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

Chapter 6

Argh sorry this took so long! I kept getting writer block. I think it's because my brain is getting ahead of itself. It wants to be further along in the story, it's hard to keep reminding it that it needs to write what's happening at the moment before jumping ahead otherwise readers would be confused.

Anyway thank you all for your wonderful patient and lovely reviews. Cookies for you all! I actually didn''t think eggnog could be alcholic! I just thought it be fnny to have it that Sandy gets drunk on it even though I assumed there was only non alcholic egg nog. It's just king of odd to be thinking protector of childhood to be drinking XD

Oh and yes the chess scene was from Harry Potter! Cookies and ice cream for Voice of Mars for guessing correctly! Yeah I stole the chess moves from the Philospher of Stone; it was the only chess I know! XD I don't even know if you actually hop over the chess piece to collect it or if that's just checkers. I may have to ask any of you readers to give me pointers should I make Tooth and Pitch play another game.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

How could this be happening?

He was the nightmare king! The creator of bad dreams! The very essence of fear! The guardian's nemesis! No, this had to be a mistake. Pitch could not be falling for Jack Frost. Jack was the fifth guardian for Man in the Moon sake! He was meant to be Pitch's enemy. He defeated Pitch that Easter, along with the other guardians, and then tossed him to the fearlings so they could turn into a defenceless teenager.

Okay, you never thought that when you woke up in this place. You were more astonished that Jack had saved you life, despite the fact, as you put it, he's your enemy.

Okay, maybe Pitch didn't really think that, at least not anymore. Jack wasn't Pitch enemy now, none of the guardians were. North had basically told Pitch that he could stay at Santoff Clausen for as long as he wanted. Sandy had been friendly; despite the fact Pitch had tried killing him in the past. Tooth had even play chess with him. Bunny...well Bunny probably still considered Pitch as an enemy but he hadn't really done anything bad to Pitch. Pitch was starting to feel that maybe...they all might become friends.

Jack was already Pitch's friend. After all Jack had shown Pitch nothing but kindness and friendliness since day one, even comforting Pitch when he had burst into tears. Jack hadn't treated him like the guy who had tried killing him and turn children's dreams into nightmares. Jack had treated him like a person. He could make Pitch feel safe with just a simple look with those crystal eyes of his and his smile made Pitch's stomach do flips...Stop it, stop it, stop it! He was not falling for Jack!

You know you really aren't convincing me here.

"You're not helping, brain." Pitch muttered under his breath

Hey, I am being helpful. You're the one who keeps denying it.

"I'm not denying anything. I am not in love with Jack."

Who said anything about love? Earlier you said 'you weren't falling for Jack'. And now you saying 'you're not in love with Jack'?

"...Shut up."

You shut up!

"Oh, great, my brain has now turned into an arguing five year old. Could things get any worse?"

"You okay Pitch?"

Pitch could have slapped himself. Of course Jack was right there while Pitch was having a one sided conversation with himself under his breath. Fantastic.

"Y-Yeah I'm fine," Pitch said, running his hand through his spikes, shakily.

They had left the reindeers, now heading to the kitchen for lunch. Jack had leaned on the back of Pitch's armchair, talking about...something. Pitch had honestly been too busy caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't actually been listening.

Apparently Jack had finally noticed, "You sure? You've been awfully quiet."

"I'm sure," Pitch said, glancing up and giving Jack a quick smile. Truth be told he had been screaming in his head the whole time he was petting Rudolph once he realised that there might be a possibility he was falling in lo – might have a crush on Jack. He probably would have to apologise to the animal when he next saw him, as he probably wasn't paying much attention to the little red nosed reindeer.

You wouldn't have even thought about apologising to anyone before you and Jack became friends. His brain noted.

"I thought I told you to shut up." Pitch muttered, his tone darkening in hopes his brain would take the message and stop talking.

"What was that?" Jack asked curiously.

"Um, n-nothing," Pitch stammered, his smile becoming more strained.

"Hrm...okay!" Jack said cheerfully.

They entered the kitchen, which now had a few yetis filing in as they focused on the dishes that had been left in the oven. One glanced at Jack warily when the boy parked Pitch's wheelchair and cart wheeled in the air over to where they stood, but Jack just smirked and flew over to the fridge, not intending to steal their food, today at least.

