"...right?...alright?...you alright?"Bright golden eyes looked down at him, soft fingers slowly warming him up. "Are you alright?"

Jack slowly opened his eyes and weakly looked around. Where... "Wh-where am I?"

"With me." The man smiled, brushing some errant locks of hair away from Jack's eyes. "I must admit, I did kidnap you."

"Who are you?" He moaned, putting a hand to his pounding head.

"I suppose you would not remember that man you rescued from the street. You were distracted at the time."

"I...how did I get here?" He grimaced in pain.

"I found you lying on the street. I had my driver bring us here."

"And where is 'here'?" Jack pulled back his hand when the metal in his head shocked his fingers.

"My home. Well, my factory, more specifically. I live in a few apartments above where the magic happens."

"I...I cannot stay here." He slowly sat up with a groan.

"And you can't go. The, um..." The man pointed to his head. "It short circuited in the rain."

"That explains the shocking." He winced when it shocked him again, as if on cue. "I do not have a choice. I have to go."

"Please...don't." The man put a hand on Jack's knee, stopping him. "Don't go."

"I cannot stay. I will only inconvenience you, and there are things I must do." Jack pulled his soaked hoodie over his head, draping it over his arm as he started for the door.

"It's still raining outside. You'll short circuit again, and I'm the only one in this city who can repair you."

Jack froze, his fingers on the door. "I do not want to be fixed..." he whispered under his breath. "Thank you, but I am not interested, and I doubt I could afford your services. Thank you for taking me out of the storm."

"Why don't you want to be fixed?"

"My reasons are my own. If it is fixed then that means the connection will be open again. I cannot let that happen."

"Why not? That shocking sensation must be pretty annoying."

"It is better than the alternati-" Jack suddenly heard crackling in his head followed by Bunnymund's voice. He fell to his knees with a cry, the sounds and shocks only getting worse.

The man stood up quickly and moved over to tinker with the part of the device he could see. The crackling stopped. "Better?"

Jack nodded shakily. "A-a little." He slowly got back to his feet. "I will be taking my leave. Thank you for your help. I hope someday I might be able to repay you for your kindness."

"Repay it now." The man stood, following him. "You do owe me since you abandoned me at the restaurant."

"I have nothing to repay you with. I am sorry for your troubles."

"Have dinner with me. Repay me with your presence at my table."

"I am not good company, sir."

"I like you." The man smiled, his golden eyes warm and welcoming. "And you haven't even told me your name yet."

"My name is Jack. And how can you like me when you do not even know me?" He frowned, eyes cast down.

"You saved me. You cared when no one else did." One long finger tipped Jack's head back so blue eyes were forced to look into gold. "Jack...such a good name."

"I did only what any good person should do."

"If that is true, then there are no good people in this city. Only you cared."

"I was only in the right place at the right time."

"So were others. They did not stop. You did." The man took his hand away. "But if you really want to leave, I won't stop you. I don't want to force my company on someone who is clearly reluctant."

"I..." Jack looked out the window with a frown. "I can only stay until the storm ends. Then I must leave. I cannot stay anywhere too long."

"Why not?"

"I am trying to disappear. If I stay..." He tapped the machinery wrapped in a band around the back of his head. "...I will be found. Besides, I would not want to intrude on your hospitality."

"It's a tracking device? I can deactivate it for you...if you want."

"You cannot. There is only one person who knows the codes, and he is the one I am trying to disappear from."

"You insult my intelligence. I promise you, I can deactivate this. In exchange, I want you to stay with me for a bit."

"It is a one of a kind machine. He created it to be accessible only to him."

"Will you let me try?" He held a hand out. Jack looked at the hand for a few minutes before slowly taking it. The man led him back to sit on the couch. "Now, don't move. I'm used to my subjects being absolutely still while I work." He flipped open his tool kit, long fingers moving over each individual instrument before he pulled one out and got to work on the device behind his guest's head. Jack obediently sat perfectly still, used to doing the same when Bunnymund examined the device or added something to it. "I'm Pitch, by the way. Well, it's Kozmotis Pitchner, but I prefer Pitch." He put the tool away, choosing another.

Blue eyes widened in slight shock. His fingers and such twitched against his will, but he was used to the usual occurrence as the machinery played with his brain. "You...you are the owner of the dream company?"

"I am. Kozmotis Pitchner, CEO & owner of Pitchner Enterprises, at your service."

Jack reluctantly laughed when his brain told him to. "And why are you helping me? You sound like a very busy man."

"I think I can make time for my hero." Pitch smiled, pushing a button.

Jack suddenly felt tears streaming down his face. "I am no hero, sir."

"Oops, those wires control your emotions. Let me just..." He started tinkering with the wiring, stopping Jack's tears. "You are. Must we go through that again?"

