Got some fun fluff/hint-of-almost-smut to perk you up after the end of the last chapter.
After deciding to use modern technology, the Guardians send Jamie home. Sandy notices something about Jack all on his own. Later, Aster struggles with being in constant close quarters with the spirit he finds he can't resist.
(-)
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen
Give him the word that I'm not a rover
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Mr. Sandman- The Chordettes
Aster was talking to Toothiana when Jack returned from taking Jamie home. The Guardians all fell silent and looked at the young spirit. Sandy, however, looking critical and determined, flew over to Jack, and symbols flew over his head too fast for Aster to interpret. Whatever they said, it had Jack glaring at Aster.
"You promised you wouldn't tell him!" Jack had a fierce scowl and a tight grip on his staff, and the temperature in the area dropped significantly, not to mention a layer of frost covering Aster. It was a familiar, welcome feeling by now.
"I didn't!" Aster protested. All the other Guardians were alarmed by Jack's unconscious display of power.
North recovered first. "Bunny said nothing to Sandy; Sandy was talking to me. What is promise you speak of?"
Surprise, then embarrassment registered on Jack's face as the temperature grew to normal. "Are you okay?" Toothiana asked Aster as the frost melted.
"No harm done; it's nothing I haven't dealt with before." Whoops. Here they went.
"Before?" Tooth looked from the mangled targets, to Jack, to Aster. "Has Jack been spending time with you?"
Jack didn't answer, still looking sheepish, so Aster said, "Jack has been helping me put the Warren to rights, so he started staying here yesterday." Aster shot a look at Jack. "Can I tell them now?" Jack nodded and covered his face with his hands. "Frostbite had a bad nightmare last night. We saved Jamie from drowning in Jack's pond yesterday, and Jack had a nightmare about his own death. Apparently, this nightmare business has been going on for three hundred years. He's set on dealing with it alone and made me promise not to tell Sandy. Which I didn't."
Jack nodded, face still hidden. "Jack, why do you not want for Sandy to know?" North asked.
Dropping his hands, Jack shrugged. "Just didn't seem worth bothering him. I'm used to it. He has better things to do."
Sandy shook his head at the same time Toothiana's mouth opened and she covered it with her hand. "Jack. Whatever you've been dealing with, you have us now. Don't keep us out." Toothiana flittered close enough to slide her arms around him without alarming him. Jack shivered.
"We are family, Jack. Family help each other." North looked very serious.
"That's what I told him!" Aster said. He hopped closer to North and added, "I think we should start having those get-togethers at your place again. At least until he gets it through the permafrost he calls a skull how important he is to us."
North nodded. "Agreed, old friend. Jack should not be alone."
Toothiana released Jack, and Jack looked down at whatever Sandy was signing him. It was always harder to read from behind the little man. "Do I have to?" Jack asked. Sandy just shrugged.
"What is happening?" North asked.
"Sandy wants to put me out so he can see my day dreams and nightmares," Jack told them. His eyes flicked to Aster before he asked Sandy, "Would everyone be able to see them?"
Sandy shook his head. Jack bit his lip, which was distracting, then said, "Okay."
Aster hopped over to Jack, taking the boy's hand. "C'mon, I've got a soft patch of grass with your name on it."
It wasn't far from where they stood, and Aster helped Jack lie down. Sandy stood over the boy and blinked, sand sprinkling over Jack's eyes.
Aster stood back with Toothiana and North as a fine tendril of Dreamsand issued from each of Sandy's hands and slid into Jack's ears. Sandy's eyes closed, and he looked troubled, and confused. It was only a minute or so of this before Sandy cut off the tendrils and Jack woke up.
"What happened?" Jack asked, still bleary-eyed. He paid attention as Sandy started signing them all.
[Jack's nightmares are obviously deeply rooted in his subconscious. If Jack doesn't want to stay with me to keep the nightmares at bay, he needs to address some of the issues that are causing the nightmares to begin with. He shouldn't be alone, since that is one of the problems. He should stay with one of us.]
The round face with tall ears was unmistakable. "Why me?!" Aster asked. He wasn't quite crying it out, but there was a desperate quality underlying in his tone. He was in over his head having the Snowflake over for a few days. Having the kid stay longer was going to get awkward and end badly, no question.
The spike of hurt that crossed Jack's face made Aster backtrack. "I mean, Frostbite has other places he'd rather be, right? Why stick him with the grumpy old rabbit?"
Now Jack's face frosted over with purple. Shit. "I like staying with you in your Burrow."
