To Work We Go

It felt strange, walking into the Globe Room without being halted by those annoying yeti and seeing Pitch in his usual seat. The shade was wearing his armor still. Jack's feet unconsciously took him towards him, but Pitch looked up suddenly and, oh, look, Pyotr was waving, so Jack headed that way instead.

"Toothiana told me what happened yesterday," Pyotr said softly as Jack sat next to him. "I would ask if you patched things up, but the fact that you're over here tells me otherwise."

Jack put his elbow on the table and rested his head on his hand, turning so Pitch couldn't see his mouth. "How good do you think his hearing is?"

"Not as proficient as Bunnymund's."

"Is he looking this way?"

"More like glaring. Wait, he's talking to Fuinor now."

"Good," Jack growled softly. "No, things did not get patched up. We started…talking, and it was going well, but then it all went to crap."

"Why?"

Yes, why, Jack? Well, let's see. Everything exploded in your face a while ago when you finally realized that you started loving that bastard, and now it's just gone downhill from there, yeah? Oh, Jack wished he could tell someone about this, but what was he supposed to say? "I've been getting down and dirty with the Boogeyman and may have started loving him"? He could just imagine how well that would go over.

Jack saw that the others were taking their seats and stood, not answering Pyotr's question. "Can I speak first today?"

"The frost spirit thinks he can actually contribute," Fuinor snorted, crossing his arms.

"Let the lad talk," Admon chided gently. "We come to this table as equals."

"He's a child and knows nothing of the art of war, or strategy. He has been absent for almost all of the key meetings. The details are lost to him."

Jack couldn't muster up a snappy comment. "I have some information that might help. I just want to get this over with."

"Of course," Fuinor mocked. "War doesn't suit your taste, frost spirit."

"I have a name," Jack finally snapped. He caught himself and shook his head. Maro's words were getting to him. "I'd like you to use it."

Fuinor actually rolled his eyes, and Sandy sighed and patted North's arm. North nodded and said, "Continue, Jack."

"Right. Um, two days ago, I actually met the head tengu who struck the bargain with Faust."

"You what?"

"What were you doing with him, Jack?"

"Now you tell us? What's with all the ruddy secrets?"

Jack shrank in his seat at all the accusatory tones. He had come into this meeting with the intent to act like one of them, but now they made it sound like his chance encounter had been a secret rendezvous with a dastardly villain. Shit, his throat was closing up. He jumped up from his seat and flew out through the open skylight. Honestly, what was wrong with them? What was wrong with him?

He sat on the roof and curled his legs up to his chest, locking them there with his staff. "All of this could have been avoided," he murmured into the comforting bite of the wind. "If you had just…stopped after that first kiss." It was probably true, but he also knew that he couldn't have stopped after that first kiss.

"You're overthinking this," a low voice murmured, peppered with a light Russian accent.

Jack felt his heart leap into his throat, and he scooted several feet away. "What're you—"

"You don't seem so willing to tell me what is wrong between you and Pitch," Pyotr said, shrugging. "It's okay, you don't have to. I think I can guess." Fear crept into Jack's gaze, but the true frost spirit shook his white head reassuringly. "I am not one to judge. As I have never involved myself in what you Guardians do, I hold no opinions of Pitch Black or you. I know he is a bearer of dark things, but I have met many a being like him, though not as powerful as he."

"That's great and all, but that still doesn't help me. They just keep judging me. I'm coming in, trying to be like they want me to be. I'm trying to take this seriously, I open my mouth, and you hear what they have to say in return? It's like all they can do is look down on me and think I'm going to screw everything up. I…I can't even defend myself, you know. I don't know why, but whenever they start to do that, my head shuts down and I can't, I just can't..."

Pyotr regarded him kindly for a minute before looking down at his frost-tinged boots. "They aren't judging you. They are only frightened because you are young. They don't want to steer you wrong, so they feel that they must ensure that you are on the right path. If you have encounters with beings who oppose what you stand for, of course they will worry and seem a little harsh."

"Three-hundred plus is not young."

"In the world of spirits, it certainly is. You're a…how do the Georgians say it? A spring chicken to us."

Jack chuckled and scooted closer. "I guess you're right."

"I am. So smile, Jack Frost. They're just doing what a family does."

"Well, I wouldn't know what a family is like. Not lately."

