Time seemed to slow as Jamie used the momentum to fly to the moon. He landed lightly on the surface, glancing around in something of amazement to see that it's not really what he thought... it seems to be giving off a faint glow... Jack's breath quicked in pain, his eyes squinted; the orb glowed in shock, trying to calm Jack's speeding and rapidly pain-filled heart. Jamie did his best to add calming impressions as well along the bond. He was surprised when a thin boy greeted him with a soft tinkling noise. Beckoning him to follow with a gesture. Jamie followed him curious towards a doorway that was hidden in a small crater. Jack shivered in pain, nurses and MiM, himself, awaited in the medical room. One nurse and doctor of the place greeted Jamie and explained to him the what and why Jack's body was deteriorating.
"It was a birth defect, since his body was frozen solid before MiM's soul transfer; basically his body was a ticking time bomb holding a virus that would rot him from the inside out but it would have been sooner if not for the protection spell MiM put his body through. Guess it failed and now we have to..." He winced.
"We have to transfer Jack's soul into another body." Jamie frowned slightly.
"Sounds like a temporary solution to me and not a good one. Isn't there anything else that can be done?" Jamie wasn't too keen on this, not that it would change how he felt for Jack, but he was concerned that Jack would lose his sense of self if this was the only solution MiM could offer. MiM had tears in his eyes.
"No, there is no other solution; I know how you feel about this, but his body is too far gone as it is." Jack screamed in pain, the heart monitors beeping wildly; four nurses and doctors had to restrain him or else he'd hurt himself in the process as they had to stabilize him.
"WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME!" The doctor yelled. Jamie sighed, taking the orb and nodding.
"Fine... hopefully Bunny can find a better solution in the meantime... but it does worry me when he wakes up again..." MiM sighed.
"I wish I could do something else my boy, but his body is just not stable anymore." MiM nodded as they basically extracted Jack's soul from the deteriorating form; as his soul left it turned to nothing but a pile of blackened bones, suddenly they rolled in another. Pulling the sheets it seemed about same age as Jack was only his hair was, silver not much white, but it would whiten once transferred; he had big shoes, his hair spiked a bit and a key chain hung loosely from his neck. His skin was a slight tan but pale as death, finally they stabled the body before transferring Jack's soul into it; the monitor beeped at a normal rate and instantly the hair turned white as snow, the skin paled, but was more of a sun tanned skin pearl white and the clothing, a t-shirt and jeans, slightly frosted. Jamie waited in another room, hugging the orb thoughtfully and keeping the little child inside calm. MiM returned and spoke to Jamie carefully.
"He's stable, you may go see him." He looked glum, mostly worried of how Jack was going to take his new form.
"I hope we don't have to do this again." Jamie went into the room, sitting in a chair provided for him as he gently stroked the orb.
Jack's chest rose and fell slowly, around 4:00 in the morning his eyes were shining brighter than any ocean or ice that shined... except they were now a emerald color instead of an icy blue; he groaned.
"What happened Jamie?"
"Apparently MiM neglected a little detail about when he brought you back. He assumed you would remember, or that the other Guardians knew about it or something. Don't freak out... but I had to bring you here so MiM could do a transfer." Jack grunted.
"What?" His voice sounded the same if only a little younger.
"Jamie what the hell are you talking about?"
"Just... try not to freak out." Jamie made a mirror out of ice and held it up so Jack could see his reflection. His emerald colored eyes widened, he hadn't exactly promised to not scream.
"H-How?" He asked and tears started to fall instantly, he was terrified. Why did they have to do this again? The proof was indeed next to him, he could tell it was his old body...
"Oh Gods!" The ashes were icy so of course he knew it was what was left of his bones.
"W-what happened to my body?"
"He didn't exactly explain, just said it was necessary and there wasn't much time." Jamie said, dispersing the mirror. Jack rubbed his face, he didn't like the new body; he wanted his old one back. MiM knocked on the door, sad and glum looking; even feeling sorry for Jack at this point.
"THIS THIS ISN'T RIGHT! I WANT MY BODY BACK!" Jamie didn't say anything, glancing over at MiM; only feeling slightly sorry for the other man. Jack looked at MiM with angered eyes.
