign emotions, then relaxed when it didn't happen. Bunny sighed in understanding and patted the kid on the back.
"Don't ya worry, Frostbite. There won't be any more slips from me today. And we'll move that trainin' up to ASAP so the others don't need ta worry. No problem," he assured with another pat.
"That's good. There's been too much brain prodding today."
The comment made Bunny chortle as he led the boy back down to the others.
That happy sound was the first thing the others heard. North and Tooth shared pleased smiles as they moved to meet the two. Tooth broke away from North to zip around Jack.
"Clean bill of health," Bunny declared.
Tooth let out a relieved breath before giving the boy a stern look. "You gave us a heart attack. What do you have to say for yourself, young man?"
"Sorry, Tooth," Jack mumbled.
Bunny had to repress a snort. It was undeniably hilarious to see Jack squirm like any little kid reprimanded by their parent. He'd only seen Jack cowed like that when Sera gave him a proper talking to. Speaking of which….
"Where's Sera?"
"Oh, she and Sandy stepped out for a bit," Tooth answered.
Bunny frowned. "She left?"
"I will need to for a bit," Sera corrected as she came in with Sandy trailing just behind her. "But I'll be back for dinner."
"Dinner again. How delightful" North said, his tone implying just how excited he was with that idea. And here they were hoping those two might manage to be civil.
"Yes. In fact, you can count on seeing a whole lot more of me from now on."
There were a number of different reactions in the room from that. Some were more positive than others, and Jack managed to express it perfectly with a long, sarcastic 'Yaaaaaaay'.
"Don't you give me sass, boy." She gave him a light smack to the head and then promised to be back soon as she twirled around with a swish of fabric.
Things were shaping up for a complex future, no one could deny that. For the first time in centuries, the Guardians had open relations and even a shaky treaty with Mother Nature. There was no telling what that future would be like, but it promised to be interesting at the very least. And fun.