Late September
"You know, I've never taken anyone here," Jack comment as he walked alongside Bunny. Unlike the Guardian of Hope, Jack walked on top of the deep snow of the Arctic, barely leaving a footprint as he went. Bunny, on the other hand, grumbled loudly as he trudged along.
"I'll never get used to this bloody cold," he mumbled, flicking the frost off his whiskers impatiently. Jack snickered at him quietly.
"Don't worry, this is important." Bunny could see the excitement in his mate's eyes, which helped curb the irritation at the cold. He grinned and silently followed Jack. They walked for another fifteen minutes, up a small hill along the way, before Jack stopped moving. He turned to Bunny, his eyes serious and his mouth a thin line.
"Don't laugh, okay?" There was a hint of desperation in his eyes. Bunny was taken aback by the look and tone. He reached out to run a paw along Jack's cheek, smiling reassuringly.
"Not a peep, snowdrop." Settled by Aster's promise, Jack turned to lead him toward the opening of a cave. The winter spirit adjusted his staff to fit through the space, careful not to break it. Aster ducked through the narrow entrance, standing upright once through. The ceiling was just high enough for him to stand straight.
The inside was dimly lit with a small lantern, casting soft light against the walls. He gazed around at the small chamber. A small table was set up in the middle, books and scraps of paper stacked haphazardly taking up most of the surface space. A small pile of colorful, patchwork blankets was nestled along one of the walls, pillows of every shape and size tangled throughout. A small trunk sat next to a small, padded rocking chair. On the other side, a basket of brightly colored yarn sat, piled neatly. Knick knacks and trinkets were scattered throughout the room, sitting on shelves anchored in the rock walls. Some were small rocks, cracked to reveal bright geodes. Some were figurines and stuffed animals, no doubt gifts from the few believers that Jack had. A small jar filled with pennies stood, half full. Bunny pointed at it curiously, raising a brow at the Guardian of Fun. Jack shrugged with a nervous smile.
"People think that if you find a penny heads up, you'll have good luck. I collected them in hopes that something good would happen." The boy fished in his pants pocket and produced three pennies. He stepped across the room to deposit them in the jar. Bunny was looking around again, taking in all the details. The entire space was filled with signs of Jack.
"Is this your home?" Aster whispered, kneeling down to touch one of the piled quilts. It was soft and worn with use. Jack stood next to him.
"Yeah, this is where I'd stay during the summer. I'd go to the courts for a few days at a time, but spent my time here for the most part." He glanced around his cave, grinning proudly. "Furnished it myself. I think it's pretty cozy, for second hand stuff."
Bunny threw him a curious look. Jack shrugged. "I didn't steal anything, obviously. But I'd grab things from free boxes. Sometimes I'd leave a couple dollars in pennies at garage sales and take something. That's how I got most of the blankets."
Bunny stood from his crouch and smiled down at Jack. "It's a nice little place. Very homey."
Jack smiled brightly, a thin layer of frost on his cheeks. "Thanks," he whispered, feeling relieved. He'd been nervous to show Aster this place. For so long, it had been his place. No one could hurt him here. He trusted Aster though and had decided that it was time that he see where Jack had lived before the Warren.
"Do you still come here often?" Bunny inquired, noticing a thin layer of dust on the books and table. Jack shrugged and looked around with a wistful smile.
"Sometimes. I come here to get things every once in a while. I got one of my blankets and put it in the nest at the Warren. I stay here when I have to drop snow in the area. It's easier than travelling back and forth for a few days."
The winter spirit stepped toward the table, running his fingers along the spine of a book. He'd read all of them tens of times, passing the time with stories and tales. He looked at his collections on the shelves, the rocking chair he knitted in, the cool nest of blankets on the floor.
"I like the Warren though. It's so different. It's warm, but it doesn't hurt me. And the wind isn't blizzard level. And grass is such a different kind of soft compared to snow." He smiled thoughtfully. With a decisive nod, Jack turned bright eyes on his love. Bunny stared at him in wonder, unbelievably touched by Jack's words. Silently, he wrapped his arms around Jack's middle, pulling Jack tightly against his chest. He buried his nose in Jack's hair. Jack's arms wound around him just as tightly. The winter spirit hummed contently.
"I like having you in the Warren," Bunny murmured. "I never imagined that I would find someone that I felt comfortable enough with to invite them to live with me. Yet, here you are."
Jack laughed breathlessly into Aster's fur. "North told me once that you nearly attacked him when he showed up unannounced."
Aster hummed in the back of his throat, resting his chin on Jack's head and staring over him at all of Jack's possessions. "Yeah, that happened a few times. You'd think he'd learn to send a message first."
