Icy Shadows

Summary: After visiting Jamie, Jack finds some fearlings attacking someone. He rescues the person only to find out its...a injured teenage Pitch? How did that happen? Jack/Pitch

Hey guys. Sorry this chapter took a little long, been back at college and work experience and hadn't really have the time. Also heads up, my family's moving next week so I won't be able to get access to the internet for a while meaning it may be a little more longer before I can update this again.

Anyway here's chapter 3. Also I will point out Jack and Pitch won't fall in love instantly. Through they do seem to become close in this chapter it's only because Pitch is starting to trust Jack and open up and only starting their friendship. I want it to be a slightly slow process through it hopefully won't be too slow for those who want them to fall in love quickly. 3

Anyway enjoy.

Chapter 3

The bright morning light shining through the window was what finally pulled him from his slumber. He groaned when the bright light hit his eyes, shutting them instantly and turning his head away from the window. Why had it gotten so bright? His caves was full of shadows and darkness, there usually was hardly any light-

Oh yeah. Pitch groaned again as he remembered. After his fearlings had turned against him and he had turned into a teenager he had been forced to leave his home otherwise he would have been killed by his own minions. He remembering being lost in his own home for days, the fearlings changing into about so all the familiar paths vanished and every friendly shadow became a trap, He remembered finally finding the exit and climbing out He remembered himself running through the woods, tripping and falling over upturned roots; stil not used to his new body. He remembered the fearlings cornering him by the lake and he remembered thinking it was over.

Then the fearlings had suddenly left; something or someone gaining their attention. Pitch hadn't stopped to wonder who or what, as he tried to get away. When he found that he couldn't, he was losing too much blood, he instead crawled over to the large boulders ducking in between them, praying the fearlings would not smell him out.

He remembered seeing an annoying winter spirit peering at him before he blacked out. When he had come round he had found himself in the North Pole of all places with one of his sworn enemies taking care of him.

Pitch's injuries finally caught up with this assessment, pain shooting through him as they reminded him a little too late that he was still in the North Pole. Great, just great. As things couldn't get any worse.

"Morning,"

Pitch's eyes snapped open to meet icy blue ones.

"Ah!" He screamed, jumping upright in panic – only to hiss as more pain erupted through him, again reminding him too late that he should not move too much.

Jack, seeming unaffected by the fact he had might have cause Pitch to have a heart attack, rested his head on his staff from where he floated above Pitch's bed, "You like ponies?"

"What?" Pitch cried.

"The dream Sandy gave you was about ponies galloping in a field so I assumed you must like them," Jack said. He grinned, "My dreams are usually about dolphins."

Pitch paused as his mind tried to process this information, "What?!"

"Yeah, it's kind of odd seeing as I haven't actually seen one properly in real life, just a small glimpse when I'm flying over the ocean. They like warmer waters see so I can't really hang about for too long."

"Why were you watching me sleep?" Pitch exclaimed.

"Huh? No I wasn't," Jack answered, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, "Well...only for a few seconds. Then I wanted to ask you why you were dreaming about ponies so I opened the curtains to see if that would wake you."

Pitch moaned and let his good hand plant in his face as he rubbed his forehead hoping to make the headache go away. It didn't and he looked up to see Jack, still staring down at him.

"You're still here?"

Jack nodded and the grey skinned teenager sighed. Deciding to make the most of it, he gesture to the winter spirit.

"Do me a favour and help me sit up."

Jack nodded and flew down and, surprisingly gentle, helped Pitch into a sitting position. Pitch was surprise, Jack was known for his boisterous nature and dangerous antics; he had thought Jack didn't even know the meaning of the word gentle.

"Thanks," Pitch muttered.

Jack smiled and flew back.

"You're welcome," He said.

There was silence for a few minutes as Jack did not know what to say and Pitch did not what to talk. Outside they could the rustle and bustle as already the yetis were up and in the midst of work.

Jack fidgeted, not really liking to be quiet for too long. However he wasn't sure how to strike a conversation with the scowling grey teen. He figured asking him again about his dream with ponies would just end with Pitch snapping at him.

"What exactly happened?" Pitch asked, breaking the silence, "When I paused out back at the lake I mean."

Jack smiled, glad he wasn't going to be stuck trying to figure out how to break the silence anymore.

