AN: I love you all. Thanks for the reviews, views and follows, please keep them coming. Sorry for the short chapter, the next part of the story has a short passage of time and I didn't think it would make sense to include it here. More to follow soon. As always, I do not own Rise of the Guardians.
Sandy flew slowly through the Pole. It was his turn to see if the winter spirit had returned to his room. Already, the golden man wasn't looking forward to telling the others that Jack was still not there. With his thoughts preoccupied with Jack's well being, Sandy barely noticed the slight change in temperature as he neared the spirit's room. He flew faster as the cold hit him. Jack was back.
As he was about to burst into Jack's room, Sandy stalled himself. Jack was already jumpy as is, it wouldn't do well to go slamming doors. Instead, he touched down on the ground and walked the last few steps to the door. He knocked softly, not expecting a response. Ever so slowly, he eased the door open, and there he was.
The winter spirit was sitting on the edge of his bed, eyes glued to the floor. Suddenly, he noticed another presence in the room, whirling around and grabbing for his staff. As soon as he registered who it was, his eyes widened, backing up a few steps. Jack held out his hands, apologetic look on his face.
Sandy held up a thumb to show it was okay. He carefully went over to sit on Jack's bed, silently patting the space beside him. The older Guardian waited patiently as the teen hesitantly walked over, face flashing quickly through fear, confusion and acceptance before going relatively blank. He cautiously sat on the bed, hardly even causing the bed to depress.
Sandy made sure Jack was looking at him before pointing to the younger and then making the ok sign with his thumb and first finger. The spirit nodded before turning his face slightly away. His face was closed off. He didn't want to talk but Sandy was just hoping he would listen.
Softly, Sandy rested a golden hand on Jack's arm. Although the spirit jumped slightly, Sandy kept his hand there, waiting until Jack was looking at him. Then, he very clearly began to 'speak'. No one is mad at you. Just worried.
Jack looked as if he was fighting himself not to pull away, a muscle jumped in his jaw but Sandy looked him in the eyes. They aren't very good at listening, but I can teach you to talk like I do.
The spirit's eyes widened, happiness leaking through. He nodded vigorously, expression eager.
(Line Break)
"What's taking the gumby so long," Bunny complained. After a few minutes of Sandy not returning, Tooth, Bunny and North decided to go check on him. The Pooka felt a noticeable change in temperature as he neared Jack's room. Rushing forwards, he slammed open the partially ajar door, quickly taking in the scene in the room beyond.
Jack and Sandy were facing each other across the bed, golden sand and blue frost formed into elaborate symbols. As soon as the door slammed open though, Jack jumped off the bed, eyes snapping towards the entrance. His staff was clutched tightly in his hands.
"Easy mate," the Pooka called, palms forward in a gesture of peace. The other two came up behind Bunny as they saw who was in the room. Tooth rushed forward towards Jack, missing the look of slight panic in his eyes as she scooped him up in a hug.
"We were so worried about you. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" When the fairy looked Jack in the face, she quickly noted his closed off expression and pulled away. He looked towards the floor and North gazed towards Sandy, waiting for an explanation.
When it came, it was not exactly what they were looking for. I was teaching Jack how to use signs to communicate.
"You were doing vhat?" North asked, tone mildly confused. He glanced towards Jack whose gaze was still fixed on the floor, posture tense as if awaiting a blow.
"Jack, you want to show us," North inquired softly. He noticed as Jack glanced up sharply upon hearing his name. The frosty blue eyes flicked between everyone in the room, resting on Sandy last. The little man patted the bed and Jack hesitantly made his way over.
Feet curled up beneath him, Jack waved his staff through the air, creating a host of complex symbols. North laughed in delight, gazing at the shining creations. The soon flipped and the other Guardians could easily read the message.
I'm sorry for worrying you. Unlike Sandy's sand symbols, Jack had opted to actually spell out the words in delicate patterns of frost.
"That's alright, ya gumby," Bunny replied, for once not putting up his front of uncaring warrior. He slowly took a seat across the bed from Jack, waiting patiently through his barely perceptible flinch. "Sandy told you we ain't mad, right?"
Jack nodded, blue eyes finally gazing into green ones. A small smile played along Jack's lips.
"Can I ask a question?" Bunny asked, raising his eyebrows. Jack nodded his consent, eyes twinkling with some of their normal curiosity. Encouraged, Bunny continued, "How did you get out? The windows were locked."
Jack let out his new soft chuckle which sounded sort of like a whisper. His eyes were now blazing with mischief as he stood up and moved towards the window. Bringing his staff with him, the spirit proceeded to give a demonstration of his accomplishment. The other four watched in awe as frost was slowly inserted into the small keyhole on the outside of the window, snaking through the small hole accessible from the interior. The snow shaped itself into a key, froze and was turned as if by an unseen hand. Presto, open window. Jack gestured outside, grinning broadly.
Everyone else in the room laughed. "Remind me not to let you near locked storage cupboards," North chuckled. The mood lightened and everyone seemed to breathe easier. Jack's eyes glinted as if thinking up a whole new realm of fun.
"Flurry," Tooth began as the male Guardians winced at her term of endearment. She ignored them and kept talking, "I'm just going to say this and I want you to save your reactions until the end." She waited until Jack nodded, noticing with a wave of grief as his eyes showed his walls going up. "The person who did this to you," she ignored his flinch and plowed on, "we want to make him pay. But since you won't tell us who did it. I guess we have to respect that. We just want to know if you can guarantee that they won't attack again if you go out."
Jack nodded, forming letters out of frost before turning them around. They won't.
"For sure, Frostbite?" Bunny asked.
The frost child nodded emphatically, glancing around at all of them. He needed to convince them of this.
"Fine," North sighed, "You can go out. But –" he held up a halting hand as Jack jumped up, "You need to get some sleep first." Jack's shoulders slumped but he acquiesced, jumping under the covers.
The four older Guardians smiled slightly at the pouting frown adorning Jack's features. He wasn't back to normal, far from it, but there was hope. When the winter spirit turned his head, Sandy knocked him over the head with some dream sand, catching him as he slumped down onto his bed. Dream sand snow drifted over the youth's head and small, golden Guardians were sledding, laughing to their hearts content.
When the door closed behind the four older Guardians, Bunny voiced their thoughts. "What do you think happened to him, mates?" They all looked away, shaking off their own mental images of Jack being beaten and tortured.