"I did nothing overly good." His shoulders relaxed once again. "Are you almost done?"

"Don't rush me." Pitch chuckled. "I don't want to have to make you cry again."

"If you could just jam the connector I would be very grateful and could live with the rest."

"Nope. I've started, so now I have to finish." He picked up a new tool and connected the ends of some wires to the ends of others.

Jack felt a terrifyingly familiar jolt shoot down his spine. "You shut it...off..." His body slumped to the side suddenly, his eyes staring blankly ahead.

Golden eyes widened. "Well, that's interesting." He disconnected the wires, connecting them with others again. "You didn't tell me that this thing controlled your entire body."

Jack slowly blinked his eyes, as his mind started to work again. "I thought it was obvious when you were tinkering before."

"You went completely comatose. I didn't know the wiring was that extensive. Ah, there it is!" He cut one wire. "Stupid GPS wire. Whoever built this thing was smart. He really buried this wire deep in there."

"I told you. It was not made for anyone to see but him."

"Well, he hasn't ever met me before." He smiled, putting his tools away. "So this should mean you're normal. Well, as normal as you can be with a bunch of wires and technology behind your head."

"For now." Jack gave a sigh of relief when the man pulled away. He reached back to close up the compartment again himself. "I hate that part."

"Which part?"

"Being in my head."

"You don't like being in your own head, or you don't like others in your head?"

"I do not like others. It is unnerving to be so completely out of control of yourself."

"I'm sorry. The good thing is, I'm out now."

Jack nodded, slowly sitting up again with a slight wince. "Thank you for getting rid of the tracking."

"No problem. I wonder why you had one to begin with. Usually, those are only used for the elderly, the young, and pets."

"Even the elderly, young, and pets did not have anything to the magnitude of this. I was a special case." He didn't say anything more.

"Whoever put this on you must have wanted to keep a close eye on you." Pitch gave Jack a concerned look. "What kind of person did this to you?"

"Someone who cares for nothing but his own selfish desires no matter the pain it brings to others. That is the type of person who did this to me."

"I'm sorry." Pitch stood, going into the kitchen to pour two cups of coffee. He came back and held out a cup. "Here. This might make you feel better."

"Thank you." Jack gently took the mug, taking a small sip before holding it in his lap and simply staring at it.

"You're not a big talker, are you?"

"I...no." I can't just tell him that I've been trained to be nothing more than an obedient dog.

"That's alright. I can talk for the both of us." Pitch leaned back, crossing one long leg over the other. "I'm an Aquarius, I am half Russian, a quarter Irish, and a quarter German, and I'm a cat person."

"That is...very nice."

"I think so. Are you more into dogs or cats?"

"I have never spent time with either."

"I was the same until I was fifteen. I got a dog, and I hated that vicious bastard. I thought he was the only one, but then every dog I was around after that always hated me. My first cat was a sweetheart. Thus, my love of cats."

"I suppose some people are just more naturally drawn to one and not the other."

"I suppose so. Do you think it makes me less manly that I like cats more than dogs?"

"Not at all."

"I'm glad. I'm a constant subject of ridicule with my friends because they're all dog people."

"I do not have much experience with dogs, cats, or people, so I cannot really say very much."

"That sounds really depressing, you know that, right?"

Jack shrugged slightly. "It is the truth."

"That makes it even more depressing." Pitch chuckled, taking a sip. "What about movies? You like any movies?"

"I do not watch them."

"You're kidding! Okay, you have to watch a movie with me!" He ran over, looking over a large bookcase full of DVD cases. Alright, we can watch Gone with the Wind or The Cowboys. There's also Avatar and Mean Girls, but I'll have to kill myself before that one."

"You choose. I do not know anything about any of those."

Pitch put a movie in the machine and sat back down on the couch. He pressed 'play' and got comfy as the classic Tara Theme blasted out from the surround sound speakers. "You should relax. This is a good movie. You'll like it." Jack didn't say anything. He only brought legs up to his chest and set his full mug on the short table beside him. Every once in awhile, he would glance towards the window, checking the weather. "You're making me nervous with your looking at the window."

"I told you I cannot stay."

"Why not? The GPS is disabled."

"He will still find me. He always does." He hugged his legs close, resting his chin on his knees.

"Then stay here. He'd never think to look for you here."

"I cannot intrude on your kindness any longer than absolutely necessary."

"Please, intrude. I like having the company."

"You have already been far more kind than you needed to be."

"I was only paying you back for your kindness to me."

"I have no money or anything to give you for such a favor."

"I told you, I don't want money. Your presence is good enough."

"Why? You do not know me. How is my presence enough for anything?"

"I find it soothing. Damn, you must not be used to people liking you."