And damn if that didn't get Aster all kinds of flustered in front of everybody. The kid blushing like a schoolgirl at all of it was also all kinds of unhelpful. He tried to stay cool. "Of course, you're welcome, Jack. Just wasn't sure my place was really the best for you. But whatever helps get rid of those nightmares."
And wasn't that the truth. The idea of Jack choking and screaming himself awake was painful. And part of Aster didn't want anyone else to see it, to be who Jack relied upon. It really was hopeless at this point.
There was a short silence before North said, "It is settled, then. Jack will stay with Bunny. And I will be having you all over in a week. We never had proper celebration to welcome Jack."
Jack looked very surprised at that. "For me?"
"Of course!" North said, his booming baritone full of cheer. "Is lapse on my part it has not happened already."
"We've been distracted with rebuilding after Pitch," Toothiana said. "He's right, Jack; we would have had it by now."
A pointed party hat appeared over Sandy's head, and he gave Jack two thumbs up. Jack smiled, shyly pleased. "I'd like that."
"Of course you would," North said, in the same self-assured tone he used when he said that Jack wanted to be a Guardian. At least he was actually right this time.
Suddenly there was a flurry of "back to business" among the three visitors. Toothiana's fairies received orders again, North started making a list for the party (Aster knew he'd check it twice), and Sandy started conjuring Dreamsand to work between his hands.
"We'll see you then, fellas," Aster said. A quick tap in front of each Guardian had a tunnel opening under them. When the tunnels closed, it was just Jack and Aster.
A moment of quiet stretched before Aster said, "Sandy give you any other pointers on dealing with nightmares?"
Jack glanced up at him, then away. "Just that I could rely on you. He said to trust you with all my fears."
Aster warmed a bit. Sandy knew. He knew how Aster was feeling about the boy. Of course, Sandy also obviously had some grudge against Aster that the rabbit never knew about. Because making Aster spend all this time with a boy he was hopelessly pining for was cruel. Or, Aster supposed, it could just be the price of healing Jack. Which Sandy knew Aster would gladly pay. Who needed their sanity anyway?
(-)
After another day of working in the dirt, Jack was gaining a dangerously enticing smell. His natural musk, usually subdued since a Spirit of Frost didn't really sweat, was coming out, and it was starting to drive Aster mad.
"I don't want to, Bunny!" Jack protested.
"Yer not sleeping in my nest until you've had a bath," Aster said firmly. The boy was dressed in only a towel standing beside the basin tub in the floor of Aster's bathroom. Aster was using self-control he'd gained from centuries of practice to not do something inappropriate.
"Then I'll sleep on the floor," Jack replied.
"I'm not having ya stink up my Burrow when you can take a quick bath to get clean. C'mon, Frostbite. The water is lukewarm, not hot, and it's only getting colder. It won't hurt you, promise."
"You can't make me," Jack said, somewhat petulantly, and turned to run.
Never race a rabbit. Aster had ahold of the boy before he got more than a step in. "You'll be fine, Jack. It won't burn you."
Aster tried to lift the boy in, dimly noting that Jack had lost his towel in the struggle and diligently not looking. When Jack got over the tub and Aster was about to let go, Jack grabbed Aster's arms and pulled, only trying to pull himself away from the water, but ended up pulling Aster forward into the bath with him.
It was a deep bath, mimicking the natural bodies of water Aster used to bathe in, and when Aster surfaced, he was ready to be irritated with Jack. That was, until Jack broke the surface, shaking and clinging onto the rabbit. "Don'tletmegounderdon'tletmegounderdon'tletmegounder…"
Aster was an idiot. He pulled the trembling boy close to him. "You aren't going to drown, Snowflake. I've got ya. You're supposed to tell me about things like this."
Jack's panic had a layer of ice forming on top of the bath while the water underneath grew arctic cold. The sting was less pleasant when Aster was submerged in it, and he broke through the ice as he pulled them out of the water.
The little spirit was still shaking in Aster's grip, and the rabbit held him tightly, making soothing sounds and running his paws over Jack's skin, all above the belt. "C'mon, Jackie-boy. Yer safe with me. I didn't know, didn't realize…"
Frostbite was straddling Aster by now, legs wrapped around his waist, arms wrapped around his chest, and Aster was very happy for the arctic temperatures.
When Jack's trembling subsided, he said, "Sorry, Bunny. I made a mess again."
