Hey everyone. Just to put any fears to rest, don't freak out about any blackice hinting. Everything will be okay, I promise. I won't ruin the story. The hinting was merely a curveball so just wait and see what happens, okay?

Also, I'm probably fictionalizing a few things in Pittsburgh again but is not entirely helpful in helping with my research. So, where you see inaccuracies, just pretend it's right. Plus, just in case you don't know, Skittle shots are where you soak Skittles in vodka so the flavour and colour comes out. Then you shoot it. Google it, you'll see what I mean.

Play For Me, Jack

Chapter 12

The next morning, Jack waited with an absent look on his face for Tooth's arrival. He expected her to be riding him as soon as look at him but, when she did finally enter the auditorium – which they had use of for rehearsal that day – she simply trotted through the rows of seats and placed her things down before casually and quietly putting together her violin.

Jack watched her from his seat in the stalls a few rows back and slid down where he sat to observe her silently. He had seen her look at him briefly as she had entered but after that she just carried on with her business as if she hadn't seen him and Jack wondered as he saw her wander off towards the stage what kind of game she was playing. This was very unlike her since she usually drowned him in attention when she desperately wanted something from him and it unnerved Jack as to exactly what she was doing. More to the point, as he watched her sit down and looked at her face, he began to feel guilty and started to desperately want to tell her. It was weird but watching her wait patiently whilst knowing she desperately wanted to know what he had been up to made him feel really bad about keeping it from her. He found he felt the growing desire to run over there and spill not only the whole story but endless apologies for lying. However, just as he was about to scream out her name and beg for forgiveness, he paused and slouched back down in his seat with a wry, surprised smile.

"Well played, Toothiana…" he thought as he began to shake his head slowly. It wasn't like her to be so devious, but he had come to know she was an expert at playing his guilt against him. She had used it endless times in college not only to squeeze information out of him but also to get him to do things with her when he was being lazy. It was an amazing tool she had at her disposal but it wasn't going to work this time. No, her days of guilting him into spilling his guts were over and so, jumping up, he quickly darted up to the stage to rub it in her face.

"You must think you've got it all figured out" he boasted as he hopped onto the chair in front of her and looked down from a height.

"I have no idea what you're talking about" she said with a face as plain as paper.

"You know I can't resist your fake hurt, let-down face. Well not today, baby!"

"Hey, if you don't wanna tell me, your friend of so many years and who has helped you through such trouble and given you so much without receiving anything in return, what you've been doing then I won't force you. I'll just sit here alone, hoping someone might spare a single shred of sympathy for my feelings"

"Ah na nah! Don't start that! And hey! What trouble? And what do you mean nothing in return?"

The brightly clothed girl flicked her eyes up to his for a second and noticed he had his smartass look about him. She couldn't deny it, he'd won this round and there was really no use in dragging this failed guilt trip out any longer. Breaking it in an instant, she quickly jumped up to his level and clung onto his hoodie as she beamed into his face.

"Oh, come on, Jack! What's the big secret?! Tell meeeeeeeee!"

Jack laughed as she shook him lightly and then stepped down to the floor.

"I can't tell you yet"

"Why not?!"

"Because I…have to figure it out"

"Jack! This is so not fair! I tell you everything!"

"And I will tell you this! Just not yet. I can't do it here in case somebody overhears"

"Just whisper it!"

"No, you'll go crazy"

"I won't! I swear!"

"No, look. I'll tell you tonight after work"

"But you can't! We're going out!"

"Are we?" Jack asked as he went to take his seat.

"Yeah! Since you hardly spoke to me these last two days I talked to some other people and we're going out to a club"

"Which club?"

"I don't know. Something with glowsticks"

"Glowsticks?"

"I can't remember who suggested it but yeah. It's been forever since we went someplace like that."

"Sounds cool. Are we going anywhere first?"

"A bar probably or somewhere we can all meet up. And hey! Don't change the subject!"

"What? I'm trying to figure out where I have to be and when."

"Just come to mine and we'll go when I know where"

"Okay, sure"

"Okay. So, you gonna tell me now?"

"I said later"

"I said now!"

"No! You'll enjoy it more later!"

"I doubt it"

"Trust me, you'll rocket to the moon"

"OOOH! Jack! Come oooon!"

Jack just laughed as she became more flustered with excitement and then turned away just in time to see Bunny walking from the wings onto the stage. Their eyes met as he walked past the cellos and the two smiled gently at one another as he approached. As he arrived at his stand, he placed his scores down and spoke to Jack as he moved them about.

"Morning, Jacky" he said with a smile.

"Morning. Good night?"

"Not as good as the one before it"

"I know, right?" Jack whispered and then silently giggled with Bunny. "Listen. We gotta keep it on the down low today" he said as he tilted his head in Tooth's direction. Bunny flicked his eyes over to her.

"Oh. You haven't told her yet?"

