Almighty Therianthropy
Chapter 10
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After everyone was fixed up, it was time for a celebration. July fronted a rock band of yetis, singing all kinds of great music from Michael Jackson to Metallica. She was wearing her favorite American Flag one-shoulder dress. Maya turned out to be an expert ballroom dancer, and she danced the cha cha with her cousin from the Dominican Republic. There was plenty of eggnog and food to go around. Sandy's really good at craps. North drank with Olev and Radik. Tooth hadn't had a night off in centuries, and she danced gracefully in the air with Revere. Jack danced with the elves (and some of July's fanatic female cousins) while Bunnymund just watched the show from the sidelines. Jack, finally able to break free from the ladies and made his way over to his rabbit.
"She's an amazing singer." Jack said.
"'Course. She has to be able to sing your national anthem." Bunny said.
"Is there anything she can't do?"
"Cook." Bunny replied, shaking his head. "She's horrible at it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Doesn't have the patience for it. She eats nothing but junk. And she puts hot sauce on everything." They both made grossed-out noises.
"Okay, everyone, let's slow it down a bit." July motioned to the band to start playing a new song. "This one is for anyone who was ever unsure about love." She winked in Jack and Bunny's direction.
"Wait… does she…?" Bunny looked at the boy.
"Yeah, well… I asked her if you two were together…" Jack rubbed his arm nervously. "And she kinda… figured it out."
"I see." Bunny looked at July slyly. She just pursed her lips and started singing.
When your tears are spent on your last pretense
And your tired eyes refuse to close and sleep in your defense.
When it's in your spine like you've walked for miles
And the only thing you want is just to be still for a while
"Hey, since this song is about us…" The guardian of fun took the rabbit's paw in his hand. "Let's dance."
"Oh, no, Frostbite…"
"Come on!" Jack pulled him.
"Naw, mate, these legs aren't made for dancing."
"Come on, it's just swaying back and forth!" He pouted. Bunny sighed, defeated by that face.
"Fine." He got up and let the boy drag him to the dance floor. He put his paw around the kid's back while still holding his hand with the other. Jack put his free arm around Bunny's broad shoulder. They swayed with the music.
If your heart wears thin I will hold you up
And I will hide you when it gets too much
I'll be right beside you
I'll be right beside you
"I gotta warn you, mate…" The Pooka whispered in Jack's ear. "July's a big fan of this kind of thing."
"Fan of what?"
"You know… homosexuality." He mumbled. "Watching men with other men. It's a kink of hers that she was so delighted to share with me."
"Much to your dislike?" Jack asked, a slight tint of worry in his voice.
"Not so much dislike…" Bunnymund didn't miss it. "It's just… uncomfortable when she starts sharing her books, movies and fantasies on the subject with me." The winter spirit laughed.
"I would love to see you guys talking about that and watch your face!" He laughed some more.
When you're overwhelmed and you've lost your breath
When the space between the things you know is blurry nonetheless.
When you try to speak but you make no sound
And the words you want are out of reach but they've never been so loud
"The others are looking at us." Bunny peeked over at North, Tooth, and Sandy, who had confused looks on their faces.
"Who the hell cares?" The boy smirked.
"That's exactly what I was gonna say, Frostbite." The rabbit grinned.
"Wow, the old Bunny would have hid in a hole from embarrassment." Jack said. "Actually, the old Bunny wouldn't have come out to dance with me at all."
"I've changed." The Pooka shrugged. "People have been noticing." He looked up at July again, and smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Is that my fault?" The kid played innocent.
"It most certainly is, ya whacker." Bunny leaned down and kissed Jack gently.
Trust in me, trust in me, don't pull away
Trust in me, trust in me.
I'm just trying to keep it together, cuz I could do worse and you could do better
Tears are spent on your last pretense
And your tired eyes refuse to close and sleep in your defense.
And if your heart wears thin I will hold you up
And I will hide you when it gets too much
I'll be right beside you
Nobody will break you
The song was over, and everyone stopped dancing to applaud. "Alright, enough of that sappy shit." July said. "Hit it!" The band started playing 'Massive Attack' by Nicki Minaj.
"Let's get outta here." Bunnymund smiled at his winter spirit. He nodded in reply.
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Bunny and Jack got away from the party and went down a couple floors in North's factory, finding a large window with a sill to sit on. Of course, the winter spirit found the view of hills made of snow astounding.
"This isn't what I thought you meant, Kangaroo." Jack smirked suggestively. The rabbit cleared his throat.
"We should wait until your wounds heal, mate." Bunny put a paw on Jack's uninjured shoulder. "Which shouldn't take very long."
"Hmm, such a gentleman." The boy kissed the Pooka's nose. As he gazed out the window again, Bunny recalled why he brought the kid down here in the first place.
"Jack… there's something I want to make sure you understand." He began. Jack looked at him curiously. "I just want to say… that I forgive you for the Blizzard of '68. And I'm also… sorry about it."
"Why sorry?"
