AN: Sorry I was ill and busy, here's the second chapter. A bit short for my liking.
The ground was soft under his bare feet, the shadows seeming to cling to everything but him as he stood. He walked down the tunnel his eyes straining to see the flicker of light at its end.
As the tunnel ended it opened up into a large room, the very room which had once held gilded cages full of Tooth's fairies. Now all that remained was the large globe with a few lights of grey, he stepped closer to it, his hand going forward to touch the monochrome surface before it was slapped down abruptly by a larger one.
He turned and was face to face with Pitch, "Jack Frost, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
The man stood proudly, his skin grey and his golden eyes watching him with a mix of curiosity and anger.
"Pitch!" Jack squeaked in surprise, taking a step back from the nightmare king. Pitch took another step forward.
"I'll ask again, Frost, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he purred, relishing in the shiver Jack gave in return.
The boy looked around nervously, 'why was he here again?', meanwhile Pitch watched him squirm with a smirk, he had always found it rather entertaining to see the boy flustered, he had seen the expression many times as he passed the other immortal over the years, his presence hidden in the shadows.
Regaining his courage Jack stood straighter and looked into Pitch's, the action startling the boogieman slightly, "I came to see if you were ok."
There was silence as both stood there, simply looking at each other.
Pitch's eye twitched and his lips drew back in a snarl; his white teeth gaining a more defined pointed edge as the gold around his irises overtook the silver around it.
"You came to see if I was ok?! Do you take me for a fool?!" he shrieked as the shadows around them seemed to elongate, giving the man even more height as he glared down at the winter spirit. "You, Jack Frost, who destroyed my plans and hard work. You came to see if I was ok!"
Jack shrank back slightly, "Y-yeah?" he whispered.
This seemed to only further enrage the man as he hissed, eyes glowing menacingly.
"I'm sorry about that by the w-"
"Oh he's sorry. Well by all means let's start over, let's become the best of friends." Pitch said sarcastically before giving a fearsome glare that, if Jack wasn't so determined, would have him running as fast as he could, "Don't patronise me Frost. What is it you want? Say it and get out!"
Jack shifted under the gaze as silence once again reigned in the cavern, "Well?" the man asked, annoyance evident in his voice.
At the voice Jack looked up at the grey skinned man in front of him and once again straightened, "I know you may not believe me, I wouldn't expect you to but I really am sorry and I-" he stopped as Pitch took another step forward making him step back, "I wanted to check if you were ok and I wondered if you'd like some company or something."
"Why would I want to spend time with you!?" the man asked with a humourless laugh, "I know what this is, you're trying to lure me into some trap, this is a joke, a scheme of som-"
"I want to spend time with you because no one deserves to be alone!" Jack yelled suddenly.
Pitch withdrew as if slapped, the gold in his eyes that burned with anger decreasing to their normal brightness and allowing the silver at the edges to seep back into them.
"It's not a joke or a trap," he continued, "You and I, we're the same. I didn't realise before, I didn't know what to do and then I realised you've been alone too." At this he looked up into the man's eyes, the silver orbs were wide with shock at his confession as blue eyes looked at him with something akin to concern.
Suddenly Pitch turned and walked away; merging with the near-by shadows and leaving Jack in utter confusion.
"Go away Jack." The voice of the nightmare king sighed.
"But-"
There was a growl, "The other guardians are looking for you. Go!"
And so Jack turned to leave the way he came but as he entered the tunnel he turned back, "I'll see you late, Pitch." He whispered, sure the man would hear despite the lack of reply.
Pitch stood and watched as the winter spirit left, his eyes staying on the entrance of the tunnel long after the boy had gone. 'No one deserves to be alone!' the words rang in his head like bells and he growled. He didn't need anyone, especially not Jack Frost.
Bunnymund popped up and landed on the ground just as North landed, both scanned the area briefly before the large man jumped out of his sleigh, Tooth floating out and sandy gliding on a cloud of golden sand.
"We should fan out, we'll cover more ground that way." The Russian gift maker announced and with a nod of agreement they all split up, searching their newest member's home.
Baby tooth looked around from her perch on North's hat, chirping to the ma as she came up with nothing.
"We will find him, do not worry." He told the little fairy with a smile.
Sandy glided above them all as Tooth looked in every tree's branches for a flash of blue, Bunnymund seeing if he could see anything on ground level. Shouts of Jack's name were carried on the wind as they searched.
From above Sandy caught sight of something blue coming out of the ground and with curious eyes, watched as Jack Frost climbed out of a hole before it closed back up quickly. The boy looked around and then shot up into the air only to stop as he saw his friend.
"Sandy, what are you doing here?" he asked nervously as he flew to meet the protector of dreams. The man raised an eyebrow but answered the boy's questions. Jacks eyes watched the images appear over sandy's head and nodded, "So the others are here?" getting a nod he sighed, "I was only gone a bit, I needed out and you know how I get when I'm cooped up."
Sandy gave a silent chuckle and patted the younger boy on the shoulder, 'of course I do' his face said and Jack couldn't help but laugh.
They soon touched the ground, Tooth zooming to them, seeing them first, "Where have you been? We were worried." She began frantically checking him her fingers going to his mouth as she checked his teeth. He pulled her hands away with smile and was soon surrounded by the others, all asking him where he had been, Baby Tooth scolding him, her chirps angry as she puffed out her cheeks and wagged her finger reprimanding him on his worrying her.
"I was just around, you know, I needed to get out and feel the snow beneath my feet."
"There's snow at the pole." North stated, face stern.
Jack shrugged, "I know but I've been there a month."
Bunny patted his shoulder, "Its fine mate. You're not a prisoner, you should be able to leave when you want, right North?" he asked pointedly. The man nodded sheepishly.
"Let's go home then." The Russian said with a smile, "I have elves make you cake, yes?"
The boy smiled slightly but shook his head, "I think I'll stay here," he said politely, North's face fell a bit, "but I'll visit."
The group nodded and said their goodbyes at the promise of visits, baby tooth chirped happily and gave the boy's cheek a brief kiss as her queen had done moments before; both giving a little shiver at his cold temperature.
"Bye!" he yelled as they all went their separate ways, he didn't miss the curious look he got from Sandy as North's sleigh arose but waved happily anyway.