Several days had passed and Jack refused to stay in bed any longer, instead he stood on the roof practising battle techniques. One move after another he performed them without error, not once did he lose his balance or pause to take a breath.
Bunny watched him from nearby, he didn't trust Jack alone on the roof to not fall of. But watching the kid train made him realize just how amazing this kid was, seeing him kick and punch and jump and turn, seeing the speed with which he performed the moves, switching between high and low moves within second as he fought his imaginary enemy.
He would never understand why the kid hadn't fought back, or why the kid had bothered with learning these moves at all, he was peaceful, no matter what the situation he chose the least violent path, even in fights he tried to be quick and harmless, knock them out with on swift move. Yet he clearly knew how to defend himself against much greater enemies than there were around thess parts.
"Hey Jack!"
The boy didn't stop his training, didn't so much as turn to look at Bunny "yeah?"
"Where did ya say ya learnt to fight like that?"
"The streets, ya learn stuff if ya give it enough time."
"Nah, mate, this ain't like nothing ya learn out there, this is proper training and practice, skill."
"You could say it's a hobby."
"You could, but I ain't about to believe that, come on, what's got ya so scared that ya have to fight like that on a daily basis?"
"I don't fight like this on a daily basis."
Bunny stood up, approaching silently, or at least he though he was.
"Don't you dare, I'm not past throwing you of the roof."
Bunny raised an eyebrow "is that so? You never did it when I was actually against you."
Jack didn't reply, he kept training, letting all his concentration lie in his battle moves. There was a moment of silence before Bunny took a step back.
"Jack?"
"Yes, Bunny?"
"How about a fight, for training?"
Jack stopped, turning to look at his old enemy, he tilted his head "pardon?"
"I realize... I've never actually fought with you before, we just chase you and you run. But you're strong, and I want to see what you can do."
Jack looked and Bunny before smirking, "I'm stronger then I look," he warned, playfully.
"I have no doubt, so is that a yes?"
Jack laughed and nodded, "I'd like to fight for fun for a change."
Bunny laughed back, "agreed."
Jack got into a fighting position, still smiling, Bunny did the same. They circled each other for a second, both ready, Jack was the first to attack charging at Bunny with his staff, Bunny grabbed the staff tightly, they both held on circling each other before Jack jumped into the air putting all his weight on the staff, Bunny dropped it as if to let Jack fall who turned in mid air kicking Bunny before stepping back and twirling the staff playfully.
Bunny rubbed his shoulder where he'd been hit, "good move," he complimented, "I'm guessing, had this been a proper battle, you would have kicked me in the face?"
"Followed by a kick to the stomach and of the roof," he whistled, "that would usually be a K.O."
Bunny laughed, "my move," he said and without hesitation he charged his boomerangs at hand, Jack quickly switched into a defensive position, but before Bunny attacked he leaped, landing behind Jack, a usually effective technique except Jack was fast with a quick spin he hit Bunny with his staff, throwing him to the side.
Bunny gasped jumping and only just avoiding falling of the roof, he didn't stop to think about that as he threw one boomerang then the other. Jack dodged both with ease, he turned around so as to dodge them as they returned, dodging one, then the other, but before he could turn again his shoulder was hit by something, Bunny had caught the first one to come back and thrown it immediately.
He moved his hand to feel his shoulder and instantly regretted it as Bunny grabbed hold of his staff and pulled it up, holding it against his neck, holding it tightly, Jack grabbed his staff as if to try and pull it away from him.
"I think we both know that never works," Bunny said with a smirk. But Jack didn't try to push it away instead, he kicked Bunny one time and leapt over the staff so that he was on the other side of the staff holding it, facing Bunny.
"Sure about that?"
"You know a lot of tricks," Bunny grinned, "I could learn quite a bit from you," he said suddenly turning the staff so it was up straight, Jack gasped falling over, clearly at a disadvantage strength wise.
Bunny took advantage of the situation throwing the staff behind him out of Jack's reach, Jack slowly stood up, Bunny grinned menacingly. Jack looked at his staff before attacking Bunny with his fists, Bunny dodged a few with ease before grabbing hold of one hand, Jack didn't risk using his other hand to throw another punch knowing Bunny would only grab it, instead he leapt into the air, Bunny let go of him and Jack took a few steps back.
Bunny then charged at Jack, the boy's eyes widened and he stepped back, suddenly the ground vanished and he felt himself fall, a scream of pure fear left his lips as a strong hand only just managed to grab his much smaller hand in time to stop him from falling of the roof.
Jack closed his eyes tightly, he felt his heart beat against his chest as he struggled to breath, "hey mate, I've got ya, don't worry... I've got ya," he heard Bunny whisper reassuringly as he was pulled back onto the roof.
Jack didn't relax, he pulled his knees close forming a small ball, Bunny frowned, kneeling down next to the kid and putting a strong hand on his shoulder, unsure what to do.
"Jack?"
He didn't reply as he cuddled up closer.
"Hey, it's ok now... the dangers gone... ya didn't really think I'd let ya fall of that roof did ya?" he asked pulling the child closer, "hey... i-it's ok..."
Jack shook his head, "I want my staff back," he whispered.
Bunny hesitated before removing his hand and running over to the piece of wood before coming back to the kid, "here ya go mate... ya want to go inside?"
