(Jack's POV)
"Ummm, You are never Safe. Not even in your own mind. Watch what happens the next time you see me, it may be your last. I think that's it." I can tell that she's hiding something from us, but that could be all that the witch said.
"Are you sure that's it? She said nothing else?" Worry spreads through me as I realize just how much danger she's in. If she isn't telling us all of the truth, it could get her hurt again, and I wouldn't be alright with the fact that I couldn't save her from getting hurt twice.
"I'm absolutely sure." Well, if she's sure, but maybe she'll tell me later, when it's just us. She doesn't like talking to the other Guardians all that much yet. She doesn't fully trust them, and she sees them not as people who could help her, but people who could hurt her.
"Well, let's go see what North says to this, and you know you can tell us anything right?" I can hear my voice soften as I speak to her.
"I'm fine with that, so long as The Easter Kangaroo let's you carry me. I'm a bit perturbed at him at the moment." She just called him 'The Easter Kangaroo', and with a bunch of sweet sarcasm layered on top. He's not going to like that, but maybe he'll let me help.
"Listen here, mate. I'm a bunny. I ain't no kangaroo. Here, Jack. She wants you, so you can have her. I don't need to be carrying her anyway." Handing Cyndra over to me, which makes everyone but him happy, I watch as Cyndra's eyes lighten with enjoyment at angering him. He walks away towards North's workshop.
"I wanted to do that. I didn't want to be carried in the first place, and I certainly wasn't fixing to let anyone but you do it if I had to be." Annoyance and fragility rang out in chords of her voice.
"Don't worry. I would have stolen you from him sooner or later. I think he just wanted to spite you when he started carrying you." Well, as true as that is, I would have snatched her immediately, if it wasn't for the fact that Bunny would have us both.
"Jack, I lied earlier when I said that she didn't tell me more. I just didn't want to say anything with Bunny here. I'm even scared at what you will think, though I still won't tell you everything. That shapeshifting witch told me you would rather see me dead than be around me. I don't know if she was lying or not, but I hope she was." Her face is filled with sadness as she says theses words, looking on the verge of tears even.
It's not even thirty seconds before she bursts into tears.
I try to comfort her. Steadily whispering to her, and moving her hair out of her face. I think I'm the only person who has ever seen her cry, and I've seen her cry three times now. Once on her birthday, once yesterday, and now. And she's so distressed, probably worrying about the rest of us. Probably worrying about me.
I remember when I kissed her forehead yesterday. She was worried about me leaving her alone again. She was also worried about me.
Kissing her forehead, I watch as her face darkens and she giggles. Even the strangled sound of her laugh after she's been crying is beautiful, though no more beautiful than she is. She is an amazing person, who just seems to have incredibly bad luck.
"Cyndra, I promise that'll never happen. I would never hurt you. You should know that. It's alright. It's alright." What are you supposed to say to someone who's been told that you would rather see them dead than be around them? What are you supposed to do?
"B-but Jack, everything is not alright. She could be out there harming an innocent child! Yet, here I am, crying because... because I don't know what to do!" Well, so much for calming her. I wonder if this will work.
Looking down at Cyndra, I kiss her gently. Pulling away, I find her face covered in surprise.
"I would never hurt you Cyndra. Never in however long I live. I can promise you that."
Her cheeks heat up to a bright pink. "I guess she lied to me about that, too, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I didn't want to tell you, but she saw it before I did. Do you want to know everything she told me? Exactly as she told me?"
Her cheeks are still bright pink, but her voice and her eyes say that she is willing to tell me everything. She is willing to trust me to an extent that she didn't before.
"Of course. I will listen to anything you have to say. Anything at all."
"Don't tell the others I told you. They'll be upset that I didn't trust them enough to tell them too."
"I promise that I won't tell the others, unless it is of absolute vital need."
