A continuation of the last chapter. Again, very different from where I had originally intended for it to go…

Warning: Character Death

Rated: M for violence, language, and sexual content.

Disclaimer: Don't own or make money on this. Just fooling around.

Role Reversal

Aster was beside himself. He wasn't a fool. He knew the Boogeyman was tormenting his mate at least partially in retaliation to himself. Jack had been plagued by nightmares for the last week and Bunnymund had finally had enough. He was going to go see Pitch.

He hoped he could talk to the dark creature. Appeal to his human side. If that didn't work he would offer to take on the nightmares himself, or if need be fight him. But he wouldn't try anything serious first.

He stroked his mate's cheek absently, listening to the soft snores that permeated the room. He had put him under again, casting away all dreams from his sleeping lover. But he couldn't continue forever. Dreaming was necessary for real, restful sleep and Jack wasn't having any that weren't plagued by nightmares.

He needed to preoccupy his mate before he went. He didn't want Jack anywhere near the dark spirit. Protective instincts would not allow him to talk if he could only focus on Pitch's scent reacting to Jack's close proximity. Just thinking about it bled red into his vision and caused him to curl tightly around the small, sleeping form next to him.

He needed a distraction to get Jack out of the warren and busy with something so he could slip away and return before he noticed.

As the slow hours of darkness passed he formulated a loose plan and hoped it would work. He just needed to talk to Pitch. Surely it wouldn't take too long. He hoped.

X-X

Jack laughed as the wind carried him high into the air above Santoff Claussen. Snow peppered the atmosphere surrounding him and he whooped as he dove back toward Earth and pulled up to land lightly on North's workshop windowsill.

He grinned at his friend's exasperated face on the other side. North had given him permission to come visit whenever he wanted which meant he could now simply walk in through the front gate, but he still preferred to come in through the window. It was more familiar and drove the old man crazy.

The glass swung open as the Russian let him in with a fond shake of his head. "You know there is door," he commented as Jack hopped into the room and immediately began inspecting the icy creations around him.

"Yeah I know," he replied absently, touching the delicate wing of an ice butterfly that landed on his finger. "Hey, if you ever wanna work on different forms of ice to experiment with..." He blushed and rubbed his neck with his staff before pivoting his eyes to meet North's fond gaze. "Um, just saying...if you ever get bored or something..."

He relaxed when North grinned widely and slapped him hard on the back, forcing a cough from his abused lungs. "Sounds like great plan. Maybe infuse softer or harder qualities to ice to produce different machinations?"

Jack grinned and nodded, slinging his staff over his shoulders to walk lazily next to his friend as they exited the workshop and headed toward North's living quarters. He was happy that his friend had not laughed at him for his idea or even mocked him or ridiculed him or ignored him. The experience of existing was still new to him, even after more than a year of believers.

They both entered the comfortable den and sat in a couple if arm chairs next to the fire. Jack crossed his legs in the seat and subtly tapped the cushion below him to cool it. He laughed when North rolled his eyes and took up his pipe.

"It is nice to see you visit, Jack. I am surprised Bunny did not come. He is good, da? All is well?"

Jack grinned happily and looked over at the flames. "Yeah. Things are good. Great actually." He looked back at his comrade and tried to hide the beginnings of a blush. "Actually, I tried to get him to come when you invited me over," he confessed sheepishly. "Don't like to be away from him..." North was one of the only people he felt comfortable talking about his relationship with. The man was like a father and a brother all combined into one loving being, and Jack would always appreciate how much the old spirit cared for him.

He paused at the confused look he was receiving. Had he said something weird? North leaned forward, and took a long puff from his pipe, sending rings of smoke across the room. "I was told you wanted to visit me," he said, perplexed. "Did you not tell Aster you wanted break from warm to play in snow and visit crotchety old man?" he smiled.

Jack's grin slipped from his face and cold foreboding froze his gut. Aster had tricked him. He'd maybe tricked both of them. And he didn't know why or for what purpose. He was off the chair and flying to the door in a moment, but was stopped by North's call.

"Jack, what are you doing, young friend?" he asked kindly. "You leave already?"

Jack shook his head and turned to look at North, floating impatiently above the floor. "I don't know where Bunny is, North. He lied to me." To his annoyance, North waved away his concern lightly.

