Solitude Forgotten Chapter 8: Reconciliation, a rise of the guardians fanfic

Hi guys! Thanks for waiting! i'm sorry for the late update, i'm currently addicted to making mash-ups and completing a canvas of mine so my attention is divided. but NO MATTER WHAT THIS STORY (and the other one: Leaving Home) WILL BE COMPLETED. SO READ ON! :D

Chapter 8: Reconciliation

Jack and Jamie stared at each other for quite some time. The tick-tick-tick of the clock seemed to magnify the silence of the room as the two stared at each other; calculating, impassive, chocolate orbs met the shocked, hurting look clearly displayed in the azure orbs of the winter Guardian. Jamie said nothing, Jack said nothing. When Jamie last looked at the clock outside it was fifteen minutes past two. It must've been half an hour since then. Jamie thought, his eyes not betraying the anxiety and the irritation he's started to feel since Jack sat down on his bed.

Jamie's words rang through Jack's mind as he continued to stare at the not-so-innocent child before him.

But Jack, I am home.

Jack wanted to hug Jamie then and there. He wanted to sweep him up in the tightest hug he could give and whisper everything he ever wanted to say. But he knew that would not work. Not even by a long shot. Jamie had laid out everything for Jack; his heart, his happiness, and Jack wasted it, if not thrown it away like toys he would forget in the deepest recesses of a child's toy box.

Jack continued to stare at the boy; Jamie met the spirit's gaze with his own calm stare. Jamie's emotions were building, now. The calm façade he had put on ever since the spirit clamped his hand over Jamie's mouth was still in place, but the boy could feel his emotions seeping through tight ball he rolled them up in.

Jack didn't know what to say. He never before planned that Jamie would be this difficult. His plan was basically a grab-and-go, maybe toss in a kiss or two.

Really, Jack? Really?! Do you really think that Jamie would remain that naïve and gullible forever?

Jack winced and Jamie raised an eyebrow. What was the Guardian thinking?

"Jamie… Please listen… I—"Jack began, but at the same moment, all of Jamie's self-control over his emotion snapped and the impassive stare that he gave Jack turned into such a venomous glare that the white-haired spirit froze mid-sentence and shifted slightly back.

"Jack Frost," Jamie began. His eyes were glaring so hard that Jack was sure two holes popped up in his head somewhere. He winced, but kept staring at Jamie, whose fists were clenched so tight that they were turning white.

Jamie was struggling to regain control. But it was hard. So hard. Random flashes of memories popped into his mind fizzled into nonexistence like fireworks in the Fourth of July: Jack's first leaving; the heartbreak, the anguish, the coping; the confession that followed; the feeling of vulnerability and the joy of acceptance. And then the broken promises of love returned and a mended relationship; the heartbreak so devastating it shattered Jamie's mind.

"Why did. You. Come. Back." Jamie slowly said. His eyes were burning with anger and unshed tears, but Jamie forced his voice to come out slow and even, but he couldn't help but punctuate his last three words, especially the last one.

"Jamie, please. Let me explain." Jack was starting to rush, now. The unsaid words were slowly forcing their way out of his choked throat and his shock was fading into one of great distress. "The darkness, the chaos, Eris, everything… Jamie, please hear me out."

"But why only now Jack?" the brown-eyed man said, his voice was steady, platonic, once more. But his eyes still held the burning anger, but sadness made its way into the brown windows, and Jack could practically feel the sorrow radiating off Jamie's stiff form.

"I was stupid," Jack said before he thought the words through. "I was stupid, so stupid to not know what I was doing back then, what I was feeling back then… especially for you."

Now, if Jamie was not so engulfed by anger and sorrow, he would be moved by Jack's speech. But now, with the anguish he felt for many years drowning him in a sea of angst, he couldn't feel anything but anger and the wish to hurt Jack, in every possible way.

Why am I thinking like this?

Jamie wanted to break the Guardian's spirit; he wanted Jack to feel in his very being the pain, the loneliness he had felt, doubled with that of a broken heart and a lost love. If Jack had felt this before, Jamie wanted the spirit to feel it again, twofold. He wanted Jack to feel hope only to have it crushed. He wanted Jack to feel love only to have it lost, then found, then lost again. He wanted Jack to feel everything.

But I love him.

'Bah! Did he love you the same way? He said it himself; he thinks it's wrong for you to love him like that.'

But I love him.

Meanwhile, while Jamie struggled with himself, Jack was sorting out his thoughts on how to tell Jamie everything; never before had Jack been faced with a more serious problem since Pitch and Eris. He knew that words would have no effect on the broken man. And brash actions could make him end up in the gutter.

But this is a brash situation. Fight fire—or ice— with fire.

Oh, well. Jack never was known as a deep-thinker, especially when it comes to his love life… which was virtually non-existent before he met Jamie.

Jamie was losing it; the memories were too much, the emotions restricted for too long. He was gonna lose it.

"Jamie…" Jack tried again.

He doesn't love you… He doesn't love you… He doesn't love you… He doesn't love you…

He doesn't love you…

But I love him.

"Jack…" Jamie said, his eyes tearing up. The hatred was gone, it's amazing how powerful love can be… and how totally cliché that sounds.

"I. Love. You." Jack said, his eyes—as blue as the azure sky—stared right into Jamie's misty ones. Jack was trying his hardest to convey everything he wanted to say into his eyes, and everything he felt for the boy in those three, simple words.

"Please…" Jamie said, his shoulders were shaking, now. The stiff position that he held during the first moments of Jack's visit dissipated, and Jamie now sat, hugging his knees. Sobs racked his frame as the powerful emotions that Jamie had clumped together in a tight ball came flooding out. Normally, Jamie would turn to his pen and paper as a release. He never did like crying; it leaves him with a feeling of vulnerability… and he's had enough of that for a lifetime.

"If you're just—"—hiccup—"gonna leave—"—hiccup—"again, please don't come—"—hiccup—"back… it hurts too much…" Jamie stopped talking; he buried his face in his arms and sobbed quietly, not caring for the presence of someone watching him. 'So much for calm and indifferent…' he thought, scornfully.

Jack was frozen (well, not literally, but you get the picture). He never expected this much angst to befall the man. Was he that important?

I think I. love. you.

So please… don't go.

Jack stood up and walked towards Jamie's sobbing form. He watched him for a few moments and kneeled. Jamie raised his head, his eyes red and puffy from crying, and he stared at the kneeling sprite, tears still falling.

Jack kissed away the tears that threatened to fall. Jamie's eyes widened, and he shifted slightly away from Jack. However, Jack was persistent.

I am not leaving you again.

He cupped Jamie's face with both his hands and leaned in close. Then he kissed Jamie.

He pulled away.

Jamie stared, shell-shocked at the intimate contact that Jack had portrayed. And as Jack, leaned in, Jamie closed his eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for Jack to kiss him again. But he whispered;

"I think I love you…"

Jamie's eyes snapped open as memories of a windy night, cold with the presence of winter, and the feeling of love and sorrow—vulnerability— flooded his mind. More tears began to flow, and a choked sob made its way from the boy's throat. Jack kissed away the tears and kissed him on the forehead.

"So I promise to never go."

Please feel free to read "Please Come Back" if you don't know where i got the 'I think I. love. please… don't go.' part... :) R&R and i promise maturity! :D