"Shh! No. And she's gonna be trying to figure it out until I do, so just…you know…we can't look like…like…"

"We rocked the casbah all weekend?"

"Shhhh shut up!" Jack hissed through a smile. "I'm telling her tonight"

"Oh yeah, some club, right?"

"What? You're coming?"

"Yeah. Is that alright?"

"Yeah. I mean, when did you find out?"

"Tooth asked me last night. I figured you already knew"

"I didn't find out 'til this morning"

"Huh. Well, maybe she likes me more now"

"Are you kidding? She liked you more the first time you walked in. She'll come back to me though. You're like a new puppy and I'm the old dog"

"Haha. Well, don't worry. Your secret's safe with me"

"Our secret"

"Who stands to lose more if it gets out?"

"Well, when you put it like that…"

The two ended their interaction with a knowing smile and then the day began as usual. It was harder to play than usual due to the poorer acoustics of the auditorium but it simply forced them to concentrate a little harder and Jack was pleased for the distraction. The orchestral drag had certainly seemed to take its toll on Bunny after half an hour's rehearsal time and when Jack looked up at him he noticed he was already looking overworked. It amused him though to see Bunny so hot and bothered and he'd have to make sure to tease him about it later. The prospect of teasing him felt different now than it had before the weekend but it wasn't strange. The manner of it hadn't changed but the impact certainly felt different and as Jack thought about what he might say to get a rise out of the man standing in front of him, he noticed too that teasing Bunny just seemed somewhat more friendly. Maybe it was because they were more intimate now and the malicious nature of their words – even though expressed in friendly, sarcastic tones – had just that much less intensity than they had before. Jack supposed it was a good thing even if he would have to work harder to get the same rise he regularly desired from his new playmate. The intimacy, however, was another issue entirely. Jack wasn't sure if he considered them specifically 'intimate' now despite their extremely intimate recent activities. In reality they still didn't know each other that well and they most certainly hadn't had any nights cuddled up on the couch watching movies, as an example. It would take time for them to be considered intimate and there was no guarantee it would happen. Still, as Jack let his mind wander he absently smiled as he played and imagined himself snuggled under a blanket in Bunny's warm embrace. He imagined it would be a really great feeling just to cuddle up to him and, even further than that, he liked the idea of having someone to confide in, to have fun with and to devote himself to.

"Steady, Jack" he thought as he examined his thoughts. "You're not his boyfriend yet"

Lunch was an ordeal. Trying to distract Tooth from her burning question was near enough impossible and it didn't help when Bunny came to join them. Tooth decided to involve him in trying to drag her answer out of her friend and Jack squirmed as Bunny started to have some fun at his expense. He too started to ask Jack what his secret was all the while wearing his trademark smirk and Jack had to force himself not to glare as Bunny silently taunted him. He'd make him pay for it somehow, even though it really was rather funny. He couldn't laugh along with him though, Tooth was too clever not to figure that out.

Eventually, a few of the people Tooth had invited out that night came to join them and the conversation drifted away. Jack did his best to involve himself in it but he kept getting distracted by Bunny's glances. Even a few fiery text messages didn't stop him from risking their exposure and Jack strewed in his own irritation as Bunny constantly held the upper hand.

When the day finally came to its end, everyone was extremely pleased to be going home. Jack yawned as he lazily made his way down the steps into the stalls and wandered sleepily towards his case. As he began to put his violin away, his eye was caught by a neatly folded piece of paper sticking out of the little compartment where he kept his rosin and chinrest. Picking it out and opening it up, he stared down at some incredibly ornate handwriting and frowned when he read the words 'My office. Tomorrow morning, 8:30AM. Pitch Black'. With a groan he looked up just in time to see the very man who'd written the note glare at him with that evil, ominous smile and disappear into the shadow cast by the mezzanine. Jack could have sworn he felt a chill race up his spine as the words sank in and as he closed his eyes and groaned again, he already regretted whatever it was Pitch was trying to pull this time.

Oh well, that was a problem for tomorrow. Now, he had to find some energy to go out later and he figured it would be much easier to do that with Tooth yammering in his ear – even if she wasn't going to stop bugging him. After all, it was after work now and he had promised to tell her once they'd gotten there. He still didn't know how though and really hoped she might have forgotten – a stupid hope really.

"So, it's time!" she chimed gleefully as they sat down on the bus. She was practically giddy with excitement as Jack sat there with his eyes closed and a cheeky smile on his face. How was he going to diffuse this one?

"You're right" he said and then left Tooth hanging for a long moment.

"And…?!" she squeaked impatiently.

"Now's the time I said I would tell you"

"Well…GO ON!"

"Except…"

"Except nothing, you bitch!" she shot as she whacked him playfully in the shoulder.

"Well, I mean…wouldn't it be more fun for you to guess?"

"No. Come on, Jack! You promised!"