"What do you want for lunch?" Jack called over his shoulder, "It's mostly Christmas theme so um...you can have turkey sandwich or some mince pies or a fruit cake...there's also a Yule log in here as well and oh! They got those little sausages wrapped in bacon too – er, what do you call them again? Ah never mind, what else is there? You can have a whole Christmas dinner, if you really hungry...and there's also-"

"Er, a turkey sandwich would be fine." Pitch said before Jack listed every single meal you could get at Christmas time.

"Turkey sandwich, coming right up!" Jack said, giving Pitch a smirk.

Pitch felt his cheeks heating up despite himself. God damn it, why was he was he blushing?

Because you like him, His brain said in a teasing sing-song voice.

'Shut up.' This time Pitch remembered to say it in his head, instead of out loud, so Jack didn't hear him.

He ignored the voice in his head and watched as ingredients to make a turkey sandwich shot out of the fridge and flew into the air. It was joined by a few pieces of cutlery, a cutting board and some plates as the wind carried them from all different directions over to Jack, who now had gone to the table. The Yetis didn't seem to mind the flying objects, seeming to be pretty used to it and Jack got to work with preparing two turkey sandwiches, the wind eagerly passing him each item he need. Eventually he slid a plate over to where Pitch was.

Pitch nodded his thanks and then ate quietly. He was still trying to ignore his brain. So what if he was impressed at how Jack could control the Winds into making something simple as making a turkey sandwich into a speculator. That didn't mean Pitch fancied Jack. Anyone would have been impressed.

He watched Jack eat. Jack didn't seem to be even digesting the food, shoving the sandwich all in his mouth. Ew. Okay, brain, there was no way he would like someone who ate like that.

Why are you watching him in the first place?

'God damn it!' Pitch groaned.

He recalled when he had been adult and had said that the Guardians were the most annoying enemies he ever had. Well now he taken that back. Turned out the winner of the most annoying enemy award went to his brain, for not shutting up about the fact that he may or may like Jack. Stupid brain.

"Are you sure you okay?" Jack asked. Pitch looked up to realise he was too busy in his head and again hadn't been listening to anything Jack was saying. Jack was now staring at him worriedly, "You're not in pain, are you?"

"No, of course not," Pitch said.

Jack still looked unsure that he believed Pitch, tilting his head to the side in questioning.

You know he looks very cute like that. His mind whispered and Pitch had to shove a piece of his sandwich in his mouth to stop his cheeks from heating up again. Didn't his brain know that when Pitch ordered you to shut up, you shut up? Of course it was his brain, that rule didn't apply. Maybe it would shut up if Pitch banged it on the table a few times.

"You're not thinking about the fearlings again...are you?" Jack continued, interrupting Pitch before he could try out the head banging theory. The winter spirit furrowed his eyebrows, "You are, aren't you? I knew I shouldn't have brought that up earlier."

That managed to stop Pitch arguing with his brain.

"What? No, I wasn't..."

"I'm sorry...I just thought that you should know so you wouldn't have to be constantly worrying. But now you're worrying anyway." Jack moaned, placing his head in his hand. He had either not heard Pitch or didn't believe him.

"But I wasn't thinking about..."

Pitch would have continued if Jack hadn't let one hand fall from his head back onto the table. Jack then reached out over to where Pitch's hand lay on the table by his plate. Pitch gasped as Jack took his hand in his, words spluttering to a halt as he froze, staring down at their entwined hands. Jack was holding his hand. Jack was holding his hand!

"Pitch, I promise you, we'll find those fearlings and defeat them. You don't have to worry, I won't let them harm you."

He stared into Pitch's eyes, his icy blue eyes so sincere and his smile so reassuring. Pitch could feel his cheeks turning a darker grey as he blushed. He looked away quickly, hoping Jack wouldn't see.

"Thanks," He replied quietly. Then, after a moment, he added, "You know, I've been saying that a lot recently."

Jack laughed and Pitch chuckled as well. They were still holding hands. Pitch had completely forgotten about the yetis that who were in the room, who were either watching the two boys curiously, or whacking said yetis in the head and telling them to get back to work and mind their own business.

The door bursting open snapped both of them back to reality. Jack dropped Pitch's hand, startled by the sudden bang of the door. Pitch also retreated the hand away quickly in shock as well. He could still feel the coolness of Jack's hand lingering on his own. He tried to ignore it as he turn to see who had entered the kitchen.

