Chapter Four: Keep Close
An hour spent in the yard the following day went a lot differently for both cell mates, for one, Jack felt a subtle yet blissful sense of security as he sat on the table beside Bunnymund who was chatting to him about his hobby of painting. Jack wouldn't think it of the intimidating man but it was a softness he admired. He found himself leaning with his elbow on his knee and his head on his cheek as he watched each gentle twitch of the older man's graceful ears, the flash of his spring green eyes as his very soul was lit up by the chance to talk of something he loved.
"So what do you do for fun?"
Jack blinked, surprised at the question and he had to think about it for a while.
"I…I'm not sure…I like…ice skating" he muttered shyly, a slight blush dusting his cheeks.
"Sweet, it looks easy to do, but its fucking hard, you a winter sports kind of guy?"
"Yeah, I guess" Jack was thrilled with Bunnymund's charming smile of acceptance and his continued conversation skills. Jack had all but forgotten his own. He usually stayed quiet and kept his head down; it was odd thinking of home.
"Oh hold on, Frostbite, looks like someone wants to share his hobbies" Bunnymund suddenly commented with a lowered tone and his ears flattening back slightly as he glared at the approaching man. It was Goblin, the guy Bunnymund had pummelled on his first day, he was alone.
"What the fuck do you want, mate?" Bunnymund grunted and the man scowled, narrowing his eyes and a cursed insult was caught in the back of his throat until he stopped and seemed to collect himself, as if recalling why he had even come over.
"Look, man, don't shoot the messenger or nothing but Groundhog don't want you near Frost"
"…I'm sorry, what?" Bunnymund's tone was filled more with confusion than threat.
"I'm just passing on what he said, he is sick of you keeping the guy company all the time, they got a real friendship going on, shame he can't get near his buddy" a sick leer crossed the older man's face and that's when Bunnymund got the jist of things, and when he did. Things didn't look pretty.
"Well…messenger-"he practically spat the word. Goblin recoiled slightly.
"Tell your big man this, that relationship of his with Jack, isn't so cute. So if he fucking thinks he can come near him again with his power of friendship, he can know I'm going to rip him a new one, you got that, mate?" he snarled, tone hideously low and face brought up to the stench of Goblin's with a look fierce enough to say enough for itself, let alone the cruel words.
"Fuck you, man" was all Goblin had to say before he waddled off, spitting on the ground as he went. Bunnymund curled his lip up and turned to Jack.
"You alright, Frostbite?"
Jack was staring at Bunnymund with a look that could either portray incredible confusion and disbelief or the look of someone gazing up at an angel. Either way, Jack had never been more grateful in his life and resisted the urge to embrace the older man there and then.
"…Y-Yeah, thanks, Bunny"
"No problem, I said stick by, didn't I?"
Jack nodded with a beam, grinning so hard his cerulean eyes crinkled up and he couldn't stop smiling. By the end of "exercise hour in the yard" Jack felt lighter than he had in a long time.
But of course, this was prison; any light was diminished with harsh blows of darkness; darkness that came in the form of seedy Groundhog who approached his little 'pal' when Bunnymund headed to the toilets. Jack was up against the wall before he knew it and he raised his hands to his face for the fear of impact but when none came he looked up nervously at the looming shadow of the brown eyed man.
"W-What do you want, man?" he choked and Groundhog didn't respond, didn't even smile. He looked serious; the unfamiliar appearance threw the white haired inmate off for a few seconds before a tight hand coiled around his throat until sore breath was knocked from Jack's lungs.
"Still a cold little bitch, aren't you?" Groundhog murmured.
"Fuck off, hog"
"No, you listen here you dirty minx; you are going to meet me every fucking Saturday in my cell after lunch and you are not going to breathe a word about it"
Jack was in disbelief, this guy seriously thought a little threat and claim would force Jack to do it, was he actually fucking insane?
"Are you kidding me, fuck no!"
"Well you see…Jackie. If you don't, I might let it slip to the guards that Bunnymund is being…a bully to you"
Jack froze, trying to work his mind around the words. His thoughts begged for the return of the Aussie.
"You know what happens when one inmate is found…violating his little cell buddy, he gets removed and if you don't want a happy-go-fuck replacement, I suggest you meet me in my cell, after lunch, every Saturday until further fucking notice, got that?"
Jack's heart and head hurt, he didn't know what to say or what to do. What could he say or do? In that moment of sheer terror, the idea of losing the one friend who had actually been decent to him was overwhelming. Jack might get a new inmate who was silent and didn't bother him, or even one who was pretty decent. But almost every single inmate that had shared his cell since he moved in to the prison, had got up him against the wall with their hands down his pants every single time.
Groundhog dropped Jack and sauntered away, leaving nothing more to say because he knew he had done his job.
