Jack looked at Jamie with eyes full of sadness; he wanted his voice back but he knew it wasn't coming back anytime soon. Jamie smiles a little handing Jack a glass of water when he had to get the sponge damp again, allowing him the drink while he wet the sponge and then wrang out most of the water from it before returning to take the glass and set it aside before going back to washing.
"Maybe this is why you were so objecting... little sensitive eh?" Jack squirmed and that dry laughing sounded more like a 'hah' at first. Jamie smiles a little before shifting to work on washing Jack's back next. Jack actually made what sounded like a squeal next and inched away from the sponge.
"Hey now, stay still." Jamie said, just as gentle as before as he washed his back and shoulders. Jack slowly calmed down and fell asleep during the wash, but he'd just woke up... how could Jack be this tired? A yeti knocks at the door and tells Jamie that Jack can't sleep at all for a while until they know it's safe for him to go back to sleep. Jamie sighed at that and gently prodded at Jack to keep him awake before shooing away the yeti; he made sure to lock the door before he tugged at Jack's pants to finish washing him. Jack whined and tried to fall asleep a couple more times because he knew he couldn't stay awake forever. Jamie gently prodded him each time, telling Jack that he could sleep later. He wrote: Why?
On his board and gave him sad eyes; Jack wanted sleep for once.
"The yetis want to monitor you for a little while. Just to make sure things are okay, then they'll let you sleep." Jamie replies to the question as he finishes washing Jack's feet and then helps him back into his clothes again and unlocks the door. Jack shook his head and closed his eyes; he didn't want to stay awake. Baby Tooth zipped into the room as soon as Jamie opened the door to see what the "tapping" noise was about. She flew over to Jack, chirping that she's there to watch him for a while as she prodded him to keep him awake. Jack whined, his voice returning bit by bit.
"N..o.." He said tiredly as he turned on his side away from the prodding fingers. Baby Tooth huffed a little and prodded Jack again to keep him awake. Prodding him in various different places... a finger, an ear... cheek... nose... whatever it took to keep him awake for a while. Jack whined and fought and fought, finally having rolled over on top of the poor fairy he snored loudly, having won that battle. Baby Tooth let out a shrill cry and Jamie had to rescue her from being trapped beneath Jack. Jack snored as he was rolled off the poor fairy, which was more flat like a pancake than anything at the moment. Baby Tooth chirped unhappily, but thanked Jamie for his help as she fluffed herself back up and headed out of the room to give her report. Jack smiled sleepily and tiredly...happily. Happy he was sleeping, the yetis knock and when they see him asleep, flip out and dart towards him, splashing him with water.
"EEE!" Jack's voice was back, sort of, but it was squeaky and loud.
"W..why?" He asked, shaking like a leaf, both cold and warm. The yetis warble until Tooth darts in and shoos them out, glancing over at Jack with an apologetic look before leaving. Jack grunted, sitting up and giving up sleeping for now; the yetis said if they hadn't woken him then he could have fallen into a coma he might never would have woke up from.
Tooth berates the yetis for their actions, explaining that while it was possible, at this point it wasn't likely as Jack'd already slept about a full month and being mostly healed that wasn't a likely issue as it had been a concern when Jack had been still gravely injured. The yetis warble and return to their work, Jack shook his hair to shake out the water; he turned to Jamie and Tooth, confused. Jamie just shrugged a little, not sure of the full details of the situation now. Jack sighed and was annoyed now that he was forced to be awake; he groaned.
"Man am I hungry." His voice was squeaky from disuse... at least his voice was back.
"Still plenty left..." Jamie motioned to the food that is still in the room from the earlier carts the yetis had brought in. Jack smiled and took a helping of chicken, potatoes, and steamed vegetables. Jamie nibbled on some of it, but more to keep Jack company than actually being hungry. Jack ate, his voice returning, but he'd rather not talk at all for the moment as he just really wanted to sleep. Jamie kept a close eye on Jack, but it seemed that things were fine... despite being tired from things, it seemed that things were just fine. Jamie still kept a close eye on Jack though... just in case. Jack winced a little as some pain kicked in right around schedule, and that pain was partly inside but more or less like a needle prick and that was it. As scheduled, Jamie gave Jack a painkiller that seemed to work temporarily to ease the pain after an hour's wait. Jack groaned, having not slept in so long he whined and eventually he didn't care; he just wanted sleep. Jamie saw to it, once it was time to sleep, that no one disturbed Jack; Jamie snuggled close to him. Jack awoke hours later, less tired but hungry as a horse.
