Previously, in the Guardians' Guardian

Bunnymund appears to notice your ankle. Coming around to face you, he gingerly touches it. You jolt from the pain, lashing out. He dodges, waiting for you to calm the fuck down, and then approaches again. This time, he gently wraps an arm around your torso and lifts you over his shoulder, careful to avoid your leg. "Easy, Sheila. I've got ya." You offer no resistance, just rest against him. He sets off back the way he'd come, being careful not to jostle you. Finding nothing but desolate pain inside your heart, you succumb to the blackness once again.

Part 10

Watching over Bunnymund was easy enough; all he ever really did when he wasn't with the other Guardians was paint his eggs. He would spend hours over one egg, critiquing every flaw and perfecting every design. Man, what a YOKE this guy is... Hehe, I made a funny, nice one (f/n) After he'd found you, Bunnymund had designated you your own little grotto in the Warren. While he worked, you would observe from the safety of nearby thickets; so far he hadn't noticed, but that could just be him being obstinate.

You rarely dropped the deer façade, only morphing to a different form on the nights before you left to watch Toothiana and North. You'd oriented yourself to a simple schedule: Two weeks for each charge, implementing extra days if there is any sign of trouble. You would rotate from Bunny to Tooth, Tooth to North, and back again.

It was somewhat troublesome to find a proper form for Toothiana's alotted watch. You'd tried out several different forms, but none had been able to keep up with her speed and scatter-brained dental antics. This chickadee could be entertained with floss alone. Sadly enough, I've seen it happen. In the end, you'd settled for (fav. color) butterfly. The Queen of Memories had a special love for the delicate insects, and she always kept you close with a special place in her crest of feathers on top of her head. Joy, I've always wanted to be a hood ornament... Not.

When you went to keep guard over North, you made sure not to use the owl shape - It could trigger a memory or something; and then he'll remember me being here and that J- THAT PERSON seemed to know me. And then he'll call over THAT PERSON and I just can't afford that - and chose to become a white fox. North seemed quite fond of you following him around the Workshop, sometimes slipping you a cookie or a little cup of cocoa.

None seemed to notice the soul pieces you'd left on their persons. Discreetly attached to Bunnymund's boomerang harness-thing was a small (fav. color) tulip bud, something you'd given him once while he'd been checking over your ankle. Tooth had an extra (fav. color) feather stashed among the ones in her headress. And somehow you'd coerced North into braiding a (fav. color) ribbon into his beard. With each one you'd given, you found could teleport to each piece, wherever the bearer was. You'd fallen into a simple rhythm, moving among the Guardians with ease and efficiency for 2 whole years. Yup, time flies when you're wallowing in self-pity and being a good little Guardian. I deserve a fucking raise... Well, almost with ease.

~Flashback to 1 Year ago~

It was one year into your new post and Bunnymund was celebrating a particularly victorious Easter. He'd invited the Guardians to the Warren for a party later that week, and you'd moved to watch Toothiana the day after Easter. You were oblivious until Tooth was wafting you into her flurry of feathers on her way out. You hadn't expected a serious PARTY party, probably just Tooth dropping off a gift and a congratulations and then scurrying off. But, when you come within thirty feet of the Warren, you see the streamers and decorations littering the tunnels and hear voices echoing softy in the mossy caverns. A state of horrified apprehension comes over you, as well as the familiar freezing of your limbs. Oooohhhh, SHIT. This means-Tooth emerges into the bright sunlight of the Warren, granting you full view of the party and its guests. One in particular causes your chest to practically break open. There, surrounded by a throng of seasonal sprites and water nymphs, was Jack.

He was even more handsome than you remembered; his crystal blue eyes sparkled with a devilish gleam, a crooked and cocky grin edging itself across his face. His snow-white hair shined where the light hit it, and he seemed to be rather at ease among the adoring stares and flutterings of the lesser nature spirits. They cooed and fawned over him, calling forth a dark aura of jealousy into your mind. Bitch, you'd best remove your hand from my Icicle-Boy unless you'd rather I eat it.But, per Mim's restrictions, you were not able to come into any personal contact pertaining to Jack Frost of your own volition. So you were left to just watch as wave after wave of brainless hooker-sprites threw themselves at him, boiling over and freezing up at the same time.

Tooth doesn't seem to notice your sudden rigidity, and flies around the party, offering her sincere congratulations to Bunny and warm hugs to friends and acquaintances. She looks around after a bit, and titters excitedly when she spots Jack.

"Ooh! Hey! Jack! Jack Jack Jack Jack Jack! Hey!" She swerves midflight, practically divebombing him in a tackle hug. His entourage send her death glares and vemon-coated-dagger eyes.

