Chapter Five: Burning Metal
Man was the lad a sight for sore eyes; it had been much longer than usual since the last time Jamie decided to visit, but now he was sitting opposite him on a seat, leaning forward with his sweet grin and wide brown eyes. Not unlike Jack's own hazel irises that he had in his youth…until the stress, anguish and natural flow of time caused them to grow lighter and icier. Until they were the glacier blue they were today.
Speaking of which, Jack had always been curious as to why his body had changed so much after such a short amount of years, after the prison had done a run over his appearance, to which at the time his chestnut tresses were threaded through with silver. And a lack of melanin or polymer or something in his hair roots from a hereditary source was the cause. Now his hair was a natural, snowy white. He didn't have time to dye it in prison.
But this is going completely off subject; the main thing was he was facing someone he had been living by since the kid was just an infant; Jamie Bennett, nine years old when the seventeen year old had been thrust into custody. Jack stared at the lad before him, trying to process that he was sixteen years of age and still wanted to visit his old neighbour despite the dangers revolving around prison.
His mom stood behind him and Jack nodded his mutual respect to her as she bit her lip and simply looked away as Jamie leant forward even more.
"I figured they are still feeding you grime, so got you some chocolate,the guards checked it at the door" he handed it over and Jack inhaled it deeply before storing it into his overalls.
"Thank god, I could use some of that"
"So, have you met anyone decent yet?"
Jamie always asked him that, since he was much younger and was only interested in Jack finding a friend. He still worried about it now, especially when he sometimes saw injuries and marks on the older man. Jamie wasn't so innocent anymore and could make his own assumptions.
"…Well Jamie, actually I have!" Jack responded after a pause and genuine joy filled the brunette's expression.
"Oh thank god, who is it?"
Jack looked around the desks to try and spot the Aussie, it took him a while but near the front, diagonal from him, Bunnymund was chatting to a big man. The visitor wore deep red with a long, crisp white beard and thick, arching eyebrows with the big blue eyes of a child. That must be North; Jack commented inwardly and beside the visitor was a lithe looking young woman with a vibrant green and blue dress, large gold earrings and dark hair…Toothiana.
"Yo, Jack, who is it?"
"See that guy up front there; with the rabbit ears…yes with the rabbit ears…him"
Jamie gave him a playfully freaked out look but laughed.
"Looks nice enough, interesting friends he has"
Jack realised Jamie was looking across more and laughed.
"Come on, back to me, I'm the important one here"
"Oh, sorry, must have forgotten"
As the two friends continued to chat about Jamie leaving school, Sophie getting all grown up; nine years old now, also Jack's new friendship with Bunnymund to which Jamie gave him a long and challenging stare about when it came to his name.
Bunnymund himself was busy talking to North and Tooth who were still upset but encouraging since their friend's recent spiral down into darkness.
"I am so glad this Jack is helping you out, and by the look of him, his teeth look lovely…"
Bunnymund sniggered with a smirk.
"I hardly think he is helping me out, mate" he folded his arms and leant back.
"Well if you think about it, Bunny, if not for this Jack Frost, you would become like all other prisoners in here, such a stony darkness does not suit you, old friend" North remarked and that caused Bunnymund to think for a bit. Was the Russian right?
"Anyway, where is Sandy?"
"Sorry, working in Europe right now, he says he will come another time" North explained and Bunnymund nodded.
"Well did you get me anythin?"
Toothiana smiled lightly and presented him a bag wrapped gift. The guard approached at this point and watched cautiously as he opened it up.
"Aww, man…that's adorable" both sarcasm and genuine gratitude marked the Australian's tone as he admired the carefully crafted ornamental egg. The guard just snorted and wandered off after gaining a glare from Bunnymund.
The Aussie had never damaged the chocolate eggs around Easter. It was the only time of the year he felt comfortable, he would never poison the spring season with his sick mind and to know he had a little piece of it here in this hellhole was soothing.
He was even more pleased when later on; when he was showing Jack his gift and sharing some of the chocolate that Jack had offered him (apparently from that kid: Jamie) Jack didn't mock him and instead gently took the ornament from the Australian and admired it. The darting patterns of feathers, Christmas lights and golden stars. It was about the size of his hand and a reasonable weight.
"This is really nice, Bunny" he complimented and the Australian grins.
"Pretty damn pretty, wouldn't you say? Little bit of home" the dreamy look on his expression made Jack cock his head to side and smile quietly.
"Yo Bunny, how old are you?"
