Warnings: None
Rating: K
Genre: General
Characters: Jack + Sandy + Tooth
Summary: Everyone has their secrets. Some are just a little more heart-breaking than others.
Sandy was glad that he didn't talk.
Not only was it quite peaceful, but it meant people tended to listen to him more than most, as ironic as that was.
But it also meant that he saw things that others didn't.
For example, every Thursday in the lower part of North's workshop, the Yetis would gather in the evening and play poker in secret. And every once in a while Bunny would talk to his eggs when he thought he was alone. And Tooth sang to herself sometimes as she fluttered around her Palace, going about her daily duties.
And Jack... Well, Jack sketched.
A lot, in fact.
The Guardian of Dreams had wondered countless times why no-one else had noticed.
The golden man would see him a every now and then when passing the boy's room in the Complex if he'd left the door open. He'd be on his bed, sketchbook propped against his knees, tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration, a pencil or two tucked behind his ear.
He would draw outside in the snow, quite content sitting in a pile of snowflakes under the night sky. He would draw when he was sat in trees, shaded by their thick branches. He kept the tatty old sketchbook, leather-bound with him wherever he went, concealed underneath his hoodie.
Even if he was gone for hours, no-one would notice. They all just assumed he was out and about, causing mischief across the globe and creating snow days for children everywhere.
But he was drawing. All the time.
It only made sense, Sandy had thought to himself, how else would he be able to bring pictures to life if those pictures weren't any good?
All of these thoughts drifted through the Sandman's head as he wandered through the halls of the Complex, intent on asking the boy about his drawings.
He had just reached the boy's room when he stopped dead in his tracks.
A quiet murmuring, so quiet that Sandy had to strain to hear it, was floating through Jack's half-open bedroom door.
Intrigued, the Guardian floated closer, placing a gentle hand on the door frame as he peered in to the room.
Jack was sat on his bed - nothing out of the ordinary there - but his sketch-pad was on the opposite side, facing him. His legs were crossed, and he stared at the sketch-pad intently, as if he were willing the drawings in it to come to life.
"You'd love it, ya know," he carried on, his voice bittersweet, "All of this - but we never got a chance, huh?"
Sandy watched the boy, a dimly lit sadness swimming through his golden orbs; why did Jack sound so unhappy?
"I wonder how you and Tooth would get on. She'd probably love you - you've always had good teeth," he laughed at the thought, "And Bunny... Heck, he'd probably try and turn you against me. Say I'm a bad influence. But he knows I'm not - not really, anyway."
The spirit sighed, his hands wiping his eyes tiredly, glancing over to the window. In the distance of the inky black sky, the moon hung in the air, bright and silvery, ever-watching.
Jack glared at it accusingly, knowing MiM could hear every word he was saying.
"Why couldn't you bring her back too?"
The moon just stared back, silent as ever.
The spirit just sighed, his glare melting off of his face as he turned back to the paper.
"It's unfair. Why is it so unfair, Rosie?"
Rosie? Sandy thought to himself, Who...?
The Guardian's brow furrowed in confusion, looking back up at the boy who was still staring at his sketch-pad.
The man debated for a second, biting his lip as he glanced between Jack and his sketchbook for a moment. Should he or shouldn't he?
A small sphere of flowing sand gathered at his fingertips, and silently, he breathed it in to the room.
Immediately, it found its target. Within moments, Jack was fast asleep, golden dolphins swimming around his head happily like playful children. With a light thud, the boy fell back on to his covers, a smile on his face as he slept.
Sandy felt a twinge of guilt as he stared at the boy sleeping peacefully. Maybe he shouldn't bother... It was an invasion of privacy, after all.
But Jack had sounded so sad when he had spoken of this 'Rosie'. Sandy wanted to see what was wrong with the boy.
Tentatively, the man floated in to the room, soundlessly, landing at the end of Jack's bed. His eyes turned to the tiny book, and as if it were made of the most delicate glass on earth, he picked it up.
The girl on the page was this 'Rosie' person, he knew that much. But the Sandman hadn't ever seen her before; he rarely ever got to see the many children he gave dreams to. But whoever she was, she must've been captured perfectly in the gray lines of the graphite pencil Jack had used. She was young - seven, eight maybe? - and judging by the shading, her hair was a similar colour to brown, and her eyes were wide and alight with wonder. A smile was curved on to the child's face so perfectly that it looked like a black and white photograph.