"Okay then, well..." Her cheeks, which have just returned to their normal color, heat back up into a bright pink. "She told me this: You are never Safe. Not even in your own mind. I see what you mean to Jack and he to you. Watch what happens the next time you see me, it may be your last. And then in the globe room, when I was thinking about you worrying about me, and coming up with reasons why you would, she told me this: Don't worry, Princess. We know that he doesn't. He'll never want a mortal girl like you. He would rather see you dead than be with you, but don't worry, Princess, he won't get the chance to before we have you both. I was thinking about you."
"Cyndra, I promise that they will never lay a single finger on you, so long as I can stop it, and as long as I can possibly keep you out of danger, I will. I promised to never leave your side, and I won't. Not now, not ever. And just so you know, you are the most amazing, beautiful, girl I know. You are amazing in a way that no one else can match." My face must match hers, bright pink.
"Jack, do you... do you meant it?" I can tell that she's surprised by my actions, but is wishing that it be as true as it is.
"Of course I do Cyndra. I just wanted you to know that. Now let's go tell North and the others about your little problem."
"Jack, you know that you are the first person in a long time to make me feel special. I tell you things I don't even tell my own mother. You've seen my at my worst. You've seen me break down and cry, which is something no one, but you, has ever seen. You're the only person that I fully trust, besides myself and mother, any more. I was going to save this thank you for last, but I think you need to hear it. Thank you, Jack, for everything. For being there for me. For being my friend. For being something no one else has. You are an amazing person, and I can see why you are a guardian."
(Cyndra's POV)
I watched as Jack's face turned a soft pink color. I meant every word I said to him. I don't trust the others, yet, but I have complete faith in him.
In my reverie I lean forward and peck him on the cheek, watching as his face fills with surprise.
"I really like you, Frost. Now let's go see the others."
I watch as he puts on a straight face, which makes me burst out laughing.
"What? What did I do?"
"Don't even try, Jack."
Now it's his turn to laugh.
"Alright, alright."
Suddenly we are rocketing through the air, which is something I really enjoy, when we aren't doing flips, and so long as I don't look at the ground.
Landing in North's workshop, which is where everyone is gathered, I watch as Jack and Bunny explain what I told them earlier. Just the parts that Bunny knew, though. Jack knows he would regret it if he said anything more.
"Cyndra, you will be staying with us for a while. I know that you wanted to be able to go home soon, but we can't risk losing you to our new threat. We don't know why she is after you, or even who she is, but as long as a single child is in danger, we have to protect them." Jack whispers to me in my ear. I guess that this will be the way things will have to be.
"Jack, where's Sierra? You told me I could have her once I came out here, but I haven't seen her."
"You're right, where is she?" Jack looks over to North.
"We haven't seen her since day she got here."
"So where is she?" My voice is filled with worry, when suddenly I hear a small yip behind me. Jack turns to find Sierra standing in the doorway.
"Sierra! There you are! Don't go exploring without me! You made me so worried!" Jack set me down next to Sierra, while the Guardians discussed what they were going to do about me and their new threat.
I layed down next to Sierra, softly petting her soft, furry, head. I miss the feeling of laying on my bed, with Sierra right next to me.
I remember waking up four days ago, almost hitting Jack. He was going to take me somewhere, but I needed to eat, since I hadn't in two days. Then everything went wrong and I ended up here. At least I can be with Jack and Sierra, here.
Jack. Why does that wretched girl want Jack? What has he ever done to her? Why can't she just stick to wanting me? I didn't do anything, but I'd feel it was my fault if anything happened to Jack.
Still thinking about the random things that seem to float through my head, I realize that I still haven't ate breakfast this morning.
"Hey, ummm, guys. I know you're busy, but I still haven't eaten breakfast. I think I'm gonna walk away now."
I watch each of their faces turn towards me.
"You cannot go anywhere without one of us with you. We have to make sure nothing happens again, seeing as you are child, no? We have to keep you safe." North's certainty and kindness fill me with a small degree more of trust towards him.
