A/N Here's the next chapter… the first few are already written and will be coming every few days. Thank you for the reviews! They make me want to post faster even though I would like to keep on a schedule, but that probably won't happen!
Chapter 2: It's Nothing
The first thing North said to Bunnymund when he hopped out of his tunnel was, "There is something wrong with Jack." and Bunny's first instinct was to hop right back down his hole. North, seeming to realize this, took a step forward and wrapped his massive arms around Bunny's torso, lifting him up into the air, shouting, "No, you will listen to me!"
"Yeah, I don't really want anything to do with Frostbite if he's giving you trouble, mate." Bunny argued back. He liked the kid- really, he did- but he had warned North that by giving Jack Frost lodging he was inviting mischief into his home. "What'd he do now? Freeze the yetis' feet to the ground again?" Squirming in North's arms, the larger Guardian finally set Bunnymund down, chuckling.
"No, my friend. They still have not forgiven him for that!" After a short laugh, North sobered up again and gave Bunny a serious look, the Pookah taken aback by the air seriousness that North emanated. "Jack is having trouble sleeping. He says that my remedies of cookies and milk are helping him sleep, but I see him in the morning and he does not look rested. He sits on his window sill and does not even go out long enough to create a snow day!"
Tilting his head to the side, Bunny looked over North's shoulder to see the open window, the area around it dusted lightly with Jack's telltale frost designs. "You mean he hasn't been out causing trouble?" Bunny asked and North shook his head and shrugged. Tapping one paw lightly on the ground in thought, he said thoughtfully, "I was wondering why my warren has been so warm in February."
North nodded this time, "You see what I am saying, then?"
Bunny ran a paw through his fur, "You aren't sure they're just dreams keeping him up? Why don't you ask Sandy what's wrong?"
"I have already looked into that matter, my friend. They are not nightmares that haunt Jack, at least not that Sandy can see. He was here just last night and didn't see anything to fix!"
Bunnymund was quiet for a few moments, stroking his whiskers in thought. "Where's Frostbite now?"
North waved an arm around, motioning at nowhere in particular, "He will take off. I do not know what he does, but he is not gone long enough to be his usual self. Perhaps keeping winter cold enough, but he no longer comes back with stories of the children he played with. It worries me."
Placing a reassuring paw on North's broad shoulder, the Pookah nodded in understanding, "I understand, mate." Bunny wasn't sure what North was so concerned about; but then again, he hadn't seen Jack yet.
/ / /
Jack had been sitting on the rooftop of a small town that he couldn't remember the name of, casually knocking icicles off so that they fell within inches of those walking beneath. As he watched the icicles shatter on the sidewalk through half lidded eyes, he couldn't help the shudder that ran through him, hugging his knees tighter with one arm while the other held the staff out protectively in front of him.
He closed his eyes, burying his face in his knees and scrubbing almost violently at this hair to try and get the thoughts and memories out of his head. Recently the heavy sensation of intrusion hadn't been entirely leaving his mind when he woke up, and now he felt as though every time he closed his eyes the arms reached out for him.
Standing up abruptly, Jack jumped into the air and tried to get as high as he could, having the sudden desire for fresh wind against his face. The breeze calmed him somewhat, enough for the gusty day below him to calm slightly and the fat clouds to sprinkle a dusting of snow on the town. Those walking outside looked up in relief and surprise as the soft flecks of white fell around them.
Jack gripped his staff tight with both hands, leaning on it in midair as he watched a teenaged girl and boy walking hand in hand down the sidewalk. With a small grin, he kicked a foot in the air and set a flurry of frost at them, the girl slipping on the newly formed ice and pulling the boy down with her. They looked at each other and began to giggle together, faces red with cold and affection. Jack sighed a sigh strong enough to gust through the town; he couldn't decide if he found comfort in hearing their laughter or annoyed that they were enjoying his pranking.
Regardless, Jack felt like nothing in this town was compelling enough to keep him there and the next thing he knew he was floating on wind with no idea where he was going, closing his eyes in relaxation.
Jack felt free as he let the reliable North Winds carry him along their current, cradling his body in strong arms and rustling his hair and blue hoodie pleasantly. The current rocked him to the side and Jack enjoyed the bright sun on his face. It was a cold sun, a distant star at this time of year that provided more light than heat as it battled the overcast skies and distance.
One by one, Jack allowed his muscles to relax, lying back against his staff and crossing his ankles, feeling safe in this state, one with his weather patterns.
The wind held him closely on an updraft, and Jack allowed it. As the draft dropped back down the wind held him even tighter and Jack shifted, willing the strength to die off. When it didn't, Jack opened his eyes and stifled a shout of alarm. Blackness swirled around him like a whirlpool, the arms reaching out but not touching, just acting as a warning to keep him in place.
Jack
Bright blue eyes searched his surroundings; he could have sworn he just heard his name whispered. "Hello?" He called out. When no one answered, Jack struggled a bit more and the blackness followed his movements, "Hey!" He yelled, "Hey, if someone's out there then come out! This isn't funny!" In response, Jack heard what sounded like an echo of a laugh and then it was gone.
