5 - Not So Ordinary

When your laughter died you thought of the North Pole suddenly and that reminded you of what you had yet to tell the Guardians.
"Hey, Jack... can we go to North's there's something I need to tell everyone." He gave you a questioning look, but nodded. You wished you'd had him take you back to get warm clothes first, but ignored the cold once inside the workshop. Jack gave you a look of apology when he realized how cold you were when he set you down near the hearth before backing up from the fire himself. He wouldn't melt, he'd reassured you of that once, but he didn't like heat that didn't come from you. The comment at the time had caused your cheeks to flush, right now your cheeks were flushed from the cold and you just were glad that Jack was a fast flyer. You were warm soon enough, North was gently admonishing Jack for bringing you without proper winter gear even if you had just left the Warren though if North suspected the two of you had just pulled a prank on Bunnymund he didn't say so.
"What brings you here?" North asked, done admonishing Jack and he had now turned to you.
"I have something I need everyone to hear... I think it might explain why the dream catcher worked less effectively when Jack had it." North raised his eyebrows, but didn't ask further, instead he moved to call the Guardians together. You watched with appreciative awe as the aurora borealis went up with mostly green in its colors, you remember then watching the Northern Lights on TV and realized that every time there had been more green than any other color it signified that the Guardians were going to get together. It was rare though that you'd seen that happen.

Tooth and Sandy arrived about the same time. Bunnymund arrived a few minutes later, he was still multicolored, though not as bad as he had been; most of it had washed out of his fur but the sight sent you and Jack into a fit of laughter again.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up ya little pranksters." Even Tooth put a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh that bubbled up. North said nothing, but motioned to you.
"Well, I kept forgetting to mention it, but when Jack left with my dream catcher... I went sleep and... I had a nightmare." You could tell by the concerned looks on everyone's faces that you had their attention now. You began then to describe the fear of being plunged beneath the surface of a lake, purposely leaving out the detail that it had been Jack's lake. You didn't think the Guardians needed to know that you and Jack were... well, you didn't know what you were, but you didn't think they'd approve either. After all, you weren't immortal, you wouldn't live forever. You described to them, instead, the fear you felt and then the realization that it was a dream and how you'd taken control. This seemed to baffle everyone but Sandy and North as you described your battle with Pitch and driving him off.
"Hmmmm." It was all North said. It was Sandy who spoke first, in his own way. The symbols of a bed followed by a warrior with swords cutting down enemies appeared.
"I think you are right." North said after a moment. Baffled eyes turned to North.
"She is dream warrior." You blinked, uncertain what he meant.
"Um, I'm a what?"
"Is very rare trait in humans who possess a spirit as true and fierce as a Guardian." He paused a moment, but no one said anything so he went on.

"Every once in while there are humans who possess indomitable spirits. Unfazed by world around them. Strong in belief, no matter age. Never losing that part of childhood. Is these adults who affect world most. Some time a ability attributed to spirit show itself in their life. Is more rare than human adult who still believe. Manny told me of such warriors, who fight in dream. Dream warriors. They once dominated a planet that was populated by those who wove dreams."
"Like Sandy?" You asked, looking to the golden Guardian.
"In way yes, but not like him. That planet was destroyed by Nightmare King but Manny tell me he think that some may have escaped fate by sending out parts of themselves to other places. It is in you that such resides." Your eyes widened a little. You always knew you were different, but this...
"Why me?" You asked.
"It come when you were born, was destiny."
"So.. this thing in me then... it's part of someone from space?"
"Yes and no." You looked more confused than ever.
"They could only influence ability, not reside in you." You considered that for a moment. It made sense really, you had an active imagination and for whatever reason, the "spark" that had started you dreaming lucid dreams had been a random thing from space. You weren't sure if you were offended at that thought or if you just felt special.

"Why would Pitch attack her though?" To your surprise, Jack had voiced the same question that had come to your mind.
"Dream warrior is threat to him. Can fight back, keep Nightmares at bay with light inside. Also he likely want for own."
"Pitch... wants me?" You squeak out.
"Yes, your power could be harnessed and used against world." This fact startled you and, you had to admit, it was a little frightening. You sat down in a nearby chair, hard, feeling that your legs were too weak to hold you up anymore. The Guardians left one by one, each one giving you looks of reassurance before leaving. The only Guardian who remained behind was Jack. He looked like he was uncomfortable, though why he would be you couldn't figure out for the life of you. You and he had been alone together dozens of times since you met him. Why was he seeming uncomfortable now?
"Jack?" Jack looked up, his expression clearing as his eyes met yours. It was like he was coming to some sort of decision. He leaned his staff against the other chair that faced the fire before slowly approaching you. He knelt down so that his eye level was the same as yours.
"_ I... I wanted to say that I... I mean that is..." He seemed to stand up suddenly, frustration showing as he grumbled loudly at himself.
"Why is this so hard?! Why can't I just say it? Come on Jack..." He said to himself and you stared, it was obviously something important if Jack was acting like this. You'd never seen him do this before, he was obviously having trouble. He spun around suddenly, his fists, which had been clenched loosened and he met your (color) eyes. His icy blue ones seemed to sparkle in the light and you found yourself drowning in them. You didn't think this could be any more of a perfect moment, but Jack proved you wrong. His voice was quiet, but steady as he spoke.
"I love you." At first you stiffened in shock, you never in your wildest of dreams had dared hope that he... you opened your mouth.
"Jack." You breathed, it was hard to talk when you felt like you were going to melt like ice in summer. He spun from you.
"I'm sorry... I... it's okay if you don't feel the same, I just..." You shot to your feet and grabbed him, spinning him around.
"Don't." You said, startling him.
"You didn't give me a chance Jack." For a brief moment the winter spirit seemed completely startled, his eyes a little wide and... hopeful you realize. He was hoping... and it made you smile.
"I love you too Jack." The look he gives you is one of relief, but it is so much more than that and he cups your face in his hands before closing the distance for a shearing kiss. You instantly relax, your arms winding around his neck to pull him closer.

The mix of hot and cold leaving you breathless, but also craving more. You couldn't really say when such a craving started, whether it was with the first kiss or when Jack had dared to deepen the kiss on Christmas. You didn't hesitate to open your mouth beneath his when you felt his cold tongue slick across your lips. You'd never been happier. In that moment, you knew that you couldn't live life without Jack. In a short amount of time he'd become your world, but you didn't mind it as much as you always had thought you might. The more he offered you, the more you offered in return. You had the decency though to blush when your mind turned down a road you never expected it to, least of all with Jack, but you didn't mind that thought even if you didn't think either of you were quite fully ready for it. Who knew your mind could harbor fantasies about the frost spirit that clung to you as you both panted for breath? Him mostly out of reaction, you actually out of need. You absently run one hand through his snowy hair, it's as soft as silk, despite its tousled look. The soft sound of approval from Jack surprises you until you remember he had spent 300 years without any company whatsoever. That made you wonder if Jack would only be receptive to what was going on in your mind because of his touch-deprived mind, he was still getting used to - you realized - being with others. The time he'd been a Guardian hadn't yet reached or outpaced the years he'd spent alone, unseen, unable to touch anyone. That kind of isolation made your heart hurt when you realize that Jack had been forced into it. You couldn't think of that now, or anything else for that matter as Jack caught you up in another kiss; if this was a dream, you didn't want to wake up.