Aster pulled Jack's head back to meet his gaze, dimly aware he might be pulling the Snowflake's hair a little. Jack's eyes were wide as Aster said, "This is all on me, Snowflake. I wasn't thinking. I was focused on the temperature of the water, not the depth. Although you're supposed to tell me these things too. I don't want to do stupid things to hurt you."
Jack smiled, purple frost on his cheeks. "'Snowflake'? Careful, Bunny, that sounds downright affectionate. Don't want to give me the wrong idea."
Aster was going to thump the boy. "For Easter's sake, Jack. I thought we'd moved past our grudges." Although, Aster had told himself that he wasn't going to use that pet name outside of his own head. Just another modicum of control blown to pieces by Jack Frost. He was making a mess out of Aster.
Jack's eyes were curious. "Yeah, but I didn't think I rated 'Snowflake'. It's a lot nicer than 'Frostbite'."
"You like it, huh?" Aster asked. When Jack nodded shyly, Aster sighed. "Guess it stays then. But 'Frostbite' stays too. I like 'em both."
Jack sighed and shifted in the rabbits arms a bit. Then his eyes flew wide open, fear in them as they met Aster's, and deep purple frost gathered on Jack's face. "Bunny?"
"Yeah, Snowflake?"
"I'm naked."
Aster snorted, trying not to sound like that panicked him too. "Yeah, you are. Better get you a robe. Think the towel got knocked in the water in the struggle." He gently disengaged Jack to grab a fluffy pink bathrobe from a drawer of linens. It wasn't something Aster really used anymore, but it wasn't musty.
He tossed it on the boy, covering all the bits Aster wanted-didn't want to see. Jack didn't put it on, just slid it over his lap to preserve his modesty. "What happened to me stinking up your Burrow?"
Aster sighed. "You like a shower? It's nice and relaxing, more like rain than any body of water."
Jack nodded. "Those always looked nice. Some people really enjoy them. Usually guys."
Do not react, do not react. "Yeah, well, you enjoy yours the regular amount, okay? I'll get the taps going. Once it's the right temperature I'll give you some privacy."
Aster had it all set up and was halfway out the door before he added, "And you know I'll hear ya if ya need help."
"Thanks, Bunny."
Now Aster just had to calm himself down. He couldn't give in, because he knew when he caved to this urge, it would be all downhill from there. He'd start doing it all the time, and Jack would catch him at it before long. Didn't need to scar and scare the boy like that. Probably wasn't anything like prepared to see the rabbit's physiology. Aster wasn't ashamed, not really, but he was aware that it wasn't the sort of thing Jack would find attractive.
There, that depressing thought was cooling him down. It was a little perverse that Jack's power, which helped to dampen any physical arousal, had also started to turn Aster on. And when the Snowflake held onto Aster for dear life and frosted Aster's fur over…well, those were very unhelpful thoughts.
His ear twitched as Jack, ever so quietly, said, "Bunny."
Aster hopped back to the bathroom, not bothering to knock. "You needed something?"
Jack gasped, probably having expected the rabbit to knock. The frosted glass door of Aster's spacious shower was also actually frosted over, making it impossible to see Jack, though.
"I-I was just wondering…should I use the robe instead of a towel? It's fluffy enough." Jack sounded flustered, and Aster scolded himself for not knocking.
"If it pleases ya, Snowflake. Yer clothes are getting a wash too, so you might be wearing it for a bit."
"Okay. Thanks again, Bunny."
When the door was closed, Jack whispered, ever so softly, "Can you hear this, Bunny?"
Testing his ears, eh? "I can hear ya, Frostbite. I can hear whatever you do or say, so I'll know if you need me. Don't worry." He spoke loud enough to be heard through the door and got a noise that he couldn't decide if it was a groan, moan, or whimper in return. And he wasn't sure what to make of that.
(-)
As predicted, Aster was woken by Jack crying. He went right into his room, immediately feeling the temperature drop, but it wasn't frosted over. Jack was awake. He'd curled into a ball in the center of the nest, and he looked so tiny compared to the spacious bed.
Aster hopped into the nest and tried to uncurl the boy, but he refused. Since Jack was lying on his side, Aster just lay on his side behind him, putting an arm over the boy. He was surprised how quickly the little Snowflake uncurled after that. Jack was quite eager to spread against him to be his little spoon, letting the rabbit put an arm around his middle. This was far too cozy and pleasant to be safe.
"Jamie?" Aster guessed.
Jack nodded, still crying softly. "I don't know what to do. He's going to die, Bunny, and I don't know what to do!"