"Why, you thinking just because I am older than you, I can't have an ornament?" Bunnymund challenged playfully and Jack rolled his eyes.
"Just curious…but yeah, the egg does play a part"
Bunnymund laughed and nodded his head in a way that said 'fair-enough'.
"I'm twenty seven, mate"
Jack was surprised, in all honesty, he thought Bunnymund was older, not by matter of appearance but simply by the fact the amount of strength the man practically emitted proposed an older age. After Jack nodded with a feeling of knowing satisfaction, they ended up putting the ornament on the shelf as Bunnymund and Jack were separated to do duties.
Jack had sat down at his usual, single desk and was waiting for the tutor to arrive; several others were around him and focused on their own files laid about them. It was like school except for the fact they were contained within solid grey walls.
But he didn't mind, the morning had started off on an unfathomably high height and he even smiled a few times during the lesson. Jack was really beaming when he came out with high marks and a word of praise, it was not until he was on the way back to his cell for tea that he recalled something that made his legs feel like lead and the most retched, putrid taste of horror and sick coil up in his throat and gut.
It was Saturday.
Jack practically ran back to his cell, dodging other prisoners up the stairs eventually getting to 68 with harsh breath, clambering onto his bed he curled his knees up and waited…prayed for Bunnymund. For a while, all that could be heard was blood pounding through his ears and his breath and heartbeat slowing down. Sighing, under the belief of safety, he got down and sat at his desk, going through his papers when he heard Bunnymund come in.
"Oh thank god-"
A hand wound round his neck and he froze, eyes pinpointed as he felt the irresistible urge to scream, laugh and burst into tears at the same time. Jack found himself pressed against the wall of his own cell and underneath the sweating meat of Groundhog who looked angry and excited.
"You're a fucking cocktease, you know that right?"
"Groundhog, I-"
The hand around his neck tightened and it blocked off air to his brain, making his icy blue eyes roll back.
"Forgot? Well, how unorganised of you Jackie, but don't sweat it, we can always reschedule. Say…now?" the man's voice became low, taunting and cruel as he leant in and kissed Jack.
The white haired prisoner struggled and yelled muffled curses beneath the weight of dry lips on his own, they were released with a grotesque smack and instantaneously he felt hands drawing up under his overall shirt and underneath his hoodie. Marking…tainting his flawless chilled flesh. Another hand was undoing his trousers with frightening speed, a sense of clumsiness in the ragged movements as he uselessly tore and pulled at the attire. Jack squirmed angrily and managed to get his elbow in the older man's rib.
"Fuck!" was the reply and Jack didn't have time to defend himself or duck from the sudden blow to the jaw. A cracking sound and blood welled up in his mouth and trickled down his nose as he gained a few more of these hits. Then the clammy, hot hands were back to diving into his pants, groping at the hip and thigh but foolishly missing the main prize. A hard bite down on Jack's throat made him whimper pitifully with pain as it happened again and again in several other places, drawing blood.
The blue eyed young man felt used, abused, battered and bruised, the poetry in his head must have been from the considerable lack of oxygen his brain was getting as the hands only ever moved away from the column of his throat to scratch and paw at another part of his once clean body.
It stopped when Bunnymund actually entered, though Jack didn't know he had until the pulsating body over his had stopped all movements and moved away, leaving Jack to collapse to the ground, knocking the chair over with the slump of his aching leg. When he had the strength to turn his head to the side and watch the unfolding scene, he watched his cellmate mercilessly pound his fist into groundhog's face, giving the older prisoner no time to react so he had no choice but to take every impact the skilled Australian threw at him.
"You think you are funny, Groundhog, you think you could fucking get away with this filthy shit, are you fucking insane you bastard?!"
The groundhog coughed on his own blood in feeble reply and scampered out the room like a kicked puppy when Bunnymund stood up and actually kicked him in the side.
Jack felt soft, warm and strong arms around him as he was picked up and held in what he figured was bridle style and placed on the bed. Assumingly Bunnymund's as his own would have been too much trouble to reach. Bunnymund drew a shaking hand over the younger man's bruised face and took in a shuddering breath.
"I am so fucking sorry, forgive me, fuck, I am so sorry Jack"
He leant into the crook of his left (and unbitten) shoulder, nuzzling and apologising under angered breaths that were slowing down, arms wound around the slimmer man with a comforting firmness that Jack all but melted into with a deep sigh.