"Tooth! Hey- ah! Toof hanth ow mowf!" He sends her a pointed stare, and she quickly removes her fingers.

"Whoops~! Sorrynotsorry! OMG Jack! I haven't seen you in like forever~! How are you?" She grips him in a crushing hug again.

"I-I'm fi-ne. Tooth. Let... Go... C-Can't... Breath!" She releases him with a giggle.

"Again: Sorrynotsorry~!" He chuckles at this, causing a pang in your chest. How long has it been since I heard that sound? Too damn long, I say.

"I like your feather ornament, Tooth. Its pretty." He points to you, nestled in her feathers. Tooth flutters happily, taking you from your frozen perch {to pun, or not to pun; that is the question?} and pushing you close to his face. SHITSHITSHIT. Tooth! No. STAHP!

"Its not a feather ornament, silly! It's my butterfly friend! She follows me around and keeps me company while my little workers and I are busy! Here~!" She places you gently into his cold fingers. You whimper mentally at his touch, remembering all the things he will never. These hands... I know these hands... Somehow, you manage to shiver in your statue-like state; your emotions rushing through you like a flood.

"Hey, T, I think your butterfly is broken or something." He brings you closer to his eyes, examining your motionless figure, amusement and the faintest hint of concern in his sky-blue orbs. Tooth snatches you quickly from him and brings you close to her own face, tearing a silent cry from you at being snatched from him again. No!... His eyes...

"What?! No! She was just fine! Here! Take her while I go find some sugar water! That always makes her feel better~!" She places you back into his cool hands, rushing off in a random direction. Jack chuckles again, shaking his head at her antics. He looks down at you, studying you more thoroughly. He reaches out and gingerly strokes your iridescent (fav. color) wings, iliciting another unheard whimper. Boy, if I could blush, I'd be anemic from all the blood in my face.

His arm is tugged on, jostling you slightly. Turning, he spies a water nymph fluttering her lashes at him. Oi, sleeze-bag, what'd I say about touching?!

"C'mon Jack~," her voice is sickeningly sweet and high pitched, veiled innocence and underlying skankiness showing in her eyes, "Let's play a game~." She tugs his arm again. Jack grins, not noticing the skank in her; the prospect of a game is too much for the Guardian of Fun to resist. He sets you down on a nearby flower, flying off in chase of the nymph. Before he releases you, you manage to slip a soul piece up his sleeve. Its a smaller version of your key, not wanting to lose the one thing that used to connect the two of you.

You watch as she lures him into a rather physical game of tag, your black mood growing worse with each passing second. At one point, he traps her between him and a rock, and she snakes close to him, sensually drawing herself up to his face and kissing him full on the mouth. You cry out in pain and rage; a resounding noise no animal, let-alone a BUTTERLFY, could ever utter.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" You feel as though your whole being ripped into more soul pieces than you'd ever attempted, shredded beyond comprehension.

The party stops, startled and on high alert from the unexplained outburst. Your form wilts and falls off the flower, no one noticing that you had fallen or that it was you who made the noise. Bunnymund quickly disbands the party, saying he'd check over the Warren and thanking everyone for coming. Everyone disperses, Tooth seeming to have forgotten her little butterfly friend. You watch despondently as Jack sends an unknown look back at the nymph bitch then leaves as well. As soon as he's out of the vicinity, feeling returns to your limbs, but you ignore it. As a quick excuse to not go back to Tooth and to drained to go to North, you morph into the white doe. Bunny seems surprised when he finds you curled up in the grass.

"Oi, Sheila, I thought you were on your away trip? I ha'n't expected you back for anotha few weeks!" Hmmm, so he's been keepin tabs on how long I'm gone. Well at least SOMEONE cares...A few unshed tears shine in your eyes. He bends down and strokes your neck; smiling gently, he wraps his arms around your torso and lifting you, thinking it was sheer exhaustion keeping you immobile. He takes you back to your grotto, taking care to leave you some of his special carrots next to your bed of leaves. After he leaves, you close your eyes and morph into you human form. Its been so long since you've been in this form, you've forgotten what you looked like. You curl into a shuddering ball, starting to weep and keen softly. Mim... Please... Oh Mim, help me... Help me escape from these horrible horrible feelings...

No sooner had you thought this that you felt a pair of arms pull you into a warm, tight embrace. Large hands stroked your hair as you wept into the white-clad shoulder, your bodies rocking slowly back and forth. Mim whispers comfort into your ear, easing you into a deep, painful, dreamless sleep.