"Mmm... Jamie."
"Hmmm?" Jamie hadn't slept, instead he'd been entertaining himself by creating tiny snow figures.
"I'm starved, how about you?" He asked, rubbing his eyes and yawning; his voice now back completely, but he spoke less since the accident. He only thought of what those two fire spirits said and what Jamie did, he'd never known Jamie could get so violent.
"I guess I am a little hungry. I'll talk to the yetis about bringing us something." Jamie smiled, there wasn't a hint of his temper... in fact, when he thought it over he considered he might have overdone it for just an insult... but when one of them had stabbed Jack... that had been the breaking point for him. He had told Jack before that he had a temper, but that was the first time he'd never not had control of it around Jack. He was concerned really and he knew they'd need to talk about it eventually... but first he'd get something for Jack to eat. He was back soon with a cart full of various food. Jack gasped.
"Wow." He smiled and shared some cheesecake with Jamie first.
"We never say anything about this sweet to Tooth, ever." Jamie smiled and happily ate the sweet.
"She won't hear it from me." Jack smiled and ate some pork chops, even though he didn't love meat didn't mean he didn't like the taste of it. Jamie decided that he would wait until they were done eating before he brought up what had happened. Jack sighed but continued to eat his fill. Jamie cleaned everything up once Jack was done, still a bit reluctant to bring it up but he knew he would have to eventually, so once everything had been cleared away he spoke, his voice soft.
"Jack... we should talk. About what happened."
Jack winced, he didn't want to talk about it; he didn't want to tell Jamie he was scared of him from it... He didn't want to tell him that he'd looked ready to kill those spirits without care, he didn't wanna tell him a thing so Jack did the best he could do... he stayed silent. Jamie winced a little at what he felt over the bond, but he knew they needed to talk.
"I did tell you once I had a temper... I'm sorry it got out of control like that. I never meant it to... but... you mean everything to me... I just couldn't let them get away with hurting you... the insult was bad enough." Jack winced, remembering the insult; tears fell instantly.
"Jamie." His voice was soft tiny hard to hear but Jack knew he heard him; he clenched his fists.
"DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN! I CAN TAKE THE PAIN OBVIOUSLY, JAMIE I KNOW YOU MEANT WELL BUT JUST LET THEM BULLY ME!" Jamie winced.
"You shouldn't have to though. No one should have the right to hurt you... words are one thing I guess... but that spirit went too far... you didn't do anything to deserve being attacked like that."
"Jamie just drop it, ok? Let it go; we shall never speak of it again." He said, voice tight and pained, teeth clenched with unbridled anger. Jamie sighed inwardly, but said nothing more on the matter; something told him though that this wasn't over because if something like this happened again... he was pretty sure he'd end up beating the snot out of the next spirit who attacked Jack unprovoked. Jamie wasn't sure what he felt most at that moment, ashamed that he'd lost his temper, frustrated that Jack allowed such things or that any spirit even dared... He knew he'd need to talk to the other Guardians about this since obviously Jack didn't want to. He hated feeling like he'd done something wrong when it didn't feel like he had... He'd been defending Jack... how could that ever be wrong? Jamie resolved that he'd talk with each of them later on that night, after Jack was asleep... he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to sleep himself until he'd talked to at least one of them... It was later in the evening that Jack felt a tugging sensation, that sensation to talk more but he buried it down deep. He didn't want to talk anymore about it; he was afraid. Jamie had actually scared him that time. Jamie spent the rest of the day keeping Jack company and practicing his frost figures. It was only once Jack was asleep, and he was certain that Jack was, did Jamie seek out Sandy to talk again. Sandy floated along his sand clouds looking at Jamie with worry and made a sandy couch for Jamie to sit on like a sitting room on a floating golden cloud.