"Yeah, but…I dunno…"

"Pleeeease!" she whined

"Okay, okay, look. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to figure it out tonight if you watch closely"

"What? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is…I probably won't be able to keep it hidden"

"Keep what hidden?...You mean something you'll do? Or have? Oh my gosh! Do you like someone? Are you in with someone? Is it Bunny?!"

"Hey, I'm not saying anything"

"Oh my gosh! It is Bunny! Oh, Jack, I'm so proud of you!" she sang jubilantly as she threw herself at him and making the other people on the bus look at them strangely. "How long? Was it this weekend? Was that what you were doing? Were you with him? You tramp! How could you not tell me?!"

"Hey" Jack said with a chuckle, "I didn't say I was with Bunny"

"So, what, you were with somebody else?"

"I didn't say anything"

"You were with Bunny! I knew it! You little rat!"

"Well…you know" Jack said as his smile couldn't help but grow wider.

"Oh my goodness! This is so perfect! So are you two going out now?"

"Well…I don't know" Jack giggled, "It all happened so fast. I think maybe we're going out soon"

"Oh my gosh!" she nearly screamed, "This is just so cute! And he's so hot!"

"Yeah, he kinda is"

"So, how did it all happen? Did he ask you out?"

"Not exactly…" Jack began before taking on a hushed tone and quietly relating the story of what had happened. She laughed at his mishap when trying to text her and then became gobsmacked when he told her how Bunny had grabbed him whilst he was playing. She couldn't believe it as he told her - in much less explicit words than the story really called for - how Bunny had screwed him in the practice room and then fell down in her seat as he told her they'd spent the rest of Sunday together.

"Holy freaking cow, Jack!" she said as her joy finally got the better of her and she flopped like an over-excited puppy. "This is just…just so great". Jack smiled at her as she beamed back at him and it only took a second more for her to throw her arms around him and hug him tightly. "I'm so happy for you. This is just so awesome"

"Well, don't get too excited. Nothing's really happened yet"

"You call twenty-four hours of crazy Australian sex nothing?"

"Australian? What?" Jack laughed

"I don't know. Sex with an Australian? That must have been fun"

"They don't do it any differently"

"Really? Oh, how disappointing…"

"It wasn't, I promise"

"You total whore!"

"Shut up! It felt right at the time"

"I bet it did. It's nice you finally got some"

"Hey! It hasn't been that long"

"It must be, like, six months now?"

"…Yeah, more or less"

"There we go then. So, you gonna show you two off to everyone tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. We probably shouldn't go public until…well, there's something to actually go public about"

"True. Oh, but Jacky! This is so great!"

"Yeah, it's pretty awesome" Jack said as he leaned into her friendlily. The two giggled together until they got to their stop and then parted ways so Jack could grab some stuff from his place. After dumping his things and grabbing some clothes, he walked to Tooth's and ran right up as soon as she buzzed him in. Rather expectedly, she threw herself at him again as soon as she opened the door and Jack just rolled his eyes and smiled as he let her express her joy again.

By now it was about 6PM and while Tooth went off to shower first, Jack set about throwing together some food for them. He wasn't particularly inventive in the kitchen and in the end it ended up being Kraft Mac and cheese.

"What is this?" Tooth asked when she came out in a towel.

"Mac and cheese"

"I've got plenty of fresh stuff in the fridge. You couldn't heat up some of that?"

"Hey, this is perfect for a night's worth of drinking"

"Okay, fine. But let's at least have some cruditées with it"

"Crudi-what?"

"Sliced carrots and celery and stuff. You know, healthy food?"

"Oh. Well, if you really want."

"Don't you ever eat healthy stuff?"

"Yeah. I eat plenty of vegetables"

"Tomato sauce on pizza does not count as a vegetable"

"Hey! I eat my broccoli! How else do I get dessert?"

Tooth smiled and went over to the fridge to grab a Tupperware box filled with already prepared carrots and celery. Together they sat down and dived straight in whilst Tooth probed Jack for more about his weekend with Bunny.

"Oh, and by the way, he's coming here in…about an hour"

"What? Why?"

"We can't just ask him to meet us somewhere. That's totally rude!"

"It's not that rude"

"Come on, he's a guest, and your new boyfriend!"

"We are not going out yet."

"Yet"

"Exactly. We're just seeing where things go"

"For now…"

"Yes, for now." Jack said as he got up and went to get ready. Tonight he would be wearing some extremely tight black leather pants which would surely take him about a half hour to get on and would also need help from Tooth to pull up. Still, he figured they made his legs and butt look great and if he was going out with Bunny he'd surely want to give him a show. After all, he was a skinny guy and needed to show off what little curvature he possessed. After throwing on nothing but a thin, white t-shirt with some splattered design on the front that Tooth warned him against not wearing Jacket over, Jack re-messed his hair in the mirror and considered himself ready.

Before long, the doorbell rang and Bunny was up with them in a moment. He and Jack exchanged gentle, shy hellos before Tooth pushed past her friend and jumped on Bunny gleefully.