"Honestly, I overreacted about the whole thing. And I held a grudge for over 40 years, mate. That was just so childish of me, and I'm sorry, mate." Bunnymund's ears lowered. Jack was surprised, mostly about the apology. He was grateful for it, and felt Bunny was wrong to hold it against him so long, but still, he had every right to be mad about it.
"I was childish, too." Jack said sincerely. "I shouldn't have made the blizzard in the first place. So I'm sorry… and I forgive you, too." They smiled at each other.
"So, you said you loved me for a long time." Bunny's eyebrow rose. "How long, exactly?"
"Oh… see, that's the thing…" Jack blushed cutely. "That's partly the reason I caused the blizzard. I first saw you a few Easters before then, and I thought you were really cool and I kind of had a little crush on you… but I didn't know what exactly to do about that, so I made it snow really bad that Easter. But it wasn't just to get your attention, it was to…"
"Get people to see you." Bunnymund finished Jack's sentence.
"Yeah." He nodded. "I still had a crush on you over the years, but I guess I didn't start to REALLY love you until last year…" He bit his lip. "Now you tell me! How long have you loved me?"
"Ah strewth, I wish I could say as long as you have me." Bunny scratched behind his head. "I didn't think of you like that until last year. And I just kept thinking it would never work cuz we're different species and the same gender… so a few days ago I thought it would be a good idea to… introduce you to July…"
"So you really were trying to set us up." Jack figured. "But you said you smelled it on me… however that works."
"You just smell like a horny teenager, mate." Bunny snickered. "But you didn't all the time, and sometimes it would be when no one else was around but me."
"Well, I am horny, but only for you, Kangaroo." Jack rested his head on the Pooka's chest, and could hear his heart beat faster because he said that.
"You made things really difficult for me this year, you bloody show pony." He put his arm around the winter spirit. "I kept thinking, 'what is wrong with me, I shouldn't be attracted to a male hu… well, someone that looks human.'"
"I know what you mean." Jack snuggled closer. "But I got over that."
"Me too." Bunny frowned. "Betzalel was wrong when he said this kind of love is forsaken."
"Damn right." The boy looked up into green eyes. "Hey, do we have to wait for me to heal for us to make out?"
"Not at all, Jack." Bunny laughed before leaning down and pressing his fuzzy lips against Jack's. The teen sighed happily and opened his mouth, letting the rabbit's rough tongue graze against his own. Jack wrapped his arms around Bunnymund's shoulders, running his fingers through thick, blue-gray fur. The Pooka needed to be careful about where he put his large paws, holding him around his back but not too tight. They both heard giggling and they broke the kiss, seeing two of July's European cousins smiling at them and cooing from down the hall. They looked at each other and laughed nervously. "Well, we should be getting back up there. They might come looking for us."
"I suppose." Jack nodded.
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"What were you thinking up there?" Bunny asked July as he danced with her.
"Hey, I didn't reveal anything." She smirked. "You did when you kissed him in the middle of the dance floor."
"I-I…" Bunny just realized that he did really do that. "Fuck."
"Did you?" July stuck her tongue out. "I saw you two leave. Did you…?"
"NO, we didn't." The Pooka's eyes narrowed. "Y-You…"
"I'm so happy for you guys." She swiftly changed the subject.
"Oh, well… thanks."
"You better not fuck this up."
"I won't."
"Good." She smiled. "Now I'm gonna steal him from Tooth over there." She led the rabbit over to where Tooth and Jack were dancing. The Tooth Fairy had a strange look on her face, like she was pleasantly surprised and nervous. "Hey, mind if we cut in?" July spun out of Bunny's hold and took Jack's hand, leaving Tooth and Bunny to dance with each other. "Hey, you."
"Hey." Jack said as he started dancing with her.
"So ya finally got him, huh?"
"I sure did." He smiled confidently.
"What's up with Tooth?"
"She asked about me and Bunny, and I told her and she starts acting weird."
"HAHAHA! She's a fan-girl, too!" She laughed. "That is great!"
"It's better than her disapproving." Jack looked over at the two and Tooth still had that look on her face. "Mind if I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"How come you're not a Guardian?" He asked. "Honestly, you'd have been a better choice than me. You seem to know your purpose and you're great with people. So, why not?"
"That's a good question." She pondered. "I don't really know. But it doesn't matter. If I get chosen, that's great, but I'm not holding out for it."
"What does qualify someone becoming a Guardian?"
"That's an even better question." She laughed. "Maybe it's because… you're all so pure of heart."
"And you're not?"
"Haven't you learned by now, sweetie?" Her voice got deeper and winked at him. "I'm the fucking devil's incarnate." She joked.
"Oh, I'm so scared." He laughed with her. This was definitely a night to celebrate: defeating the enemy, making new friends, and finding true love.
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A/N: Hey, everyone. Still no lemon, but it will be the next chapter. I was going to put it here but then it would be too long. The next chapter will be the last. Happy Valentine's Day! The song is 'Beside You' by Marianas Trench. Have you seen the fan video of JackRabbit using that song? Then I suggest you check it out! Here's the link delete the spaces: www. /watch?v=P032-qITlxo&list=PLDB0F05155C8B704D&index=6
Taru-chan