"You seem worried tonight. Something up?" Jamie asked as he settled next to the little Guardian. The Sandman explained of new types of Nightmares coming around; living ones, of course, strayed. They'd been hunting in packs again. Jack groaned, his sleep disrupted by said creature... a new one that absorbs feelings and anger, it fed off of anger, which was why it was going to do something Jamie would hope it didn't... Turning Jack against him.
"That is worrying indeed... What do you think is causing them? It can't be Pitch already... can it? I mean... his Nightmares weren't like these..." Jamie felt concern flicker through him. Sandy shook his head: No, there is a new dark spirit coming from the woodwork.
He explained, making a sand creature of darkness appear from wood.
Jack whined, a shaking mess.
"Please no... I... leave him alone!" Jack cried out, his voice growing angrier as the dark Nightmare fed off of his anger.
"That's troubling... anything I can do to help?" Jamie had forgotten the reason he'd come to see Sandy now. Sandy sighed: Well one would be to check on Jack's sleep often, since these creatures are prone attraction to him and two just see what you find around town, anything dark freeze it and bring it back to me so I know more about them.
Jack whined then all hell broke loose, all the lies Jamie had told him to keep him safe came through and now the one he hated most was when he'd attacked those spirits without a care. That angered Jack the most, the dark spirit used that against him and eventually he was so angry he could kill someone... it was then that the dark Nightmare had its fill and left with new information to its master.
"I wonder why that is... Any ideas?" Sandy thinks for a moment: Corral any Nightmares and try to get information out of this.
He handed Jamie a special type of sand that translated what Nightmares spoke to English and retained information given... Sandy signed: Now hurry back, I fear that darkness is coming in fast.
Jamie nodded, holding the sand close. He hoped he wouldn't have to use it, but he had asked to help... He flew back to Jack, thinking on what Sandy had told him. Jack woke screaming as soon as it left, but all his mind was telling him was to be angry with Jamie... It was his mind, what his mind knew best so he stuck with it's saying, but it wasn't his words; it was the Nightmare's sand left over. Jack growled, smashing a window; the window Jamie was about to come into. Jamie froze as the window shattered before him, he stared in shock.
"J... Jack?" Jack was just so angry, Jamie could sense it off him in hot waves. It pulsed energy, a mini storm came howling into the room, wrecking everything in sight as Jack willed it to. He was pissed, no thanks to that Nightmare. Jamie floated just near the window that had busted... he'd NEVER seen Jack this mad... What was this about? Hearing Jamie's voice only angered him more. His voice... he didn't know why but he wanted to hurt him really bad, but something told Jack not to so he listened to better judgement. The room was trashed, so he just sat on the destroyed, snowed in room's floor.
"What's going on?" Jamie ventured after a while. It took all Jack's will to keep from lashing out.
"Nothing." Jack said, teeth clenched, his fists tightened and he looked ready to clock someone in the face.
"I wouldn't call decimating a room 'nothing'... but if you don't want to talk about it you don't have to I guess..." Just seeing the damage unnerved Jamie. Jack had never been one to purposely hurt anyone... he'd hated the thought of it when Jakoul had overshadowed his life... so why would he have destroyed the room? Jamie swore he'd been sleeping peacefully when he'd left Jack...
"I'm fine Jamie." That's the thing that angered Jack the very most, always with the concern. It was too much concern for his well being; he should worry about his own for once.
That's what the darkness fed Jack at least to think, he made the room lash out at Jamie with ice daggers and a tornado.
"Leave. Go somewhere else for a bit Jamie." Jack said eyes red with anger before he all but shoved him from the room so he didn't hurt him anymore... Jamie winced but quietly left. That hurt... but he remembered he hated being coddled when Jack had done it... So he wasn't going to make that mistake... no matter how much he wanted to. Jack lay back against the bed, calming down and just trying to remember why he'd wanted him out, but couldn't remember anything.
"What's wrong with me?" Jamie decided to talk to North about the room. No doubt the Guardian should know so it wouldn't be a surprise... and apologize for it while he was at it. Jack shook with fear.
"Why did I just snap like that?" Suddenly a voice, unfamiliar, rang in his head.
"Because you're angry of course; I can tell you why if you come visit me. My friends will escort you there." Jack shook his head.
"Who are you?" To anyone else it would look like Jack was talking to nothing but thin air. Jamie rapped on North's office, still holding the sand close that Sandy had given him. After a moment he stowed it away in his pocket.