"It's okay…Bunny, I'm sorry"
"Why the fuck are you sorry, mate, don't talk like that" Bunnymund sounded shocked at first, moving back to stare into Jack's eyes with pained fear but he went back to winding his fingers through silky snowy locks and holding onto his cell mate. Jack chuckled and returned the gesture, slowly hugging Bunnymund back with his weak arms.
But such gentle, protective bliss would not last. Without warning or a reaction from either of them at first, Bunnymund was torn away from Jack with the brutal hands of a prison guard, surrounded by three others who came in and restrained Jack who looked around with wild confusion, broken with the loss of Bunnymund's heat.
"W-Wait, what is going on?"
"It's alright, this man has been drugging you, managed to get you into bed, he will be taken away now" came a voice belonging to a nameless employee which sent slow panic and horror into Jack's features. His eyes widened and he choked on his words.
"Stop! You are wrong, who told you this?!"
"Groundhog just came running up to us, beaten like a piece of meat, yelling about Bunnymund attacking you and having attacked him when he tried to pull him off you, you should thank him, don't get many honest, decent people here"
Was this some sick, confused nightmare? Jack prayed and prayed to wake up and be in a cold sweat, shocked in his bed sheets, staring up at a dark ceiling. But no, Bunnymund was dragged out of the cell, in equal bewilderment and soon moved from sight. Jack then caught a glimpse at Groundhog who leant against the door of the cell with a grim look, all serious and livid. Watching the Australian be taken away.
"No, please, you are wrong, Groundhog tried to attack me, Bunnymund helped me!"
"Then why was he leaning over you, getting cosy on the bed?"
"Because he is my friend, he was comforting me!"
"Oh right, I missed that part in my friendship with other people, the part where they tried to get into my pants on the bed, look at you, look what he did to you"
Despite everything the clueless guard said, Jack looked down at himself, ragged, torn overalls, his hair felt mussed and sweaty and blood was crusted and ripe on his face, all the bruising pains washed over him with a dank sickness and he gasped for air.
"No, no please, let me explain"
"You can explain when you are cleaned up and safe with a new cell-mate…and a therapist" the guard claimed, walking away to the front. Jack glanced up at Groundhog who smirked repulsively and walked away. Jack narrowed his eyes with vicious fury. That piece of work was going to pay dearly.
Rushing up to the door to try and get to Bunnymund, he realised all the prisoners were looking over the balconies and through their doors to glance at the probably amusing scene. Jack recoiled back into his own cell when the guards pushed him back in and locked the door.
It was going to be fine, Bunnymund would explain and he would be back soon…surely. Jack looked over at his ornamental egg, to find it smashed on the floor when he had been thrown against the wall by Groundhog.
A/N: OH SNAP. Snapsnapsnapsnapsnap. Y'ALL HATE ME NOW, DON'T CHA?!
DID Y'ALL EXPECT THAT?! Sorry guys, but we needed a serious plot boost and despite it being this one, it will hopefully enthral you all.
Things should get better though…or will they?
*Disappears in a cloud of smoke with a cloak, owl hoots and I jump out the window*
*pops up for a moment* Tell me what you think so far! *vanishes*
-LAW09
To AyamaKitsune: Oh my dear, thank you for the review! More indeed!
To slyangelfox: He does, get it all off your chest! It's alright, there will be more mention of how you say…*strokes moustache* humanoid anatomy. Well I think before Bunnymund didn't want to mention any fatalities before but now he feels a bit more comfortable, plus he is uncertain himself PLUS I think I made a mistake And I believe your question has been answered, thanks again for a lovely review.
To Lady Minuialwen: Ahaha, I am glad you found it amusing! Thank you so much for the review!
To I'mBelleGoose: What a fresh way of looking at things! Thanks for that, it is a shame but thanks for the birthday wishes and the review!
To Guest (from chapter 3): May I refer to you as "The Cookie Guest?" Thank you for wishing me a happy birthday and the wonderful review! God bless YOU, you wonderful reviewer, YES YOU.
To CJSakura: Oooh, are they having a rave? It may become a war down there as the plot thickens EVEN FURTHER. Thanks for the review!
To MorgyWorgy: Thank you for the review! Bless your sympathy for Jack and hopefully Hog will get what is coming to him! Thanks again for the appreciation!
To spiritsong15: Thank you! What an intriguing punishment may even inspire me ;), Wow thank you so much, that really means a lot, him being such a villain was actually unintended but I am glad you thought it worked out! I did have a wonderful birthday, thank you for wishing it for me.
And a HUGE thanks to all my followers and favourites!