Summary:

A fight begins, but some things cut deeper.

Jack growled, climbing onto Bunny's back and stretching out his hand to grab the familiar piece of wood clutched in a large paw. Bunny yelled and smashed his back against the wall; Jack felt his bones crack as he made contact but refused to let go, instead gripping harder into the Pooka's fur.

"Bunny! Jack!"

The cries were ignored as the spirit swiftly kicked Bunny in the jaw, making him stumble forward with a hiss. Jack reached out again, fingers brushing the wood, but Bunny pulled it back, throwing the spirit over his shoulder.

"Bunny!" Another voice shouted. Jack felt a hand brush his but he jerked it away, growling:

"I don't need help!" Before a paw could collide with his chest, Jack flipped onto his front, leaping out of the way on all fours. His eyes didn't meet their opponent's – all they followed was the staff getting clutched in one paw, jerking up and down as the arm moved.

"Stop this now!" North shouted; Jack briefly heard The Cossack draw his sword but he was already charging at Bunny again, pinning him against the wall. Bunny quickly punched the spirit in the gut – or tried to, if the spirit himself hadn't kicked his right leg roughly, sending it buckling to the ground. With a speed that rivalled physics, Jack proceeded to slam his fist into the Pooka's jaw.

A hot pain flooded his rib cage and Jack was flung back once more, slamming into the wall opposite. Groaning, he propped himself to his knees, panting.

"Ya really think ya can beat me?" Bunny growled, moving into a battle stance. Unlike Jack, his limbs weren't trembling and he was barely gasping, massaging his jaw.

"Bunny, this is enough –"

"No. No it's not." Bunny interrupted. He stepped forward, pointing the staff at the spirit. Jack glared, trying to stand; his legs wouldn't cooperate and he could only fall back onto the wooden floors.

"Ya can't do nothin'" Bunny continued, stepping closer. Jack could feel the tension grow around him as the other guardians watched, not sure whether to intervene. Jack tried to stand up again, leaning against the wall. A sharp pain erupted under his ribcage, making him double over.

"No' withou' this."

"Bunny!"

"He don't deserve this!" Bunny's voice rose marginally, but to Jack it felt like he was screaming it close to his ear.

"I…do!" Jack panted, groaning as his stomach jolted with another burst of pain. Sandy's hand returned to his shoulder but Jack stumbled away from it, shaking his head.

"No ya don't! Ya never did!" Bunny's voice really did grow to a shout this time. Jack snarled as the Pooka held the staff up in the air as if it was a trophy. "Not when all ya do is freeze. Bloody. Warrens!"

"It wasn't my fault, how many times do I have to say?!" Jack shouted back, ignoring his injury. He stood up straight, clenching his fists. "I never meant to freeze your stupid eggs!"

"Oh!" Bunny's voice was laced with sarcasm. "Where do ya suppose the ice came from then?!"

"Me, but –" Jack tried to explain, but Bunny was deaf to his words.

"Yes, you!" The Pooka has lowered his voice to a growl, laying back his ears. "In fact…" the older guardian's face twisted with uncontrolled anger. Jack knew, as his eyes flashed, that there would be no more reasoning. Not like he hadn't tried, but his temper was probably higher than Bunny's, and it was taking everything (plus a severe kick to the chest) to not rush forward at him, summoning the winds to throw him outside.

"In fact…why don't I just keep this?" Bunny smirked. Jack shook his head, stumbling forwards.

"No!" He yelled, ready to dash at the Pooka for another round, but a strong hand held him back. North's hand.

"Calm down. It's alright." North muttered but the spirit shook his head feverishly, growing more concerned about his staff – and his – safety. All if the insults that would usually make his pause were reflected off him, the only thing occupying his mind was his staff.

His staff, not in his hand. Not where it needs to be.

"No!" Jack tried to shrug North's grip off, snarling.

"Bunny, just give back the staff! This is ridiculous!" Tooth's voice scolded as Jack tugged. He paused from the struggle, looking up as Bunny shook his head stubbornly.

"It's a fair trade! If he doesn't –" but Bunny never got to finish.

Jack snapped at the word "trade", visibly flinching. With an almost inhuman yell, he tore away from North's vice-grip, leaping towards the Pooka. Windows broke as the wind burst in – weaved into Jack's soul, it pinned the remaining guardians against the walls, paralysing them.

Jack couldn't hear the shocked cries over the blood pounding in his ears; he stood up straighter, glaring at the remaining guardian. Scenes flickered before his eyes – scenes of white snow. Black sand. Yellow eyes, hungry and cold.

Green eyes met his own in an act of defiance, a mix of arrogance and rage. If Bunny was unnerved by the sudden outburst, he didn't show it. The staff was held tighter in his paw, wood cracks audible across the room.

"I want my staff back." Jack uttered coldly. The wind howled, turning up floorboards and peeling off wallpaper.

Bunny scoffed.

"Yeah, like a bit of wind is gonna stop me." He bared his teeth. "I've told ya again and again – ya never listen though. So ya deserve it."

"Jack! Bunny! Control yourselves!" North yelled, not that the two heard.

"It's goin' in my warren. An' when ya are actually sorry, I'll give it ba –"

Jack lunged again, kicking the Pooka's ribs as he jumped into the air. Bunny stumbled, snarling, and swung a fist at his face. Jack ducked, slipping under his opponent and elbowing him in the back, making him fall to the ground.

Cries were all around them now, pleading and demanding. Each one telling them to stop, to resolve it civilly, but Jack was only focused on getting back his staff. Then, and only then, would he be able to listen.

The spirit pinned Bunny to the ground, pressing his foot against his throat. As the Pooka squirmed, he reached out to the wood, fingernails scraping the side –

Bunny grabbed Jack's extended arm, tugging it forwards. In one swift, well practiced movement, the Pooka has pinned the spirit to the ground. Jack struggled, blindly kicking and flailing. One of his feet caught the butt of his staff hard; Bunny lost grip and it went spinning across to the other side of the room.

The reaction was spontaneous. Jack hurled himself upwards, using Bunny's back as a launch pad to leap across the room. He was only a few centimetres away – but Bunny was faster.

The spirit was slammed into the wall again, bruise blossoming on his arm, as the Pooka dived, gripping the staff once more.

Jack, with a shriek, tackled Bunny, wrapping his legs around his chest, squeezing them hard enough so the older began to choke.

The spirit delivered a few more blows to the head before reaching out for the staff again, gasping as Bunny fought back, slamming himself repetitively against the wall.

"It ain't that easy." Bunny gasped. With a yell, he swung Jack forwards, slamming him onto the floor.

Coughing, Jack looked up through blurred vision to see Bunny standing over him.

"Ya can't beat me. Give up!" He yelled. Jack blinked, limbs shaking beneath him.

"Bunny! Stop this!"

Bunny didn't listen. Rage had taken over any logical thoughts.

"I want my…" Jack couldn't finish. Instead, he made a sudden grab for the staff, pulling it down. Bunny pulled up stubbornly, eyes narrowing.

The staff creaked alarmingly as it bent, straining. The two warring guardians pulled more desperately.

And then it happened.

With a powerful shockwave, the staff finally broke under pressure, ice-shards splintering across the floor.

Jack let out a small gasp, holding his stomach. Fire was spreading through his veins, twisting and churning under his skin. His vision swam and he let out a weak, choked plea, staring up at Bunny.

The wind calmed. The temperature rose.

Jack fell to the ground, eyes wide and glazed.

No, Bunny isn't a stupid, mean man…he was just angry, and I often feel like Bunny can sometimes let his temper get the better of him

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