"You told her, then?" Bunny asked as he held up the even more colourfully clad girl clinging to him.

"Yep. She's pretty excited about it"

"What did he tell you?" he asked as he turned his head back to Tooth.

"He said you two are a thing"

"I did not say we were a thing!" Jack shot. "I said we were testing the waters"

"Oh, whatever! The point is you two did it and that's faaaabulous!"

The three of them laughed together as Tooth climbed down and before long they were sitting around her kitchen table talking, laughing and shooting tequila.

"Ugh, that's nasty!" Jack said as he wiped the remaining salt from his lips.

"Come on, ya nancy!" Bunny said as he shoved him, "Can't handle your booze?"

"I'll fucking show you!" Jack called before throwing back another. Again he pulled a hilarious face and the three of them kept on like that until it was time to go.

After a little more drinking and a cab ride, they found themselves at a bar on the Southside and Bunny set about becoming friendlier with the players he had been lording over for the past few weeks. It was nice to see him getting along so well but really there was no question as to why. He was an instantly likeable kind of guy and it wasn't long before he was like one of the gang.

So, after many, many cocktails, the already slightly inebriated mass of players began to make their way outside and down the street to the club. On the way, Tooth began to pull out more and more glow sticks from her purse and it wasn't long before the three of them looked like they had just fallen off of a mardi gras float. As they waited in line, Jack laughed at Bunny as he saw him shivering under his jacket and mocked him for not being able to handle the cold. Bunny couldn't believe the cocky boy was so comfortable in nothing but a t-shirt and mocked him back for it. They were having fun and the night really was taking shape as a good one.

Things were completely different inside the hot, hazy atmosphere of the club and as the group moved in and merged into the busy, animated crowd they quickly broke off into smaller factions in the blinding mess of dry ice and colourful flashes of shaking glow sticks. The thumping, electronic music was deafening as they fell deeper and deeper into the fray and as the alcohol in Jack's blood continued to marinate his brain he quickly felt himself having more and more of a good time. His inhibitions surrounding being affectionate with Bunny were fading and it wouldn't be long before they really became silent. It was so fun just to be out with his friends and Bunny though and he couldn't believe how smoothly everything was going. No one had suspected their leaning towards each other in the bar and Tooth really had been good at keeping her excitement under control. It wasn't clear how things were going go now though and as Jack, Bunny and Tooth danced together, Jack quickly became a lot more handsy with the taller man.

After a little while, the three fell out of the crowd and onto the bar where Jack ordered Skittle shots. It was pretty juvenile but he loved them and it wasn't long before the rainbow on the bar disappeared inside the three of them. Jack immediately ordered some more and Bunny winced as two of the extremely sickly fluids trickled down his throat. He managed to stop Jack before he ordered more and then simply ordered some more cocktails which he hoped might last a little longer. Tooth snaked her arm around his neck and nuzzled him affectionately as Jack giggled up at them from his barstool and it wasn't long before they found a booth to collapse into.

"Oh my gosh! I've gotta slow down" said Tooth as she pulled off one of her heels and rubbed her foot.

"I told you not to wear those" Jack said as he leaned on her, "But did you listen? Noooo"

"Leave the lady alone, Jacky" Bunny said as he sipped his drink. "Strewth! I shoulda got a beer"

"Could you be more stereotypical?" Jack taunted

"Says the big kid that wanted more skittles"

"Hey! Those are awesome"

"I think my teeth are about to fall out, they were so sweet!"

"Just drink your eight dollar pink lady, you lady!"

"Is that what this is called? I thought it was pretty froofy"

"You're right. This is no drink for we men folk!" he said as he flexed his arms, "We should get a fishbowl"

"Oh, no, Jack! No!" Tooth cried as she steadied herself against the table, "I can't handle that"

"Sure you can!" he hollered before jumping back up and running to the bar.

Bunny just laughed as he watched him go and then turned to Tooth.

"He really is just a big kid, isn't he?"

"Yeah, pretty much. You think you can handle him?"

"I think so. He's adorable"

"That why you like him?"

"Partly. More because he's fun. And because he's hot"

"Really?" Tooth said giving him a funny look. "I never really got that"

"You joking? Like, when he's mad and pouty or feeling naughty, you don't think he's got a little smoulder?"

"Smoulder?" Tooth cried before bursting out laughing. Bunny just laughed along with her.

"Maybe I'm a little drunk"

"You must be if you think Jack has swagger"

"I said smoulder"

"Maybe I'm a little drunk too. Whatever, sweetie. I love that you and Jack are a thing now"

"We're not a thing yet"

"You both keep saying that but you totally are"

"We've just gotta wait and see. I don't wanna rush it"

Tooth gave him a warm smile. "You really like him, huh?"

"Yeah, I do. We just get along so well and I don't know if it can work but I wanna try. He just seems so…great"

"He is. He's an idiot sometimes but he is great. And you're great"

"Aw, Tooth. You hardly know me"

"I can tell. You're a nice guy"

"And you're a nice girl"

"Aww! Wanna be my BFF?"