"Hey, North!" Jack grinned and waved as the Russian man walked in.

"Hi," Pitch mumbled quietly.

"Afternoon, Jack, Pitch," North greeted them both cheerfully. He glanced at the empty plates, "Had lunch?"

"Well I was thinking about having seconds," Jack said. He glanced over at Pitch, "Want any more Pitch?"

"Um...no thanks..." Pitch mumbled.

"Suit yourself," Jack said and flew over to the fridge again, searching for more to eat. He swiped several mince pies and, after a moment contemplating, a turkey leg as well.

North laughed as the boy flew back to the table and starting almost immediately wolfing down all the food in his arms.

"I like to see a boy with a healthy appetite," He said.

Pitch tried to smile but failed as he looked down at his lap. He was still clutching the hand which Jack had held a moment ago, as if trying his hardest to stop the cold lingering presence from ever fading away from his hand. Of course, it wasn't long before his hand felt warm again and the frostiness of Jack's hand was gone. Pitch let out a soft sad sigh.

"Pitch?"

Pitch looked up to see both North and Jack looking at him. North was looking at him with slight concern and Jack was looking worried again.

"I'm okay," He said, quickly to reassure Jack, not wanting to make him even more worried, "I'm just...a bit tired, I guess."

Jack flew over to him, "Why didn't you say?" He swallowed the last of his mince pie and grabbed the handles of Pitch's wheelchair, "Come on I'll take you back to the infirmary,"

Once Jack had shut the door, Pitch sat up on his bed, pulling his knees into his chest (ignoring the wince it caused) and turn to stare out the window.

"Alright, you win." He mumbled.

Thought so, His brain said cheerfully.

"Don't get so cocky," Pitch growled; trying to ignore that he was properly going mad seeing as he was now talking to himself.

You know you're just calling yourself cocky, right? His brain said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Pitch said, scowling upwards before he stopped himself. He winced and shuffled over to the bed, grabbing the wheelchair that sat at the edge of his bed. Somehow – and very painfully – he managed to get himself into the wheelchair. He longed for when he could walk in crutches, through he wasn't sure how that would be possible with his broken arm.

He rolled over closer to the window, watching the snow outside. He brought his hand, the one that Jack held, and rested his cheek on it, resting his elbow on the window ledge.

For someone who has a crush on someone, you aren't acting too happy, His brain noted thoughtfully.

"I'm in love with another male, who used to be my enemy." Pitch shot back.

Not this again. You know you don't think of him as an enemy anymore and he doesn't think of you as an enemy. And about being in love with another male, well, you haven't really been attracted to females since you became the nightmare king anyway.

"I haven't been attracted to anyone at all since I've became the nightmare king. Until now that is..."

So what's the problem? It's not a thousand years ago anymore, Pitch. It's the 21st century. Males can fall in love with each other now, so can females. You should know, some of the nightmares you've given to teens have been about their families and friends rejecting them because they're gay.

Pitch huffed in response to that. For a moment his brain was silent as it went deep in thought.

Is that what you're worried about?

"I don't have family..." Pitch said.

You have friends though. His brain said. You have Jack.

Pitch fell silent again, answering his mind's question. He heard his brain sigh.

You think Jack will reject you.

"Why wouldn't he? He only sees me as his friend!" Pitch cried, though not too loudly.

You don't know that for sure. Not until you ask.

"No!" Pitch snapped, "I'm not asking him anything! He'll hate me. Or if he doesn't, he won't feel the same way."

Pitch crossed his arms, gripping his elbows so tightly, his non-injured arm was starting to hurt too. His brain couldn't argue with that one, he was absolutely positive Jack didn't feel the same way. Why would he? He was the boogeyman, for starters, the person who hid under children's beds giving them nightmares. Even if Jack chose to ignore that – as he had since Pitch had arrived at Santoff Clausen – Pitch was pretty sure that Jack wasn't attracted to the same gender.

What if he was? What if he did feel the same way?

"Even if he did, which he doesn't," Pitch said, "How will the other Guardians react? I know North and Tooth have been pretty nice, and Sandy has been okay too...but Bunny hates me...and I'm pretty sure none of them would like the idea of me and Jack together as a couple. Don't say 'I don't know that for sure!"