"Well the fearlings came back so I took you to the North Pole. It was the first place I could think off, plus I was meant to be there anyway, we were suppose to have a meeting. The fearlings did attack us while we were in the snow but I managed to get us inside."

It was then Pitch's eyes fell on the white bandage on one of Jack's hands.

"After that I dropped you off in here and went to find the others. I made a mess in the workshop in my haste and they shouted for me for a few seconds. Then the fearlings barged in and we fought them, defeating several more before they decide to retreat to where, I don't know. Hopefully they get the message and stay away from here, for awhile at least. Tooth and Sandy asked me to explain about why the fearlings where there and I told them that I rescued you."

"I bet the other guardians were really happy about that." Pitch said sarcastically.

"Well Bunnymund was pretty mad at me...and I think Tooth and Sandy was a little shocked," Jack said, flopping down on the bed, pulling his legs up, his arms resting on his knees, "But they'll get over it. Besides North understood why I did it and he seemed alright that I saved you – I think."

"And why did you?" Pitch asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jack shrugged, "You may be evil but you were in danger and I couldn't just let someone die. Even if the others had disagreed with me,"

Pitch blinked in surprised. Jack had said it so nonchalantly as if it didn't matter that Pitch had tried killing him in the past. So far North and Sandy, the only other people, part from that yeti, that had entered the room, had regarded him with slight suspicion. Jack, however, was acting like he was chatting to a friend.

It felt...kind of nice.

"Thank you."

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them and Pitch wanted to punch himself. He was the nightmare king, damn it! Who cares if Jack had saved him? Jack was a pest, and as he defeated Pitch when he had tried to get rid of the guardians, a sworn enemy.

But when Jack said, "Hey no problem," and beamed at him...

Pitch couldn't help but slightly smile back.

After he had breakfast and had tinkered some more with the new toys he was making, North had headed down to the infirmary to check on Pitch and, if the boy was up, if he was feeling up for breakfast. He hadn't seen Jack but he assumed Jack must either be still in bed or perhaps wandered off to places in the world that still needed winter, for North did not see Jack around the workshop, in the kitchen, or in the stables, the seemingly favourite hangout places for the Guardian of Fun at the Santoff Clausen.

He was therefore surprised when he entered the infirmary ward to find two teens sitting on the bed, talking, only one just slightly reluctant. As soon as Pitch spotted North however, he immediately clammed up, folding his good arm and turning his eyes towards the window.

Jack's eyebrows furrowed at the sudden change of demeanour and glanced over to the door.

"Oh hey North," Jack greeted.

"Morning Jack," North said merrily, patting the boy's shoulder before his eyes fell on the grey teen, "Morning Pitch."

Pitch grunted in a way North assumed was a 'morning' and fiddled with a bit of thread from the rips of his cloak. Pitch glanced up at Jack to see a thoughtful expression on the youngest guardian's face before he noticed Pitch watching and flashed a reassuring smile at him.

"How are you feeling?" North asked, checking the IV drips and Pitch's vitals.

"I'm fine," Pitch said curtly.

North nodded in response.

"You two want breakfast?" North asked Jack and Pitch both.

Pitch nodded, he had not been able to eat for a few weeks, always having to be on the run, and he was starving. Jack however shook his head, telling North he already ate when North had looked at him with slight concern.

North nodded and ordered one of the yetis to bring Pitch breakfast.

Jack however shook his head, "Already ate. And I'm also running late in spreading snow and winter."

As Jack jumped into the air, the window burst open, wind rushing in. It made North and Pitch shiver but Jack laughed as the wind rushed around him, happy he was alright after the fearlings had chased him inside.

"Be careful," North warned, "Fearlings are still out there."

"I'll be fine," Jack reassured North, grinning. He glanced over at Pitch, "See you later yeah?"

"Yeah..." Pitch said, surprise flashing across his face.

With a wave Jack allow the wind to take him outside, the wind, after Jack told it to, shutting the window behind him as he flew off into the sky.

North turned from the window to notice an unreadable expression on Pitch's face. It disappeared when Pitch notice North looking at him.

"What?"

"Now Jack's gone, how about telling how you're really feeling?" North asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm fine!" Pitch repeated.

North continued staring at Pitch, a disbelieving look written across his face.

