Before you start reading, I have an annoucement. After the update NEXT WEEK, I will have published all my pre-written OS. What does it mean ? The story won't be abandoned, but the updates won't be regular either. I'll try to publish something once a month, but I don't promise anything. Not only my studies take most of my time, but I have other fanfic projects that I really want to write. So, I want to send a big thank you to everyone who read, commented and favorited this story, it was greatly appreciated !

Timeline : 2018
Characters : Guardians
Words : 1098

It was restraining him, latching at his arms and legs to bring him deeper and deeper.

He tried to regain the surface with frantic movements, but the biting cold swathed him and soon enough he was too numb to move.

He couldn't resist the need for air any longer. He opened his mouth, but water only filled his lungs. Before he could fully realize, the liquid had already poisoned his body.

He couldn't hear anything.

He couldn't see anything.

"Jack !"

He opened his eyes. Tooth was looking at him with worry, her gaze wandering alongside his face, searching for any sign of pain.

"Are you alright ?"

He was breathing heavily.

It still surprised him how he kept this habit, even if it had been three centuries since he needed to do it.

"Hey ! What're ya two doin' up there ? Get down here !"

Meters below them, Bunny and North were waving their arms and hurrying them to jump off the cliff.

Jack glanced at the dark water, a lump forming in his throat.

For the first time since Easter '12, he wished he hadn't regain his memories. Then he wouldn't have to deal with this.

It was simple, he just had to push on his legs, take flight, let himself drop into the lake and control his powers enough to not freeze everything around him.

He couldn't do it.

"Sweet Tooth ?" He shook his head in a vain attempt to clear his mind and sent a reassuring smile at his fellow Guardian.

But Tooth didn't return it. She was still watching him like he might disappear in just a second.

"I'm fine, don't worry." She frowned, like she wasn't buying it at all.

They heard Bunny calling them again with an urging tone.

"Go on, I'll join Sandy."

"You sure ? You don't want to jump ?"

He sent a last look at the water below and turned around.

"Nah, I'll just freeze it once I touch it. I'm not sure Bunny would be too happy."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, furrowed one last time her eyebrows and finally jumped off the cliff.

Jack sighed, relieved, and flew to the grass where Sandy was sitting.

The little man had put one foot into the lake, letting the sand scatter in the waves. With fascination, Jack watched as all grains came together again once Sandy decided to remove his limb from the water.

"Doesn't it hurt ?" He asked with bewilderment.

The Guardian of Dreams smiled brightly and shook his head.

"Do you get wet, then ?"

Again, he shook his head.

He could retaliate, in a way. It had been a while since Jack himself had felt liquid water wetting his skin. It hadn't been a really nice experience either, the hotness of the onsen had almost burnt him. Thankfully, he cooled it down enough before it could do any big damage.

"Frostbite ! Why don't ya come there ? We're doin' a swimmin' contest. "

"Think a little, Kangaroo," Jack said playfully, "If I come you're going to be trapped in ice for hours."

"Don't play with me now Frost," Bunny scowled, "I know very well ya can control your icy powers if you want."

Jack laided back on his elbows and sent him an amused smirk.

"I don't really feel like controlling right now."

"You're just lazy !"

"Stop with the grouchy face Kangaroo, you'll end up like this forever," he straightened up and tilted his head on the side, "But seriously, it's hard enough as it is, I'm already controlling them. Kore won't be happy if I mess up her season."

Bunny shrugged so Jack took it as acceptance.

"If ya want. But then, care to explain why ya decided to come here if you can't get into the lake ?"

"Wrong. I suggested you all should take some time off. North turned it into a full Guardian vacation, Sandy wanted to visit the Alps, Tooth agreed, you tagged along because North wouldn't let you do what you wanted otherwise and you all decided to stop here because you thought it was beautiful."

"Don't ya ?"

''Yes, but I'm a traveler Bunny, I see jaw-breaking landscapes everyday."

Bunny finally let it go and joined the others again.

Jack sighed and laid down on the grass. It was a nice day indeed, and was glad no human came.

He felt something tug his sleeve.

Sandy was peering at him with an intrigued look in his eyes.

Someone swimming, a cross, an interrogation mark.

He then pointed to the cliff where he was standing with Tooth just minutes ago.

Jack winced inwardly. Leave it to Sandy to put his observation skills to use in the worst moments.

"I know how to swim." The basics at least, in his human years, not many people knew enough to teach him correctly.

When Sandy tilted his head curiously he decided to add more. "I just don't like water very much."

A question mark.

Jack didn't answer. He let his gaze wander to the other Guardians. North and Bunny seemed to have entered a swimming race, with Tooth as the referee.

Should he really tell him ? Never once before had he felt the need to talk about it. And if the last few years had taught him anything, was that nothing good came on dwelling on past events.

He felt Sandy put a hand on his shoulder.

He didn't need to talk about it. It was his problem, the Guardians had nothing to do with it. They couldn't do anything anyway. As long as he didn't have to go in the water, he was fine.

He couldn't help but feel it however, the urge to spill everything. To tell Sandy about the skates, Grace, the pond, the ice that wasn't completely frozen, the cold, the fear, the desperation and above all the knowledge he wouldn't make it.

Before he could change his mind, he opened his mouth.

No sound came.

Again, he couldn't do it.

Jack sighed heavily and closed his eyes for a few seconds.

He then got up and sent an amused look at Sandy.

"Come on, I think they're bored without us."

Sandy watched him carefully but finally decided to follow him.

Jack flew to the others and before Bunny could spot him, he sent him a snowball in the shoulder.

"You're gonna pay for that !"

"Catch me if you can !"

Jack laughed loudly while fleeing Bunny's grasp.

Maybe he would tell them, one day.

This chapter should have actually been the one where everything comes into the light buuuuuuuuut my mind couldn't come with a good way to deliver it so, no. Moreover, the whole Jack-get-thrown-into-water-and-then-the-Guardians-discover-the-truth has be done many times now, it isn't funny anymore.

But don't worry, one day they will get to it :)