His brain, which was going to say those words, fell silence again. Pitch looked out of the window again. Snow was starting to fall softly on the ground, the snowflakes swirling and dancing as the wind blew them about gently, before they landed on the pure white surface below. Pitch let out a sad sigh.

"I'm not saying anything to him." He told his brain. With that he turned away from the snow and wheeled back over to his bed, focusing on how he would get back on it on his own without further injuring himself...trying to ignore the sad clench his heart made when he said that.

Jack hadn't been to visited him for a while.

It had been a few weeks, a few long weeks, since Pitch had discovered he had feelings for Jack and then decided to try and squish them back down until they were almost non existent. Which when he was around the Guardians and the yetis, it wasn't so hard. But when he was around Jack he struggled. So in a way he was glad Jack hadn't been to visit him.

He knew where Jack was. Seeing as Jack just had to finish up winter in a few more countries before he would be on his break, Jack had decided to get it all done in one fell swoop so he could be done quicker.

"I'll be gone for only a few days," Jack had said, perching on Pitch's bed, "You'll be alright won't you?"

"I'll be fine. It's not like I'm trapped in bed now, although I'm getting fed up with that wheelchair."

Jack laughed and patted Pitch's shoulder. A spark went through Pitch and he did his best to hide his blush.

"North said since you're a spirit, you'll heal faster than mortals. There's just the problem of how are you going to use crutches with a broken arm."

"I suppose I'll just have to wait until my arm cast comes off then." Pitch groaned.

"Hey don't worry, North has an idea." Jack reassured him.

"Oh? And what may that be?" Pitch asked quirking an eyebrow.

Jack shrugged, "Have no clue. He won't let me see it. And Phil kicked me out his office when I tried to spy." Here the boy stuck out his bottom lip to pout; he liked spying on North when the Russian was making things.

The expression looked so cute...no Pitch, no. Pitch forced himself to look over at his wheelchair, as he took a deep breath, trying to squish down that butterfly feeling that had burst into his chest again.

"Will you at least be back at night?" The words slip out of Pitch's lips before he realised.

"Um...yeah probably. But I'm pretty sure I'll be late, so don't wait up alright?"

"Alright," Pitch replied, finally in control of himself again as he looked back over at Jack.

Jack beamed, "If you get bored just yell for North or whoever's around and they'll keep you company. Tooth will probably want to play chess again if she's not busy she enjoyed playing with you."

Pitch hardly heard the sentence. He was once again caught up in that handsome smile Jack wore.

"Um...sure..." Pitch stammered. The butterfly feeling was back, this time more prominent than ever, and his cheeks were heating up.

"I really can't control myself can I?" Pitch murmured to himself as he returned back to the present again.

He was perched by the window of the infirmary again, glazing out in the night sky. Manny shone down on him, but Pitch wasn't interested in him. The moon never really spoke to him and so Pitch had chose to ignore him back. That had been when he had been evil though. Idly, he wondered what the man in the moon made of the whole situation. Pitch didn't really know much about him that much, but he supposed the moon probably didn't mind Pitch was staying with the Guardians; otherwise wouldn't he have told them himself if it was a bad idea?

Pitch shrugged the thought off, he wasn't paying attention to the moon anyway. He still wasn't going to talk to him unless the moon talked to him first. Right now, though, Pitch was searching the skies for any signs of a certain winter spirit.

Yeah, he promised Jack he wouldn't stay up for him. But even if Pitch was doing his best to keep his feelings hidden, he still couldn't stop himself from rolling over to window to wait for Jack to return. He knew he wouldn't fall asleep anyway even if he did try to.

It was really getting late now. Gone after midnight. Pitch clenched his fists tightly, worry washing over him. Shouldn't Jack be back by now? Even if the winter spirit had just gone straight to his room to sleep, Pitch would have seen him through the window. He had done so the past few nights Jack was too late back to visit him.

Pitch was so busy concentrating looking out the window he gave a jump when he heard the door shut as someone entered. He spun around, steadying his wheelchair.

"Oh Sandy, it's just you."

Sandy stepped in, raising an eyebrow, a question mark forming above his head. He had sent out golden strands of sands to children sleeping everywhere yet he had noticed one certain grey skinned teen had not allowed the sand to send him to sleep yet. Pitch gulped nervously, he had swatted the sand away when it try to lull him to sleep, turning his head away from it so it would not get into his eyes.