"Okay fine! My head hurts and I'm in a little pain. Are you happy now?"

"Thought so," North said as he checked Pitch's medication, seeing that it had worn up, and fixed it. "I would've done that sooner if you told me."

"I don't need to be taken care off. Especially not by you," Pitch muttered.

North didn't say anything, jotting things down in a medical chart that Pitch didn't even know was attached to his bed. Pitch watched him from the corner of his eye.

"You don't want to take care of me, either, right?" Pitch asked sullenly.

North slowly put down the chart and looked up at Pitch. He placed his large hands onto the bed rest at the end of the bed.

"You want the truth?" He asked.

Pitch stayed silent for a moment then nodded.

"If you were brought to me at any other time and by any other person then no, not after what you did." North admitted.

Pitch just scowled, sitting back and crossing his good arm again, acting like he didn't care and wasn't interested in the conversation in the first place.

"However," North spoke, softer than before, catching Pitch's attention, "It was Jack who brought you here. Despite what you put us through, put him through, he still cared enough to save your life. Therefore I do care about if you get better or not."

"Why?" Pitch asked. "What has Jack caring enough to save me have to do with you caring about my wellbeing?"

By this point North had walked over to the door, opening it as if he was going to walk out without answering Pitch's question. However he turned his head to look straight into Pitch's gold ones.

"Because I care about Jack," North replied simply.

Then he closed the door leaving Pitch to mull over what the Christmas spirit meant by that.

North had only just sat back down at his desk again to work on his toys when the door burst open. In marched Bunny who was followed by a worried Tooth and Sandy.

"When said we'd arrange meeting for a later date, I did not mean the next day." North said through he greeted them with a smile.

Bunny simple glared in response, his paws balled into fist as he walk up straight to the desk and slammed his fist down.

"Why the bloody hell is that bloody bogeyman still here?!" He asked. "After he nearly destroyed Easter? Or did you forget about that, when he, you know, made children stop believing in us?"

North sighed and scratched his head. He had an inkling that the others would badger him for answers. He had just hoped it wouldn't be so soon.

Tooth fluttered closer, placing a hand on Bunny's shoulder for a moment to calm him, "Where's Jack?" She asked.

"Gone out," North replied simply.

That probably wasn't the right thing to say. Tooth's eyes widened, worry washing over her.

"He shouldn't be out! Not with a broken hand and-and with fearlings out there still!" She cried frantically darted to and fro from the desk to the window as if considering about chasing after Jack and bringing him back. She started speaking again only in her anxiety her words were going a hundred miles an hour and no body in the room could understand what she was saying.

North held up a hand trying to stop the hurricane of words, "Jack can take care of himself. He'll be alright Tooth."

"But-But-"

Images flashed on top of Sandy's head as he waved his hands, trying to calm her down.

"Sandy's right. Frostbite is always getting into trouble Tooth; he knows how to get out of it. He'll be fine," Bunny said. He still was glaring at North but knew a very frantic Tooth was hard to calm down. He was a little concern about the winter spirit being out there, just slightly, after those fearlings had chased him straight into the workshop (something that, until after Pitch had ruined Easter, they have never dared to do before) but like he said, Jack was known to get into messes and then fly his way out again.

Tooth still looked uncertain but she stopped darting and floated back down to the floor. She looked up at North again, also wanting to know why Pitch was still here. Sandy, while to be honest, so long as Pitch didn't harm any of them especially not Jack, was alright with the grey man – now teen – staying here, was also curious too.

"Our job is to protect children," North said.

"Just because Pitch is now a teenager does not make him a child!" Bunny cried in frustration, his Australian accent thickening in his anger,

North however was not threatened by this, instead just meeting Bunnymund's glaze with one eyebrow raised.

"Does that also mean Jack is not a child?" He asked.

Bunny spluttered before falling silent, unable to respond. Despite their rivalry and that he was sometimes really annoying, after Jack had been a guardian, Bunny had started to think Jack less of a nuisance and more like a child who was just having fun, as did the rest of the guardians.

"It ain't the same thing...Pitch was turned into a teen..." Bunnymund said through with less force than earlier much to his dislike.

"Isn't it? We did not see Jack as a child until after the events of last Easter, no?"

