"Snowflake."
Jack stiffened at first, but relaxed into Bunnymund's hold. He wasn't sure what to say next, but Bunnymund didn't mind the silence.
That word meant much more than a pet name: something usually sweet said between the two. It held memories, secrets,and devotion within its nine letters. When Bunnymund used that nickname Jack knew he was sincerely apologizing.
. . . . . . . . .
"Frost."
They'd first met the day on Groundhog's day to see if winter would blow on or if spring was ready to blossom. Bunnymund had always hated that Groundhog, but that year spring won, and Bunnymund was nothing less than smug. "Frost," he'd called out to the winter spirit. Only his last name: not Jack, just Frost.
"Spring's start'in and I don't need your snow everywhere. You got that?"
Jack thought it was nice that he was being acknowledged at all but the tone Bunnymund used was a different matter.
"Nice doing business with ya, Cotton tail."
Bunnymund left with a fur coat full of snow.
. . . . . .
The next time they met was on the blizzard of '68. The pooka still saw the winter spirit as a nuisance and Jack loved to play tricks.
A pinch of hail. Two scoops of ice and the whole area was haunted by a wonderful blizzard that went on for hours. It not only covered thousands of homes but had also crippled one holiday: Easter.
"Frostbite-"
Harsh and freezing. It crept onto skin and squeezed till fingers and toes turned blue. Not nice, never good, always bad.
He hated that nickname just as much as Bunnymund hated being called a kangaroo.
. . . . .
He was made an official guardian after Pitch's defeat. And his relationship with both the kids and the other guardians continued to improve. But improving his relationship with the Easter bunny was (surprisingly) easier than he thought it would be. It got to the point that Bunny would invite Jack over whenever they were both free of their duties.
Jack felt that he could relax in the Easter Bunny's presence. They'd had many disputes in the past but they began to trust each other.
"Jack."
The pooka even called him by his first name: not Frost or Frostbite, just Jack.
While he liked his companionship with the Pooka, he want something more. But he wasn't sure what the something could be. A confident?
No.
Something more intimate?
Maybe.
Jack noticed how his eyes tended to linger on Bunnymund's figure far too long to be casual. He sometimes wondered if the Easter Bunny would bring it up. But, whether because he decided it was unimportant or that he didn't want to know the reason for it, Bunnymund never asked.
It was just a little... disappointing.
But, Jack wasn't going to wait forever.
. . . . .
"Hey, Bunny..."
Author's Note:
It's been quite while... This chapter is more of an explanation for what happens next between Jack and Bunny. Thank you so much for everyone's reviews, favorites, and follows for this story!