"Okay. But won't Jack get mad?"

"Probably. It'll just force him to work harder"

"Haha. Okay"

"Got it!" Jack shouted as he suddenly appeared and placed the big, alcoholic orb down on the table. "Everybody grab a straw". He sat down next to Bunny this time and shuffled in close until they were pressed up together. "What shall we drink to?"

"To Bunny!" Tooth cried

"No, to you two!" Bunny said in return.

"To all of us!" Jack said. "Down in one. Ready?"

"To all of us!" they shouted before diving in to drink. It took a long time and a lot of giggling but eventually they managed to suck down the whole thing – most of it going into Jack. Bunny sat back and groaned as he felt his stomach swell and then coughed when he felt the boy to his right flop on top of him.

"You drink like this a lot?" he moaned.

"Not often. We figured you'd need a proper night out seeing as it's your first time. That, and you're Australian"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Aren't you drunk all the time?"

Bunny chuckled, "That's racist"

"It's not racist. We're both white"

"Well, you're American. Are you constantly stuffing cheeseburgers down your throat and popping boner pills?"

"I think you know I don't need boner pills" he said and then turned to Tooth as she spluttered into her drink. It made him laugh.

"Well, I gotta tell ya" Bunny said, "if this is a regular thing I may need to start alcohol therapy right away"

"Haha. Don't worry about that"

"Are you having a good time?" asked Tooth expectantly.

"Yeah, no worries about that. This place is mad"

"Yeah, it's pretty wild on the right night"

At that moment a couple of trim young guys dressed in tight clothes and one with a red streak through his obviously expensive haircut wandered up to their table and smiled enticingly down at Bunny.

"Hey, you guys. We saw you sitting here and wondered if you wanna come dance with us?"

"Isn't the line usually 'Can I buy you a drink?'" Jack said cheekily and receiving a quick, slightly mean-spiritied glare in return. These two were obviously here for Bunny alone.

"Come on, Jacky. When a gentleman asks you to dance it's polite to accept"

"And what about when there are two?"

"Then it's doubly polite" he said as he pushed Jack off the seat and then scooted out with him. "Tooth, you coming?"

"Leave me here. I can't stand in these things anymore"

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine. You boys go"

"Alright" Bunny said as he grabbed a now slightly reluctant Jack and headed off with the guys who had come over to them.

As they mixed into the crowd, it quickly became apparent to Jack that he was a fifth wheel in the lecherous guys' plan to take Bunny as their own and he had to fight to keep his position amongst their little group. The fact that the dance floor was so busy as well made it all the harder for him to keep close to Bunny and Jack felt himself getting extremely annoyed as the guys kept rubbing up against Bunny and copping many a feel.

After a few minutes more, Jack suddenly felt himself get pushed back by some other group and before he knew it he was separated from Bunny and his parasites. Now alone, he looked through the sea of bobbing heads and gyrating bodies and saw no feasible route back to where he had been. His fuzzy head made him all the more frustrated and as a sense of rejection suddenly filled him he huffed angrily and stomped out of the crowd towards where he had been sitting. Who the hell did they think they were, stealing Bunny from him? Clearly they had seen he and Bunny rubbing up together in the booth so surely they might have figured they were at least slightly involved. How did they think they could take Bunny away from him just like that?

As he stalked back to the table, Tooth saw him coming and noticed how cut up he looked. It was a saddening cross between anger and deflation and the exasperated effect of the alcohol was surely making him feel worse. In a second he was sitting down and sulking.

"What happened?" Tooth asked worriedly.

"The bigger boys stole my Bunny!" Jack whined as he pulled his knees up to his chin.

"They what? How?"

"They danced him away and then cut me off. I mean, how lame is that?"

"That is so rude!" Tooth squealed, "Didn't they see you two?"

"They must have but I guess that didn't matter to them"

"Where are they now?"

"Over there" Jack said pointing to where he could see Bunny obviously looking around for Jack whilst still trying to be courteous to the men who were now rubbing inside his shirt. "Oh my God, can you believe that?!"

"Oh my God! That is so crappy!"

"I know!"

"Jack, get back out there!"

"What?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Get back out there and go get your man!"

Jack sat stunned for a second before burying his face, "I can't. Did you see those guys? They were so much hotter than me!"

"So? Jack Frost, they stole your boyfriend. Here's yours, so you go get him back now! And for what it's worth, Bunny thinks you're way hotter"

"He's not my-". He stopped as Tooth cut him off. The look on her face was damning and as he turned away and looked over to Bunny whose shirt was now completely unbuttoned and was looking increasingly worried, he stiffened his jaw, narrowed his eyes and stood up abruptly looking as if he were about to run into battle.