As Bunny again was able to find a reply to that, North stood up and made his way around his desk, starting to pace his office slowly. Being the guardian of wonder; he could never stay still for quite so long, especially not while he was deep in thought. The others watched as North chose carefully what words he would say before he spoke.

"We know we ignored Jack for so long...but we're trying to make amends." Tooth's quiet whisper broke the silence. "We're trying to get him to open up, to see us all as his family."

Sandy shook her head at her and made a image of Jack watching the group, hesitating, longing to join them but looking unsure and finally shaking his head and turning away his face full of distrust before the sand boy flew off. Even though they were making up for their mistakes and Jack had forgiven then, it did not mean that Jack would instantly see them as his family.

"Sandy's right." North nodded, "Three hundred years is long time. He may have forgiven us but he doesn't forget. Jack still doesn't trust us fully, not after so many years of being ignored. And if he doesn't trust us he won't see us as family."

"What does this have to do with Pitch?" Bunny asked, crossing his arms.

"Was getting to that," North said and Bunny was nudged in the ribs by Tooth's elbow, causing the Australian to wince and glare at her, "Now Jack knows Pitch is dangerous. He had seen what Pitch has done. And he still protected him because that is in our guardian's nature, to protect. Jack has asked us to help him.

"Jack knows we don't trust Pitch nor that we really want to help him. He was fully aware that we could have simply just chuck Pitch out in snow. But he is allowing himself to place his trust in us, to let down the guard he has built during those three hundred years. That is why we help Pitch. Because if we lose Jack's trust now, after we've ignored him for three hundred years before, I doubt we'll ever gain it again."

The other three were silent as they looked at each other. They could all see that North was right. They couldn't lose Jack's trust now.

"Plus this may also be good for Pitch." North added, brightly, "By giving him a second chance he might actually see things in a better light and change his ways."

"Oh yeah? How you know that for sure?" Bunny asked, disbelief written in his tone.

"I can feel it – in my belly," North said, holding said stomach.

Bunny groaned and rolled his eyes, wondering why he hadn't seen that answer coming. It was always about the belly for North. But it had been right for a number of occasions so Bunny couldn't really question it.

"Alright fine!" The Pooka gave in, holding his hands up in surrender, "But I still don't like this!" He added crossly.

North smiled then looked at Tooth and Sandy, waiting for their response.

"Well if it gets Jack to start letting us in more, then I'm in." Tooth said, beaming, "Also it might be nice having a less mean Pitch about."

Sandy gave thumbs up through he added 'so long that Jack doesn't get hurt' through sand images. Like mentioned before, Sandy personally didn't mind, as long that none of his friends got hurt.

"Good." North grinned, reaching his shelf. He grabbed something from the shelf and turned back to the others, "Fruitcake?"

"Um..no thanks," Tooth said at the same time while Sandy shook his head.

"Mate...how long has that been there?" Bunny asked, eyeing the fruitcake suspiciously as it looked slightly like it had been there since Easter.

It was just after lunch when Jack returned. Pitch had been picking at his food, his face furrowed in deep thought that he didn't notice when the windows opened and the wind carried Jack in along with a few pieces of snow accidentally. He only noticed when something was thrown onto the bed next to him, making him give a startled jump through not as bad as the one he gave this morning.

"Hey," Jack greeted with a smile before his face turned to concern, having noticed the expression Pitch was pulling earlier, "You alright?"

"What are these?" Pitch asked, switching the subject as he gestured to the pile. He picked up the black thing, holding it up as it unfolded itself, "Clothes?"

"Yeah," Jack replied, "I noticed that you were still wearing your ripped oversize cloak thing and thought you needed new ones. I couldn't really find a cloak or anything apart from in ones in the Halloween departments and they looked kind of fake so I just got you a jacket instead. Sorry if they're not the right size I just nabbed the first things I saw. If you on't like I can always take them back and get you some other things."

Pitch stared at the clothing. Jack had gotten him a black fleece jacket, thick enough to withstand the weather up in the Arctic but not too thick which was what Pitch preferred, he couldn't really stand thick clothing. There was also a simple grey top to go underneath that was only slightly lighter than his own skin and some black jeans. It wasn't something Pitch would personally choose for himself but he liked it.

"They're fine...but you didn't have to get these...for me."

