Chapter Two: Stale Taste

"Get up, get up!" a loud voice broke into Bunnymund's dreamless sleep and he responded to this with a low groan and a muffled 'leave me alone' that went unheard by the guard who battered his baton along the cells. Rousing up all the inmates from their slumber.

"Come on, Bunnymund, or they will drag you out" spoke a nervous tone and Bunnymund curled up away with a ragged sigh.

"Fuck off, mate" not caring who he was addressing. Suddenly there was a freezing cold feeling on his shoulder and he jumped, sitting up fast enough to hit his head off the roof of his bunk. He cursed loudly and snapped his head around to glare at whoever the hell thought it would be funny to throw ice on him or something.

"What the fuck was that?"

"…I just grabbed your shoulder"

Bunnymund gave Jack Frost; the cell mate he may or may not have forgotten about having, an unimpressed look and sighed, shaking his head and clambering out of bed to stretch his sore muscles.

"No wonder your name is Frost, you're damn cold"

"Yeah…I know" Jack gave a sheepish smile and Bunnymund rolled his eyes.

"What the hell is going on anyway?" he added, scratching his ears, pulling them down in front of his eyes to flatten and soothe them. Jack watched him with a sense of confusion and awe (the awe that the ears looked really soft and velvety) before raising an eyebrow and replied in a tone which suggested it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Err…its morning? We don't really get a nice rise and shine in prison"

Oh yeah, he was in prison. It is amazing the kind of things you forget after a bad night's sleep.

"So…what now?" Bunnymund inquired after a few minutes of awkward silence. Jack gave him a funny look, wondering why the new inmate thought something happened every minute of each day. It wasn't like that. After telling the Australian that they would wait to have breakfast then they would go out into the yard, the look of pure irritation and frustration in his green eyes made Jack move back slightly.

"Seriously mate, stop movin' back all the time, I ain't gonna hurt you"

Jack paused, but didn't move any closer despite his cellmate's reassurance. He didn't really do trusting people anymore.

Soon the food packs were slipped in and the two started eating, failing to find much pleasure in the bland, grim taste that rolled around their tongues with a stale odor but what could they do?

"So what's the deal for today?" Bunnymund asked, face pulling into one of displeasure as he swallowed coarsely and took a deep swig of his drink. Jack was also devouring his share, but he was used to it so hid his amusement at Bunnymund's reactions.

"Don't know, changes every day…hey…Bunny…"

"Nickname's already?" Bunnymund glanced over with a playful wink but the gesture made Jack's stomach knot up uncomfortably.

"N-No! Just…why are you in here anyway?"

Bunnymund paused in his actions and sat up straight, looking out the small barred window that promised nothing but more grey skies for the forthcoming day.

"You don't want to find out"

"…Come one…you know what I have been accused of, won't kill you to tell me"

"…Wouldn't make a difference, mate"

Jack paused, eyes widening as he let it sink in, he took in a deep breath that shuddered through his chest, he swallowed awkwardly.

"Are you on de-"

"I don't know yet, let's come off the topic, yeah?"

Jack didn't look convinced but nodded absent-mindedly and sighed. Climbing onto his top bunk and sitting there sullenly. He wasn't looking forward to association, now he had a new cell mate who didn't try to get into his pants every ten minutes, he was rather keen to just stay where he was. But socialising out in the yard along with exercise and jobs was compulsory.

"Hey, Frostbite I think we gotta go" the Australian called out and his blue eyes pinpointed into hollow irises of fear and he didn't move for a few moments. Was…was it worth asking his new mate to stick by him…

"I-"

But as he looked over the edge of his top bunk, his heart sank and his insides knotted into a thick heavy sickness as he realised Bunnymund was gone. He was going to have to go by himself again.

"Hey look, it's your boy" one of the inmates turned to his friend who looked up in response to the comment and grinned a sinful leer. He saw the porcelain young man walk into the yard nervously, glancing around with those treasured marble blue eyes, plush lips parted as shuttered breaths escaped from the gap.

