AN: What did I do to deserve all of you lovely people? I can't believe I have 33 followers, 13 reviews, you guys are absolutely amazing. I hope that the story continues to meet your expectations. As always, review, follow, favourite and I do not own Rise of the Guardians. Now, for some angry Jack and tense Guardians.
The next morning, Jack woke up with a grin plastered across his face, giggling quietly as he reached over for his repaired staff. No longer was there an aching hole in his chest. He waved his staff around the room, adorning the furniture with small piles of snow just because he could.
The winter spirit slowly pulled the covers off his legs and looked down at himself, taking stock of his injuries. His wrist was still in its cast and his ribs were taped up although they barely twinged when he moved anymore. He quietly padded over to the door, easing it open. Then, he went in search of some breakfast, tucking his paper and pen into his pocket.
When he entered the dining room, Jack was shocked to see all of the Guardians sitting quietly and eating. Hadn't they gone back to their regular duties?
"Jack," North called loudly, causing the boy to flinch back slightly, not expecting the loud noise. He mentally cursed himself for his weakness. It had been at least a week since he had escaped and he was still startled by sudden noises.
North continued, voice lower, "Why don't you come have some breakfast with us?"
Jack nodded. He took a seat between Tooth and the Sandman, ignoring them as he reached for a muffin, his fingers trembling ever so slightly. He desperately hoped that no one noticed.
The winter spirit glanced up quickly at the other Guardians through a fringe of white hair partially blocking his view. Deep blue orbs skittered across each of them: North, Sandy, Tooth, Bunny, before resuming their fixated gaze on the muffin. Cold fingers picked at the pastry. The silence in the room was punctuated by sharp crackles from the fire. Jack felt the sudden urge to crack a joke and lighten the mood. As he was about to open his mouth, he remembered that he was not supposed to speak. Mood thoroughly spoiled, Jack gazed gloomily into the fire. He noticed the other Guardians' gazes on him but couldn't bring himself to care.
"So, Jack," Tooth began suddenly, causing everyone in the room to jump. "How are you feeling?"
He gave her a mute thumbs up and plastered on a smile. He hoped they wouldn't see through it. Before the others could ask questions, Jack attempted to ask his own.
The teen gestured first to himself, then to the window, raising his eyebrows.
"You want to," Bunny began slowly, puzzling out the gesture. When Jack repeated it, the Guardian of Hope shook his head. "You can't leave yet Frostbite."
Jack furrowed his brows in confusion. He was fairly well healed due to a large dose of magic. His broken ribs and wrist were healing nicely. He was even going to be allowed to take off the cast soon. Why else couldn't he leave?
North shook his head too, causing Jack to sigh in frustration. The jolly man explained, "Until you tell us who did this, how do we know it won't happen again when we let you out?"
Jack rolled his eyes, it just wouldn't. They all looked at him, expecting an explanation. He huffed, quickly writing out: It just won't.
"Sorry, Jack. That's just not good enough. We want to keep you safe," Tooth replied gently.
The winter spirit couldn't help sinking his head into his hands. Why didn't they understand that he couldn't tell them? He took a deep breath, quelling his anger so that his magic didn't spread further. Guiltily, he gazed down at the thin layer of frost right around him.
A light touch tapped him on the arm. Blue eyes snapped up to meet Sandy's golden ones. The little man showed a paper, Jack writing a response and the Guardians gathering around, understanding. The frost spirit looked away. They needed to just let this go. Sandy pulled his chin upwards so the teen could see him gesture to the paper.
Reluctantly, Jack picked it up, writing: Just drop it already.
"Not until you answer the question, mate," Bunny responded, green eyes set in determination.
Fine, I'll find a way out, he scribbled back. Jack stood up and flew away, frost trailing behind him. He tried the nearest hall window. Locked. The same with all the ones in the hall. All locked from the outside, keeping him prisoner.
As Jack stormed silently out, the other Guardians watched him go. A tense moment passed before they all began to talk at once.