When Bunnymund did come out, Jack was quiet and of course the Australian knew something was up. But it wasn't until they got into their cell 68 that he asked about his prison-mate's odd demeanour.
"What's up, don't give me any of that 'nothing' crap, I know something is wrong with you, you little shit" Bunnymund half laughed, half firmly told the blue eyed man this as they sat beside one another on Jack's bunk. Jack gulped and tried to find his words, but every time his tongue felt like sandpaper, like lead and he wouldn't allow himself to explain.
He settled for the half-truth that Groundhog had been bothering him and it set a dark anger into the Australians eyes. After a few moments of calming the man-rabbit down and stopping him from charging into the bastard's cell, he ran a tongue over the top set of teeth and sighed.
"I'm sorry, frostbite, I shoulda been there"
"It-It's fine, really, no real harm done"
"And you expect me to believe this isn't harmful?" Bunnymund growled, running a hand over the bruising that was beginning to expose itself on the pale skin.
This movement lasted longer than the Aussie intended and before he knew it he was staring at Jack's throat silently as the tension built between them like rising smoke.
Jack was fearful for explaining himself to Bunnymund at first, but now all he could think of was how good the older man's hands felt on his tender throat, circling and caressing around sections that elicited tiny whimpers and a few sharp breaths from the innocent inmate. Bunnymund was aware of the effects on his cell-mate but couldn't bring himself to stop. The skin was so silky, smooth as ice and just as cold but it was refreshing for his calloused palms and fingers.
Jack tilted his head back and inhaled roughly, eyes rolling back as Bunnymund's nails found a sensitive section on his collarbone that sent heat through his gut and…even lower. Shit.
"A-Aah"
Bunnymund froze at the broken mewl from Jack Frost and gulped, it took several minutes before he realised how close he had gotten, in fact. Jack was lying on his bed with his head pressed onto his pillows and eyes shut tightly close. His plush lower lip being bitten by teeth as pure as fresh fallen snow, neck exposed and fists gripping in the thin sheets; meanwhile Bunnymund was leaning over him, mouth parted and hands slow and firm over sore flesh, trying with every ounce of self-control he had not to lean over and lick and suck and bite and devour the unique creature before him.
"Right…well…" Bunnymund claimed awkwardly and leapt away from the younger man, jumping off the bed and landing on the ground to clamber into his own bunk. It was late in the evening and lights out would be soon after their meal had been chucked in.
"Sorry…Bunny"
"Hey, it's not your fault, mate" Bunnymund chuckled hoarsely, pressing a hand onto his head with wide eyes as he mouthed things along the lines of.
'Its-my-fucking-fault-for-touching-him-like-that-but-it-isn't-my-fault-he-is-so-fucking- beautiful-damn-brat-shouldn't-mess-with-ma-soft-parts-not-SOFT-parts-but-them-little-motherly-parts-of-me-inside- oh-fuck-it-all-motherly-parts?!-what-is-fucking-wrong-with-me?!'
It was kind of a long and stupid monologue but it relieved the Australian enough to get out again and stand against the wall opposite the bunk to watch the very blushing Jack. He was smiling, then Jack was, then teeth slipped over to reveal a cheeky grin that the half-rabbit returned, followed by a chuckle that Jack echoed and then laughter that was shared between them and the tension cleared out like a cure for a disease.
After dinner a low chatter along with low lighting spread over the prison and Jack and Bunnymund were once more submersed in chatter, mostly about the forthcoming events of the following day.
"So we get visitors tomorrow, who is coming to see you?" Bunnymund inquired, leaning against his pillows as Jack sat on the desk chair, chest to the back of the seat and legs round the front, resting his chin on his folded hands that rested on the top edge.
"Well…I don't really have much family…my mom doesn't speak to me anymore and…my sister…" Bunnymund narrowed his eyes in concern as wetness overcame the younger man's gaze but Jack cleared it by breathing in slowly and collecting his emotions.
"The boy next door called Jamie is going to visit, he always does when he can, his mom brings him, I am glad he still tries to visit…it means I know someone outside of this hellhole still thinks about me"
"Someone else?" Bunnymund teased, knowing the else was him. Jack stuck his tongue out before adding.
"What about you?"
Bunnymund pondered, biting his lip for a second before responding with.
"I have these mates, from work…well they do their own line of work, they said they would try visit, this is my first visit session and I think North is coming"
"Who is North?"
"Cool name, huh? Pun intended-" Bunnymund claimed, making Jack snigger. "He is a big man, works in a huge toy factory in his home, Russia. He is like some…modern Father Christmas or something, yeah we got together when our companies joined, mine works with…chocolate and sweet production, like those really delicately painted treats you get for high prices" he grinned at Jack who smirked.
