Disclaimer: obviously I do not own anything to do with Rise of the Guardians, or the books that inspired the movie.

Author's Note: A second chapter today to make up for my absence and the last one being so short. Though with 3 long papers due soon, it might be a while before the next one.

Cupid's Strike

Chapter Fourteen - Snowstorms

Pitch stood at the edge of the old German town, watching with certain level of delight as everything became slick with ice that cut power, froze water mains, and threatened the comfortable lives of the human residents. Jack, he knew, would not do too much damage, but the Nightmare King would enjoy the many nightmares that would come from the frigid attack. Yet despite how thrilled he might have been about what Jack was doing, Pitch was not at all happy about why he was attacking the town.

The idiot Guardians were being difficult about his and Jack's still budding relationship again. Again! Thankfully, not to the same degree as when the rabbit had kidnapped Jack, but they were still not above getting in the way. This time, North, who had originally been fairly neutral about everything, had shown up during one of their dates and not left. No matter how much they insisted. No matter how they'd tried to run, North followed. Not until Jack had gone with him to see some new toy he'd imagined and made, leaving Pitch with only a promise of meeting again later.

A promise kept. But with Jack returning very upset.

They had apparently tried to hook him up with some sugar nymph, tall and well built and looking very much like Pitch himself. He just had the advantage, in their mind, of just not actually being Pitch himself. It had all been very uncomfortable, Jack said, because they had not explained to the poor spirit that Jack was already technically taken. So after he'd made some grand gesture of asking Jack out, only minutes into meeting him, Jack had been forced to be the one to explain that he was in a relationship and that he - the poor nymph - was nothing more than a tool for the Guardians. The sugar numph hadn't taken it well apparently.

Then once that was sorted out, the argument between Jack and the other Guardians had started yet again and ended in exactly the same place. The Guardians concerned for his safety and sanity, and Jack morosely wondering why his friends could not let him live his life and love who he loved.

North turning to Toothiana and Bunnymund's side of the argument instead of remaining unconcerned like he had started, left Jack particularly disheartened, Pitch knew. And that he had been the one to lure Jack into this trap, hurt even more. The Guardian of wonder was to Jack a father figure.

Hense why Jack was taking out his rage and depression on the hapless town. While Pitch patiently watched and waited, out of the way but still in sight for Jack.

Even Pitch could sympathize with not having a father's approval and what that could do to a heart. And to not have the support of friends. And to be forced to question the validity of the relationship he was in by everyone around.

Lately Pitch had begun to have his own doubts about their relationship. Or rather, doubts about his love for Jack. Jack he did not doubt. Jack was fighting the only family he had known since being made into an immortal spirit. Jack was opening his legs to him without fear of being hurt. And opening his heart. Yet Pitch had no one on his side objecting to the match, no one to fight. He had nothing more than cold to fear from Jack, for his body or for his heart. And worse, Pitch had needed to be hit by Cupid's arrow to pursue Jack despite the lack of any real risk to himself.

Pitch had once asked Jack if he was worried about it. If he resented that Pitch was essentially not making any sacrifices equal to his own for their love. Jack had only smile wistfully and told him simply that he did not. Which, of course, made Pitch worry all the more.

Pitch was no fool, he knew how Cupid's arrows worked. He knew that the love he had for Jack was not created, just heightened. That it was real. But he also knew that an unequal love only meant trouble for the future. If one partner loved the other more, or at least proved their love more, than they would eventually feel cheated. And Pitch didn't want Jack to feel cheated. That might mean the frost spirit would leave. And Pitch would give anything for Jack not to leave.

Anything! If only Jack knew that.

So Pitch had to come up with a way to prove his love, to Jack and to himself.

Romance, like the kind they saw humans sharing with flowers and chocolates and epic miscommunications, was out. Flowers died when Jack touched them. Neither of them ate. And he being able to read fear and Jack have a talent for hearing what was not said in a conversation, meant that miscommunication took so much effort that it wasn't worth it to either of them. Besides, neither of them felt particularly comfortable with the doating affection that was associated with that kind of romance.

Starting a war with the Guardians again was out. Even if Pitch had the energy to do so, Jack would not be impressed by it, and would probably fight against him despite how angry he was with them.

A contest, like the ancient battles that immortals fought against other spirits trying to catch the eye of their beloveds, had two problems. Firstly, Jack had no other pursuers. Second, Jack was so young, that he likely would not know how to deal with that kind of behavior.

A test would very likely confuse Jack also. After all, there were certain ceremonial expectations of the spirit any test was made to impress. And as happy as Pitch would be to simply accept a thank you for his efforts, the rules of the spirit world worked against that. And he didn't want to make any more trouble for Jack, that would defeat the point of the exercise.

Pitch needed help it was clear. But that created a whole other kind of problem in itself. Who would help him to woo and prove his love to Jack? There were not a whole lot of spirits who either liked him enough to listen and advise, or who approved of the romance. Even beyond the Guardian Spirits. The Leshy, the only spirit Pitch might describe as a friend - though that was stretching it, only knew of Jack and had even less of a romantic incline than Pitch himself. Bean Sidhe was fond enough of Pitch to advise him, and knew Jack a little and liked him, but to her romance involved a dramatic death. Only Cupid was left on the list that Pitch knew Jack knew and approved of their relationship. Yet despite his involvement already in their relationship or perhaps because of his involvement, Pitch hesitated.

There was still one other Pitch could think of who might have answers for him. Sanderson. Sandy still approved of his and Jack's romance despite what the other Guardians said or did. And Pitch was sure that Jack had already gone to him for advice. But the very idea of approaching his long time enemy made Pitch hesitate even more than he did at the thought of asking Cupid. Just a few years ago it would have been suicidal for him to go to Sanderson for any reason. Of course he could not die, but the little golden spirit had an icy temper that would impress Jack if he ever saw it to its greatest extent and left Pitch wishing for death to end his physical pain. Yet Sandy was still Pitch's best option.

So go to Sandy for advice on how to make Jack feel cherished, Pitch would. After he kissed the hurt away from Jack's eyes when he was calm enough to approach. Which would likely be once Jack heard the sad voices of children realizing that their snow day would have to be spent inside due to the still plummeting temperatures.

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