Jackson snuggled into the warm sheets. He was so comfortable and didn't want to move. To bad his mental alarm would not let him be. He groaned as he cracked an eye open. Is it still dark out?
Jackson frowned as he tried to adjust to the dark room. He knew it was a little bit past dawn. So why was it still dark? Jackson sat up and noticed the small gas lamp on a desk. He furrowed his brows in confusion. He didn't remember having a lamp in his bedroom. Speaking of bedroom, where was Flee anyway.
Jackson reached over to turn on the lamp. He blinked to the light. He raised a brown brow when he took in the room. This was not his room at home. He was in a cave of some sort that was converted into a room. It was quite cozy though.
Jackson's eyes traveled around the room until it landed back at the door. Was he still at Kozmotis home? Did his brother make this room for him? When did he have the time to prepare it? Did Flee have her own too? His mind swirled around with thoughts. And then there came the headache. He groaned and decided to get out of bed.
Jackson swiftly made his bed and walked towards the door. The empty halls mocked him with its silence. Jackson hated silence. He looked left and right from the doorway before stepping into the hall. He wondered where everyone was. Or more accurately who was awake at this hour?
Jackson shrugged his shoulders and decided to look around. How big could this place be?
Okay so exploring without a guide, not one of his best ideas. Jackson was totally sure he was lost. How was he supposed to know that the hallway split into multiple ones? Sheesh! Kozmotis should really have signs for when people come over. Jackson paused at that thought. He wondered if anyone ever came down here.
Well, that might explain why the horses looked shock when they found us, Jackson silently mused. They act like they hadn't had people visit before. Jackson smirked at that thought. The horses were funny though. He and Flee were surprised when they came out of nowhere, charging at a possible enemy. Their expressions were funny when they stopped suddenly when they realized it was them at the throne room. Then again, were bright curious yellow eyes and flicking ears considered shock?
Jackson paused mid-step when he came upon a door. Jackson gazed at the door in curiosity. He wondered what was on the other side. Jackson didn't think twice about possible dangers that could be on the other side or asking for permission. He simply opened the door and blinked. He raised a brow in surprise.
"Who would have thought that Koz would have a room filled with weapons." Jackson looked at all the various weapons. There were staffs, bows, swords, some big ball with spikes, and a bunch of other weapons he hadn't seen before. Jack inspected the staffs. Some were made of wood, while others were made of some kind of metal. There were also carvings on them, as well as strange writing.
"I wonder what it says?" Jackson studied it a little more before looking at something else. Jackson slowly studied the other weapons before something caught his eye. At the back of the room was a clear display case. Jackson sucked in a breath as he eyed the golden armor and sword that was within it. The armor was engraved with various symbols and strange writing. The armor had a big cut on the side that left the armor slightly black. The sword had jewels on the hilt and had strange writing as well.
"Amazing," Jackson breathed as he touched the glass.
"Jackson!" Jackson jumped at the voice that echoed throughout the hall. He turned and rushed to the door. "Jackson, where are you?" Jackson smiled weakly at the panic tone. He hadn't meant to make him worried.
"Jack-"
"Koz! Over here!"
Pitch had been with his brother long enough to know his wake up schedule. Jackson usually wakes up around dawn. As much as he hated getting up that early, he lived with it. He yawned as he shadowed his night clothes away and changed to his usual robe. When he was done dressing he shadowed to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Eggs, potatoes, and milk seemed appropriate for a balanced breakfast, Pitch silently mused as he cooked. When he was done he shadowed the plates to the dining room. With a satisfied smirk he shadow to the children's rooms.
Pitch shadowed to Flee's room first. Pitch had painted her room a nice shade of greens and blues. Like Jackson's room, there was a desk and a lamp. Resting on her desk was a stuffed rabbit and two sets of dresses for it. He smiled fondly at the little girl as he walked in and turned on the light. Pitch stood near the bed and began to arouse the sleeping girl.
"Flee, wake up."
She groaned as she tried to shrug him away. "Five more minutes Jack," she slurred in sleep.
"I am not Jackson, Flee," he told her with an amused smile. "I would be then happy to let you sleep in, but I figured you might want some breakfast and you don't want your brother coming to wake you up instead."