Pyotr wrapped a comfortingly cold arm around him and rubbed his shoulder in a familiar way. "You must come with me when this is over. I will introduce you to my family. Then you will see. But for now, the one you have is wonderful, in my opinion."

"Thank you," Jack said softly. The spirit's touch didn't produce the same piercing affect as Pitch's did, but it was nice in this moment.

Pyotr nodded regally, reminding Jack that this man was an envoy to a king. "One final piece of advice, my friend. These meetings do require a matter of seriousness, because that is the business. But each of us brings our personality to the table. I have been told you are called the Guardian of Fun. Stick to that, hm?"

Jack grinned and allowed himself to be led back inside. He winced internally when he saw Pitch's murderous scowl – you don't love me so don't you dare make that face – but quickly shook it off when Tooth rushed at him, pressing her hands to his cheeks.

"Jack, please," she said lowly, violet eyes burning with fierce worry. "I don't know what's going on, but we're here."

Jack pulled his best charmer grin and flew out of her grasp, landing on the table. "No prob. Are you guys willing to listen to me now?" His words were mostly directed towards the Guardians.

"We always listen to ya," Bunny insisted.

Jack pointed his staff at him. "You say that, but you're not actually hearing what I'm saying. I'll make you a deal. You let me get through my shpiel without interrupting me."

Bunny's ears lifted curiously. "And what's our side of the bargain?"

"There is no side for you." Jack stopped smiling for a minute, irritation flaring out of the blue. "So shut up and listen." It felt really good to say those words, and the hurt reaction on Bunny's face was even better. The bewildered looks from the others were great. Jack felt a little sick deriving pleasure in that, but his attitude was fluctuating and he was struggling to put a cap on it.

"Allow me to remove this impudent whelp from the table," Fuinor growled, rising and placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Jack," Pyotr murmured, "this is not what I meant!"

"You led him to this behavior?" Pitch asked sharply, rising from his seat. He snapped at Fuinor, "Put your sword away, you idiot. You're not going to cut him down."

Fuinor already had a boot on the table. "Watch me."

"How about we all calm down?" Jack sang, twirling his staff and shoving one hand in his hoodie pocket. He felt the snow form in his palm and laughed to himself.

"Come here, boy," Fuinor commanded.

"You're kinda scary. I think you need to—" Jack whipped the snowball at Fuinor's face, "—chill out!"

It hit its mark dead on. The room fell silent. North, without a doubt the largest spirit in the room, still looked like he actually wanted to leave. Sandy threw up one symbol: a skull. Jack watched as Fuinor slowly wiped the snow from his face, eyes closed. Then, something miraculous happened.

The corners of Fuinor's mouth turned up.

Frost, one. Purple-grey dark elf lord? Zero.

"…I can easily rid myself of this magic."

"Go for it."

"Why did you do it?"

"Pyotr told me to be myself. You're right,I can't do serious, so I'm going to make this meeting suit my needs." In a more respectful manner, Jack bowed slightly and inquired, "Your Majesty, may I have the floor – or the table?"

Fuinor's grey eyes were brighter than Jack had ever seen them since they had first met. "Very well." He sat, the small smile not leaving his face. Jack counted that as another win.

"Thank you. Now, as I said, I got the chance to meet the tengu's leader in this whole ordeal. Granted, he did try to kill me – ah! I said let me finish without interruptions. He tried, but he obviously failed. However, he was gracious enough to answer some of my questions. He confessed to striking a bargain with Faust. He told me why he struck a bargain with Faust. And there was some other stuff said, but the important thing is that I think he likes me."

Tooth frowned. "And by that, you mean…?"

"We have similar problems is all," Jack clarified. "Now, I know we can't use him telling me the truth as proof enough to go after the tengu. But we can use him."

"The lad wants him on our side?" Admon asked no one in particular.

"Yes, and I know I can convince him. If I can get one more meeting with him alone, I'm sure of it."

"But how can we do this?" North asked.

"Just track him down, easy."

"Getting him to meet with you is an entirely different story," Pyotr protested.

"We've got time."

"No, we don't," Pitch said quietly. Heads swiveled. "Faust came to call on the day I missed the meeting."

"You mean the day you poured darkness into my Workshop to accuse Jack?" North asked.

"Just when were you going to tell us?" Tooth said shrilly.

Pitch scowled. "Let bygones be bygones. Faust said he's done waiting. He says he wants to strike a deal with me. He'll leave you all alone if we can reach an agreement."