"I think he is looking for you" his friend remarked with a low chuckle and the inmate; who went by the nickname: Groundhog*, stood up. Wiping himself down a bit and mockingly slicking back his hair.

"Better go greet him then" he sneered and headed over.

Bunnymund meanwhile was on the table nearby, unbeknownst to what was going on and was spending most of his time thinking what the fuck he could do to pass the time; he sure as hell didn't want to talk to anyone. Glancing up he saw Jack come in, the kid was alright to be fair - bit jumpy but at least the Australian wasn't stuck with some forceful asshole. Maybe it wouldn't kill the rabbit-man to invite him over; he looked awkward as hell…was he always like this?

Opening his mouth to invite him over, he stopped and narrowed his eyes with confusion and concern as a man went over, he had dark scruffy hair and was pretty big, an alright face but it was contorted into a perverted manner that startled Bunnymund and before he knew it, he found himself standing up. But…then he stopped. It wasn't his problem. So…he distracted himself, besides…it was probably nothing. Bunnymund eventually went over to the phone, clinking in some spare change from the money he had brought in with him and picking up the big black speaker.

Meanwhile Jack had seen Bunnymund stand up and look over as Groundhog sauntered over. His heart felt like it had been impaled on an icicle when Bunnymund simply ignored him and went over to the phone. Meaning Jack was left with the beast that cornered him.

"Bet you want me back in your cell" he grinned. His breath smelt like dirt and smoke and it made Jack grimace.

"Hardly, how is your new cell mate?" he sneered, knowing he hit a nerve because groundhog had been put in with a strong, silent guy who took no nonsense and didn't like small talk.

"Not nearly as easy as you" he replied with a cocky smirk and Jack gulped, thankful they were out in the open.

"You think just because we are outside, you are safe?" Groundhog suddenly claimed, as if he had read the younger man's thoughts. Jack's eyes widened and he tried to move back but the solidity of the wall behind him prevented such movements and his pride wouldn't let him run.

"Just fuck off, man, get over yourself, find a new toy" he snarled, a new anger bubbling up in him as he recalled all the times of degradation and loss of dignity. It hurt to think about such times for too long so Jack distracted his mind with a dark hate that showed in his expression, actually shocking Groundhog for a few moments.

"Oh, seems we grew some backbone during our separation, how adorable" came the mocking remark. The white haired man was so pissed off, scared and…just empty. He was so sick of this happening with every guy who thought they could fuck the pretty boy senseless, he had considered on several occasions to just let them get on with it...

Thankfully Groundhog was called over by some mates who didn't like to be kept waiting. But before he left, he palmed Jack's crotch painfully and slobbered a dirty kiss onto the corner of his mouth. Jack yelped and flinched away, the submission returning to his shining eyes.

"Don't go anywhere" Groundhog winked and moved away.

Jack felt sick, humiliated and of course he wasn't just going to wait there, he moved away to the other side of the yard and 'hid' behind a tough group of people who didn't bother with the lithe prisoner and just ignored him as he stood in their shadows.

Bunnymund was chatting to his friend, someone who albeit got on his nerves but was a comfort to hear since his oh-so-pleasant introduction to the prison.

"So this cell mate, he is not bad?"

"Nah, harmless really, bit of a wimp in my opinion" Bunnymund chuckled.

"I bet you miss lovely warm meal to keep belly healthy" North spoke to him with a sense of sorrow and amusement.

"Don't even get me started, North; I don't think I can take this grim shit too much longer"

"Please, just get on with it and keep out of trouble"

"Too late"

North could feel Bunnymund's smirk and he sighed, rolling his eyes as Bunnymund went into depth of how he ended up in detention on the first day.

"On the bright side, mate, no one has been botherin' me since"

"For their own safety, dear friend" the Russian finally said before the bell went and everyone began filing in.

"Yeah that's the idea. Anyway gotta go; get someone to visit me soon, yeah?"

"I will, goodbye for now, Bunny" and the phone clicked off.