"Not to worry, young friend. He told me he was visiting Pitch. Needed to talk. Didn't want you to worry," he said confidently. "You don't worry now. Like a mother hen you are. Almost as bad as rabbit."

Jack dropped to land on the floor. He thought of his recent nightmares and the way his mate had acted that morning, all fidgety and short tempered. Aster had planned this and he didn't understand why. He shook his head and looked over to North apologetically. "Sorry I have to cut our visit short, but I gotta check up on the furball," he sighed. "I'll check back with you later, North. Next time I'll stay longer, and bring the asshat of a pooka with me," he called over his shoulder, ignoring the protests and taking flight.

X-X

Aster landed deftly on the cool terrain of the dark cavern. A few old cages still littered the large room, giving the place an air of apocalyptic deadness. "Pitch, where are you, you bastard!" he called loudly, letting his deep voice echo off the walls. "We need to talk!"

From across the expanse of darkness two golden eyes glared at him. "Ah, the boy send his pet to check the closet and under the bed?" he taunted with a sharp grin.

Bunnymund growled and gripped his boomerang tightly in its holster. "Rack off, you drongo. Ah'm here to tell you ta lay off ma mate. Or else."

Pitch appeared in front of him, leaning nonchalantly against a rocky pillar and examining his nails. "Or what, rabbit? You gonna kill me and bury me in some leaves for later? You gonna huff and rut into me, too, like the bloody animal you are? Makes me sick."

Pitch laughed as he reappeared across the room from where Aster had lunged at him. "Really, you must have a tight leash on that boy if he hasn't been able to escape you yet." His cold eyes flicked up to match his sneer at the pooka. "You really should share your tricks. Could help when I have the boy caged up here after I kill you."

Aster threw his weapon at the shadow spirit, narrowly missing the greasy head he was aiming for. "You stay away from ma mate, you nasty bastard. And stop sending him nightmares. Ah came to talk this time. Next time ah'll kill ya." He caught his boomerang as it returned to his grip and sheathed it.

Pitch laughed derisively. "Stupid creature, I wanted you here. And now you aren't leaving." He melted into the darkness and slid back into view some yards away, twisting a rope of nightmare sand around his wrist. "What better way to get an animal out in the open than threaten its toys?" he grinned, and jerked the sand in his grip like a leash.

Two huge, black, skeletal nightmare hounds appeared from the darkness and snapped in Bunnymund's direction. His heartbeat picked up, but he stood his ground against the threat of the giant dogs. "You'll have ta do betta than tha, Pitch," he taunted, pulling both weapons from his sides.

"We'll see," The shadow being smirked, and released the sand from his wrist.

The dogs lunged toward Aster and he released one weapon from his grasp, knocking one dog off its feet to topple and roll over itself in a heap, leaving just the one other. He didn't have time to throw his second boomerang before the large jaws were snapping erratically at his face, and he had to use the ancient wooden weapon as a brace to keep the teeth away from contact.

"Bloody hell," he muttered, swinging a powerful hind leg up to kick the nightmare creature in the stomach and send it skidding across the rough expanse of floor. The brief respite gave him a moment to breath, but his ears dropped when it became apparent that both dogs were preparing to lunge at him at once.

He was bracing himself and winding up to release both weapons when a blast of icy wind pummeled through the dark cavern walls, causing him to shiver. He grinned when Pitch's wicked smile faltered, but was quickly sidetracked when the dogs chose that moment to leap.

Then they froze in midair and plummeted to the ground like rocks, shattering into minute fragments when they hit the hard stone floor.

Jack strode forward past the dusty remnants of the dogs and did not halt or alter his path when Pitch shot blasts of nightmare sand at him. He simply knocked them aside and came to a halt beside his bunny. Without taking his eyes off the enemy he asked if Aster was alright and sensed the confirming nod.

"Didn't think it'd go this far mate. Just wanted ta talk..." Aster apologized and nudged the smaller form beside him. "Don't think he's gonna listen..."

Jack nodded curtly at what his lover had told him and focused his glare at the shadow man more completely. "Pitch. Are you gonna leave us alone or what?" he asked sardonically.

