A/N: No new edits to this chapter.
May 10th
Understanding
Sometimes it was all too much. The . . . abruptness.
He'd been alone for three hundred years. He wasn't going to get over it any time soon - if ever.
Why was it so hard?
To get used to his life as it was? To accept that he was safe?
Some days, when he'd slept somewhere else, he'd wake up from a nightmare and fear that it had all been a dream. He'd rush to the Pole, or the Warren, or Punjam Hy Loo, or even Sandy's dream cloud, to make sure he was right, that it was all true. That he wasn't alone anymore.
Those days were scary. Terrifying even.
Those days were when he lost himself and his purpose. The only time when fun ever failed him.
The others had gotten used to his days. When he'd come barging in through an opening or dive right into their faces. When his eyes were wide with panic, and his breathing erratic. They'd pause whatever work they were doing, because they didn't want Jack to have another meltdown. They'd greet him happily, often initiating physical contact.
After that, they'd invite him in; give him a job or some food while he calmed down.
They understood, because they'd do the same thing sometimes. One of them would wake up or slip out of a trance of sorts and feel an amount of dread as they realized that they didn't know if the events of '12 actually happened.
All in all, it ended up with a lot of visits to each other's homes.
Tooth didn't actually need to do it, she could just talk to her fairies after all, but it was so much more satisfying to personally confirm her knowledge.
Jack was the one to do rely on their system of support most often, and he liked to fly to the Tooth Palace a lot. Tooth got him, understood why he was so afraid of the possibilities.
It was nice to have someone care and be able to just assume how he was feeling.