Jack let out a wholehearted laugh as he pulled away, imagining Bunny jumping out to ambush the large Russian. It was quite the sight. Aster smiled at his lover, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately.
"Why did you want to show me all this?" He gestured around the room with a large paw. Jack's eyes followed the same path, smiling nostalgically. He remembered the long summers spent here. The reading and knitting and collecting. It was comforting to have this place. The winter spirit paused, staring down at his pile of soft blankets. "It felt like a home. You showed me your home in the Warren. It's only fair that I show you mine."
Aster smiled, humming in the back of his thought before once again observing the space around him. This place felt like Jack, every item reminding Aster of little details about his partner. He took in the room, every tiny detail. Jack had trusted him enough to show him this place; he wanted to make sure that he say all of it. A fond smile spread over his face.
"Is there anything you want to bring back with us?"
Jack hummed loudly, thinking hard about anything he wanted. Silently, he selected a few books, tucking them securely under his arm. He moved around Bunny to grab his jar of pennies, screwing the lid on tightly.
"Can you grab the rocking chair?"
"Of course." Aster easily lifted the chair off the floor, holding it carefully. With one last final glance around the room, Jack nodded to his partner with a gentle smile.
"Okay, I'm ready to go. If I need anything else, I can make the trip back here."
Aster nodded to him, reaching out with the paw that wasn't holding the chair. Jack took his hand immediately, gripping it tightly. The two set out of the cave, emerging into cold air and a gentle snowfall.
"If you want, I can try to clear some snow so that we can use a tunnel?" Jack offered, moving away from his mate to start clearing the ice and snow. Bunny shook his head, stepping toward Jack.
"You can get onto my back if you want, I can hold the chair with one arm. I'm not even sure there's actual ground underneath all this damn ice."
Jack chuckled at the comment, climbing onto Bunny's broad back. He tucked the books tightly to his chest, securing them and the jar between their bodies. He slid his staff behind his back, creating a thick layer of ice against the fabric and over the wood, securing the crook to his back. Bunny shifted slightly, adjusting his hold on the rocking chair and Jack. Once he was ready, he set off quickly through the snow. Jack helped clear a path as he ran, making a trench for Aster to run along. Aster pressed a kiss to the arm wrapped around his neck, making Jack grin.
It didn't take them long to get to a place where the snow was shallow enough to create a tunnel. He opened one immediately, diving into the earth with no warning. Jack's laugh echoed around them as Aster flew along the ground.
Sometime later, Bunny slowed to a walk, allowing Jack to clamor off his back. He stretched his arm, hearing his elbow and shoulder pop loudly. "Not often that I have to run with one arm. It's a good work out."
The Guardian of Fun chuckled at the comment, bumping against his lover gently. "I thought I was starting to see some flab."
"Oi! Uncalled for." Bunny sent him a mock glare, but Jack could see the curve of his lips and mischief in his eyes.
"It was just a joke and you know it."
Aster grunted, but didn't counter. They lapsed back into comfortable silence as they walked the last few yards of the tunnel. The Warren greeted them warmly, breeze carrying the scent of flowers washing around them. Bunny sighed appreciatively at the greeting, feeling the life of his home resonate beneath his feet.
He glanced down when Jack hummed in the back of his throat, his bright eyes closed. He soaked in the softness of the grass and the smell of flowers and the gentle sunlight that didn't smolder his skin.
It amazed the boy that the Warren had become his home, against all odds. By all accounts, this place was the exact opposite of everything he was used to and everything he embodied. Maybe that was why he loved it so much, because it gave him a view of something he'd never thought he'd experience. The smell of flowers and the warmth of sunlight and grass beneath his feet. These had all been dreams until now.
With a quiet, content sigh, Jack opened his eyes and smiled sleepily at Aster. With a chuckle, Bunny wrapped his unoccupied arm around Jack's waist.
"You look like you need a nap."
Jack nearly moaned at the idea, loving the thought of the shade beneath a tree and laying out on one of his quilts. He nodded eagerly at the suggestion. After a deep chuckle, Aster lead the tired spirit toward their burrow. He pushed the door open with his shoulder, ushering Jack inside.
"Where do ya want the chair?"
Jack hummed in thought. "By the window in my old room. It gets the most sunlight in the burrow." Jack thought about being curled up in the chair comfortably, reading a book and napping. Bunny pressed a quick kiss to the top of his head, nudging the winter spirit toward the hall.
"Go put that stuff away and I'll put the chair in there. Do ya want to nap in here or outside?"
"Outside, under a tree," Jack replied quietly, sleepiness soft in his voice. Aster smiled at him, giving him one last kiss before walking into Jack's old room.