The Boogeyman sneered at the pair in contempt and slid between shadows to melt into the surroundings and laugh darkly. "My dear boy," he hissed, "why would I ever want to stop lapping up your delicious fear? Do you know how succulent your distress is every time you shy away from the animal's comforts? Afraid that he's the monster from your dreams? No Jack. You're too delicious."

Aster watched his mate, horrified. Black had been trying to make Jack afraid of him. And had it been working? He couldn't pull his green eyes away from his lover's cold, pale orbs gazing hatefully at the shadow being. The look sent a shiver down his spine and he found himself stepping away from his mate.

"If that's how you feel, Pitch Black," Jack murmured and slammed his staff against the stone surface they were standing on. A shot of frost burst into being and slammed into a shadow, locking a newly visible Boogeyman into place, now vulnerable and fragile in his imprisonment. Jack ran, picking up pace, then flew over to where the dark soul was trapped and hopped lightly onto his staff, balancing his weight on the crooked top to peer down at his prisoner.

His eyes felt flinty and cold as he looked calculatingly down at the enemy threatening his companion. "You were gonna kill my bunny?" he whispered the question calmly, "You were gonna take away my family?" He felt no pity for the fear leaking into his enemy's gaze as he placed his slim fingers across the sallow cheek.

Ice frosted over the skin he touched, forming a lacy coat. He hopped back off his staff to plant himself on the ground and jabbed his weapon into the floor between Pitch's frozen legs. Ice enveloped the being completely, creating a crystal clear prison that resembled a solid, frozen snapshot. Pitch's unblinking eyes gazed, shocked, from their unmovable position and his lips were already paling in the frozen confines of the ice.

Jack turned to check on his bunny; make sure he was still okay. The pooka's large green eyes stared at him openly, occasionally flicked over to the icy statue of their enemy. Jack turned again to survey his work. The ice was already melting away and he thought of what the Nightmare King might do when he was finally freed.

In an instant he thought of Aster fighting off huge black dogs, and tapped his staff against the ice.

It exploded.

Millions of splinters of frozen shrapnel flew across the cavern, hitting every hard surface like a tinkle of glass. He coughed when some of the debris flew up his nose and he shook the ashy substance from his clothes. When the blue of his hoodie was clean again, he looked up and turned toward his partner, grimacing sheepishly. He rubbed his neck, shaking some dust from his hair, and walked cautiously back toward the pooka, stepping around the larger shards of his frozen adversary.

Bunnymund stared at his approaching mate, the winter spirit who had just obliterated a powerful enemy singlehandedly.

For the first time Aster did not feel the arousal that insisted he take his mate; urged him to gather up his love and enter his body and make him writhe with pleasure. For the first time that he could remember, his body screamed with the need to be taken. He wanted this powerful being, his mate, to claim him.

Jack tried to control his shaking as Bunny slid up to him, his head ducked and eyes averted. Guilt enveloped him as the pooka began to clean his exposed shoulder and neck, meticulously lapping the ash and darkness off of his skin. His companion kept his eyes averted while he worked; only looking up to check his compliance once or twice. "Bunny..." he whispered hesitantly, lacing his fingers into the thick fur around his neck and strong shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Bright green eyes looked up from their position below his and he choked on any other words. He had never seen his love look like this and he didn't know what it meant. "Yes love," was all he received in reply before contact was broken once more so the rabbit could begin his work again.

Aster basked in the wonderful feel of cool fingers twisting through his fur. He wanted to please his mate, eliminate any trace of battle from his flesh before they continued. His heart swelled at the concern his love showed him even when it had been he was the one who had just fought and been magnificently victorious. He purred, rubbing his nose across the last spot of filth covering the beautiful, pale neck of his mate. Now he would clean away the grime from his face.

Jack blushed when Bunnymund's purring rumbled against his body, acting like an immediate aphrodisiac. His partner was acting weird after he had just destroyed another being and he was getting turned on. He was disgusted with himself. For all he knew Aster was afraid of him now and just being complacent while formulating a plan of attack. He mentally shook himself at his absurd paranoia. This was Bunny.

His pooka was carefully lapping at his cheek and forehead, eyes unerringly focused on his work. "...Aster?" he asked again, rubbing his hands down the soft fur of his mate's collar. He almost despaired when the rabbit did not answer him, but finished washing his face before pulling back again, hunching down to look up at him once more. Jack took some comfort that he was still close and still allowing him to grasp his fur and stroke his neck.

