Sandy's thoughts

This is set right after the movie ended and they all made for the pole to discuss the events and plan things. Sorry it's kind of short, I just love exploring Sandy's mind, I hope you do too!

He just couldn't figure it out. There was something about the winter spirit that clicked with him and baffled him at the same time. He never reacted in any way the golden man thought he would. Or, really, how anyone would, even for a child he was odd. Not bad, just odd.

He himself, as an example, was generally calm. Though as content as he was to sit back and watch the drama that was this world play out he couldn't help his moments of frustration or anger. He didn't often get that way, but there was little reasoning with him when he did because he would be so angry he couldn't see straight. Jack, however, would always put on this attitude that could range from boredom to annoyance, but never rage. Sure, he got angry but there was always a calm logical empathy behind it. It was amazing to see.

North was in general just loud and boisterous. He had, however, seen him talk to Jack in such a way that he had to wonder about the guardian of wonder. He saw something in the big man's eyes that told of his great need to help him, like the true guardian he was. He watched his old and new friends and he knew North considered the little spirit somewhat of a son. It put a smile on his face, but still raised more questions. Jack seemed to flinch, momentarily tensing in fight or flight mode until he realized he was safe, even with the man being calm.

He understood why the winter spirit was put off by Tooth, but not why he seemed to pretend not to be. He did grow fond of her, but it took time and Sandy respected that. Bunny was a handful, given his vendetta but something had changed in him recently.

They sat together in the living room at the pole, sipping variations of hot chocolate, discussing odds and ends. Sandy hadn't left after the meeting and was watching contentedly as he puzzled Jack out like a rubix cube. So he people-watched, he mentally shrugged, what else could he do?

"So, mate, first believers. Powers feelin' any different?" The bunny asked of him casually. Jack shrugged.

"Should they?" he asked.

"Well, you're a guardian now so your magic should be all wrapped up into your believers." He explained. Sandy watched the young spirit's brow perk up with anticipation. He mentally tallied the responses he could give to; trepidation at not having many believers, sudden understanding and/or quite possible confusion. What he was met with instead was a chuckle and smirk.

"But I'm also the Spirit of Winter." He countered and Bunny's brows picked themselves up.

"Wait, what?"

"I'm the spirit of winter, no biggie it's just hard to kill a season." He said absently and almost teasingly. Sandy inwardly chuckled. Well that explains a whole lot, like how darn powerful the kid is. He mused.

"You're THE spirit of winter? Wait are there more?" He asked in surprise. Sandy split a huge smile. He should get out more.

"You know you really must not get out much," Sandy mentally nodded, great minds..."There are tons of us." He admitted.

"Sandy, did you know?" Bunny asked of him suddenly which caught him off guard. Sandy grinned and nodded. What? It's not like I ever start a conversation and you never asked. He commented to himself. Sometimes he really wished he had a voice but he pushed that thought back to where all the other unpleasant things he preferred to leave behind him went. It shouldn't matter and he honestly only minded when people *guardians* didn't pay enough attention to the world around them.

"Well I would say so, he's seen plenty of us, right Sandy?" Jack grinned over at him where he nodded again.

I wish I had been able to do more for you, Jack. I really, really do. Maybe if you slept more than once every two weeks... He mused, finishing on a playful note. Hopefully Jack would be more of a partner in crime to him than just another colleague he never saw. They were all so close, but somehow they had drifted, burying themselves in their work but he knew at their hearts they were still family. Maybe Jack is exactly what we need.

"Why'd- oh never mind." Bunny gave up on that train of thought and took a sip of his cocoa. Earlier they had discussed somewhat of a celebration of Jack's Guardianship with North taking the figurative reigns and everyone else basically staying out of the way. They had decided it would be tomorrow and Jack had seemed a tad nervous but with this break in the conversation Sandy caught his gaze wandering to the open window. He had this look in his eyes like he wanted out and Sandy couldn't say he blamed the boy. He hadn't been around a whole lot of people and he was the embodiment of winter so that had to have been rough. He guessed that a whole party because of and for him was probably not on the top ten list of things he wanted to do with his next day or two.

As if sensing his train of thought Jack smiled over at him with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.

"Have you ever been skating?" He asked. Sandy could just see the gears in his admittedly genius mind whirring away. It was an excuse to get out of there and back into the world. He had to wonder if sharing his world with them was his way of showing affection. Sandy was all too eager to play along, wanting to evade the frantic party-planning frenzy North was sure to be in.

He shook his head no but grinned eagerly.

"Wanna try?" Jack asked. Sandy nodded eagerly as he floated into a standing position. Bunny looked wary.

"What are you lookin' at?" He looked back at the two who were indeed giving him the same mischievous look. I think we're going to get along wonderfully. Sandy said to himself for the hundredth time since meeting him while the two chuckled.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Jack urged. Bunny rolled his eyes but a faint half-amused smile betrayed him.

It was an hour later when the laughing duo dropped a panting, freezing, grumpy Bunnymund back onto a couch at the pole. They wrapped him up and a Yeti graciously provided him a mug of cocoa.

"Ice skating, they said. It'll be fun they said." Bunny grumbled under his breath as he knocked bits of ice out of his fur. Sandy couldn't help noticing the lightness in the complaint and the sideways smirk fighting to bust out on his face.

Yep, Jack Frost is definitely just what we needed.

Thanks for reading!