"God speed, Sir Jack!" Tooth called as Jack stomped back off towards the crowd. He was focused on one thing and one thing alone and his determined stride caught the attention of more than a few people as he went. Pushing angrily through the dancers, he marched through the middle of the group that had been in his way and then glared at the sight in front of him. Without waiting, he stuck his hands between where the men rubbed up at either side of Bunny, ripped them away from him and then threw himself at the man who, up until Jack stuck his tongue in his mouth, had been very relieved to see him. Jack didn't even look back to the defeated enemy as he began to push Bunny backwards and pretty soon they backed straight into the wall. There, Jack ran his hands all over Bunny's hot, sweaty abs and pecs and then snaked them around his body to grasp his back as he assaulted his mouth. He didn't know what was making him do it but the more he kissed him, the more he lost control.

Bunny was absolutely shocked as Jack took control of his body and did his best to keep up with the smaller guy's endless, fervid affection whilst trying to restrain the growth in his pants. Jack's drunken state stopped him from caring who saw them anymore and so, feeling overly confident, quickly stuffed a hand into Bunny's underwear. In a second, Bunny jumped back making Jack stare up and wonder what the problem was.

"Are you crazy?" he said with an astounded smile, "We can't do that here or they'll throw us out"

"I don't care" he said as he went up for another kiss but was stopped by Bunny who pushed him off and started to button up his shirt again.

"Don't worry, Jacky" he shouted through the music, "I wasn't gonna give them anything. It's all you, baby"

"Really?" Jack shouted and trying to sound hopeful.

"Really" Bunny said as he finished off and pulled Jack close to him again before kissing him fiercely. Jack was delighted. Bunny was all his and he couldn't believe how great that felt. This hot, sexy Australian was totally into him and just to know that was the greatest prize he could think of.

The rest of the night slowly started to turn into a blur as they danced together and then received Tooth's drunken affection after having witnessed Jack's heroic rescue. The three of them continued to dance the night away as they drank more and more and it wasn't long before Jack was only aware that he was leaning up against Bunny's chest, trying to keep his balance and smiling at the warmth of his body heat up against his face as they danced together. He was so happy. He was very, very drunk, but he was happy.

The next morning…

Jack cracked his eyes gently open and then shut them tight again as the glare of the morning light assaulted his retinas. Letting out a feeble moan as the dizziness in his booze-soaked head restricted his capacity for thought, he attempted to identify his surroundings without moving.

After a moment or two, he managed to identify a warm mass resting against his chest as he draped an arm over it. He assumed it must have been Bunny and sighed contentedly as he leaned his head forward and attempted to nuzzle him. Bunny smelled kind of sweet and his hair was much more voluminous than he remembered. It also seemed rather strange that one of his arms was snaking around his stomach from behind as well.

None of this made sense and so, attempting a second start, he opened his eyes and was suddenly confronted with a dazzling splash of colour in the hair he was nuzzling. It was so startling he jumped back and then gawped as he saw it was Tooth lying in his arms. A moment or two later he turned his hazy head around as far as it would go and again gawped as he noticed Bunny holding him from behind. It was the most confusing thing he'd ever encountered, or at least it seemed it was until clarity came a few seconds later. The real situation was that he was spooning Tooth and Bunny was spooning him and they were all lined up in a neat little array on what was clearly Tooth's bed now that he looked at it.

Jack barely had time to come to terms with any of this before Tooth's alarm began to screech and all of a sudden he felt his ears ringing with the cacophony that surrounded him.

Lazily, Tooth stirred and then delicately reached across to the squealing clock to tap it off. The rumbling and bumping coming from next to her as Jack buried himself deep within the blankets helped her to wake up and as she yawned and gently touched her throbbing forehead, she sat up and sleepily looked to the men laying next to her.

"Oh yeah…" she said croakily before burying her face in her hand and rubbing it gently. As she did so a low groan came from Bunny as he woke and sat up in the bed before cracking his neck gently.

"Ugh…I do not feel fresh today" he moaned groggily.

Tooth just moaned her agreement and then lifted her head to look at him. "You wanna shower?"

"I should go home and get ready. What time is it?"

"Uh…7AM"

"Mmm. Okay…Okay" he said as he tipped his legs out of the bed and got up. Tooth watched him as he went and then perked up as she saw his tall, muscular form rise from her bed in nothing but his boxers. It really was quite a sight to behold. Jack was a lucky son of a bitch to be getting to play with that. Speaking of which, where was he?

Suddenly she felt a twitch in the blankets next to her and pulled them back to expose a very hung-over Jack Frost. She smiled a motherly smile down at him and then gave him a gentle shake where he lay.

"Jack. Come on, Jack. It's time to get up"

"No, it's not" he managed to croak back as attempted to pull the covers over his head again.

