A/C: Hey all! I really apologize for the lateness of the story. Work decided to launch itself at me from the darkest of depths and throw me into the chaos of reworking schedules and dealing with personal stuff that I wished I didn't need to do.
But here it is! Chapter Six! I will try to get the next chapter out sometime this week and possibly, another after that! Thank you to those who are sticking around!
Chapter Six
The flight out was a silent one. Jack not wanting to risk the chance that Eros would want him to go away during this difficult task. There were a million things that could be said and most would make the situation that much harder. Jack's main concern though, was taking the man to a place that would be more comfortable. Someplace safer and more secure than the dark and cold crevice he had seen is memory in. He knew one place that would mean more to the other than any other.
Home. The once small town came into view after a few minutes of flight, streets deserted by the late hour that they arrived. Street lamps lit up small areas along the sidewalk as they flew past it and towards the frozen pond. The only area in the town that hadn't really changed, where children still skated and played around, and the one place that held a lot of meaning to Jack. And after Eros finally saw his memory, perhaps a place that even he would still call a special place.
The two men slowly came to a landing on the soft and freshly laid snow. Eros pulling away and having only eyes for the golden case in his hands, fingers tightening around its solid frame as he felt the want to open it rise. He knew that this would answer everything, he just knew it. At the least, it would tell him why he was so encompassed and involved in the snow spirit. Turning his gaze back towards Jack, he gave him a tentative smile, Eros took a deep breath.
"Go ahead...I'll be right here." Jack said in a quiet and comforting way, both hands grasping the staff hard, and his entire body leaning against its strong length. Then slowly, Eros turned back to the case, and took a deep breath. His hands shook a little, nervous for some reason, and he had to shake his head a bit before refocusing on the object. Jack stared on, an eyebrow shooting up in curiosity as he saw Eros hesitate. He reached a hand out, smoke rising as the cold digits touched Eros' shoulder.
"What's wrong? You said you wanted to see them...the memories..." Eros' hands dropped, left hand still digging fingers into the solid case, but his gaze turning away.
"I...I'm nervous...how stupid is that? I just want to know..." Jack cocked his head to the side.
"Want to know what?" It was Eros' turn to slowly turn his head, gazing at the other with nervous tension strumming throughout his body, and a weak smile coming to his face.
"I want to know why...I want to touch you so badly..." The words knocked Jack back a few steps, eyes widening as a mixture of emotions flooded through him. He had known that the other had to have felt something, especially after the kiss that Eros had sprung on him, but he hadn't expected it to be that insistent. The weeks and days that the fiery spirit had demanded his memories, were because he wanted to know why he wanted Jack? That single admittance made Jack's world spin. He raised a hand up, coughing into a fist before moving it to ruffle the hair on the top of his head. His gaze falling down to his suddenly interesting feet and the cold appendage kicking at the ice-covered pond.
"Haha...well...I don't...what do you...you mean, you like me?" Both hands shoved into the pocket of his hoodie, a gleeful smile on his face. Eros looked away, a bright flush coming to his cheeks, and Jack had to hold back a giggle. The large man, towering way over Jack's small and thin frame, was actually blushing like an embarrassed teen. Like how he had so many years before. In the same place, both standing there, facing one another, and Jack feeling the tightness in his chest once again. Taking a deep breath, he smiled as he saw the emotions run across Eros' face, looking just as nervous as he had back then, but for a different reason.
"Well, I mean...I feel...I don't...I uh..." Jack floated gently forward, a hand reaching out to turn Eros' face around so that they came face to face. His blue eyes wide, waiting expectantly and Eros' breath catching in his throat as he stared back in slight fear from how the event was turning. Slowly, Jack pulled away, a hand caressing Eros' face for a moment longer before reaching down to grasp the golden case. He brought Eros' hand up with the case, eyes still locked with Eros, and smiling as his other hand came around to open it. Eros' eyes shot open as a bright light emanated from the small compartment within, filling up the space between them, and his eyes narrowing from the force of it.
The first thing he saw was a frightening battle. Black sand swirling around him, a laugh that brought chills to his spine. The small boy, one that he recognized from the pictures on Jack's wall, stood defiantly in the street. His hand raising up as the black sand blasted towards him, his small hand coming up as if he could stop the sand from harming him, and Eros found himself yelling out in fear.