He twisted and gripped his staff, swinging it in an arc and cutting through the shadows, listening to their shrieks as they receded. Satisfied, Jack turned to fly out of the snare of shadow but as he went to fly upward he felt the numbing burn of one of the arms wrapped around his ankle. It tugged him down into the fold and Jack felt his heart rate spike up violently as he fell deeper into the vortex and watched as the blackness swarmed in, cutting him off from the outside. "No-" He started, trying to pull away from the arms, "No-!"
Jack shot upright and felt strong arms trying to pull him back down, "Let go of me!" He yelled and swung an arm out, the one that had held his staff before. When he didn't feel the comfortable weight of it he panicked slightly until he felt warmth on his face and soothing voice telling him to calm down.
Finally Jack seemed to open his eyes and be able to see again, and the first thing he saw was a large rabbit face in front of his. Furrowing his brow, Jack immediately sat back and shoved Bunnymund away, hiding his face in what he didn't dare call shame.
Bunny backed up and threw a concerned look over his shoulder to North, the burly Guardian giving him a look that was a mix of I told you so and Help him.
Bunny looked back at Jack, who was still hiding his face in his hands, back heaving as though he had just exerted a lot of effort. Putting a paw back on the frost spirit's back, Bunny asked, "Was it a nightmare?"
Instead of answering, Jack spoke with a wrecked voice, "What am I doing here?" Surprised, Bunnymund asked what he meant so Jack finally looked up, eyes switching focus between North and Bunny. "I was somewhere in… I was somewhere else and I… I fell asleep and then I woke up here. How did I get here?"
Bunny sighed but North spoke for him, "Jack, we found you lying in the entrance to the sleigh track."
"You were laying there shivering. And muttering 'no'." Bunny finished and North nodded, his great beard moving with him.
Jack watched them with wide eyes for a full minute before he took a calming breath. "I think I'm just tired." He said and both other Guardians looked highly dubious so Jack raised his hands placatingly. "Really. I just gotta get a good night's sleep. I'm beat."
"Do you want us to ask Sandy here?" Bunny asked and Jack looked conflicted.
"I'd rather figure it out myself." He admitted, "I'm usually pretty good at it. The dreaming, I mean."
"We know, Jack. We just want you to be okay." North said and took a step back when Jack looked over, irritation clear in his eyes.
"You want me to be 'okay'? Where was that for the past three hundred years?" He snapped. North looked hurt and Bunny frowned while Jack looked surprised at what he had just said. "I'm sorry." He apologized quickly. "I didn't mean-"
"It is okay Jack." North interrupted him, "You are tired and not in the best of moods. We understand." North elbowed Bunny in the ribs and the Pookah rolled his eyes but nodded; to him he saw no excuse for Jack to be so rude to the man housing him, but he'd rather go along with it than listen to North rant on about paternal roles.
The trio was silent and Bunny watched as Jack shifted uncomfortably and tried to cover a yawn. The rabbit's features softened and his ears dropped ever so slightly. Jack really was just a kid to them. The Pookah went over to the bed and with one strong paw he pushed Jack backwards onto the bed. Not expecting the movement, the frost spirit fell heavily onto his back. Bunny meant it to try and get Jack to be in a more comfortable position but froze at the look of panic that raced itself across Jack's face before the younger Guardian got his emotions under control.
Feeling guilty, Bunnymund hopped up into the bed, flinching slightly at the chill emanating from it, and pulled the icy sheets up around Jack. Jack seemed to get the hint and pulled his drifts up to his chin, looking anywhere but Bunnymund. North came up on the other side and tucked the snow in around Jack.
"You're okay, Frostbite. We're here for ya. Remember that if you get scared when you're sleeping, yeah?" Bunny asked and Jack gave him a hesitant nod, wanting nothing more than to burst out of his bed and tell them he was fine, and to go into town and freeze the water lines and start a snowball fight, but his energy seemed to drain away with every stroke of Bunny's paw over his hair and North's soothing humming as he tucked everything in.
Jack had never felt more like a child but couldn't deny enjoying the attention and safety that came with it.
"Do you want Sandy?" North asked again and Jack shook his head.
"I'll be fine." He promised and North frowned but nodded.
Bunnymund scrubbed a paw through Jack's hair before getting off the bed, watching Jack pull the snow up over his head. The two older Guardians stepped out of the room and shut the door quietly behind them.
As soon as the door latched, North turned to look at Bunny and the Pookah shook his head sadly. "There's definitely something up with him. I can't say I've ever heard of an immortal losing sleep over nightmares."
"Do you want to stay here tonight? The guest rooms are made up." North offered instead of a response; Bunny already knew the extent of North's concern.
Contemplating the offer, Bunny's ears twitched as he picked up the sound of Jack shifting in his bed a few feet away behind the closed door and he relented. "I don't wanna leave Frostbite all alone. You'll probably end up smothering him to death." He raised a bushy eyebrow at North.
"We'll help him." North swore and Bunnymund nodded.
"I'm going to call Sandy. Just in case. Tooth, too." The Pookah decided and North agreed. They were going to need some reinforcements if they were going to find a way to help their youngest Guardian.