The man couldn't help but smile at Jack's handiwork - he was as much a master of pencils as he was of ice.
The Sandman turned, book in his arms. He closed the covers so the sketches inside wouldn't become damaged - that was the last thing he wanted to do. If he was very quick, he could probably get the book back to Jack before he even woke up.
Casting one last guilty look over his shoulder at the boy sleeping peacefully on the bed, he slipped quietly out of the bedroom door, trails of sand following in his wake.
He was going to pay Tooth Palace a visit.
"I don't understand Sandy, what are you trying to say?"
Irritably, Sandy showed the fairy the drawing again, before creating a miniature Jack above his head, pencil in hand.
Apparently, the golden man must've 'spoken' a little slower that time, because Tooth's eyes widened a little, her small hands reaching out towards the tatty book.
"Jack drew this?" She asked, admiring the sketch, "May I...?"
Sandy gave her the book.
She brushed her slender fingers across the paper, a nearly inaudible gasp escaping her lips. "I recognise her!"
Sandy grinned, and nodded vigorously, motioning for Tooth to give the sketchbook back. Somewhat reluctantly, the fairy handed it back, giving the Guardian of Dreams an odd look.
He rolled his eyes, before pointing at the book, then pointing at his head; a figure sat there, the vague outlines of his face showing easily that he was sad as he stared at a book hovering in front of him.
Just like that, something in Tooth's head clicked.
"This... girl makes Jack sad...?" She asked the small man, unsure of her answer. Again, he nodded, different pictures flashing far too fast above his head for Tooth to understand.
But Tooth was lost in deep thought as the image of the girl swam in her head. A conversation from what felt like years ago arose in her head, and slowly the pieces fell in to place.
"I had a mother, a father... and a little sister."
"Rose, her name was. Or Rosie. She liked Rosie more."
"Sandy..." She began, her mind reeling, "I... I think this is Jack's sister."
Surprise lit up the mans face, as if to say 'He had a sister?'
"But I can't be sure - not yet, anyway," Tooth began, fluttering up from where she sat, starting to 'pace', "We... We need to check her memories. That's the only way, unless we ask Jack... but I don't think we want to do that... Sandy, what do we do?"
The small man thought for a moment. All of it was really prying in to Jack's privacy; but how else would they fight his demons?
He considered for a moment to just let it all wash over - to let Jack deal with it on his own. After three hundred years, it must be much easier and a lot less embarrassing to sort out your own problems, rather than receive help from others...
But as Tooth stared at him, waiting for an answer, worry in her violet eyes, Sandy knew that this wasn't going to 'wash over' any time soon.
Hastily, the Guardian produced some pictures above his head. Tooth nodded, and motioned for him to follow her through the halls of her palace.
They were going to find some memories.
Gaahhh, sorry about the updates! I haven't had WiFi for five days. Five days. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE FOR PEOPLE WITH NO SOCIAL LIFE?!
-calms down- Well, anyways, hope you like this (soon to be) twoshot ^_^ I thought I should give you guys something different for once, and I haven't used Sandy much, so I thought "Why not?" And here's the result :D Ta-Da!
On a completely random note, could you please check out the song "I'm Still Here" by John Rzeznik? The more I listen to it, the more I think 'Whoa, this describes Jack so much it's scary o.O'
Replying :D
Eternal She-Wolf: It was a fast update, wasn't it? Sorta makes up for the lateness of this one x_X And yes, I love that idea! I may steal it later on, 'cause c'mon... Pitch has to get involved at some point, right? ;D
summerbreezeplease: The good ones are always fictional :'(
Guest: I've always been fascinated by his powers and just how far they can stretch; and this curiosity, plus Fanfiction will hopefully equal epicosity! :D
RizReviewer: That's very generous for me, ya know :D
o0 Sara NekoChan 0o: Please don't lead a mob ;-;
Thanks to:
WRATH77
xNereikax
Sirens in the water
Maddie
LadyPsycho16
Aunna
Cocoaflower
Lovepuppy316