But the sand tuned to gold, spreading out and turning into delightful, dream-like creatures that made all the children present laugh in excitement and awe. Eros' eyes widened as he saw Jack, whooping in glee on the ground before turning down to the boy and patting him on the back. The look of admiration that the young man gave Jack made Eros' chest ache, his eyes narrowing in slight pain and his hand coming to his chest as he saw the emotions.
"Good going, Jamie!" Then Jack turned away, flying up into the sky to battle the dark spirit that floated high above them. His arm bringing back the staff before shooting off a blast to try to harm the spirit once again. Eros covered in eyes, blocking the bright light that shot through the sky like a giant bolt of lightning. Then the light faded away from around the edges of his palm, golden eyes narrowed as he lowered his hand to see him in a different scene.
The same young man but slightly older, a teenager. Skipping and running along the street, calling out to Jack, laughing with what little breath he had as he tried to keep up with the playful spirit. Jack calling back to the boy, calling him Jamie over and over, enticing him to follow him before throwing a snowball at the figure. Jamie dodging the bombardment with ease, laughing out loudly. Eros barely caught the gazes of the passersby, staring strangely at the young man who was running and laughing for no clear reason.
"Jack! Wait!" The boy called out, waving a hand at the spirit that flew away a little faster but pausing as the boy called out to him. Eros smiled, enjoying the scene of the playful boy and his friend, enjoying each other's company. He turned to look around the area and paused as he caught sight of himself in a shop window, a face that was all too familiar. But he had little time to inspect the first sight of his face any further as the scene changed once again.
This time, Eros was standing on the pond again. His eyes looking around to see Jamie once more but older, a young man now, and his face all too familiar once again. The older Jamie standing in front of a confused looking Jack, towering over him as Eros did now. Then a gasp escaping him as he saw Jamie lean down, kissing the snow spirit in such a shy manner that it was almost painfully sweet to see. Eros' chest ached as he watched, the young man pulling away to stare silently at the shocked snow spirit, before turning to run away.
Eros' hand shot up to his chest, gripping his hand into a tight fist against his chest, feeling the erratic beating of his heart. Then the scene switching again, his eyes shooting up to see a bed. Two bodies writhing together, cold breath floating into the air as the two embraced each other, hips grinding, and lips parting to release slow moans of pleasure. A blush stole over Eros' cheeks, eyes widening to an impossible size before he stumbled backwards.
But there was no mistaking it. There was Jack, writhing and gasping out with his eyes shut tightly, white hair flung back as he gripped at the body above him. The other man, dark hair swinging and dripping with moisture as he too brought his head upwards, showing that same boy Eros had just seen only a moment before. The golden case fell from his hands as his entire form fell backward onto the ice, hands flying back to catch himself as he stared straight ahead. The memory slowly easing away to expose the real world around him.
Jack stood on silently, waiting for the other to go through the entire memory that would be shown. He wasn't sure what part of the man's life he would see but as the time passed and Eros' face changed to one of shock, he could take a good guess on what the man had seen. Then as Eros fell backwards, nearly throwing the golden case from him, Jack took a surprised breath inwards.
Then he waited. The silence that filled the air almost becoming as sharp as a knife, his hands gripping the staff so tightly that the old wood creaked out dangerously. Eros' eyes slowly coming back into focus, turning upwards towards Jack, still wide and filled with shock. Fingertips dug into the ice, melting away the frozen pond slightly as he sat there in shock, his emotions running rampant.
He had expected to see something surprising. Had expected to see something that would rock his world but he hadn't guess on just how far it would go. The kiss, he had almost expected but the intimate aftermath...that had been far more than a surprise. His entire body shook, memories flooding back into his mind, and that night coming to the forefront. A blush came over his entire face and as he stared at Jack, he realized that the other knew just what he was remembering.
Embarrassment took hold of him. He moved to stand up with a jerk, turning around, and shooting up into the air with a burst of heat. His hands coming to cover his face, his body growing warm from the memory that continued to play in the back of his mind. The information was too much, had been much more profound than he had expected, and he wasn't sure on how to react. Well, his body knew what to do but the uncertain mind, told him to run. Never had he felt so torn.
Jack stared up, not moving an inch as he watched the other fly away. A soft, slow sigh escaped him, cold fog appearing before his face as he watched. He knew that it would be too much for the other. Tooth had expected it as well but the man had been so insistent. What did hurt though, was the idea that he would just fall back into the man's arms. That they would embrace each other as partners that were separated for so long, wanting to touch each other, and enjoy the other. The moment that had passed between them before they opened the golden case, had almost led him to believe it would happen.