"Guess we'd better start gearin' up for battle," Bunny said.

"No. I'm considering his offer."

Jack felt his heart quiver. "You can't be serious. What the hell have we been doing all this for then?"

"Jack," Tooth said, staring at Pitch with blatant amazement. "He's doing this for us."

"Don't flatter yourself," Pitch disagreed. "This had been drawn on for too long. I'm tired of it. He's set up a meeting place and a time."

Sandy's golden countenance flared brightly, and the symbols above his head flashed rapidly. They all watched, and Jack knew he didn't understand any of it, but when the Sandman was done, Pitch looked oddly grateful. "As…generous as that is, I must take his offer seriously. For my sake, not for yours."

"If that's the case, we can't let you go," Bunny growled. "We're not letting you give him more power. Faust can't be trusted, and neither can you."

Pitch spread his hands. "He has demanded to meet me within the week. What would you have me do?"

"Uh, not go?" Jack suggested, trying to catch Pitch's eye. No dice.

"I make no promises."

There was a collective groan from the room. Jack sat down in the middle of the table and sent trails of ice to each contributor, gaining their attention once more. "Can I round off my thoughts?" When he had quiet, he said, "The only reason Faust is able to get away with this crap is because he has the muscle to back him up. Forget the other spirits that he sided with; they're small fry. His biggest supporters are the tengu. We break the bond between them, and we have him."

"What do you propose we do?" Fuinor asked, surprisingly polite. He had stopped smiling, but his aura seemed much lighter.

"Well, I'm no master tactician, you were right about that. But you guys are. And each of you can do something to rip the tengu and Faust apart. Pitch?" The shade raised his eyebrows. "I don't know what to say, but I know you have a plan. You can help. Just tell us what to do."

Slowly, very slowly, Pitch rose. Jack thought, in all his regal armor, he looked like a majestic war hero, a general, a king. "I can try. If we want to throw Faust off, we have to start with his underlings. He hasn't been very busy because his minions haven't faced great opposition yet. Admon, send your forces into battle. Give them something to worry about. However, make the damage minor, and take as many prisoners as possible. Death is the only thing that would set the tengu king on us. Fuinor, are your men still tracking Faust?"

"We have a general location. He's moved down south to America. We cannot get close to him though. He's created a boundary with the tengu. They're watching us too. When we try to press in, they fight back. My soldiers have escaped the skirmishes unharmed, but I cannot guarantee their safety if we move in."

"I need a specific location. Kill the spirits who are guarding him, tengu or not. Their king won't miss a few. If he did not stir when we took their lives as they invaded the Workshop, he will not stir now."

Jack frowned. Dial it back a few notches.

"Pyotr, go with Fuinor. Your presence is merely a courtesy, and I understand that the General would rather not involve his men in our affairs. Once the guards are taken care of, all I want you to do is make Faust's day as unpleasant as possible. If there's one thing I know that man hates, it's the cold."

"I could help him," Jack piped up eagerly. "I know how to make a mean storm."

Pitch ignored him. "Once his guards are gone, he'll most likely be on the move. Toothiana, set your fairies on him to follow. They're less noticeable."

"Where has Faust asked you to meet him?" Tooth asked. Jack sulked quietly and curled his staff to his chest. Even now, Pitch had to be a jerk. All Jack wanted to do was fix things.

"He hasn't told me. He'll send someone for me to escort me there if I accept. Your fairies will report back on his exact location. Sanderson, I have a feeling that the meeting will be near a public place, and in order to ensure that you are not all whining in my ear later for reckless endangerment of your precious children, you will use your sand to clear the area of witnesses when we go to confront him. Plant suggestions in their minds to leave, or let them drop to sleep where they are so they aren't running around like headless chickens when things get ugly."

"What makes you think it'll get ugly?" Jack grumbled, not expecting an answer.

Pitch actually did reply, though he didn't look at him. "I have a feeling. North, Bunnymund, you'll be on the frontal assault with your yetis and stone guards. Fuinor will join you with his troops as well."

"That's a lot of muscle on our end for one man," Bunny said. "Don'tcha think it'll be overkill? His guards will have been taken out by then."

"Unfortunately, I don't believe Fuinor will be able to kill all of his guards. We have already discussed the possibility that Faust is being influenced by another, yes? Someone brilliant. So there will probably be others who will hide in the shadows very close to Faust. And they will be specified to each of you Guardians."