It broke Aster's heart to say, "Nothing you really can do, Snowflake. Immortality doesn't have a lot of downsides, but that's a big one. It's one reason most of us don't spend too much time with any one person; we know how it hurts in the end. But Jamie is special; I understand why you can't keep away from him."
"So I really am supposed to be alone for eternity." The statement was flat and hollow at the same time.
"Snowflake, you might remember that you have a whole family now. We've all been alive longer than you, and we'll keep living as long as you. Between us and Jamie getting you more believers, you're never going to be alone and invisible ever again."
Jack twisted in his grip to face him and give him a hug, and the sheer proximity and intimacy of the moment, right in Aster's nest, made the rabbit feel deliriously happy, content, and, yes, the beginnings of arousal. Shit.
Aster couldn't just push Jack away. Not right now, when Jack needed him. But in all his years, he hadn't really faced this predicament. If someone was in his nest, it was because he wanted to bed them, so arousal was part of the plan. Outside of that, no one stayed with Aster. Until now. Until the Guardian of Fun, Jack Frost, came into his life, and the brave face he wore cracked in front of Aster's eyes. Aster didn't doubt that Jack hadn't been this open since he was first born, before isolation and neglect had hardened him. Jack trusted Aster with his vulnerability, and the rabbit would never forgive himself if he broke that trust.
That thought actually settled him a little. The hug was all about comforting Jack. Nothing to do with Aster. He held the spirit close, and the little pleased hums and slight squirming were not helpful to Aster's resolution of chaste thoughts. It was like the boy had magnetic fingers that drew him to Aster's buttons. Or, more likely, Aster just found everything about Jack attractive. It was a bad sign.
"Think you can get back to sleep by yourself, Snowflake?"
Jack shook his head, and Aster could feel it on his chest. When he didn't say anything, Aster said, "Let's get up for a bit and get some lemonade." Jack nodded.
Aster pulled the boy up gently and lead him to the kitchen. Two glasses of lemonade were taken into the living room. This time Jack crawled up next to him on the couch. There was some silence while they drank, until Aster said, "So, what are we to do to help your nightmares?"
"Sandy said to trust you. I guess you should know." Jack shrugged.
The rabbit groaned. "Sandy thinks too highly of my counseling skills. He said we needed to work on your issues. I'm not really the guy you'd ask about anything like that. Right now it's Jamie, right?"
Jack nodded, his face small and sad as he tried to get closer to Aster. Aster said, "You know you have a while before you need to worry about this. Kid hasn't hit puberty yet. And, yes, Jack, Jamie will be able to see you when he grows up. As long as he believes, which he always will."
That made Jack turn to him and frown. "How do you know about that?"
Aster deliberately twitched his ears. "Not much I don't hear, Frostbite."
Jack blushed abruptly, purple suddenly all over his face. Aster wasn't sure why. "You okay?"
"Fine," Jack said.
"Anyway, my point is, this isn't something you should be worrying about. Enjoy the time you have with the kid. Jamie will enjoy all the time and attention you give him."
That brought a smile to Jack's face. "You're right."
"Of course I am." Aster smiled back. He glanced at Jack's empty glass. "Ready to try for some more sleep?"
Jack's smile diminished somewhat, but he nodded. "Okay."
"Don't worry. We'll have you getting sweet dreams soon."
"I've never had dreams." Jack bit his lip. "They sound so nice."
Aster left their glasses in the living room and escorted Jack back to his nest. He got Jack settled and tucked him in. "You're safe here, Jack. Sweet dreams."
Jack nodded and snuggled in, looking comfortable. Aster resisted the urge to kiss him and went back into the living room to get the glasses. He set them in the sink for the morning and settled down on the couch again. A twitch of an ear let him know that Jack had already fallen asleep, his breathing even and slow.
Never had a dream. But everyone needs dreams, and not just waking ones. Aster considered that a Spirit of Frost like Jack might be more used to ice than snow, but not all of Jack's life should be hard surfaces. Aster resolved that Jack would have access to the rabbit's comfortable nest and home for as long as he needed or wanted. No more would trees, rooftops, and barren icy wastelands be the only places for the boy to run to.
But hold them and keep them
And know that you need them
When your breaking point's all that you have
A dream is a soft place to land
Soft Place to Land- Sara Bareilles (Waitress)
(-)
Hope the lyric quote makes sense. (The fact that it starts referring to "them" with no antecedent to rely upon might be confusing for some, IDK.) Also hope you enjoyed the fluff/hint-of-almost-smut in this. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these developments.