Prompt: December 20: A Candle Lit at Dusk
Candles give off a lovely ambiance, something Pitch enjoys. Jack likes smelling all the different scents, but could do without the fire. Still though, he'd rather have some candles lit than a roaring fireplace. Been there, done that.

(I think this shall be a hot dad style AU...Hehehehe. Forgive me. Or not. Really not my problem if you do or don't.)

Jack's eyes followed the older man closely. He barely paid attention to the others around him. His focus was on the man as he moved through the living room setting out candles and flash lights. He could understand the irritation. He had a house filled with people for his daughter's birthday party and with a sudden storm the house's power was cut. And to add to that, it was a unanimous decision to stay until the storm calmed. Much to Jack's joy to spend a little more time with him, but he didn't like seeing the man stressed as he was. The man looked so much better smirking or with that rare smile he occasionally shows, but that usually was to his daughter. Sometimes it was directed at others, even a few times a Jack, but that only happened the first time they met. He probably should have asked the man out before he realized that North was his father and that Jack was just starting college.

When Pitch left the room and into the disconnected kitchen, he slipped from his father's side on the couch and followed him. Jack could see the top of Pitch's hair from behind the counter. He had to lean over the counter to see him kneeling in front of a lower cabinet, digging through the opening. "Hey, need any help?" he asked with an impish smile.

Pitch looked up, not even startled. His golden eyes locked with Jack's blue eyes, causing electric shock to course through him. Jack was glad it was dim in the room from the candle light. There was no way he could be able to see the way his face heated up.

Pitch gave a soft smile. "Sure, thanks, Jack."

Now Jack was sure the man would be able to see the blush on his face. "No prob!" his voice squeaked, making him wince in embarrassment. "What do you need me to do?"

Pitch sighed and stood to full height. Damn he was tall. "Could you bring some of the candles into the living room and light them?" he asked with the same soft smile. The same one. Jack barely noticed the candles that scattered over the counter.

He could have been asking Jack to murder everyone in the living room and he was sure he would have at that moment. "Yeah, sure." He pushed a pack of matches in his pocket and gathered up some candles before he went into the living room. He set them up on the coffee table and mantle before walking around to light them all, lighting up the room even more.

"Jack? Where do you go?" his father, North, asked. He and Bunny must have stopped arguing long enough for him to notice he was gone.

"I'm helping Mr. Black," Jack told him.

North nodded. "Good! That is kind of you."

Jack smiled at his father and nodded.

"I doubt that's all he's doing," Bunny said with a smirk.

North looked at him confused while Jack glanced at him horrified. "What do you mean?" North asked.

"Your kid's been after-"

"Shut it kangaroo," Jack hissed as he cut the grown man off.

He expected Bunny to get into an agreement with him about him not being a kangaroo, but much to his annoyance, it only seemed to edge the man on. "Pitch," Bunny finished.

"What do you mean 'after'?" North said with narrowed eyes.

"Your son's crushin' on an old man," Bunny answered with eat shit grin directed at Jack. "Been for LONG time. Probably flirting in there."

"I'm going to kill you!" Jack yelled with his hands out threatening like he was going to strangle Bunnymund.

North looked flabbergasted at this. "Jack?...PITCH?"

"Yes? I'm right here. You don't have to yell," a grumble came from the doorway. There stood Pitch with a tray of drinks.

Jack panicked, wondering what Pitch could have heard. Bunny was laughing beside him and his father looked torn between yelling at Pitch and hitting Bunny.

"You didn't hear that, did you?" Jack asked weakly. It was absolute silence was everyone in the room waited for his answer.

"Hear what? North yell?" Pitch asked confused.

"No, daddy!" Seraphine yelled from her spot amongst her friends. "Did you hear that Jack has a crush on you?"

Jack had never wanted to harm a child before and right now he was seriously rethinking his life choices in ever making that as one of his morals.

"Jack…" Pitch mumbled. He was obviously shocked by the wide eyed look he gave.

Jack recognized that tone as the break up voice. He's heard it enough that he knew he wouldn't want to hear what Pitch was about to say. He quickly started to move towards the door to get out of there as quickly as possible as he kept his head down. He didn't want to see the looks he was sure he'd receive. Unfortunately this only caused him blindly run into Pitch. They both tumbled to the ground along with the drinks, coating them both in the sticky substance.

Jack panicky moved away, barely even thinking about how he was just over Pitch in a compromising way. "Sorry," he mumbled embarrassed, wanting to disappear right at that moment.

Suddenly he heard laughter. It was deep and rich. It had a throating quality that sent shivers down Jack's spine. Jack looked up slowly to see it was Pitch laughing as he was supported on his elbows. He wasn't the only one in awe at the laughing man. Soon the other's joined in and Jack let a small smile as his embarrassment disappeared.

Pitch moved to his feet, still chuckling. "Seraphine, dear. Would you please clean up this mess while I take Jack to get changed into something not so, sticky?"