The hopeful part of him had hoped that their love would rekindle or that the other would ask him questions. But again, that was the hopeful part of him.
Closing his eyes tightly, Jack's chin dropped down to his chest, and he fought against the pain that invaded him. He was the spirit of fun and all these painful obstacles, were taking their toll on the snow spirit. It was almost as if he could feel his powers waning, his energy level dropping down into a spiral of depression. Taking in a deep yet shaky breath, Jack fought against the dark feelings that collected within him.
Jack was so concentrated, that he didn't hear the danger that lurked nearby. Jack let out a surprised yell as something slammed into his side, forcing his entire body to fly across the length of the pond, and straight into a frozen tree. Bright lights danced in front of his eyes as he tried to focus them on whatever had just attacked him. He hadn't expected to see Pitch, standing in the center of the pond, his black robe billowing around him with renewed power. Jack's eyes instantly narrowed and he pounced to his feet, moving into a defensive stance.
"Pitch! What the hell are you doing here?!" He yelled out but his words were a little shaky, filled with the shock of seeing the man and the lingering pain from Eros. Pitch heard the slight quiver, his eyebrow quirking up in interest as he a crooked smile graced his face.
"Why Jack...are you so delighted in my presence that you quiver before me? I know I am quite a specimen but please, contain yourself." Pitch said in a rather mocking tone and Jack had to roll his eyes, blue orbs turning into an unamused stare at the dark spirit. This guy was just too much, always believing that he was truly some kind of prince that should be worshiped. But what the hell was he doing here? Had he purposely come out to attack him or to try and harm Eros?
A slight movement in the treeline brought Jack's attention back to the situation, his head turning to look around Pitch's form and into the darkness behind him. The same darkness that Jack had seen only a few weeks before, a dark cloaked figure that stood deathly silent now. The hood made it appear that he was staring straight at Jack, making a strong shiver run down the snow spirit's body. But he had little time to actually find out more about the dark figure as Pitch threw yet another blast of black sand.
"Dammit!" Jack cursed out loudly as he slid across the icy pond, his right shoulder aching from the attack. His hand shot up, covering the pain that invaded his body as his eyes shot up to the dark figure that was towering over him, golden eyes staring back down at him in return. Then a deep voice rang out across the area, almost a hiss, and making Jack's entire body shudder in revulsion.
"Pitch...this is not him..." Yara said but Pitch ignored the creature as he threw yet another blast, wrapping black sand in a tight constriction around the snow spirit. Jack let out a slightly gurgled sound as the sand wrapped tighter, choking the air out of his lungs, and his legs shaking back and forth in desperation for breath. Pitch smiled evilly, enjoying the torment that came across the spirit's face, and wishing to see more of it. He had little chance to do more though as the cloaked figure came to wrap around Pitch, forcing the spirit to release the black sand in surprise.
"Pitch...did we forget? Forget who is in charge?!" Yara whispered sadistically in the nightmare spirit's ear and Pitch jerked his head away, glaring daggers at the spirit that was too close for comfort. Pitch hated that the creature was having so much control but he was controlling the situation far more than Pitch. Yara had made sure to only give him two children, just enough energy to move out of his cave and into the world. Just enough energy to attack those that would confront him and to be able to put up some fight but not enough to make any serious damage if confronted by more than one. Yara was controlling almost the entire situation. Pitch jerked himself away, attempting to brush away that sickening feeling of hopelessness that the other tried to punish him with.
"God damn you, Yara. Must you touch me?!" Pitch complained and the dark spirit leaned in close, stopping only a few centimeters away from Pitch's face.
"I will do as I please, Pitch...just as I always do. Now, come." Pale hands clenched into tight fists as Pitch continued his glare, gritting his teeth together hard enough to hear them creak, and his entire form shaking. Snapping his head around, he gazed back at Jack, who watched in silence as the two fought. Blue eyes wide, he couldn't figure out what he was seeing. The dark figure was giving orders to Pitch?! What was the world coming to?! But the thoughts halted as Pitch launched himself forward, delivering a painful punch to the snow spirit's face before slowly walking away, rubbing his knuckles from the light pain of the hit.
Jack's head turned downward, spitting to rid his mouth of the blood that erupted from the cut on his lip, a small droplet coming down his chin. Turning his gaze upwards, he caught the last sights of the cloaked figure and Pitch, disappearing into the shadows.