"I told you I do not talk to people."

"Then try talking to me."

"I am not good at socializing."

"Clearly." Pitch smiled, looking over at Jack with bright, golden eyes. "Your social skills suck."

"I am very well aware of that, thank you."

"No problem. Just trying to help out." He laughed, taking a deep sip of his coffee. "And I still know absolutely nothing about you."

"There is nothing to tell about myself."

"Of course there is. What do you like? What do you hate? What was your childhood like?"

"I had an average childhood. I play the violin and piano. I do not enjoy being lied to or used."

"You can play the violin? My brother can play the violin. I used to hate that damn thing, but now I wish I had learned. It sounds so pretty."

"It is a beautiful instrument."

"Could you play it for me one day? I think I'd like to hear that."

"Perhaps..."

"I'll get you one. You'll have to come back, though."

"I thought you wanted me to stay."

"But you don't want to, do you?"

Jack sighed, closing his eyes. "I either leave completely, or I never leave your home."

"I pick the second one."

"I have nowhere else to go to. So I will stay."

Pitch held his hand out. "Shake on it."

A pale hand reached out, gripping Pitch's. "I can only hope I do not upset you."

"Why would you upset me?"

"I would be nothing more than a useless roommate who contributes nothing. I cannot get a job and pay rent. I have no idea how to live with someone."

"How about this? I'll hire you as my cleaning man. You'll do chores for me around the place and I'll pay you what I would pay a cleaning service. You can use that to pay rent. Sound fair?"

"There is no reason to pay me then. Simply keep your money and I will clean as a way of repaying you for your hospitality."

"If you insist. I look forward to our partnership, Jack."

"As do I." Jack pulled his hand back, wrapping his arm back around his legs.

"Another condition I have."

"What is it?"

"Please don't pull away like that. It hurts my feelings."

"I am sorry, sir. I-I thought the handshake was finished."

"Sir?" Pitch threw his head back, laughing loudly. "Why so formal? We're not in the army!"

"I...habit." He looked down.

"A bad habit. Stop it. I'm just Pitch, alright?"

"Y-yes...Pitch." He had to force himself not to say 'sir' again.

Pitch smiled, covering one of Jack's hands with his own. "It's alright. If you say 'sir,' I won't get mad."

"You just did..."

"What did I do?"

"You told me not to call you that anymore."

"I would prefer it, but I won't get mad if you do occasionally. Habits are hard to break, after all."

"Alright...are there any chores you need done now?"

"In fact, there is."

"What do you need done?"

"I need for you to relax and watch the movie. Do you think you can do that?"

"I-I can try."

"Trying is good." Pitch smiled, his smile reaching his eyes. At the corners, little wrinkles were starting to develop.

Jack settled his chin back down onto his knees and looked at the television. "Do you like movies...Pitch?"

"Of course! I have since I was little. As you can see, I have quite the collection."

"I do indeed see that."

"I liked your attempt at socializing. It was very good."

"What are you talking about? It was a complete failure." He sighed.

"No, it wasn't!" Pitch leaned over, catching Jack's eye. "You did a good job, Jack."

"Why are you trying so hard to be nice to me?"

"I'm just doing what I do naturally. I'm a friendly person."

"A CEO of a big company? Friendly? Surely you must be joking."

"I'm also the CEO of a dream factory. Dreams are usually good. Besides, why can't I be friendly?"

"I am sorry. It is just that...businessmen are not exactly known for being the kindest of people."

"The one you're running from is a businessman, isn't he?" Jack nodded slowly. "He was cruel to you."

He nodded again. "Every employee hates him, and they typically quit within two years. I did not have that choice. "

"You do now." Pitch smiled. "I'm not like him."

"He has made me fear all people."

"And are you afraid of me?"

"I am not sure yet."

"Before you decide, I want you to know something." Pitch got down on the floor in front of Jack, catching his eye again. "I'm gay."

"And? Is that supposed to scare me off or something?"

"Maybe. The one you were with...I assume he did certain things to you...physically."

"I am gay too. I do not fear people because they might be gay. I fear people because I have learned the hard way that people do not always act like who they truly are inside."

"And based on what you've seen, what do you think I'm like inside?"

"So far, you seem alright. But then again, anything is an improvement on what I left." Golden eyes quickly roamed over Jack's face. Long fingers gently cupped his cheek as Pitch surged up, kissing him with closed lips. Jack inhaled sharply and quickly pulled away. "Just because I am gay too does not mean you can kiss me."

"Sorry. You just looked so sad. I'd rather see you flushed and angry than sad."

"I...I understand why you did it, but..." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Please do not do it again."

"I'm sorry." Pitch rubbed Jack's cheekbone with his thumb. "Am I evil now?" He gave a small, evil cackle.