"Why not? You need something to wear; that cloak is ripped to shreds and way too big. And I'm always passing a couple stores when I'm flying about, it wouldn't be too hard to drop into one for a few minutes and take them. Just as long as you don't tell North I forgot to pay for them. I'm trying to get onto the nice list for a change. I'm planning to go back tomorrow anyway to make sure the snow hasn't melted yet so I can pay for it then."

Pitch paused, again thrown of by how Jack acted like it was no big deal to be getting clothes, talking too or saving the life of an enemy that gave nightmares to children as a job. It wasn't what he was used to. He was used to people crying out in fear and running away or glaring at him angrily preparing to fight him. He wasn't used to this friendliness...and caring.

"Hey..." Jack said, sitting down on the bed and placing his staff to one side; shocking Pitch slightly, as apart from when Pitch had forced Jack to give him the staff for that Tooth fairy's life, he had never seen Jack let go of his staff.

It was only when Jack looked at him with concern that Pitch realise he was crying. He growled and looked to his lap, angrily trying to wipe the tears away.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, his voice gentle with concern, not sure why Pitch had starting crying. This made Pitch cry harder despite his frustrated attempts to stop.

"Why are you so nice?" Pitch snarled. He looked up at Jack, golden eyes smouldering in anger, rimmed with red, "You're supposed to hate me!"

Jack blinked in surprised at the sudden anger, not expecting it.

"Why?"

"Because I – urgh!" Pitch cried in frustration, "I'm the bogeyman. I terrorize children. I tried sending the world into the dark ages. I shot the Sandman in the back with an arrow. I ruined Easter and made it looked like it was you. I nearly killed you. Take your pick!"

Jack furrowed his eyebrows. Pitch turned his head away not bothering to wipe the tears streaming down his face now. Great. Now he just made Jack realise the reasons why he should hate him and just lost the slight hope of Jack becoming a friend – pretty much the only friend Pitch had ever had if he didn't count his fearlings and they turned against him. He waited for the white haired boy to fly off, to leave, upon the realisation that Pitch didn't deserve his kindness.

Instead he heard shuffling on the bed as Jack moved closer so when Pitch turned they were right next to each other. Instead of hate in those ice coloured eyes there was understanding. Compassion.

"Yes you are the bogeyman. You did terrorize children and you did try sending the world into the dark ages. You...did shoot Sandy and...you did make it look like I betrayed the others that Easter. And you did try killing me." Jack said, "But you did these things because you didn't think you had any other choice. You wanted to be acknowledge, you wanted to finally be believed in. I...I understand how that feels."

Jack stopped and glanced to the door, checking to make sure no one was about. He looked back before glancing down to his knees which he had pulled up to rest his arms on.

"To be honest...if I had gone on for maybe a couple more years, alone and still unseen...I might have done the same thing. And you have been around for more years then I have. Yeah, you did some bad things, a lot of bad things actually. But only because you snapped and wanted things to change. And...you seem to regret what you did now." Jack said, glancing at the boy, "Otherwise you wouldn't have burst into tears...right?"

Pitch stared, wiping at the tears on his cheek as he nodded slightly.

"So no I don't hate you. Even if you think you deserve to be hated which you don't." Jack said, before letting out a smirk and giving Pitch a nudge, "As long as we have that whole world becoming Pitch Black thing under control. Otherwise I will be forced to turn you into a popsicle."

Pitch slightly smiled at that making Jack's grin wider.

"Thank you...again," Pitch said.

"No problem." Jack replied.

With his foot Jack kicked up his staff so it flew into his hands and he hopped up into the air.

"I'll leave you to get change." Jack said heading to the door. He stopped though glancing back, "Unless you need some help what with you casts and everything."

"I can change myself!" Pitch cried, his cheeks flushing darker.

Jack smirked, a disbelieving look on his face.

"Holler if you do need help or anything and I'll go get North, 'kay?" Jack said, "See ya."

The door shut before Pitch could respond and instead he grumbled that it was only putting clothes on himself it wasn't that hard. He smiled though as he picked up the top first.

After ten minutes of struggling and cursing as the damn t-shirt wouldn't seem to go on Pitch decided maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have some help, despite how embarrassing it was.

Lol poor Pitch XD. Please leave a review ^^