Jack raised a hand, and when no one called on him, he said, "What am I doing?"

At last, Pitch looked at him, but it was a dull look. "You are so insistent that you can convince that stupid tengu to come forward, so that's what you'll be doing. I'll send a Nightmare out to contact him. He'll get the message and come to you if he wants to. While we're busy, and if you succeed in turning him, take him to the tengu king and explain."

Jack frowned, but the others were already standing, their orders clear.

"If this works, Faust should be out of our hair by the end of this week," Pitch said rather pleasantly. "Let's get started right away to ensure that that becomes reality. Admon, walk with ne, and we'll discuss how to deal with the tengu for the moment. Bunnymund, you and I shall talk later on figuring out just how Faust has been stripping spirits of magic. All the reports that have come in are useless, constantly contradicting each other. We'll discuss precautions."

Jack was left sitting, blinking stupidly as they all left, then he slowly climbed to his feet. That…could have gone more in his favor. At least they had a definite plan, but honestly, he had been hoping—

"Jack?"

He turned. "Oh. Bunny. What's up?" He saw the droop of the ears, the wideness of the eyes, and recalled what he had snapped at the Pooka. His heart clenched; Bunny was his friend, and he had gone off on him because he had been annoyed. An apology was definitely in order, as soon as the rabbit finished what he had to say.

Bunny, in all his tall, intimidating glory, actually shuffled his feet. "I…don't expect you to…I didn't mean to say that…I'm sorry, Jack. I really am."

Jack's eyebrows knitted together. "No, I shouldn't have said that. I just…wanted you guys to listen to me."

"Yeah. Yeah, I know."

They stood there awkwardly, and then Jack asked, "So do we kiss and make up?"

Bunny scrunched up his nose. "Substitute the kiss fer a hug, an' you've got yourself a deal."

Jack laughed and burrowed his face in Bunny's fur as his arms came around him. It felt good to reconcile; in truth, he needed to patch up his relationships with all of the Guardians. Ever since this trouble had started with those shifts, he felt that they had drifted apart. Even though the pressing matter of Faust had brought them together physically, Jack felt that they weren't as in tune with each other as they had been when they had dealt with Pitch.

"I'm gonna go home," Jack said at length, withdrawing himself and punching Bunny lightly on the arm. "I guess I'm not useful to Pitch like I thought I could be." And damn it all if he hadn't said too much, because Bunny's ears went up with remembrance and he stopped Jack.

"About that bloke," he said lowly, and Jack tensed because Bunny looked really uncomfortable. "I've been meanin' to talk to you about him."

"What?" Jack asked carefully, because he had a sinking feeling that shit was about to hit the fan in a big way.

Bunny searched for the words, then blurted, "I'm okay with it."

Jack stared. Then he almost smiled, but by the way Bunny was looking at him, and the way he had said that, he was pretty sure they weren't on the same page. "Could you, uh, be a little more specific?" So I don't say anything to fuck myself over?

"I noticed after the shifts became a regular thing," Bunny started, and Jack was sure they were almost on the same page. "You may not realize, but rabbits have fantastic noses."

Jack paled. "Oh, God." Bunny had smelled Pitch on him? "Oh my God!"

"And then you tried to convince us to let him go around an' all that," Bunny was continuing, "and you just seemed to be spending a lot of time with him, and you always took our shifts and never came back complaining that he was treating you like he did us, and I figured it out."

Jack actually had to sit down and bury his face in his hands, because he was horrified, and this was so embarrassing, and—

"Jack," Bunny said seriously, and Jack forced himself to look at him. "I said it's okay, but I have to tell ya, I don't think it's a good idea."

"But I l—"

"He'll never be one of us, and he'll never be your friend, no matter how much you try to win him over."

Oooooh.

Jack shut up immediately. They were no way on the same page. Hell, they weren't even in the same book. In fact, he was pretty sure that their books were in separate libraries in separate galaxies, and good God, Bunny had smelled Pitch on Jack and thought Jack was trying to make friends with the guy?

Jack laughed.

"I don't think it's very funny, mate," Bunny reprimanded. "And trying to befriend him right after we put him down was dangerous. What if he'd hurt you? Or taken advantage of you or something?"

Tears of mirth leaked from Jack's eyes, and he swiped them away quickly. "Oh, Bunny, have I told you how much I love you?"

Bunny was flustered, but looked rather pleased with the declaration. "Th-thanks, then. So you understand what I'm saying?"

