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GUYS WE HAVE REACHED 100 REVIEWS! *Throws confetti* SaiyanPrincess, you are #100 so this chapter is dedicated to you =^w^=

So this one (which I'm not entirely happy with, but meh) is an AU of sorts; an alternate version of what might have happened in the scene with Jack and Pitch in Antarctica.

My next update should be at Halloween (if not earlier, depending on how much time I get) but I'm about to hit exam period (this is the last week of semester), during which time I'll probably be too busy to write (but knowing me that's when I'll want to write and end up updating heaps because priorities). I'm free up after November 7, so we'll be good to go after that.

Disclaimer: IDORotG

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Black and White

...

"What goes together better than cold and dark?"

Jack looked up at the frozen sand sculpture, dark spikes jutting out towards the sky as if to impale it. Cold and dark. It certainly had a nice ring to it.

"We can make them believe," Pitch continued, oblivious to Jack's internal musing. "We'll give them a world where everything, everything is–"

"Pitch Black?" Jack cut across. Yes, cold and dark had a nice ring to it, but it wasn't one he wanted to be a part of. He wanted to be seen, yes, to be believed in. But it was one thing to be loved and to bring smiles to the faces of the kids he played with, another to destroy that happiness and replace it with all consuming fear. No. He wanted nothing to do with that.

Pitch hesitated, as if realising his mistake before quickly adding, "And Jack Frost, too. They'll believe in both of us."

It was too late to fix the little slip up, and they were both aware of it.

"No, they'll fear both of us," Jack countered. "And that's not what I want. Now for the last time," Jack snapped, turning and walking away, "leave me alone."

Pitch stared after his retreating form, his expression a mixture of confusion and hurt. "Very well," he relented, the moment of weakness passing. He would not put himself on the line like this again. "You want to be left alone? Done. But first…" his voice trailed off suggestively as he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the Tooth Fairy's cretins.

Baby Tooth chirped sadly, instantly gaining Jack's attention.

"Baby Tooth!" he cried, charging forward, only to halt as the Boogieman's grip tightened around the tiny fairy.

"The staff, Jack!" Pitch ordered. "You have a bad habit of interfering. Now hand it over, and I'll let her go."

Baby Tooth twittered her refusal, pleading with Jack not to give the man what he wanted. But what else could he do? When it came down to it, Baby Tooth was far more precious than his staff, even despite how important it was to him. He treasured his staff, but he treasured her more.

Jack hesitated for a fraction of a second before moving to hand over the curved stick. And froze. He blinked, as if not sure what he was seeing was real, but the black smudge steadily zooming towards them was still there.

Pitch raised a brow, his free hand stretched outwards for the staff. Apparently he hadn't noticed. Jack felt a smirk spread across his face, enjoying the frown that settled over Pitch's.

"You asked me what goes together better than cold and dark," Jack said, looking the taller man right in the eyes. "How about black and white?"

Pitch opened his mouth to retort but the words died on his lips as a loud, angry squawk pierced the air. Surprised, he spun on his heel in time to see a flock of penguins shooting off an ice patch like a ramp to fly the remaining short distance between them and where the man was standing. He barely registered the fact that he'd let go of the fairy before they were upon him, sharp beaks nipping at whatever part of him they could reach and chattering furiously Manny knows what in their strange penguin language.

Jack quickly plucked a disorientated Baby Tooth from the air, checking her small body for injuries. "You okay, Baby Tooth?"

The fairy nodded and perched herself on the winter spirit's shoulder, turning her attention to the rather comical scene playing out before them. Despite the situation, Jack couldn't help but laugh. It would seem he was never truly as alone as he'd thought.

When the penguins deemed they'd tortured the King of Nightmares enough they slowly drifted towards their adopted winter spirit, chattering to him excitedly.

"Yeah, I did see," Jack laughed in response to their child-like glee. They looked for all the world like they were seeking his approval. "Very nice work, might I say."

Pitch rose uneasily to his feet, a sound somewhere between a groan and a growl escaping him. He had definitely seen better days. At the motion, the penguins moved to stand protectively in front of Jack, eyes narrowed at Pitch, their whole body language daring the man to make another move against their beloved winter spirit.

"What, did you think I was talking about us when I said 'black and white'?" Jack crossed his arms. "The Guardians may not want me, but that doesn't mean I'm not wanted; as you can plainly see."

The penguins backed up his claims with menacing growl-like chirps.

Pitch narrowed his eyes at the boy, muttering something unsuitable for the ears of children before disappearing into the dark shadows of the chasm beside them.

"That's what I thought."

The penguins instantly spun around, nudging Jack with their beaks in a long awaited greeting.

"Thanks, you guys," Jack smiled, plopping down on the snow and allowing them to clamber over him. Baby Tooth began an unfathomable conversation with one of them.

One of the older females shoved her head into the hood of his jumper, ignoring his protests, and snatched the tooth casket with interest. The action garnered the attention of the others and they all started trying to push their way over for a better look. Jack deftly snatched the box before one of them could accidentally swallow it.

Baby Tooth hopped down from his shoulder, placing her tiny hands on the end of the casket and looking up at him imploringly. Jack glanced between the two, unsure. He had wanted for so long to see his memories, to learn why he was there. But now that the answers were right in front of him he was hesitating. Did he really want to know? What if they didn't turn out to be what he'd been hoping for?

A nod from Baby Tooth was all the reassurance he needed. With a deep breath, Jack pressed the glistening lid of the tooth casket, allowing himself to be enveloped in memories, comforted in the knowledge that whatever happened, he would always have someone (a lot of someones, in fact) by his side who cared for him.

Guest Review Responses:

SaiyanPrincess: Thank you! I'm glad I was able to keep him in character! And thank you so much for your continued support!