"Yes Jack?"

The frost spirit worried his lip for a moment before deciding to ask, "Are you mad?" He wanted to ask a million more questions, but thought this was a good place to start.

Aster cocked his head in confusion. Why did Jack think he was mad? He had felt his mate become aroused while he cleaned him. He had thought things were going well. "M' not, mate. Why d'you think tha'?"

He watched the boy blush and look away, rubbing his neck with his staff, and shrug. Not sure where communication had broken down, he moved closer once more, nuzzling under his mate's chin. He purred again, closing his eyes to focus on the hammering heart against his cheek. His ears folded back in submission as arms tightened around his shoulders.

His mate's body was reacting again and he smiled, rubbing his nose against the material of the blue hoodie that separated him from his lover's flesh. He couldn't stand it anymore. He wanted to feel his mate against him. Feel him inside of him. "Jack," he panted into the lean chest.

"Y...Yeah?"

Apprehension crept into his voice against his will. "Will you...mark me?" he asked, unable to meet the icy blue eyes he knew were gazing down at him. "If you don' wanna Ah'll understand...fur an' ev'rthin'..." Oh moon, he was scared and backpedaling and couldn't look.

"What do I do?"

Jack was bewildered. Aster was acting nervous, like one of the many humans he had watched over the years courting potential partners. Which made no sense. They had been together for a while now. And now wanting to be marked? He remembered how the rabbit had marked him, by rubbing his chin on him and licking him. He blushed again. Did Aster want him to...? Right now?

The Easter being climbed up his body, draping his head around him and nuzzling the back of his neck. Jack smiled, pressing his face into the crook of his furry shoulder. Even if Aster was being weird, it was adorable. He was startled to hear his companion speak once he had snuggled into him.

"Y'have ta break the skin, love," the rough, Australian voice whispered from his neck, "...if ya wan'. If ya think it's crass or..."

Aster gasped. Sharp teeth had immediately bitten down on the nape of his neck, breaking the skin under his fur. He shivered as the cold, soft tongue began to lap at his wound, and he couldn't contain the groan of pleasure that escaped his lips. Jack had claimed him. Though he knew the young Guardian wouldn't notice a difference, other magical creatures would and it turned him on even more.

Jack breathed in the coppery scent of the pooka's blood as he ran his tongue gently over the wound he had created. The viscous substance was unbelievably hot against his frozen lips and he had to fight back a shiver of his own. His companion obviously enjoyed it, and he smiled when he felt the strong body grind helplessly against him.

Bunnymund huffed unhappily when his mate broke physical contact, pulling him back to meet his gaze. He itched with inaction, flicking his eyes across the slighter, pale boy in front of him. His erection was visible even under the tight fabric concealing his body and his face was flushed a pretty blue and he had a sloppy half-grin across his face. "You wanna go back home?" the boy asked him jokingly, "or you wanna throw down here?"

Aster growled protectively. "Home," he decided firmly.

Jack's grin widened even as his blush deepened to a navy across his nose and cheeks. "Okay," he agreed pleasantly and stepped forward to cling to his lover's body as he opened a hole under the two of them, dropping them instantly into a tunnel leading them home.

The pair landed with a couple of hops at the entrance of the warren and Aster rubbed his head insistently against his mate's torso, pushing the shirt up his stomach and chest. His mate laughed and obliged him in losing his hoodie, slipping it easily up and over his head, ruffling his hair into a teased mess.

The playfulness slipped from his lover's flushed expression once the shirt was off and his pants were clinging lowly on his hips. "Bunny," he breathed, "are you sure everything is okay? Pitch didn't hurt you, did he?"

Aster purred into the now bare chest. "No love, you saved my arse again..." His heartbeat spiked as deft fingers rubbed his ears in slow circles and small kisses peppered his face. "Jack?" he croaked finally.

"Yeah Bunny?"

Aster averted his eyes again and nudged his nose into the pale crook of his mate's shoulder. "Ah wan' you, mate. Ah want...fuck ah wan' you inside a'me." He was dizzy with need and dread at how his request would be received. His mate had never shown any interest in him that way.