"Come on. You've gotta get ready"

"You've gotta get ready. I'm sick"

"You're not sick"

"I am. I feel like death. Call work for me"

"Tell the boss yourself"

Bunny looked up as he was pulling his pants on, "It's one thing calling your boss pretending to be sick. It's another to wake up next to him and try it"

"I am sick. I need a doctor"

"You do not need a doctor" Tooth said as she shoved him for his melodrama. "Come on. Go get in the shower"

"Ugh. No thanks"

"You can't go to work without showering. Now move it"

"You go, I'll catch up"

"Fine" she said, "You're up next. I expect you to be waiting"

Pushing herself out of the bed, she tottered off towards her bathroom and closed the door behind her leaving Jack and Bunny alone in the room. Seizing the opportunity, Bunny looked at Jack's motionless form and smiled as he began to move towards him. Kneeling on the bed, he leaned down to Jack's level and began to bury his face into his.

"Morning, Jacky" he said sweetly, "You have fun last night?"

"I don't remember" Jack moaned

"You certainly looked like you did"

"Are my pants still on?"

Bunny pulled away more of the covers and saw that yes, indeed, his pants were still on.

"Yeah. I seem to remember you couldn't get them off"

"Damn leather"

"I can't imagine you'll have any more luck after sleeping in them. Want me to help?"

"No. Where's my shirt?"

"I think it's in the living room. You took it off when you were on the coffee table singing along to American Woman"

"Oh God…" groaned Jack as he imagined himself doing that.

"Yeah…you wanted to do some karaoke"

"What time was that?"

"About 2AM"

Jack just huffed into the sheets and remained still until Bunny spoke again.

"You got clothes for the day?"

"Mmm…"

You want me to help you into them?"

"Nooo..."

"You want me to get you anything?"

"Nooo…"

"You want a little snuggle?" he said as he rubbed his face against Jack's again and pecked him with little kisses. Jack just groaned in response but couldn't fight a smile that appeared as Bunny invaded his personal space.

"I want a new body" he groaned.

"A little antacid and some painkiller and you'll be fine"

"Wanna bet?"

"I wanna kiss" he said as he resumed pecking at Jack's cheek again.

"Aah! Get off!" Jack moaned before trying to sit up. His head was barely three inches off the pillow before a raging boom set into his skull and he collapsed back down in a pathetic pile of self-pity. "Oh Christ! My head!"

Bunny sighed and reached out for him, "Come on, Jacky" he said as he scooped Jack up and placed him on his feet on the floor. He was a little unsteady but he managed to keep his balance as he tried to still his spinning mind. It was only once he managed to do so when he felt the griping sickness in his stomach and moaned even more as he realized his fate.

"Aww, Jacky. It'll be okay" Bunny said as he finished dressing himself in his clothes from last night. "Look, I gotta go now but I'll see you in a bit. I had a really fun time last night"

"You did?" Jack asked with one eye closed as he ran his fingers into his hair.

"Yeah. And, uh…thanks for rescuing me from hose guys"

"What guys?"

Bunny just chuckled. "I'll tell you later. Right now, get ready and I'll see you at work"

"Okay" Jack said meekly before leaning into Bunny and tilting his head up to receive a final kiss. Bunny smiled as he realized he would have to put the work in and happily leaned down to kiss the groggy boy.

With that, he called to Tooth in the bathroom to thank her and then left Jack alone to feel sorry for himself. As soon as he'd gone, Jack sat back down on the bed and rested his head in his hands. When Tooth came out he was still in that position and she found she had to drag him into the shower since he wasn't going to go under his own steam.

The shower only helped him a little bit and it wasn't long before he found himself sitting in fresh clothes at Tooth's table with his head in his hand and a glass of Alka-Seltzer sitting in front of him.

"Drink it" she told him as she poured herself some cereal. "You want some of this?"

"I can't eat. I never want to eat again"

"Please don't throw up in here"

"Don't say throw up"

"How can you be this bad? I'm not"

"I don't know"

"You're too thin. Gotta get some meat on your bones"

"Maybe we should go to McDonalds on the way in"

"Would it help?"

"Probably not. What time is it?"

"Uh…Eight?"

"Oh God, really?" he said as he sat up and looked at her.

"Yeah, why?"

"Pitch said he wants to see me at eight-thirty"

"Why?"

"Probably to make me feel worse than I already do"

"He didn't say anything?"

"No. He just left me a note telling me to come see him in his office"

"You want me to come?"

"You think he'll let you?"

"Okay. Well, don't listen to him. He's a prick"

"I know" Jack said as he leaned up and stretched out his shoulders. "Okay, let's do this"

"Lemme just finish this" she said as he took another spoonful. "You sure you don't want some?"

"Positive"

After a few minutes, the pair grabbed their things and headed out the door to Tooth's car. Normally she didn't drive in but today there were extenuating circumstances. As they drove, Jack did his best not to feel any sicker and fortunately they arrived without having to go back and change. It was already 8:30AM by the time they parked up and Jack knew Pitch would blast him for being late. He didn't care though. If he was going to be made to feel crappier then he was going to do it on his own terms.

