Child's Play 9
Costumes - Bunny
The last two weeks Bunny had felt completely out of sorts. It was bad enough Jack had ended their relationship, that had nearly killed the poor Pooka, but now with Jack as a toddler he wasn't sure what to do with himself. It seemed as if the child wanted to be with him, wanted to play and hang out as any child would, but this was Jack - his Jack - and he wasn't sure if the child wanted to be with him because he was a giant furry bunny or because some part of him still loved Bunny. It was why Bunny had run and focused so hard on finding a spell to change him back. He knew there was one, there had to be, yet he could not find it. He wouldn't give up. He'd find a way to restore Jack one way or another but until then he was unsure what to do. The one he usually turned to for advice was busy - Sandy rarely had free time to chat with his duties - and his best friend was now playing daddy 24/7.
He sighed as he strolled toward the entertainment room which North had converted into a playroom of sorts. There were so many rooms they could have chosen from - ones the yetis would have appreciated being commandeered more - but it was the closest to the production floor and North's office yet out of the way of all the chaos and noise. Here North could continue his work and watch Jack in relative peace. It was far better than the sitting room or study. When things were slow North was able to pop in a cartoon for Jack to watch when he no longer wanted to play with his toys, although that was a rarity in itself.
That was why Bunny had come. He needed a break from his search and a chance to unwind. He hoped that Jack's cheeriness would renew his hope in finding a way to turn the child back into the immortal teen he loved with all his heart and probably should have told him that more often. Love was a funny thing sometimes, once you knew you had it, it was easy to take for granted. That was what he had done, he realized. He took Jack for granted, forgot the youth's past and centuries of solitude and just focused on the here and now. He hadn't thought of what Jack wanted - didn't care really - they were mates, they had a family which neither had thought possible, and were now grandparents, what more could anyone want? For Bunny his dream had finally come true, the Pookas will repopulate and expand with their children. But for Jack he wanted more, he wanted more kits, not many just two more and was willing to carry them himself all the way through this time. It led to a fight, they had both nearly died last time. In fact Bunny had died, his soul had left his body and was ready to join his people when Jack's anguished cries drew him back. He survived because of Jack. Could either of them really go through all that again?
He would not allow Jack to carry the kits. Never. His small human body was tough but unable to support the rapid growth of a kit let alone two or three. They almost tore him apart from the inside last time. Jack knew this, all the Guardians knew this, why would the stubborn knuckle head want to go through it all over again? Couldn't he just enjoy the ones they had - yes, now grown but they did have five grandchildren they could play with? He raked his paws over his ears. Why did he have to be the one to fall in love with such a stubborn, egotistical, frostbite like Jack Frost?
He stepped inside the entertainment room and steeled himself for the ambush that was little Jack but when no little ball of energy jumped him he looked about the room in confusion. The room had been given a tiny make over. The fort Pitch and Jack had made days ago was dismantled and a similar more sturdy one of plastic was erected in its stead. Bright pillows from one of the man guest rooms covered the floor but neither Jack or North - whom he doubted could fit inside - where there. In fact he couldn't see them anywhere yet he could hear North's soft snores. A smirk lit Bunny's face as he approached the sofa and glanced over the back.
There, laying on his back was North and what appeared to be a tiny Pooka. Bunny did a double take. A tiny Pooka? How.. When..? He took another look. yep, it looked just like a Pooka sound asleep on North's chest with little paws curled in the Russian thick beard. But that wasn't possible. Sure the kits would have notified him if they were visiting and why not go to the Warren where it was warmer? And...
His nose twitched as he leaned over the back of the sofa. Mint and freshly fallen snow filled his senses. His brows knitted as he hoped around the sofa. Sitting back on his haunches he leaned in a little closer to the kit on North's chest. His nose brushed against the back of its head then he darted back in surprise. This wasn't a kit. It smelt nothing like a Pooka. Standing, he gently reached around the child and touched what felt like a hood. Ever so carefully he pulled it back to reveal the white hair of Little Jack and gave a laugh. Just another costume. Shaking his head he inspected it. The costume wasn't bad. The fur was as soft as a rabbit's but he could now see the very fine stitching and were it connected to a hoodie. The ears were very realistic and if he didn't know it was a fact he might have skinned North alive for harming a living animal. Yes he knew that North ate meat and on occasion hunted but they were of an understanding that Bunny wanted no part in such things.
He might have noticed it was a costume faster had it not been for the blanket wrapped around Jack's legs. Now that Bunny was closer he could see the little blue pants tucked into big furry slippers. Bunny gave a tiny snort. His Jack would never wear such things. His Jack wouldn't wear any foot wear unless forced too but even then it was a challenge. As far as Bunny knew Jack only owned a pair of blue slippers that North and the elves had gifted him with way back when he was first called to be a Guardian and a pair or steel toe boots that North made him wear when helping in the garage. The slippers were never worn.
Jack turned in North's arms, his little hands releasing the long white beard to grab North's red shirt instead. "Hmm..." he murmured in his sleep before bright crystal blue eyes slowly blinked open. He gazed at Bunny for several moments before giving a big yawn. "Bunny?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
"Hush there, little ankle bitter," the Pooka said softly. He hesitated a moment before opening his arms and taking Jack into them. "Mustn't wake up your papa, little one. He's had a busy few weeks and can use the rest. How about you and I go have some fun, huh?"
But instead of that ready nod and whoop of joy Jack just yawned and snuggled into his fur. "My Bunny," he murmured before promptly dosing back off, his tiny fingers now knotted in Bunny's fur.
Surprised, Bunny found the rocking chair North had moved into the room and sat back in it. This wasn't his plan. He had hoped not to be put in this situation. Play with the boy fine, he could forget that this was Jack Frost and think of him as another child. But not now, not with the boy clinging to him as his Jack did so often when they slept, finger tangled in fur, head tucked under his as if to always preserve his scent.
"Do you remember me?" he asked the child's sleeping form. "Do you remember what we were?"
The boy nuzzled into him more, his little face pressed firmly between Bunny's throat and chin. "My Bunny," he murmured once more.
Bunny sniffled and held him tightly. "Yeah, mate, your Bunny. Always your Bunny and no one else's," he said gently. He began softly singing one of Jack's lullabies, one that the ice spirit used to sing to their kits when they were very young. To his surprise, even in his sleep, Jack hummed along with him. He'd forgotten how nice it felt to have one so small in his arms and for a time he allowed himself to imagine he was holding his and Jack's kit, the one Jack so desperately wanted, but this one had Jack's beautiful face and fur as white as snow. He fantasized that maybe, just maybe they could do it one more time and bring the world a true Pooka-human hybrid.