"I didn't feel like sleeping." Pitch answered.

An image of a first aid plus sign, someone sleeping in a bed, a clock with its hands whirling at a fast pace and a tick popped up over Sandy's head.

"Yes, I know sleeping will make me heal faster." Pitch said. "But I'm not tired."

Sandy pointed over at the bed and crossed his arms. Pitch groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Alright, alright," He cried. He wheeled over to the bed, sending the Sandman a frustrated look. Sandy just rolled his eyes at the teen and helped him under the covers.

"You've never been interested about me being asleep on time before," Pitch grumbled, though he laid his head back down on the pillows, not wanting to be glared at by the golden man.

Sandy just raised his eyebrow. He created a ribbon of glowing sand and made to head out as the sand went straight over to Pitch.

"Sandy, wait!" Pitch cried, swatting the sand away.

Sandy stopped and turned back, dismissing the golden sand away for now. He gave Pitch a quizzed look. Pitch sighed and sat up, unsure what to say. He scratched the back of his neck, in a similar fashion to what Jack would have done – really brain?!

"I..." Pitch coughed weakly, "I, er, I...didn't really get to apologise about that time when I shot an arrow in your back."

Pitch immediately cringe, expecting the Sandman to suddenly scowl, as he was reminded that Pitch had tried to kill him. After all Pitch would hate him to if that had happened to him. Being shot in the back and then consumed by nightmare sand...not very pleasant.

However instead Sandy smiled. He created a sand image above his head: you're forgiven.

"What?" Pitch was confused, "How can you just forgive me just like that? I shot you with an arrow!"

Sandy just shrugged and watched Pitch's reaction. Pitch, looking in confused, ran both his hands through his spikes. He furrowed his eyes, and then raised one eyebrow.

"Are you seriously fine with the fact that I pretty much killed you?" He asked, slowly. Because to be honest, he didn't really want to know the answer. So far Sandy, along with the other guardians (except for Bunny), had been nice to and despite the fact Pitch was starting to like the guardians, he still wondered if deep down inside they still held a slight resentment to him. Especially the Sandman.

Sandy paused, as if contemplating on what he would say. Pitch waited, nervously, half wishing he could just go back in time and instead of calling out the Sandman's name, have kept his mouth shut and let the golden man be on his way.

Then the Sandman nodded with another smile. Pitch stared at him for a few seconds.

"Why?"

Sandy created a sand figure of the grown up version of Pitch above his head. Then, with a touch of a golden sparkle effect, the Pitch figure shrunk down to a teenager size.

"Because I'm a teenager?" Pitch asked.

Sandy shook his head, sighed, and made the sand image repeat itself. He did several times before Pitch finally got it.

"Because I've...changed?" He asked, slowly, still uncertain he got that right.

Sandy beamed and gave him a thumbs up. Pitch smiled glad he got it right. Then he became confused again.

"That's the only reason?" He asked.

Sandy shrugged. The sand image of Pitch disappeared and was replaced with another figure.

"Jack?" A blush appeared on Pitch's face despite the fact he scolded himself for doing so, "Wait, is it because of the same thing as North said? About Jack caring enough to save me and you guys caring about Jack so you don't mind me being here?"

Sandy made a 'sort of' gesture with his hand. Pitch frowned.

"Then what?"

Sandy was about to create another sand image but then he froze, his eyes staring at something behind him. Pitch turned, and his breath caught in his throat.

In the doorway stood Bunny. But that's was not what make Pitch's heart stopped. It was because of the fact in his arms bunny was holding an unconscious white haired, blue hoodie, figure.

"Jack!"

Oh my god Jack, NO!

Hoped you enjoyed the chapter. Sorry it's not brillant, I did keep getting stuck on what to write. Hopefully it's not too dreadful.

I was going to have a North and Jack bonding scene and a North and Pitch bonding scene but I couln't really think of what to write so I left it out for now and focused on a Sandy and Pitch bodning scene. As I said in previous chapters Sandy has come to accept Pitch but a reviewer told me it good if I showed things and I agreed, it's much more interesting to see the two bond rather than me tell you they friends now on to next thing! I still thought Pitch would be wondering why Sandy didn't resent him so I put that in too.

Anyway hopefully it won't take me so long to write the next chapter. Spoliers: Bunny and Pitch may start to get along. See you soon ^^