"I am a friend I won't mislead you or coddle you like Jamie has. I will treat you like a normal person." Jack smiled. I'd love to be treated like a normal person, no need for coddling comfort all the time. He thought.
"Where are your friends and what's your name?" The voice, if it could sounded a little darker.
"Dusk and my friends only come out around night time... bed time I suppose for young children but not you Mr. ... should I say Jack or Mr. Frost?" Jack smiled and laughed.
"Just call me Jack, Mr. Frost makes me sound old." The other laughed normally, but this was the dark being that was sending out the new Nightmares. Jamie told North around the room, but the other Guardian wasn't so much upset over it as he was concerned about the new Nightmares... like Sandy, he and the other Guardians had noticed... Jack smiled.
"So when should we meet?" The voice laughed, a little snicker in his thoughts.
Hook line and sinker my little frostbite... Jack awaited his answer.
"Oh, how about tonight when everyone's asleep or out on duty? You know, my friends will escort you to my domain." Jack smiled.
"Sure that sounds great only one problem." He looked around and whispered.
"Jamie won't give up on me so... um he'll probably be looking for me." The voice, if it were possible, smiled a devilish smile.
"Well let him look. I'm sure he deserves to look after all he did lose control didn't he?" Jack winced.
"H-how did you know about that?" The voice's tone was flat.
"My friends saw everything, only they were hidden." Really? Jack thought and tears started to form.
"Okay I'll meet you then." Jamie sat on the roof of the workshop.
He wasn't so much concerned about what had happened as what COULD happen now. He sighed a little... he worried for Jack, but he began to wonder if it was too much... He couldn't help it. He loved Jack... Jack was everything to him... with a sigh he decided that perhaps it was... How could he expect Jack to really understand anyway since before he'd met Jamie... Jack hadn't had anyone. Then there was that thing with Death... He stared up at the stars above. The first encounter in which he'd beat Death had been a fluke, but he'd just been trying to protect his friend... Had that been too much at the time? He wasn't sure... then there was the whole thing with Jakoul and Gale... Jamie sighed. That had been an experience he didn't want to repeat. Jakoul had driven Jamie to his second death... preying on the doubts and insecurities in his heart, doubts that hadn't fully disappeared even with the hellish experience with Death... Jamie barely even remembered the pain he'd suffered then. It just hadn't mattered then. He'd nearly been broken. Then there was Angel... that one had ended up being their saving grace, but now there was yet another problem... Jamie wondered what he could do. He had worked so hard with North on his temper too in all that time... as he'd told Jack at one point when Jack had been in the infirmary recovering from an injury. What injury Jamie no longer remembered really. He still remembered being attacked by Jack, how that dark force in him had surged and filled his eyes... It wasn't until after Jack had been yanked from the room had Jamie felt any sort of fear over what had happened. Jack had almost killed him... How does something so small go so far? I guess it was the darkness then... but was that all there was to it? Jamie wondered for the umpth time since regaining his memory fully. He'd spent a full year moping over his decision to take his life the second time, but part of that had been because of Jack's constant and unnecessary coddling. Jamie shuddered, just thinking about it; Jack had exhausted himself in the impossible mission of trying to make sure he was happy ALL the time... a fool's errand. Jamie sighed a little, he couldn't help feeling bad about the latest episode... and seeing Jack as angry as he'd been when Jamie had tried to talk to him, to explain... Jack hadn't wanted to discuss it. Jamie pulled his legs up and wrapped his arms around his legs... Why was it that he couldn't seem to keep anything from Jack but that the reverse wasn't true? Jamie lay his head on his arms, tears of pure frustration starting to well up; what was worse... he knew he couldn't talk to Jack about any of this... and that only compounded everything... Why me? He wondered quietly as he buried his head in his arms. Crying from pure frustration. Jack shuttered, it seemed to be about nine o' clock exactly. He searched to make sure none of the Guardians or Jamie were out, but didn't count on walking into Jamie out on his favorite rafter on his way to see Dusk. Jamie didn't seem to notice, he'd ended up curled on the roof; having worried himself into exhaustion. He didn't suffer any nightmares, but his dreams were troubled nonetheless. Jack looked at Jamie with worry, what had he done to him? A voice kept pushing him to Dusk.
