Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Rise of the Guardians in anyway and make no money from writing this. This disclaimer shall stand for the entire fic.
Warnings: Nightmares, slash, past abandonment.
A/N: As I edit each chapter I would be cross posting them on AO3, but I believe that this fic needs some more reworking that my others, and so I shall be posting it one there as a one-shot after I have completely edited it. On here I shall be editing one chapter every two weeks and shall be posting them on a Tuesday, so stay tuned to read the completely edited work.
Anyway if you are new, hi, welcome people read on and feel free to leave your opinions, I really appreciate it.
And if you are not new, thank you for rereading, and I hope I can make this fic even better for you.
Until next time all.
Near silent tears create frosted trails down Jack's alabaster cheeks as he tucks himself away high in the rafters. He wants –needs- to be away from everyone and everything, especially the watchful eyes of the Guardians. It's so hard for him to believe that only one week earlier they had ruined Pitch's plan to spread fear across the world, and to stomp out belief in the Guardians. Yet they are already making fun of him. They are mocking the shade solely of the fact that he longed for something they had took for granted.
Regardless of how many nightmares the nightmare king summoned, how much he shouted into the darkness, he was always alone, and the big four, they couldn't understand that. Why should they? They had never been alone, or had to fact the realization that nobody would ever care for them, or love them. If they wanted to have something as simple as a conversation, they could. Of course they wouldn't understand the crushing pain created by isolation.
But Jack Frost did.
With that tiny thought, his mind is made it; he knows that there is only one thing for him to do. He just hopes that nothing has changed over the last 300 years. Glancing below him, he thanks the moon that the Guardians have given him his privacy as he flies through an open window, searching for the only one who could truly understand his pain, as he knows theirs. The only person who loved him.
As he flew away with only on thought on his mind, he didn't hear how the door opened behind him before he left.
- One Week Earlier –
It only takes a second for your life to completely change, whether it be for better or worse. That was all he could think as he slowly clawed through the cloud cloaking his mind so he could return to the world of conciseness. Even if he couldn't remember falling unconscious.
"Welcome back, Frostbite," comes a gruff voice from behind him.
Frowning in confusion, ice blue eyes are slowly forced open, only to snap close again. The bright lights from the Pole blind him, making him whimper slightly in frustration.
"Hey it's okay. Just try again, but slower this time, let your eyes adjust to the light." A musical tone coos, while a petite hand gently combs through his knotted hair.
He only hesitates for the smallest fraction of a second before he follows the instructions, and only then does he notice the faint echoes of pain that are rippling through his exhausted body. Once he finally gets his eyes fully open and his vision had cleared, he sees how Tooth is hovering over him, not even trying to restrain her worry. What surprises him though is how Bunny holds him so carefully in his arms. His surprise doesn't last for long though and the second it fades he starts to struggle and squirm in attempt to escape his hold, beating down his embarrassment and fear at being held so protectively.
Slowly he starts to go still as he realises that no matter how hard he fights, he won't be able to get free; the Pooka's hold is too strong. Instead he begins a quiet mantra of pleas for release muttered under his breath. The other obviously could hear him, yet his prayers fall on deaf ears as nobody moves to help him. North chooses that moment to stroll in, though he looks slightly less confident than usual, but thankfully after her surveys the scene before him, he instructs Bunny to let Jack down.
Despite what the Guardians may have feared, the young frost spirit did not fly straight out of there at the first opportunity he was given. Instead he backs up to the nearest hard surface and slides down to the ground where he can curl in on himself. His shoulders shake with silent sobs that he can no longer hold back.
"Jack?" Tooth asks as she hovers closer, concern once more raising in her voice. She moves slowly, scared that she will frighten him, though she needn't have worried as the Guardian of Wonder stops her before she can get too close.
"Give boy space," booms Santa even as he makes no move to stop Easter's progress towards the child. Instead he motions for the others to follow him out of the hallway, hoping that the Rabbit will be able to help the hurting teen as they both have a shared experience of not being believed in. From that, Bunny would be the best to help, he just hopes that he could actually do some good. Thankfully though, the other two decide to silently follow him.
"How can you deal with it, mate?" The warrior asks, his voice softens as he replays one of his most painful memories.
"I can't… It… You can't…"
The whispered response shocks Aster, because he was expecting the apparently fearful teen to remain silent, but even if he did get a response, he wasn't expecting that. "Let me help you then, Jackie. You know that I know how it fee-"
"No!" Jack cries as he jumps up and away from the Pooka, blind once more, but this time by fury. "You only got a taste of what it means to not be believed in, that does not give you an idea as to how I feel. You know nothing! Imagine the pain you felt, but having it last for three hundred years! Imagine not being able to remember a time you didn't feel that. Imagine that every single time you found someone who could actually see you, they hated you, because you were winter; you were death." He was shaking again. "Then, and only then, can you say that you know how it feels."
"Jack… I'm so sorry, Snowflake," The elder mutters almost pitifully, "What can I do? What can we do?"
"Pitch," He boy whispers to the floor, "He's the only one who knows what it's like. He's the only one who could possibly understand."
If he had looked up at that moment, he would have seen the unsure, fearful look that flashes across Bunny's face. When he does raise his big, bright, begging blue eyes to the soft forest green ones, the emotion was long gone.
Bunnymund stares deep into his eyes, not missing the exhaustion and pain hidden deep within, "Come on, kid, you need to sleep."
With that he picks the child up bridal style once more, as he carries him to a guest bedroom that has been put away especially for him, ignoring the complaints that follow the action. Once he feels that the youngest guardian is properly tucked into, he leaves him to search out North. He hopes that he can find a solution to this problem that will make everyone happy.
Original Word Count: 851