"Are you sure about that? It sounds like you have a lot to do. I think I would be a hindrance if one of you was constantly watching me. I don't want to cause any more trouble than I already have."
"You aren't hindering anyone, mate. You simply got hurt. We have to watch you, your importance to us has yet to diminish. I doubt it will for a good while." Bunnymund's answer shocks me more than anyone elses can even attempt to.
"Bunny is right, Cyndra. You can't even wander around the workshop on your own. We don't know the extent of the witch's powers, yet. She could snatch you without us even knowing." Tooth's voice still sounds frantically worried, but behind the worry I hear her trying to comfort me. I guess I should trust them after all. They are my childhood heroes. Each and everyone on them.
"I guess I should agree, huh? Well then, I guess that means that I get to eat breakfast, but who has to come with me?"
Before anyone can respond, Jack is by my side. "I want to. North?"
Wow, I guess North is in charge. "Be careful, Jack, but yes. Go ahead. The rest of us will decide what we are going to do about our new threat. I don't think we should ignore her or try to forget about her, so keep an eye out." North glares at Jack for a few seconds, before Jack responds.
"Yes, North. I'll make sure."
Weird. I guess they don't quite trust Jack. I do, yet they don't, not as much as I do.
Jack walks over to me, hesitantly at first, then with more authority. Picking me up from the ground with a swoop of his arms, Jack and I are soon out of the room, followed by a very happy German Shepherd.
"So, Jack, why do you want to watch me?"
"Because if I would have just kept an eye on you at all times before, you would have come here under very different circumstances. I wasn't there to protect you when you needed it most."
"I told you earlier that it was my fault. You don't want to argue with me, you'll find that I'm not near as nice when I'm defensive. It's my fault for following her, and that's that."
"No, it isn-"
"Yes, Jack it is. Don't even try."
"Fine, but it isn't your fault. It's Hers."
Silence. That's all that can be heard. I guess I can agree to that. I look up at Jack, thinking of what I was told before, and how he is the only one who knows all of what was said.
"Jack, I'm scared. I'm scared of what can happen, scared of that witch." My voice shakes. I, of course, am scared of what can happen to Jack. I am mortal. I am expendable. He's not. He has to help bring snow and protect the children of the world. He is immortal.
"Everything will be alright, Cyndra. She won't get you again."
I laugh, slightly amused by hid statement. "Jack, I'm not scared of what she would do to me, more than I'm scared of what she would do if she got her hands on you. I don't even know why she wants either of us. And, whoops, forgot to tell them about that. Do they know that she wants you, too, Jack?"
He looks down at me as if I said something absolutely absurd, yet it makes him realize I'm right.
"No. No, they don't Which means that we need to tell them, and soon. But you need to eat first, because if you don't, there may not be much of me to guard you when they are through."
"Alright, I can agree to that."
He carries me into the kitchen, softly talking to me the whole time. I suddenly feel sick, like I have a fever. Like I'm being burned from the inside out.
I gasp in a mix of pain and surprise, my face contorting into one of a scared puppy.
Jack looks down at me, looking just as worried as I feel, but as soon as it comes, it goes. It's almost as if I have a foreboding feeling, like something is fixing to go drastically wrong. Looking up at Jack, I see something dark move in peripheral vision, something that seems just out of place behind him.
"Uh, Jack, is there supposed to be moving shadows around us?"
"No, why?"
"Just wondering, because, you know, there are like five of them behind you. And where is Sierra?"
A very scared German Shepherd puppy suddenly is in my arms, whimpering crazily.
"Jack, I'm scared."
He looks down at me suddenly and a strange light goes off in his eyes.
"I know, I know. But we're going to be alright."
"How do you know?"
"Just believe in me. Trust me, we'll be fine."
"Okay. I trust you."
"How much?"
"Why?"
"I'm about to do something crazy."
"Then let's do it."