Come on don't wanna be late now do you Jack? Don't you think Jamie should be the one in worry this time not you? Jack looked down at Jamie, heard the voice sort of growling with distaste and impatience, which unnerved and concerned him but he picked up Jamie and decided to tuck him in. Kissing him farewell for the night before taking off into the sky. Dusk laughed evilly in his lair.
"You're mine now Jack, my little ransom for power." He looked at his Nightmares, newer versions of Pitch's.
"And you, my little sand beasts, were easy to manipulate to only take anger and pain." The figure walked past many, many, many cages of creatures; both unearthly and earthly: mermaids, nymphs, leprechauns ... species of all types. Even a pooka, the second to last of its kind; he walked to a gigantic tank filled with ice and snow and its own refrigeration, like a freezer.
"Now... now you'll be my little pet forever." Jamie shuddered a little, curling up on the bed; trapped in the darkness of the dreams of his worry and frustration. Neither Jack nor Jamie would notice that a tiny bit of the sand that had been in Jamie's pocket had fallen out and stuck to Jack's hoodie. Jack followed the directions the wind was telling him to go... or was forced to tell; after all Dusk wasn't a collector for nothing, he also had winds in a bottle... north's kids, so north sadly complied with his demand. Even though she loved her winter child most, her wind children were as well important to life. Jack followed until he landed in an alleyway; he called out Dusk's name a little loudly.
"DUSK." He got no answer from the mind link, but who cared at the moment? Well, Jack did... a little, but it wasn't important. Instead of hearing a voice answer back along the link dark sand swirled around Jack and formed into a black rabbit, a soft raspy voice speaking as it looked up at Jack with its glowing eyes.
"This way... Dusk is expecting you..." The creature became nothing but a swirl of sand again and seemed to act as a guide. Jack shuddered, having remembered Pitch, but knew that he was gone so maybe these Nightmares were good now... Jack followed the sand swirl - sometimes rabbit down the hall, it was strange; some parts of the hallway the chandeliers were on the floor and some doors opened only to lead to nowhere or dead ends. Jack looked at all the strange decor, eyeball lights, bug furniture, and talking TVs that looked like they belong in some cartoon... and windows with swirling vortexes to nothing, but some parts of the area were dark and sounded like some elephants or loud creatures yowling, crying, and howling in there. Jack wondered what that was so he went to take a peek only for it to be locked.
"Hey mr. bunny, what's in here?" The rabbit had been given a harsh order not to say a word.
"That's a surprise. One Dusk will reveal in time. Come." It was all the sand rabbit said, reforming into a rabbit only long enough to answer the question before becoming formless sand again to lead Jack further in and to the place that Dusk had commanded. Dusk was an interesting figure, his eyes were the color a dusky brown with white shocked hair that spread out in weird ways; his skin was grey almost like Pitches, but with a green glow around it and he held a sword of some type... a katana. He had a hat and overalls sort of like the Madhatter "Welcome Jack to my humble abode." Jack looked at him in awe, this room was entirely made of gold and peacocks on chains danced about. Jack looked at the animals, gulping.
"Come, come; sit, sit." He patted a spot next to him, a throne made of ice; Jack looked at it strangely, it looked like it was made for him and it weirded him out. Jack ignored it as Dusk gave strict orders to barricade the doors for now and watch out for any Guardians or Jamie.
"If he ever comes looking for him, lead him on a wild goose chase." Jack gulped as Dusk gazed at Jack like he was a wonderful, most fascinating creature that he had ever seen.
"So Jack, tell me about yourself." Jack looked at him, slightly unsure.
"I... um..." The sand that had lead Jack to Dusk swirls, as if giving a nod, and does as it is told. Jack didn't know what to say exactly to Dusk. His anger dissipated as soon as he was near him
"Well, I... um make snow. I mean come on, if you spoke to me through your Nightmares or such couldn't you know of my status?" Dusk laughed.
