Guys, I'm so sorry this chapter is so short and cheesy. I tried, really! *sigh* Hope you like it anyway…
"Jack-"Bunny started, but was cut off by a choked sob. Jack shakily stood himself up and wobbled over to his staff. He leaned on it, still trembling.
"I'll just leave…" He muttered. He hesitated briefly before adding a soft, "Sorry." Tears streaming down his face, he stepped across the threshold of the door, only to be stopped when he bumped into a worried looking Sandy. Gently, he led the winter sprite back to the bed, where he urged him to lay down again.
"Now", Aster said, running a paw through silky white hair. "Can you tell us why you did this?"
Jack shook his head, but he spoke anyway, "I was… angry. And sad. I was alone." He closed his eyes, wishing he was back at his pond. "Nobody wanted me, because all I do is… Is make a mess wherever I go. When I cut, I could forget about that. It made me feel numb when I couldn't take the pain…" Jack didn't say anymore, he was too embarrassed. Besides, it's not like they actually cared. Suddenly, feathered arms were wrapped around his torso.
"Jack", Tooth sniffled. "It's okay now, you're not alone. We're here." The winter spirit didn't believe that, though. He wiggled out of the Tooth Fairy's grasp with a huff.
"Yeah, because you're supposed to be. What about those three hundred years I was all alone? None of you even gave a damn until you needed my help. Now I'm supposed to play happy family with you and pretend everything's okay?" He scoffed. "Now way"
After Jack's rant, he was panting; wheezing in and out while his eyes blinked rapidly, trying to ignore the colors swirling around him.
"Jack-"Aster said, but was cut off for a second time.
"Except for you!" The boy spat, glaring harshly at the Pooka. "You nearly tried to kill me because of an accident." He was, of course, talking about the blizzard of '68. Bunny licked his lips with a guilty look on his face.
"I-it was supposed to be a small flurry", Jack croaked. "But it g-got out of hand… I didn't mean to, I wouldn't hurt people on purpose. Nobody was ever there to help me learn about my powers…" With that off his chest, he flopped down and tried to regain his breath while letting himself stop ignoring the pain. It flooded into his system, eliciting a groan. His strength had been drained from him, so he didn't struggle when he was propped up against a furry chest.
"I'm so sorry, Jack", Bunny breathed, nuzzling the boy's face. "So, so sorry."
"Us too", Tooth said. Sandy and North nodded.
"And, if you like, we want to start over", she said softly. "Not because we have to, not because Manny told us to, but because we care about you."
"We want to give you a family", North added. Jack brushed away the tears. The offer sounded appealing, no doubt. Though, he wasn't sure he believed them. How could he? They could've just felt guilty for neglecting him, and this would make them feel better. Jack shut his eyes and considered. Something inside him wanted so badly to believe the Guardians… Some small glimmer of something… It was…
Hope.
The winter spirit looked up with a small smile, "Okay." The arms around him tightened in glee, and Jack whimpered.
"Bunny… C-can I have that snow we were talking about earlier?"
Everyone's' mind turned back to the issue at hand. It was time to get to work.
I do not own Rise of the Guardians or its characters.