Pitch wasn't sure if it was the fact that he mentioned his brother waking the young brunette up or that fact that he said breakfast. Because the girl sat up rather quickly with bedridden hair. "Breakfast?"
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. "Yes, breakfast. I have everything waiting in the dining room. I will have Night walk you there." Pitch turned behind and called "Night!" and then said Nightmare horse appeared.
"You called Creator?"
"Show Flee to the dining room for breakfast. I'm going to get Jackson." And then he shadowed away to Jackson's room.
Pitch stopped in place as he stared wide eyed at the empty room. The light of the lamp was still on when he entered. He figured Jackson would be awake but he didn't think the room would be Jackson free.
At the back of his mind a voice screamed that his baby brother hand been kidnapped! The Guardians had taken him! Oh, he knew that was impossible and highly unlikely. The Guardians have no idea he has a brother, but that didn't calm him one bit. Nor was he thinking about the logic at the moment.
"Jackson!" Pitch turned and ran out of the room. "Jackson!" His voice echoed throughout the halls as he shadowed from one hall to another. He checked room after room and got more and more frantic when he got no reply.
Please let him still be here. Please.
"Jackson, where are you?" Pitch yelled frantically as he shadowed into the hallway. Pitch was not expecting an answer. He feared that Jackson had been taken by his enemy. What if he were starving? What if they have him locked up?
Oh, god. What if they harm him...and use him as a hostage? "Jack-"
"Koz!" Oh thank the gods! He's alright! "Over Here!"
Pitch shadowed quickly to the direction of his brother's voice and appeared in front of him. Jackson opened his mouth to say something, but Pitch paid him no mind. Relief filled him as he pulled him into a hug.
"Thank the gods you're alright!"
"Wha?" Jackson yelped as he was pulled into a bear hug by his brother.
"I was so worried!" Pitch said before pulling away to glare at him. "What were you thinking? I was worried sick! I thought you were kidnapped!"
Jackson looked at him with a raised brow. "Who could possibly kidnapped me in your home?"
Pitch narrowed his eyes. "Don't underestimate the Guardians or their helpers. They are foul beings."
Jackson rolled his eyes. "You're being a drama king."
"I am not!" Pitch snapped, resulting with the shadows growing darker around him. Jackson continued to stare at him without a response. Pitch deflated a bit and took his shadows with him. The halls went back to being lighter again.
"I was exploring," he said with a smirk. "I woke up and decided to explore. However, I kinda got lost."
Pitch groaned and looked at him is exasperation. "You are going to give me gray hairs."
Jackson shrugged with a smile. "All out of love I hope."
Pitch glared at him. "Brat," he mumbled as he grabbed Jackson's arm and shadowed them to the dining room.
Jackson blinked at him, slightly dazed, as they appeared in the doorway of the dining room. Pitch watched his brother as he shook off the dizziness from shadowing for the first time. Pitch gestured to Jackson to take a seat and he did so without only problems.
"What took you?" Flee asked as they sat down.
"I got lost," Jackson said as he picked up his fork. "And Mr. Drama King over here thought I was kidnapped," Jackson said, totally ignoring the glare from Pitch.
"Why would you leave the room though?" Flee asked. "We don't know our way around here."
Jackson pouted. "You, little sister, have no sense of adventure."
Flee raised one brow at him. "And you have no sense of not getting into trouble."
Jackson huffed, but didn't comment. Pitch shook his head in amusement. Jackson does have impeccable timing and skills when he does his pranks or anything else for that matter. Although most of the time his actions do lead him to some...consequences with the other boys and adults.
Pitch smiled slightly in amusement. Oh, Jackson will never change. Even if he does find trouble, that didn't really mean it was his fault all the time.
"How did you two like your rooms?" he asked them.
"Ours?" Flee asked with wide eyes.
"So you did…?" Jackson started but couldn't quite finish his sentence as Pitch's words swirled in his head.
"Yes these room are yours for whenever you want to visit." Pitch smiled at them. "I hope they are to your liking. It took a month and a half to prepare them."
Flee nodded, her eye glistened with tears. "I love it. Thank you so much."
Jackson nodded, looking at his brother with a small smile. "Thanks. I don't know what to say"
"No need to thank me." Pitch looked at them with a fond smile. "You two are always welcomed here. Don't forget that you will always have a home here."