North whistled loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "No need for blaming. First thing first now, why Jack not tell us who hurt him?"
"That's your first question?" Tooth shrieked. "How about who is going after him?"
The Guardian of Wonder looked away, guiltily before Bunny came to his aid. "It was a good question, Sheila. What is Jack hiding?"
Tooth shot them an exasperated look before rounding on Sandy. His eyes went wide as she directed her motherly wrath towards him. He waved quickly as he flew away, showing a snowflake and himself.
The fairy nodded, satisfied. Then, she turned around again to face the other two, expression softening slightly. "I don't know why Jack is hiding this from us. All we want to do is help and get back at the one who hurt our little Snowflake."
A moment passed, each contemplating why they thought the spirit was acting as he was. Before anyone could speak again, Sandy came flying into the room, quickly. His eyes were wide with panic. Sand glyphs rapidly flashed over his head, showing a snowflake and an open window.
"He's gone!?" Tooth shrieked, violet orbs widening in shock and fear. Guardians shared a panic stricken look before Tooth jumped into action.
"Okay, where are we looking? I guess we can start at Jack's lake in Burgess, then Antarctica. Maybe some of his other favourite hideouts, that cave Sandy found him in a few months ago, that cold spring in Russia he showed us –"
"Slow down Tooth," Bunny jumped in, "Let's look at this rationally."
Sandy waved around his sand flags, desperately trying to get the others to notice him. When Bunny finally did, the other Guardians also turned their attention to the golden man. He showed them a stop sign, a snowflake, a thumbs up and a clock along with the Guardians sitting down.
"You want us to sit down and do nothing?" Tooth burst, blinking rapidly as if waking up to find everyone she knew replaced with aliens.
"Sandy's right, Sheila. Jack obviously wanted to have some time alone and he will probably be back before we could finish looking. He is injured," Tooth hissed sharply at the reminder but Bunny continued, "and his stamina won't last that long before he is back."
The room was silent for a moment, everyone's arms crossed in tension. Tooth broke the silence, "But how do we know the people who hurt him before won't do it again?" The others squirmed uncomfortably and although the question was asked softly, the effect was anything but tranquil. Everyone's faces betrayed looks of concern. Tooth looked downright murderous while Bunny seemed to be fighting his lips from turning into a snarl. While North just looked grief stricken, Sandy was the only one who's face betrayed only mild concern.
The Guardian of Dreams slowly displayed a complex set of symbols, ensuring that everyone got the message. Jack wouldn't have left it he thought that he would be attacked again right away. He would have flown off somewhere inside the Pole.
Slowly but surely, the other three began to relax, North actually dropping into his cozy, red arm chair with a heavy sigh. Tooth was fluttering anxiously but didn't seem to be flying off. Bunny just looked resigned, his ears back slightly. "How long?" the rabbit asked.
Sandy showed a clock, large hand rotating around three times. Three hours. A defeated sigh wafted out of the room, everyone's hearts jumping with concern.
Jack circled slowly over the remote northern town. He wanted nothing more than to scream in frustration but knew that he wasn't supposed to be straining his vocal cords. The unfairness of everything was building up and he just needed to let it out. The small snowstorm was seeming to take the edge off, if only slightly. He knew it was still fairly early in the season but he was generally given free reign over the northern towns the other spirits didn't care enough to visit.
A small blur at the edge of his vision caused Jack to immediately jump into a defensive position, breath hitching in his throat. When he saw a small, grey cat sitting there and licking its paws, Jack whisper chuckled to himself. He really was jumpy nowadays. Landing on the ground, the winter spirit tried to breathe normally again, they weren't going to attack him. They would want to see if he was going to fall apart or tell the Guardians.
Shaking his head to clear it, Jack yawned slightly. Boy, was he wiped out. Maybe he should go back to the Pole for a while, just to take a little nap. The wind felt nice and comforting as he headed back to North's enjoying the company of his longest friend.