Jack waved a hand. "Sort of. Can you just sum it up?"

"I don't like the idea of you being friends with Pitch. He's never going to be on our side. I know you think you can change it, and I'm tempted to believe you. You've got a dynamic personality, Jack."

"Dynamic," Jack repeated with a shit-eating grin. "Nice."

Bunny cuffed him over the head. "Shut up. My point is that you shouldn't keep it up. But I'm okay with it."

Jack slowly flew up until he hovered over Bunny's furry head. "Thank you, Bunny. I'm glad we have your blessing."

Bunny smiled, none the wiser.

Jack couldn't stop laughing as he flew home. It was funny. A little too funny, actually. For a minute there, when Bunny had first said he was okay with it, Jack had hoped that he actually had found out about his tryst with Pitch. Because seriously, if one of the Guardians knew and said it was okay, then there was probably nothing better! If at least one approved, then maybe Jack wasn't wrong in having these feelings for Pitch, and maybe he'd have a legitimate chance in convincing Pitch to consider him as a love interest.

But Bunny didn't know. And Pitch wouldn't consider anything anytime soon. Jack pushed up high and shut his eyes as he flew straight through a long chain of clouds. If he could just drown out the emotional side of this ordeal and focus on the other side, whatever that was. Then maybe he'd get along alright.

His pond was coming up, and his sharp eyes picked out a dark figure walking along the edge of his frozen habitat. Maro. The Nightmares had gotten to him fast, Jack thought in confusion, but as he drew nearer, he realized that there were no Nightmares with the tengu. He had come on his own. Jack set down quietly in a tree lush with green and peered out through the leaves at Maro, who hadn't sensed him yet.

Maybe this was a chance to start their second semi-neutral meeting out with a friendly scare. Jack silently slid down to the grass and crept forward to the edge of the tree line. He floated the rest of the way forward and, after struggling to not to laugh, darted forward and latched his arms around Maro's neck in a friendly way.

"Hey, bud—"

Probably not his best idea.

Next thing he knew, he was on his back, staring up at a clear summer sky, pinned by the neck. He felt the talons dig into his flesh, tearing it, and blood dripped in a minor degree. Maro's eyes were wide with adrenaline, and the venom they poured forth didn't lessen as they locked onto Jack's face with slow recognition. Jack didn't move, didn't breathe, just let the tengu work through his thoughts until he was ready to speak.

"That was unwise."

Jack shrugged, which was a little difficult and uncomfortable with sharp talons digging into his skin and blood dripping down his neck. "S'ry."

Maro rolled his eyes and let him up. Jack ignored the cuts on his neck, knowing they'd heal up eventually. They sat in the grass next to each other, and Jack just beamed brightly at him until he scowled with disgust and asked, "What?"

"Taking me up on my offer?"

"What offer?" Maro sniffed.

Jack faced him and put on his serious face. "I'd like you to come with us. Please, I know you want to, even if it scares you."

"I'm not scared of anything."

"Yeah, okay," Jack scoffed. "Then come with us. Go before your king and tell him the truth so we can end this!"

Maro paled, a color that didn't seem right on a man of his stature, age, and strength. "I lied. That is something I'm scared of."

"Really? You'd be doing the right thing."

"No, you don't understand. All of us who have joined Faust…we're traitors. King Sojobo decreed long ago that we were to cease our interference in human affairs. So many of us were dying, and we were content to live in the forests anyway. But tengu like me grew discontent with how the humans continued to take our land through the years, not even realizing that we existed there."

"I know how that feels."

A new light entered Maro's eyes. "You do, don't you? You Guardians are kept alive through the human children. You do know what it's like to be thought of as nonexistent. Why would you subject yourself to that?"

"This is about you right now," Jack said gently. "Why would you be scared to confess to this king of yours? Dealing with Faust was just a lapse in judgment. Can't it be fixed?"

"If I tell him, he might kill me. And if he doesn't, the others would kill me for betraying them."

"How has King Sojo-jojo not heard about all the shit you guys have been pulling anyway?"

Maro frowned at Jack's gross mispronunciation of the royal name. "King Sojobo has kept to himself in Mt. Fuji for centuries. He expects us to deal with our problems as best we can before coming to him. He expects us to obey on our honor. I have broken that honor, and should he hear of it...should he see any of our faces and know what we have done, he will strike us down where we stand."