"You're late" Pitch said expectedly as Jack finally arrived in his office at eight-forty.

"I know" he replied as he tried to hide his hangover.

"Do you really think you can just swan around here to your own schedule?"

"Only with you, Mr. Black"

Pitch just glared at him and then took on a rather more evil look as he pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Jack, how much do you value your place here in the orchestra?"

"This again, Pitch?" Jack said frustratedly. "Look, North said I can stay where I am so why are you still making a fuss?"

"Oh no, boy. This is something much different"

"Boy?"

"It's to do with your contempt for the rules"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the way you think you can get away with behaving any way you like. The way you disregard the rules because you don't think they apply to you"

"That's ridiculous!" Jack spat.

"Is it? Well, we'll see. Tell me, Jack. Do you value your job here?"

"Of course I do. You know I do"

"I thought perhaps you did, even though I didn't think you deserved it"

"I know"

"Well, now I know you don't"

Jack sighed angrily. He really didn't need this today. "And how, pray tell, do you know, oh glorious master?"

"Because you've finally gone so far past the line that you've threatened your position here"

"Pitch! Just cut the crap! What are you getting at?!"

Pitched stared him down with his menacing smirk, "I'm talking, Jack, of this" he said as he held out the paper he held which Jack snatched from him.

"What's this?"

"Read it"

Focusing his bleary eyes, Jack began to read the letter. Pitch kept his face as still as stone as he watched Jack's eyes widen and his expression switch to one of horror. After a moment he looked up and just stared at Pitch, now much less confident and feeling like a deer in the headlights.

"You saw us?" he said quietly

"Yes" Pitch sneered. "I did"

Jack just sat there silently as he looked back at the page and it wasn't long before he let his head fall down into his hand.

"I suppose you're wondering what I plan to do now" Pitch eventually said as he got up and began to pace around Jack. "Well, I haven't sent it yet"

Jack suppressed a groan. He could tell what Pitch was going to do. "You know, you won't get Bunny fired"

"I know" he said lightly, "You, however, are not Mt. Bunnymund"

"What do you want?"

"Want? Oh, Jack. There's nothing you have that I need…at least, not yet." The words slithered into Jack and made him feel incredibly uncomfortable. It was as if snakes had entered his body and were slithering around making him feel dirty and disgusting – at least, more so than he already did. "There is something I want you to do though"

"And what's that?"

"I want your obedience, Jack"

"My obedience?" Jack said turning his head to the tall, imposing man.

"Yes. I want to you to completely submit to me and do what I say, when I say it"

"Something tells me that's not simply to do with my playing"

"Quite right" Pitch said with a smile, "There are some things that go further than the job. I expect you, Jack, to do whatever it takes to keep your place here"

"And just what would that include?"

"Oh, don't you worry about that, Jack. You'll find out in time"

"Do you expect me just to agree to this?"

"Not straight away. Before tomorrow morning though"

"What? Well, it would be rather irresponsible of me to witness something like this and not report it in a timely manner, wouldn't you say?"

"So, what, I'm just meant to agree to do whatever you want me to?"

"Not meant to. But you should"

"This is blackmail!"

"Of course it's blackmail, you moron! You can't be stupid as well as cocky, can you?"

Jack stood up sharply, ready to punch Pitch and simply stood in front of him fuming.

"What are you going to do, Jack? Hit me? Go right ahead. You'll just be adding to the list"

He really did want to hit him. He wanted to plant his fist right in the middle of that big, pointy nose and be done with it. He couldn't though. Pitch had him in his clutches and he knew it and he just couldn't see a way out. That letter could get him fired regardless of when it was submitted and he really couldn't lose this job. He didn't just love it, he needed it and he had to do whatever he could to hold onto it.

In a fit of rage and hurt, he pushed past Pitch and stormed out of his office. Pitch simply leaned out of the door as he went and called after him. "I expect your answer before midday tomorrow, Jack. I'm sure you'll do what's right"

The words rang in Jack's ears as he stomped away and he just couldn't believe the trouble he was in. It not only angered him, he was scared and he really didn't know why this was happening to him. It just wasn't fair and he felt completely victimized.

As he went, the gravity of the situation began to descend on him and he started to feel sick. After a few moments more, his walk turned into a run and, changing direction, he darted towards the bathroom making it inside just in time to throw up in the sink. A hangover and heart-stopping terror were not a good mix and as he leaned over the sink and breathed slowly, he tilted his head up and looked at himself in the mirror.

"You've really done it this time, Jack" he thought as he let his head flop down again. A moment later he gently turned on the faucet to wash away his mess and then slowly sank to the floor. This just awful.

He was fifteen minutes late for rehearsal that morning, although he really didn't care anymore.

Poor widdle Jack, all scared for his job and throwing up in sinks. That's not a good place to be, I tell you h'what!

Thanks for all your reviews and follows! You guys are amazingly fun and I thank you for your patronage so much! You are all an amazing bunch!