The cell door clicked shut as they were kept in for lunch. Bunnymund wondered in, hoping desperately for some sweet smell to lift into his nose but alas, boiled vegetables and stale custard pudding it was. Growling he looked around for Jack; needing someone to complain at, but the blue eyed guy wasn't there yet so Bunnymund started, taking a long sip of his water and relishing in the coolness.

That is when Jack walked in, the lad always seemed late but this time, the Australian had a pretty good idea why.

The younger man was covered in blossoming bruises marking over his once flawless skin, blood was dripping from his nose and his hair was mussed, tears warming up in his eyes and he refused to meet Bunnymund's gaze as the guard pushed him in and closed the gate again.

"Jesus Christ mate, what the fuck happened to you?"

Jack was biting his lower lip hard enough to elicit small crimson beads from the flesh and he slowly shook his head; not much of a reply.

"Come on man; let's get you cleared up, yeah?" Bunnymund offered. Hr may have been a tough, no-nonsense Aussie, but he was a true butter-melting softy at heart, even if it didn't all show right now.

Collecting some tissue from the bathroom section, he mopped at Jack's wounds as he sat on Bunnymund's bunk, looking down with vague eyes and a still body.

"You can tell me if you want, mate, I ain't goin' to judge"

Jack didn't say anything, it would have pissed Bunnymund off but it was hard to be mad at the person you were wiping the blood off of.

The silence was bitter and Bunnymund eventually got some food into him, even offering his slice of pudding that Jack took half of gratefully.

"Look I can play nice for a bit, but you gotta tell me what's going on!"

Jack looked up with his long, snowy eyelashes and his electric blue eyes, suddenly shining with the need to spill everything he had trapped up in himself but he held back and took in a deep breath.

Bunnymund looked so caring, with his softer, lighter green eyes and his attractive face cocked to one side, even his ears were flattened to the back of his head in a submission Jack wasn't used to.

"Some guys…they mess me around a lot…they did so earlier, that is how all of this happened" he weakly gestured to his injuries with a sad smile. Bunnymund maintained his serious expression though and pursed his lips, narrowing his thick, dark eyebrows.

"What kind of messing around?"

Jack clamped up again, tightening his pale lips, conflicting internally with the opposing forces of telling and keeping the dark secrets to himself.

"Look mate, I can hardly help you if you don't tell me what the fuck is going on here, so come on, stop closing up like a damn sea clam and talk to me"

Jack was surprised by the sudden speech and he felt himself appreciating the radiating warmth from the older man.

"…They keep trying to get into my pants…they have before now and they think they can do it again. That's why I keep getting new cell-mates, every one so far has tried fucking me up against the wall" he explained harshly and Bunnymund's eyes widened and he moved back a little.

"No wonder you're as jumpy as a wallaby"

Jack faced away, ashamed at his weaknesses but a hand on his shoulder made him face Bunnymund once more and the Australian smiled slightly.

"Next time on the yard, stick by, alright mate?"

Jack froze, trying to let his brain understand what the grey-bluish haired cell mate was proposing and with a sudden grin and the spill of a couple of tears he nodded.

A/N: *Groundhog because I know he is another kind of kids tale and relates to the story in some way, no original intentions of making him so villainous.

I had to look up prison timetables on the internet so my parents might be kind of concerned when they look into my history of a "typical day in prison". I didn't get it spot on, but hey this is fan fiction.

-LAW09

To Lady Minuialwen: Thank you! Glad you liked it!

To AyameKitsune: Thank you for the review; more is on its way!

To lady of the wilds: Thank you, I am glad it's pretty original and yes, of all places indeed!

To spiritsong15: Aww, thank you! I am glad you are enjoying it!

To CJSakura: How coincidental! Well I hope you like what I have in store, thank you for the review!

To Kota: Why thank you, I am glad you like it!

To RizReviewer: Thank you and yeah, I am not sure where I got the inspiration but I hope you like it so far, and indeed…we will have to find out what he did.

Thanks to all my favourites and followers!