"No. Only foolish."

"I get that a lot." Golden eyes crinkled with another smile.

"I could understand why."

"Ouch!" Pitch clutched his chest and fell back dramatically. "The princess has wounded me!"

Jack ignored the man's theatrics, shivering when he was jolted by another zap from the device. "Would you mind if I used your bath and your dryer?"

"Of course. Go down the hall, third door on your right." Pitch looked at Jack worriedly, cupping his cheek again. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine. Just...wet and cold." He got to his feet and headed off in the direction Pitch had indicated.

ZZ

After an hour, there was a knock at the door. "Hey! You still alive in there?"

"Yes. I am fine," he answered quietly, his tall, lanky body curled up in the tub.

The doorknob turned, and Pitch opened the door, looking down at the floor. "Can I look up? I want to check that you're not bleeding or something."

"Why would I be bleeding?"

"I dunno. Maybe you're tired of me already and you would rather kill yourself than stay with me."

"I told you I am fine." He gave the tiniest of smiles, leaning his head on his arms on the side of the tub.

Pitch looked up enough so that he could sit down on the toilet by the tub. One long finger traced along a scar on Jack's arm. "Did he give this to you?"

Jack instinctually retracted his arm. "He gave me many things. None of them were pleasant."

"Sorry...sorry." He pulled his hand away, putting it back in his lap. "He's a bastard for doing what he did to you."

"No. He is just a bastard when it comes to anything and everything."

"How often have you said that out loud?"

"Never."

"Want to say it again?"

"He is the most wretched human being this planet has ever seen." Jack couldn't deny the small smile that wanted to curl his lips.

"Louder!" Pitch reached into the tub, scooping up a handful of bubbles. "He's a goddamn, dirty, no-good, motherfucking son-of-a-bitch!" He blew the bubbles up into the air, laughing as it landed back on his face.

Jack chuckled softly, his smile slowly fading. "He is a complete ass who will never get what he deserves."

"He's a shit-eating, dog-faced, pigeon-toed, big-nosed, motherfucking bastard!"

He nodded, gently closing his eyes with a frown. How can he be so natural at this? I've only been awake a few hours, and it's already been decided that I'm living here from now on? Have I really escaped my cage? Or simply jumped into a new one?

"You shouldn't frown like that. You'll get frown lines." Pitch reached out, gently running his fingers through the white hair.

"I do not care about looks. I lost them long ago." He sighed.

"Nonsense. When you smile...you're beautiful. Like an angel."

"I never smile."

"You did only a minute ago. The room grew a little brighter when you did."

"I am never given reasons to smile."

"Then I know my goals for us." Pitch smiled, looking down fondly at the other man. "I want to only make you smile."

Jack reached for the towel he had set next to the tub. "Can you look away for a few moments?"

Pitch nodded, turning his head away. "So modest."

"Far from it." With a sigh, he stood in the tub, the water streaming off of his body, and wrapped the towel around his waist. Jack quickly grabbed another one too to hold around his shoulders. He honestly wasn't shy about his body. After so many years with a man like Bunnymund, he had quickly learned to get over his modesty. It was the obvious markings that scattered along his skin that he was embarrassed about.

Pitch looked at Jack, laughing. "You look ridiculous." He stood up, his body towering over the other man. He took another towel and rubbed it over the white hair. "Perhaps a robe might work better. I'll have to see about getting you one."

"I would rather look ridiculous than pitiful."

"You could never look pitiful." Pitch tilted his chin up. "Never. You are beautiful, Jack. I am determined to remind you of that. Every day."

The smaller man shrugged, turning away and heading out of the bathroom. He found the dryer and pulled out his dry clothes. "Is there a blanket I can use for the night." Jack looked out the window, noticing that the sky had darkened, as he swiftly pulled on his clothes so that his marks couldn't be seen.

Pitch held a blanket in his arms, looking at Jack with dark eyes. "Did he give you those too?"

"Do not ask questions you do not want to hear the answers to." Jack quietly took the blanket and headed back out to the living room to curl up on the couch.

"I'll listen...if you want to talk. I won't pressure you, but I am here if you need someone."

"Thank you," he whispered before letting his eyes close and quickly falling asleep in a tightly curled ball.

Pitch kneeled down by the side of the couch, rubbing Jack's cheek. "If only I knew what it would take to make you smile."

ZZ

Alrighty peoples. As always, reviews are a wonderful thing ;)

I've gotten a few reviews about people asking not to quit on this story and to keep posting and all that. DO NOT worry. This is entire story is completely written and edited and everything. I'm just not one of those authors who posts 5 chapters at the same time. So when I remember/get the time, I promise I will post the next chapters. There are 9 chapters in all, so just don't worry you guys :)