Jack's chest was constricting and his fingers twisted frantically around small locks of fur as he processed what had been said. He opened his mouth to reply and closed it again when he felt only air releasing from between his lips. His lungs felt tight with panic and he gulped long draughts of air through his nose.

He had never seriously considered doing it. Sure, he had wondered what it would feel like, but he had never felt the need to actually try. He was content and satisfied with their current relationship. He was also fully aware of the precautions and care his partner took to make him happy and comfortable. He was woefully unprepared for the responsibility. He was clumsy and inept and his face heated when he considered their differences physically in terms of size.

He couldn't help but be flattered, though. Aster was not a male to be bested or dominated, and he was panting and needy and wanting him. Jack took a deep breath to steady his racing thoughts. He would not disappoint his lover. He had been spoiled by his rabbit and it was the least he could do to try and be a good lover in return. If and when he botched up miserably they could just forget it ever happened.

"How do you want me to...?" he asked weakly. He was trying to maintain a facade of confidence, but it was quelling at his task and the catastrophic potential for failure. "I've never..."

Bunnymund nodded into the pale chest and lapped languidly at a nipple, cutting his mate's breath short. He rocked his hips into the slim body against his and moaned when he felt his own arousal press against the cool flesh of his lover's stomach. The pants were still clinging tightly to the boy's hips and he clumsily worked them down, letting his lover kick them off into the grass surrounding them.

Rolling back, he carefully pulled Jack forward with him, pressing a hot kiss against the panting, parted, cool lips. He ran his rough palms down the smooth back and pressed his mate's hips lower, parting their mouths as their bodies aligned to each other.

He watched the wide, blue eyes gaze into his with apprehension even as he felt Jack's erection rest against his entrance. Delicate fingers raked through the fur on his chest and a thumping heartbeat hammered against his lower stomach and hardness. He had to lie back for a moment and enjoy the feel of it all, but was brought back by a wavering voice.

"Bunny, do you want me to do what you did...my first time?" Jack asked. He could feel himself pressing against the pooka's scorching entrance, sending thrills of heat surging up his body through his groin. They had made no preparations and he was nearly shaking with memories of his first and apprehension of doing something, anything, wrong.

His bunny shook his head slightly and pushed his hard length against his cold stomach, grinding impatiently into his abs. Struck by sudden inspiration, Jack leaned to prop his weight on one arm and reach the other between them, grasping the slick, hardness pressing into him and pumping it efficiently with his fist.

Aster moaned and ran his claws over the, lean, strong shoulders that were straining against his body; one tense from holding the slight weight of his mate, the other bunching its muscles as it worked the arm that stroked him. His panting nearly drowned out the lovely, husky sound of his lover's voice.

"You like that, Bunny? I want you to feel good. Come for me, Aster. I want your cum on me."

The pooka groaned at his mate's words and bucked into the fist around his hard length. His eyes snapped open when he felt a cold tongue licking his leaking head and he saw the mop of white hair bob down to take him fully in his cool mouth. "Bloody Christ, Jackie," he moaned as his lover's tongue slid along his length and across his head again, lapping up the liquid that formed there.

Then he felt Jack's erection press against his entrance and he saw stars as the head barely breached him. He came with a grunt and dug his claws into his lover's back, even as he felt him take his seed into his mouth. He was still trembling when he saw his mate spit the semen into his palm and bring it between their bodies, coating his erection with the sticky lubricant.

"Know I'm not...as big as you are..." Jack groaned and he slid his hand slickly over his own length in preparation, "but I don't...wanna hurt you..." His face was flushed with embarrassment at his confession, but he couldn't help it. Even if the pooka said it was okay he wasn't taking any chances. He was already sick with anxiety that he was going to be terrible.

After a thorough coating of his makeshift lube, Jack finally looked up into emerald eyes. He fought his blush but didn't drop his gaze as he awaited permission to continue. He could see the strong heartbeat of his lover beating in his chest and ran one hand over the humming beat, nuzzling his face against the slim waist he was resting against.

He nearly laughed when the pooka's erection began to present itself again, growing next to his face. He lifted his head again and grinned cheekily. "Insatiable, mate," he breathed and pushed forward slightly.