"Oh you are delightful Jack, here have a cookie." A Nightmare with a hog's face carried a tray of strange looking green cookies; they were glowing as well. Jack wasn't sure if he should eat them as Jamie said never to eat food you don't trust, but Dusk looked so happy... at least one bite wouldn't hurt. Jack took one of the cookies as did Dusk, only his was not laced with anything, Jack's was. He took one bite and fainted.
"YES!" He laughed evilly.
"Carry him to his new home." The Nightmares did exactly as asked. Jack groggily fought to stay awake, but couldn't now as he was placed in a prison of his own ice; built with power restrainers so he could only make a snowball and snowflakes, less ice, but not enough to cause any real damage. Jamie eventually wakes up, Sandy was nearby when he did; his troubled dreams had caught the attention of the little Guardian.
"Ah... geez... Um. Sandy... what are you doing here?" He said, glancing around the room. When did I even get in bed? He wondered, he had a headache and his heart still hurt too. The little piece of sand that stuck to Jack was like a beacon as well, which was why the sand from Jamie's pocket swirled around his head really fast to form words: Jack captured by man named Dusk.
It alerted them but had to stay low so it remained dormant on Jack, like sandy dirt and the alert at the pole glowed to follow... "I see." It was all Jamie said and without another word he flew from the pole. He didn't speak as he searched around to see if he couldn't find the right place. He would find it, but it would take hours to do so...
Jack groaned groggily and tiredly only to see the room of glass, he was in or it seemed so since it made walls on the inside and not the glass that saw in.
"Where the hell am I?" Jack looked around and tried to find a way out.
"DUSK!" He yelled the man he called came, following next to him was a Nightmare or two "Yes?" He said with a smug smile.
"WHERE THE HELL AM I AND WHY CAN'T I FIND THE DOOR?!" He yelled angrily then the other laughed like a hyena on drugs.
"Door! Door he says! There is no door Jack 'cause you're in my little ice cage and you'll be my little trinket treasure to look at forever. Haven't you figured it out by now Jack? I know everything about you, I was in your dreams. I was what made you lash out. I feed on anger and you are the perfect food source... unlike these lifeforms of my collection who only have primal rage. No, yours is highly pure." Jack yelled, wanting to smash the glass but only made a snowflake.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Jack looked in shock and tried to create an ice spear but only got a snowball.
"No..." The other laughed outrageously loud.
"HAHA! YOU DIDN'T THINK I WOULDN'T OUTFIT THAT WITH NULLIFYING ABILITIES DID YOU!?" Jack fell back in shock, scared and worried.
"Oh Jamie... where are you? Please help me."
Once Jamie found the entrance he headed back to the pole to tell the Guardians.
"You coming mate?" Bunny asked as they readied for the rescue, but Jamie shook his head.
"Better not. I'm not a Guardian and I am in enough trouble as it is with him over what happened with those fire spirits. " Bunny frowned.
"They were wrong ta do that... but I won't force ya. Though we could use the help. " Jamie just shook his head and went off to see if one of the yetis wouldn't mind some help. It was hard but he knew this was likely the right thing to do... the best thing. He couldn't let his temper control him. Which meant sitting out and waiting...
Jack beat against the glass for hours, the other smiled.
"Oh you are just so fun Jack." He sucked Jack dry of any anger he had, taking energy as well. Jack whined and now lay back, just hoping Jamie and the Guardians would find him. Dusk gave orders to protect this room and to watch out for any of the Guardians or Jamie and to make more of itself for his army. The sand didn't have time to reply because the Guardians arrived just as Dusk finished speaking.
"Release Jack or else." It was North who'd spoken and each of them looked ready for a fight. He laughed.
"Oh, hold on a moment." Before they could blink they were trapped in their own cages, the anger sucked right out of them and power: Jack was weak from fighting him for so long.
"Sorry but looks like you're all a permanent piece to my collection and Jack is going nowhere." The cages were sunk into a room, no windows, nothing; just black empty space. Dusk tapped the glass Jack was in.
"It looks like dinner time for my pets." Jack growled.
"You put a single hand on Jamie I will murder you." Jack whined as all that rage left him weaker than before.
"Ah ah, anger only strengthens me and weakens you my little pet and I wouldn't dream of touching your mate. Anyway he belongs in the same cage, wouldn't want him to melt." As the same instantly the effects on the Guardians' powers nullified them, but Bunny could still escape.