"But he's bound to know of it eventually," Jack reminded him softly.

"Yes, but hopefully he will hear when this matter is over with, and he will see the good we have done when we take back our land."

"You'll wage a war on the human world and put every spirit in danger. Even if you have the magic to defend yourselves, others won't. What's to stop them from coming after all of us?"

Maro didn't answer; just sank his head into his hands and groaned. Jack stretched out an arm unconsciously to pull him in comfortingly, then thought it would be a little weird because one, they were enemies, two, he hardly knew the guy, three, he was way younger that Maro, and four, again, it would be weird. Instead, Jack shifted his hand just above that black hair and sprinkled a little good snow over him. The magic struck Maro softly, and he raised his eyes to meet Jack's.

A smile tugged at his lips. "What did you do?"

"Made you feel good, if only for a minute."

"Interesting use of magic."

"I try…what can I do to assure you that it'll be alright if you come with me to the king?"

Maro shook his head mutely.

"What are you afraid of? That once you speak, you'll be left on your own? I won't let that happen. You won't be alone. I'll stand right by you and tell him again. Just come with me."

"…You will be there?"

"Yes," Jack replied emphatically, joy crashing into his heart like a wave. This was going to work! Maro would come, the king would stop the tengu, Pitch wouldn't have to go, and maybe—whoa, hold it!

Maro's hand had slinked to the back of his neck and was pulling him closer. To kiss him.

"W-wait," Jack stuttered, pushing him away. "That's not – I don't want to – I think we've come to a bit of a misunderstanding."

Oh, shit, he thought. What if he won't come unless I…?

"I can see you thinking, Frost," Maro said, lying back in the grass and folding his hands behind his head. "I am not so petty a creature that I would coerce you into relations with me for this." He smirked. "I know how you are with him."

Jack blushed a frightening red. "E-excuse me?!"

Maro was laughing openly. "Neither of you could fool me, kid. When I saw you together, your scents were all over each other. It was obvious."

"What is with everyone smelling me?!" First Pitch, then Bunny, now this arrogant prick who was still laughing even as Jack dug his bare toes into his side in an attempt to get him to stop. It only served to further Maro's laughter. "Are you ticklish?"

Maro stopped and looked at him, still smiling. "No." Jack pressed his feet in harder, but no laughter was elicited. "I just find it amusing."

"Great," Jack moaned. "Just what I need. The enemy looking into my love life."

"Or lack thereof," Maro snorted.

"Low blow, man. Really low."

Maro stood and brushed loose grass from his pants. "I must go. I only returned to see if your companions had talked you out of trying to turn me to your side."

"You knew I'd tell them about you?"

"Simple deduction," Maro commented offhandedly.

"Will you come again?" Jack asked eagerly.

"So you can convince me to side with you?" Maro sighed. "I suppose. But don't expect me to visit anytime soon." He glanced at the ridge and smirked. "Oh, look."

Jack did and really just wanted to die.

Pitch had the worst timing.

At least he didn't look angry. Jack leapt up and waved, smiling as reassuringly as possible. Nothing was wrong here. Nothing had happened. It was totally—

Maro caught him by surprise and pressed their lips together.

Jack shrieked – "What the fuck?!" – and fell on his butt as Maro jumped into the air, cackling. Jack gasped and looked at Pitch, eyes wide and pleading, but Pitch didn't look as angry as he had the last time. In fact, he looked very amused.

"Like his taste?" he called.

"Quite," Maro replied. "Watch your back!"

"The same to you."

Jack watched the tengu fly off into the distance, then shot to Pitch's side. "I swear, I didn't mean to let him catch me off guard."

"You don't need to explain yourself to me," Pitch said, quite content to watch Maro's retreating figure with a smirk. "You don't belong to me."

Of course not. It struck Jack odd, though, that Pitch had played the part of jealous boyfriend during his contact with Pyotr, had questioned Jack about what he and Maro had been doing that first time. "Oh, right," Jack said tiredly. "I'm just your convenient boy toy, so it doesn't matter who kisses me. He seems pretty eager, so maybe I'll stick my hands down his pants next time he comes around."

He laughed bitterly at the shock that bloomed on the Boogeyman's face and flew off. He did not need this. What he needed was for this week to be over with, and he'd be free of everything for eternity.

Author's Note: I really do hate talking strategy, but this chapter had to be done. I'll make it up to you guys in the next one.