Jack shuffled down the hall into their shared room.
'First things first,' he thought, reaching over his shoulder to put his staff carefully from his back. The ice fell away easily enough; he melted it slowly until the staff pulled away from the fabric of his sweatshirt. He rested it alongside nest delicately.
He put the jar of pennies on the table by his side of the nest, setting the books down next to it. He dug through the nest until his fingers touched a blanket he'd felt a million times. He pulled it out slowly, careful not to rip it anywhere. He folded it over his arm, making sure that it wasn't trailing on the ground, and walked out of the room. Aster was waiting for him in the living area, leaning against the door frame leisurely. He grinned at Jack's appearance, offering an arm to his lover. Jack curled took the offering gladly, gripping Aster's arm gently.
The Guardian of Hope led them slowly through the grass, taking his time and enjoying the cool feeling of Jack against his side. Aster knew exactly what tree to go to, Jack's favorite tree. It was a large maple tree, tall and proud. Wide branches stretched to create a shadow on the ground. A small stream babbled a few yards away, shallow and crystal clear. Jack often froze it so that he could lounge when he got too warm.
When the pair reached the edge of the shade, Jack moved away from Aster's side. He spread the wide quilt on the grass, leaving a patch of it in the sunlight. He flopped onto it immediately, rolling into a comfortable position on his back. Aster knelt down beside him, settling against the trunk of the tree. Jack wiggled closer to him, head resting in his lap and body splayed across the blanket. He gave a long winded sigh, closing his eyes and smiling.
Aster ran gentle fingers though his partner's hair, scratching gently behind his ears and enjoying Jack's quiet groans of pleasure. The two enjoyed the warm breeze and cool shade silently, comfortable with being close to one another.
Aster's thoughts strayed as they relaxed, back to the small cave tucked into a mountain side in the Artic. Despite the frozen air and cold rock, the space had been warm in the way that only a home could be. It made Aster happy, unbelievably and overwhelming happy, to know that Jack had made a home for himself when he had no other place to belong. The cave was filled with personal touches of the young guardian, creating a space for Jack to be comfortable in.
It meant so much, so much more than he could explain, that Jack had showed that place to him. His lover had trusted Aster enough to show him a place that the winter spirit had never showed a living soul. The tiny place tucked away from the world, the place Jack escaped too. For a spirit as free as Jack, who often disappeared for a few days at a time and always needed a place to hide away, it was overwhelmingly significant to Aster that he now knew where that place was. Affection washed through the pooka, making him smile.
While Aster loved having his partner with him here, in the Warren by his side, he hoped that Jack kept that place filled with his things, his memories. Aster wanted Jack to have that space that was uniquely his.
"If you ever want to, you can take things from the Warren and put them there. I want that place to stay a home for you too."
Jack kept his eyes shut, but smiled faintly. He reached up a small hand to rest it against Aster's, squeezing it comfortingly. "I just might do that."
Bunny chuckled above him. The two lapsed into silence again, Aster relaxed against the tree with his head leaned back. Jack could tell when the pooka drifted into sleep, his breathing deep and even. Jack stayed awake, looking around the Warren from his place in Bunny's lap. He watched the grass sway with the wind, listened to the creek gurgle, stared through the leaves at the rays of sunlight shining through them. He wasn't sure when he'd started to think of the Warren as a home, but he remembered the first time he'd said it out loud.
A weekly meeting had just ended, each of the Guardians rising from their seats. They spoke to each other amicably, telling stories about their week. Jack had been tired the entire meeting, the warmth of the fire making him groggy. While it didn't roar as hot and bright as usual, the heat of the small flames made the winter spirit uncomfortable. He grumbled at Aster's side, interrupting the pooka's conversation with North. Aster had looked down at him fondly, ruffling his hair and kiss the crown of his head.
"Time to go?"
Jack nodded slowly. "Time to go home."
The Guardian of Fun hadn't caught the phrase until he looked up at Aster's surprised expression. The bringer of life was staring at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Jack felt frost immediately spread over his cheeks; it crackled when he moved to press his face into Aster's arm to hide his embarrassed expression. Bunny struggled for a few moments for something to say, but ended up smiling brightly and nodding.
"C'mon then."
Now, sitting against Aster and staring out at the scene around him, Jack knew that this was undoubtedly what home felt like. Not that his cave hadn't been a home to him. It would always be his first home, the first place that he created and carved a place for himself in the world.
He'd lived his entire immortal life creating that place for himself, adding pieces of himself to his quiet sanctuary. He'd always been content with that, satisfied to have a place for himself that he could call a home.
Now, he couldn't believe his luck. He had not one home, but two.