"Then there's Sandy, he is a guy too, by the way. Small time child psychiatrist and author, absolutely loaded. But a very quiet, pleasant guy. Real genuine mate"
Jack smiled as he heard the increasing tones of pleasure Bunnymund expressed as he thought about his friends back home.
"Finally there is Toothiana, but we nickname her Tooth, she is a dentist but often comes down under to check out the nature reserves, likes working with birds. She gets all over the world, little excited, manic thing" Bunnymund chuckled as though recalling an amusing event.
Jack couldn't help but feel a little stab of envy within him as he thought of how fond Bunnymund was with his pals. Jack hoped he meant something akin to this relationship with the Aussie himself. After Bunnymund had finished, the green eyed man asked Jack.
"So…can I ask how long you have been in this joint?" he acted gangster and Jack grinned, he found himself grinning so much.
"…seven years"
Bunnymund sat up with wide eyes and opened his mouth to let an odd squeak out.
"The fuck mate?!"
"Yeah…been here since I was seventeen…I'm twenty four now obviously but the last few years haven't been much fun…"
"How much longer have you go to go?!"
Jack pondered, biting his lip again. A habit that was both cute and too alluring – Bunnymund considered telling him to stop, but the situation was way too wild to talk about that now.
"Fifteen years was the sentence since it was a third degree murder and I pleaded 'not guilty', it was a messy business but now at least I only have eight years left…unless I can get out early, they were saying I might only have to deal with three more years"
"Jack, mate, shit I'm sorry…why was it third degree?"
"…I tried to take my sister out skating on the nearby lake, it was frozen over and I just wanted a bit of reckless fun…it was my stupid fucking reckless fun that caused her death. I couldn't reach her in time…"
Bunnymund didn't know what to say, he cocked his head to the side and looked at Jack whose face had turned stony.
"Hey, wanna know how long I'm stuck in here?"
Jack blinked and hesitated before nodding slowly, an unsure look on his face.
"They said about…seventy years…"
"THE FUCK?!"
"Nah, I'm just messing with you, it was second degree or something, beside they said my mind wasn't right at the time explaining some of my actions, you could write a book on my fucking case, so around…twenty five years maybe, I might even get off sooner if they can justify me, none of the kids…except…one, actually died anyway"
Jack was a little freaked out by how casual Bunnymund spoke about this. He would one day ask about his family but now was not the time.
"Well thanks for that, damn Kangaroo, I needed that before bedtime" Jack scowled playfully and stood up, stretching and pressing his hands against his back.
"Anytime, snowflake"
That's when Jack did something he didn't actually think about until he had already done it. He leant down to Bunnymund as he passed his bunk and kissed the Aussie on the nose. Smiling shyly as the man stared up at him with an expression that couldn't be described.
"Thanks for letting me stick by today" Jack gulped and as he clambered into the bare warmth of his bed as the call of lights out rang through the echoing, solid halls. The following two words sent him into a sleep of comfort.
"Anytime, snowflake"
Repeated words with a sense of genuine softness that Bunnymund couldn't help as his nose heated up and he smiled. This smiling was becoming a rather irritating habit recently.
A/N: NEARLY LEFT OFF ON A LOW NOTE THERE BUT NOSE KISSES MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.
This took a bit longer because I am tired but more should come soon, maybe tomorrow but maybe not because AAHAAHA, it's my birthday!
Going to watch Rise of the Guardians now for more inspiration so bye! Tell me how much of a prick Groundhog is, yeah?
-LAW09
To Lady Minuialwen: "Oh rack off you bloody show pony" SORRY. I couldn't help but go into that after your review and thanks so much for the continued support; Bunny does indeed seem to care ;)
To AyameKitsune: Aww, bless you, more shall come!
To slyangelfox: What a gloriously big review! Thank you so much, I pride myself on my slow build up and am glad you noticed! The others have been mentioned in this chapter and will be mentioned soon, the final part to your review confused me though, asking about a strong, slim Bunnymund? I am afraid you might need to run that by me again, thanks so much for the review though!
CJSakura: My grammar is dreadful but thanks for not kicking up a fuss, thank you so much for the lovely reviews and yeah, the crime just kind of came to me suddenly, it was a fast chapter though, haha, thanks again!
To lady of the wilds: I think we all want to give Bunnymund a hug, but I am surprised with your reaction, thanks for believing in him in his times of darkness, thank you for the review!
To RizReviewer: You tell em, Bunnymund better do just that and thanks for noticing North peeping in there, aww, your reaction saddened but pleased me, the idea was to make him guilty of an actual crime but to have a reason behind him, sorry it upset you but thanks so much for the review!
To Guest: *slinks cookie under long black coat, looking in different direction* we got ourselves a deal, more coming up, same place and time. Thanks for the review! :D
And thanks to all my lovely followers and favourites, bless you!