Jack nodded as he stood up to follow Bunny who was frowning, this wasn't the reaction he expected, but he decided to questions it later as he guided the kid inside. The kid bounced from roof to roof yet he clearly didn't fall too often, but the way the kid reacted, this probably wasn't the first time the kid had felt gravity pull him towards the ground. Yet he continued to jump from roof to roof...
"Yer a very brave kid," Bunny whispered.
Jack didn't reply as he was led back into the house and downstairs to the living room where everyone else was waiting for lunch to be prepared.
"Hey boys, what have you been up to all morning?" Tooth whispered.
"Training," Bunny replied sitting down at a sofa next to Jack, "Jack's here is very impressive, I'd say his been practising for a long time."
North laughed, "that is good to hear, soon you will have healed enough to get back to problem at hand, not alone this time, not go well last time I think."
Jack nodded, "fair enough."
"Hey, kiddo, if you'd like ya can come with me? I'm the fastest on this team and probably the least likely to slow ya down."
Jack nodded, "ok, when will I be allowed back out?"
"This evening, if you feel ready," Bunny replied.
Tooth looked up, "wouldn't it be best to wait until tomorrow?"
"I think the sooner the better," Jack said, looking away from everyone, he was still slightly in shock form earlier.
"Then that's settled, me and Jack will head out this evening and take down some bad guys, you guys do what ya want."
That evening before they went out Bunny managed to convince Jack to rest for an hour, Jack hadn't wanted to but eventually agreed. He had fallen asleep almost instantly after lying down in the bed. After the rest he was feeling and looking much better, he sat on the sofa with a big smile.
"So, we going yet? We've got work to do!" Jack said to Bunny as he finally came into the living room.
Bunny grinned, "yeah, yeah, just give me a second, I need to grab some stuff first."
"What stuff?"
"Well, handcuffs for example?"
"Oh yeah, you guys..." he frowned before smiling once more, "sounds useful!"
"Okay, so I'm guessing going to the same spot as before would not be the best choice?"
"It's not going to be as easy as the other day, no matter where we go there going to be more guarded, news travels fast, but yes, a different area would probably be slightly better."
Bunny nodded, "I'll let you lead the way?"
Jack nodded "we'll go somewhere nearby."
"Nearby? I'd think there would be more people further away, avoiding this house maybe?"
Jack laughed, "you wish, I hang out on your roof all the time, great view of the market not to mention the fact you guys always hunt criminals further away, don't think we didn't notice."
"I see," Bunny looked surprised as he opened the door and looked around as if expecting to see some criminal leaning against a wall, "guess we should mix our schedule up a bit more."
"I'd suggest it."
"Any other suggestions?"
Jack pretended to be thinking, "well..." he grinned, "first of all you may want to change your uniforms, apart form you the rest of you are visible form miles, I mean, what were you guys thinking?"
"Hey you said it, it wasn't me!"
Jack grinned before climbing up onto a roof, Bunny following just behind him, "yeah well, it definitely is a good warning, also, don't shout at someone to surrender, there not going to surrender."
Bunny blinked and opened his mouth to tell Jack he was wrong about the last part.
"Before you deny it, name one time they actually surrendered."
Bunny closed his mouth, "okay, you got me there."
"Exactly, now shut up."
Bunny raised an eyebrow and knelt down when Jack did, "what you see?" he whispered.
"There," Jack pointed down into a small street, at first sight Bunny couldn't really tell who Jack was pointing at, all he saw was a blur of black and grey, then he realized.
"Pitch?"
"I think so."
Bunny growled, "I seriously can't wait to beat that guy up."
"What are you waiting for?"
Bunny turned surprised, "Jack... we can't attack him one our own, it's too dangerous."
Jack raised an eyebrow, "have you ever studied physics?"
"Physics?" Bunny raised an eyebrow.
Jack smirked, "watch this," he whispered before suddenly leaping.
Bunny gasped eyes widening, he most certainly hadn't been expecting that and much less after Jack's recent fall. Jack raised his staff and landed perfectly on top of the figure.
The figure lay still and Jack stood up slowly, Bunny sighed with relief and was about to climb down himself when suddenly a different black figure exited the building in front of Jack and swiftly grabbed Jack. Obviously knowing what he was doing he knocked Jack out with a simple press on the neck.
Bunny's eyes widened as he knelt down closer to the roof, watching with horror as he recognized the new figure as Pitch, "a trap?" he though to himself as he watched Pitch hand Jack over to one of the three people that exited the building after him.
"His dead," one of the men said as he contemplated the fake Pitch.
"It's his own fault, he knew what was coming, get rid of the body," he said, Bunny listening in carefully.
"Shall we get rid of the child too?"
"No," Pitch said, "he will be useful," he said leaning into to take a closer look at Jack.
Bunny growled and had to claw at the roof so as to hold himself back from leaping right there, he knew he stood no chance against them and that the best way to help Jack would be to tell the others and break him out of where ever Pitch decided to lock him away, but that didn't make it any more horrible to watch.
Bunny watched them leave before taking a deep breath and standing up, "Pitch, I swear if you hurt that kid I will make you pay," Bunny growled before running as fast as possible towards his home.
Sorry about how long this took, I went on holiday straight after finishing school so I haven't really been around, I'm not sure I'm too fond of this chapter but I did rewrite a few times so I decided I best just upload it before I forget.