He nearly lost his drive when Aster hissed as his head entered the hot body below him. He quickly began stroking his mate's hot length once more, mimicking what he could remember from their first time together. He relaxed a little when he felt the muscles relax in the pooka's stomach and began to push himself slowly into his lover's body.

A moment or an eternity later he was pressed into his mate to the hilt and had to blink to focus. It was so much to take in; so hot he felt like he was melting and tighter than a fist and slightly slick. He gasped for breath as they both adjusted and was shocked into movement when Aster bucked against him.

Unsure of how to proceed he followed the pooka's lead and moved with him, pulling out only enough to press back in again. He knew he had a spot that made him see stars and wanted to find his bunny's before he came. He hoped his bunny had the spot too.

Then he slid back in again and Bunnymund gasped and jerked, tightening his grip on his shoulders. He couldn't help but show his teeth as he grinned and tried to adjust to the new position before he pulled out and pushed back in again, earning another gasp and a low moan from the pooka.

Watching Aster unravel below him made him dizzy and the tight muscles around him were searing his flesh and he couldn't hold himself back any more when the pooka laid back in complete abandon in the grass and moaned Jack's name. He came a half second later, thrusting his hips and pressing himself into his lover and squeezing his eyes shut as he rocketed over the edge.

His eyes opened when he felt himself softening, and his vision landed on the still hard length of his bunny. Even as he pulled himself out of the hot body, he ran his tongue up the length of his mate's erection.

Aster moaned as he felt the cool tongue lick him. It had come completely unexpected, and he gasped as he was once again taken into Jack's mouth. He raised his head enough to watch his mate's lips close around his hard length and suck. Pale eyes darted up to meet his and his breath quickened to see lovely cheeks hollow out as the boy sucked him off.

Delicate fingers ran down between his legs and pressed and felt him, and entered him again, and he surged over the edge once more, feeling Jack's throat swallow it all down.

They lay in the grass and panted, heaped on each other in a spent mess. Only once they were both recuperated enough to breath normally was speech attempted. "So what was that?" Jack asked conversationally.

Bunnymund huffed a short laugh at his mate's casualness. He pulled the lean figure into him more tightly and rubbed his nose against the pale cheek. "Don' get ta see ya so powerful vera often, mate. Made me hotter than a midsummer barbie."

He laughed out loud when his comment caused his mate to blush navy and duck his head, hiding his pleased smile. "Sorry I kinda...sucked," he mumbled shyly in embarrassment. "Didn't last very long..."

Aster purred and stroked his mate's messy hair. "Hmm, you sucked alright, mate. Had me seein' stars with that lovely mouth a' yours..." He huffed when a weak punch jabbed him in his side. "You were wonderful, love," he insisted firmly.

Shy eyes showed themselves again. "Yeah?" he asked hesitantly, and received a confident nod in reply. "Okay," he finally consented, but added, "But I kinda...like to feel you...you know..." Jack groaned and buried his head in the soft fur again. He was so awkward.

Strong arms ran down his back and squeezed him close. "Good, 'cause ah kinda like ta you know, too, love," Aster laughed and nuzzled Jack's burning face. "Now let's clean up and deal with what's left'a Pitch."

Jack sighed and nodded, feeling a hollowness form in his gut. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone, but he hadn't been able to stop his reaction to Pitch's cruelty and threat. And now guilt was trying to invade. He wouldn't let it. His companion, his spouse, his mate had been in danger and he had done what he needed to do.

He curled his fingers protectively into the soft fur of his pooka and held on, feeling the warmth and life in his companion for a moment before he let go and got up to deal with the consequences of his actions. He was still angry that Aster had lied to him, but they were together right now and both safe and fine.

He hesitated to confide his guilt to his companion, though. Bunnymund was a warrior and had killed many in his time. This had been Jack's first mortal victory and he didn't think he wanted to become okay with it. "Okay, bunny, let's go," he sighed.

Author Note: I'm sorry Pitch!

I also apologize if this chapter feels rushed. I wrote the smut first and was going to split this chapter, but it didn't feel right to separate them, so I didn't go back and add too many extraneous details.

This chapter is another testament to how far gone I am. I had decided that I could not conceive how to ever write reversed Jackrabbit prawns and here I am, doing it. It did take longer for me to hash out, though…

Lemme know what you think!