"Yes daddy!" Seraphine said as she stood up and went to grab something to wipe up the mess.

Pitch turned to Jack and held out his hand. Jack hesitantly grabbed it and he was amazed at how easily Pitch pulled him to his feet. "Come on. I'm sure I have something that'll fit you," he said before heading towards the stairs.

"Ah, yeah…" Jack mumbled as he quickly followed. He kept close behind Pitch and barely noticed where they were heading until Pitch had led him into his room. Jack's heart skipped a beat before racing loudly. It was barely lit by the small candle next to the bed. It smelled like…honeysuckle? That is not was he expected. All in all, it would be considered romantic from how the room looked if it wasn't for them being covered in cold, sticky stuff and that his feelings for Pitch were announced by the man's daughter.

Jack was so lost in his thoughts that he barely noticed that Pitch had walked over with a rag and a set of clothes. "These should fit," he said.

Jack jumped and nodded as he took the things. "Thanks. Really," he said with a weak smile.

"No problem…you know, you shouldn't worry yourself over what Sera said. She's only a child. I'm sure she doesn't realize you don't have those sort of feelings for me," Pitch said consoling as he pat his shoulder gently. He turned from Jack and started to pull out clothes from the closet.

Jack knew Pitch was trying to be kind and all, but it still hurt to hear that. It felt like Pitch was disregarding his feelings, even though he wasn't. Not purposely anyways. He stared hard at the floor, fighting internally with himself. "What if…what if she wasn't wrong?" Jack mumbled as he absentmindedly started removing his hoodie and undershirt.

"Huh?"

Jack looked up and was about to repeat himself when he saw Pitch was already shirtless. His mouth ran dry and his mind blank. It wasn't fair to see a man with a daughter that had better abs than Jack ever thought of having. He quickly adverted his eyes before Pitch noticed him staring.

Pitch looked at him confused before a look of realization came upon him. "Would you rather me dress in the bathroom?" he asked with a small chuckle.

I'd rather you naked and on the bed with me about to ride you, is what he would like to say, but he doubted he had the courage to say that.

There was a small intake of air and Jack looked over to see Pitch staring at him wide eyed and with his mouth dropped. "Shit." Of all the things that Jack had to accidently say out loud, it had to be this! He had two choices, stay and face Pitch and maybe talk this out or run like hell.

"Jack…what you just said," Pitch actually stumbled over his words. He looked at him confused before darting his eyes away and what could be called a blush started to form on his face.

Jack had never seen the man like this, but he could stay there to watch him. With Pitch not watching him, he sprinted towards the door, hoping to get out of there as soon as possible. Right before grabbing the doorknob he was grabbed from behind and pulled to the warm, smooth front of Pitch.

"Jack listen," he somewhat demanded.

Jack shook his head. "No. I don't want to hear it." He wanted to struggle and get out of Pitch's arms, but it felt so nice to be held by him. He couldn't bring himself to move.

Pitch sighed aggravated. "You don't even know what I want to say."

"You're going to let me off easy," Jack mumbled as he bowed his head with his eyes clenched shut. He wanted to cry. This was too embarrassing. He shifted in the arms.

"Is that what you want?" Pitch asked calmly, stilling Jack.

Jack was silent for a moment. "No."

"Then what do you want?"

What did he want? The answer was clear. He wanted Pitch, but there was no way he could say that.

"What do you want, Jack?" Pitch said, his tone even lower as his breath grazed his ear.

Jack gasped and stood ramrod straight.

"Answer me, Jack," Pitch whispered with his lips brushing against the shell of his ear. "I need to know."

"I-I-"

There was a knock on the door, causing Jack to jump out of Pitch's arms. The older man sighed and walked over to the door, opening it. "Yes, Sera?" he said strained.

"Baby wants to know if I can spend the night tomorrow," she said with large pleading eyes.

Pitch smiled. "Of course sweetie. Now, go back downstairs. We'll be right behind you."

"Okay!" With that Seraphine ran from the door and down the stairs. They could hear her telling the others that she would be able to spend the night.

Pitch turned around and pulled on the clean shirt he got out of the closet before turning back to the door. "I expect your answer tomorrow night when you come over, Jack," Pitch said as he looked over his should at him. His smile was light, but his eyes held dark promises that made Jack's knees weak.

"Yeah," Jack forced out of his now dry mouth.

"Good," Pitch said before leaving the room.

Jack listened to Pitch's footsteps as the man walked out of earshot. "Oh. My. God." He slumped to the floor in shock. He couldn't believe what just happened. What was he going to tell Pitch tomorrow? Better yet, how was he going to sneak out? "I wonder if Jamie will help me?" Jack mused before an ecstatic chuckle came from him. He wanted to shout out that he did it, but the others would hear him.

With a wide smile, he pulled on the clothes Pitch gave him and ran downstairs.