"Y-you you did this... is that why I always felt so damn sick even after the fact!" He screamed angrily at the man who only looked more saddened by the minute, nodding at each truth thrown at him. Jamie stayed silent through the entire thing, doing what he could to keep the child in the orb calm despite Jack's anger. MiM nodded.
"I couldn't stop it unless you wanted to die, then I guess so." Jack growled but looked at Jamie with a 'back me up here'. He covered his eyes suddenly, crying; he didn't like this, he didn't feel like himself anymore. He felt like he was someone else now. Jamie put an arm around Jack, but he didn't say a word because he'd already told the other what he'd thought of this; sending soothing impressions over the bond. MiM left Jack and Jamie alone for he felt already guilty for all of this.
"JAMIE I DON'T WANNA BE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S BODY! I WANT MY BODY BACK! I WANT TO BE ME AGAIN!" He cried, the voice younger but almost the same as his own original. Jamie set the orb under one arm and settled on the bed, wrapping the other around Jack.
"I know... but it can't be helped. You'll always be you, no matter what you look like; I love you for who you are, not what you look like." Jamie said gently, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. Jack sniffled for a bit, hugging Jamie as he was still getting used to his body again; he only hugged him half heartedly. Jamie hugged Jack close, not saying anything more as he leaned his head against Jack's shoulder. It would take time to adjust to the new appearance, but he loved Jack with all his heart and he hadn't lied when he said he loved him for what was inside. It was who Jack was that he loved so much. It was a few hours before MiM said Jack could go back to Earth, but to be sure he checked his soul's vitals and grimaced.
"Not good." MiM took Jamie into the other room to explain.
"Sadly Jack has to accept that that's his body now or else be eaten by the darkness that is sheltered within himself."
"Always a complication isn't there?" Jamie all but growled, then sighed. He then went back into the room to explain the very thing to Jack; he didn't bother sugar coating it like MiM might have, at this point he doesn't see any reason to and he doubted that it will matter if he did or not. Jack sniffled.
"I.. I..." He burst into tears, not ready to accept this form; MiM sighed.
"If that doesn't work out he must take these energy vials every day until he accepts fully." Jack glared angrily at MiM.
"YOU MEAN I CAN DIE IN THIS FORM TOO! WHY CAN'T YOU EVER TELL US ALL THE DETAILS DAMN IT!" He slammed his fist on the table next to him, shattering the bones; he groaned in pain and MiM jumped.
"Jack, please, I only want what's best for you." Jack snapped at that.
"BEST FOR ME BEST FOR ME?! NOW YOU CARE! DO YOU CALL THIS BEST FOR ME!" The anger and confusion was scaring the baby terribly.
"Enough you two. YOU aren't helping." He says, looking pointedly at MiM before turning to Jack.
"YOU calm down. You're making things worse rather than better. You're both upsetting the baby." Jack winced and looked at the glowing orb, it appeared to be shaking, but suddenly latched onto Jack like 'it's ok daddy'; Jack petted the orb and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This... this I can't deal with right now; come on Jamie, let's get the hell off this place." He said, annoyed as MiM looked away in sadness. Jamie took Jack's hand in his and lead him out of the place. Jack was angry... no, furious; MiM never cared for Jack before so this was new for him, the baby tried calming him but it wasn't exactly working. Jack was too angry to notice the baby clinging to him, huffing in its own annoyed anger and basically told Jamie to slap Jack.
"Jack... I think you're going overboard here. I don't say that lightly either, the child just asked me to slap you." Jamie said evenly, his expression rather serious. Jack winced.
"Oh, s-sorry." The orb snuggled close to Jack's heart, it would only be a week... maybe another two months, before it was born; Jack huffed.
"Well Jamie, how would you fucking feel waking up in some other body and told to get used to it or else fucking die again." His anger flared from the darkness, eating at him already.
"Probably the same way, but that doesn't mean you can't get used to it." He sighed a little, hugging Jack. Jack growled.
"Well maybe I don't want to get used to it." His voice sounded angry... aggressive even; the orb didn't like that and tried putting Jack to sleep.
"Oh no, not this time buster!" He snapped, the orb shook in fear at the backlash it got but not of Jack... of it. Jamie frowned, staring at Jack; having halted, his arms wrapping protectively around the orb.
