Dark and Light

"I just don't get it," North annunciated, walking under different shades of shadows. "How is he not here? This is his lair."

"Maybe he ditched this place," Bunny offered, looking wearily at one of the many grey pillars. "If he hasn't been here in a while he's probably looking for new territory."

"It still doesn't explain how he got out," said the Tooth Fairy as she nervously paced about in the air.

Above his head, the Sandman formed the golden image of a Fearling. He frowned, then shrugged as the sand dissipated.

"…Translation?" Jack asked anyone. Jack was the only one not moving about the cavernous hall. Out of all the Guardians there, Jack was the most anxious, but he kept himself rooted. For good reason.

"As long as there is darkness, as long as children still fear, he will always exist." North fidgeted with one of his swords. "'Is both obvious and aggravating."

"So, how do we stop an enemy that just keeps coming back?"

Sandy cringed a little when Jack's voice unexpectedly raised an octave, but he knew why his words were rushed. Sandman's gaze drifted next to Jack. No one blamed the teen for wanting to get the heck out of there already. The dream giver silently exhaled, kicking a loose pebble far into the darkness. The stone bounced off a metal cage, the clang resonating sharply.

Jack immediately felt a small form jump sharply against his side. "The next time you ask your yetis to deliver me via sack," Jack had seethed at North. "Make sure they don't accidentally pack a stowaway."

Whenever a time had risen to where all the Guardians needed gathering, Jack never cared for the meetings to show up on time. Therefore, that situation combined with the recent emergency, North ordered his yetis to retrieve the winter spirit without delay, no exceptions. Unfortunately, Jack was taking his best friend flying at the time.

Jack pulled Jamie closer, always keeping a hand on his small shoulder. A set of fingers clung to his pant leg. As the Guardians conversed, Jamie's eyes wandered over Pitch's lair in both awe and intimidation. Ironically, though he had never actually seen the place, the boy swore he dreamt about it in a nightmare.

However, it wasn't long before Jamie's fright turned to curiosity.

"You've been spreading winter for a few weeks now," Bunnymund began. "Have you seen anything unusual, mate?"

"Nothing at all." This confused Jamie. The kid expected sarcasm, a wise crack. He didn't even call him a 'Kangaroo' like he normally joked. He just stood there rigid as a post. Jamie frowned before his overactive focus pulled him back to a certain platform that stood several feet away. Quirking an eyebrow, Jamie took a small step forward.

The child felt a tug on his nightshirt. "Jamie, I don't want you leaving my sight."

"I just want to look," Jamie tried to reason, looking into a set of steely cerulean orbs.

Jack shook his head. "It's too dangerous down here. You're staying near me." He paused before kneeling down to his level. "I promise you and I can go exploring once we get back to Burgess," Jack's gaze softened. "Truthfully, it's a bit risky for all of us to be here."

Jamie nodded in understanding, but… "I just want to see that globe over there." Jack glanced over Jamie's shoulder to see tiny, familiar lights shining on Pitch's version of the Globe of Belief. "Please." Jack instinctually made to refuse his requested, that is, until he looked at the boy. And he looked like he was about to burst.

Jamie had his small hands clasped together and his wide, tired eyes begged for his curiosity to be satiated. The winter spirit almost never denied his curious nature, so he faltered.

This kid knows he's adorable, Jack decided. And he's using it as a weapon.

He flexed his jaw before taking his hand off Jamie's shoulder. "Just the globe."

Jamie perked up. "Thanks Jack!"

Though his worry didn't leave, the corners of his mouth twitched. "No problem, kiddo. Have fun."

Jack started contributing to the conversation while keeping Jamie in his peripheral vision. The confusion continued, each Guardian questioning the Boogieman's whereabouts. Other than his lair, where else would he go?

"If Pitch can just hang around in the shadows," Jack speculated. "Then how often would he actually need to go home?"

"Well, that's certainly useful," Bunnymund scoffed. "Let's sift through every speck of darkness on the planet. We'll probably find him eventually."

"Really? Let's hear your better idea, cottontail." Jamie heard the jest, noticing that the Guardian was starting to go back to his usual demeanor.

The child looked away again, staring wondrously at the dismal globe. Bright, yellow lights shined and twinkled on almost every continent and island in the world. Jamie traced a finger over Antarctica before straining on his tiptoes to get a better look at North America.

"So, what do you think?" Jack asked as he walked up beside his friend.

Jamie shrugged. "Any idea where Pitch is?"

"We'll all be guessing until we actually find him. North said he's very weak. We don't have to worry much right now, but we'll be on our guard." Jack picked Jamie up and flew until they were perched on top of the globe. "There's yours, right there." In the top right corner of America, out of all the cluster of lights, Jack picked the one that sat almost directly in the center.

"This globe, and the one in North's workshop," Jack explained for the first time. "shows all the children who believe."

"With how many kids there are," Jamie said. "You think there'd be more."

"A couple thousands lights aren't enough for you?" The winter spirit joked. "Siblings often share lights. Yours used to be the only one on the globe, you know."

"It's just lucky you got there in time before I stopped believing."

Jack sighed, placing the back of his hand dramatically to his forehead. "All in a day's work for your big brother."

Jamie smiled, leaning against the Guardian. He stared at the seldom corners of the globe that didn't have lights. "Pitch will turn up eventually. Knowing you guys, you'll probably find him quickly."

"Rome wasn't built in a day, kiddo."

"It is if you build a small replica."

Jack laughed. "Touché."

"Jack," North called up to them. "'Is time to take Jamie home. We're regrouping at the North Pole."

Jack nodded once and placed Jamie back on solid ground. "How are we getting home?" Jamie asked when the other Guardians disappeared down one of Bunny's rabbit holes.

Jack pulled a glass orb from the hoodie's pocket. "This snow globe can teleport you anywhere in the world." He tossed it for Jamie to catch. "That one's yours, for emergencies only."

"So," Jamie elongated the word. "Say it's the middle of summer, it's very hot out, and I really need to find a perfect place for a snowball fight…"

"That…" Jack pointed accusingly at the child. "is the only exception."

They both cracked a grin. However, Jamie flinched sharply when a puff of dust crumbled from a pillar precariously leaning over their heads.

"Come on," Jack took Jamie's hand. "Let's get you out of here." The Guardian pulled out another snow globe and the town of Burgess appeared inside it. Jack shook it before smashing it, and a large portal opened.

* Obviously, "Brothers" is still a story of one-shots. This chapter is just adding some plot to other future chapters.