"You'd rather the OTHER option?" His tone was flat as he said it, he didn't like the way Jack had just snapped at the child.
Jack shook his head, eyes less dark and Jamie realized it was the darkness taking over. Jack groaned.
"Jamie wha-" The orb clinged to Jack now as if it's life depended on it.
D-daddy in trouble. Not his fault. don't be mad; darkness hate us... darkness want to take over, darkness lashed out at me. Jamie sighed, enveloping both Jack and the orb in a hug. Jack panted, eyes rolling as he fell into Jamie's arm unconscious; the orb was worried now. DADDY IN DANGER! DARKNESS TAKING OVER! CAN'T STOP IT! It said over the bond in clipped, yelled, sentences.
"I know... I can't stop it either." Jamie murmured with a sad sigh as he shifted to pick Jack up and return to Earth. When returning to Earth's atmosphere, Jack screamed in horrible pain as the darkness sparked; hurting Jamie enough to make him drop Jack; the orb clung to Jamie shakingly as the darkness attacked, as Jack was plunging to Earth too fast... He was likely going to die at this altitude. Crying out, Jamie shuddered, clinging to the orb even as the wind caught Jack while Jamie did his best to protect the orb from the heat of reentry though it burned him. Jack screamed out again, arching in pain; the electrical sparks growing and running through his body like a river of power source. His eyes opened, pupiless, only white as he growled and fought the darkness. Jamie was barely able to protect the orb, helpless to do anything else... The orb was crying worried for its mother-father parent, Jack shrieked in pain, the bolts becoming more dangerous and wild along with the growing darkness; then suddenly it all stopped and he only sparked now as the wind lay him gently on the ground. He lay there, panting for air and his body only spasmed a little.
"J-Jamie..." It's all he says before going unconscious and the rest of the electrical pulses receded into his body. Jamie just managed not to slam into the snow upon reentry. He shuddered in the snow, his skin scorched from the fall to the point of being black. He was woozy from it and barely able to keep conscious. The orb hummed worriedly, like 'stay awake, daddy; stay awake.' Jack was trying to comfort the orb best he could but with whatever was going on in his body it was harder to control... to keep from lashing out. Jamie groaned quietly, fighting to stay conscious. The orb snuggled into Jamie, glowing blue dimly, almost like crying; that hurt Jack's heart more and he yelled in pain, it felt like he was being fried from the inside out.
"Shhh... there now... it's okay... you're safe." Jamie murmured quietly to the orb. Jack's hands opened and closed reflexively after he was done being fried; he panted in pain, looking over at Jamie and his upset child. He realized he was too dangerous to be around now... tears gathered.
"J-jamie." His throat was raw and quiet. Jamie didn't respond verbally, he was too tired to; but he answered along the bond, he could sense Jack's thoughts almost as if they were his own.
"Don't. We'll figure something out. Just... don't leave us." Jack panted, suffering the terrible pain.
"I won't." He whispered weakly, the vial in Jamie's pocket glowed brightly.
"MiM... said to give me one of those if it's bad." He scrunched my eyes, unbearable pain surging through his entire body.
Jamie grabbed the vial and managed to find the strength to get to Jack, though he's not sure how; he hugged the orb in a death grip in one arm as he staggered to Jack. He fumbled with the vial several times before managing to open it and pull out one of the pills to give to Jack. Jack yelped in pain, the dark entity was furious; it felt like he couldn't open his mouth, it was forced shut from darkness' control. Jack looked helplessly at Jamie. Jamie sighed and attempted to pass it by kissing Jack. Jack groaned, trying his best, but it was like the darkness knew exactly what that stuff was.
"J-Jamie." He whimpered into the kiss, fighting the darkness enough to let the kiss pass the vial liquid-like pill on. Jamie deepened the kiss as he passed the medicine on, it was horribly nasty... but he didn't complain. Jack grunted, glowing a little; suddenly a black mist was expelled from his body in small amounts, but at least enough to make it too weak to fight Jack. Jamie managed a faint smile before consciousness slipped from him and he passed out into a healing sleep. Jack panted, using what energy he had left; he held Jamie and the orb close and asked the north wind to take them home. Jamie curled instinctively around the orb in his sleep. With the last of his remaining strength, Jack hugged Jamie and the orb close to his erratically beating heart and lost consciousness.