Author's Note: Hello, everyone! Sorry for the late update. Welcome back to "Breathe!" =)

I feel like this chapter is rather predictable...but I wrote it anyway because I couldn't come up with anything else (and I felt like this was the way things should go X)).

I hope you guys enjoy it! =D

Breathe, Part Eight

Over the next several days, Bunny continued to take Jack on little outings. The winter spirit really appreciated it; he had forgotten how nice it was just to go outside and do whatever he wanted without worry.

There had been no sign of the Summer Sprites either. Every day he went out with Bunny convinced him more and more that he had nothing to fear anymore—though the feeling was gradual.

One day, when Jack and Bunny had returned from Antarctica (Jack had been wanting to go there for a while and demanded that Bunny go with him. The Pooka went with the reluctance of a turtle), it was around lunchtime. Bunny said he'd whip something up for the both of them to eat, so Jack decided to take a walk around the Warren until he was done.

As Jack strolled through the endless glades of green, his thoughts wandered to the events over the past few weeks, and he wondered what he was going to do now. He knew that he couldn't rely on the Guardians forever (though they had been more than willing to take him wherever he needed whenever), but Jack no longer wanted to keep them even more occupied with his needs.

Jack paused at the edge of one of the paint rivers, his brow furrowing. So that only leaves one option…

He had to go out on his own.

A flash of fear sparked in his chest, but Jack quickly trampled it down. It felt too early to be pushing himself like this, but Jack remembered what Bunny had said. He couldn't let fear keep him from doing what he wanted. And besides, the Summer Sprites were currently under punishment. To step out against Mother Nature's orders would be a bold—if not foolish—action.

Jack turned around and began making his way back to Bunny's cottage. By the time he arrived, the Pooka would be done preparing lunch. After, he'd tell Bunny he wanted to leave on his own.

There's nothing to worry about, Jack thought.

At least, that's what he hoped.

…

Bunny had prepared a salad for both himself and Jack by the time the winter spirit returned from his stroll. While they ate, the two talked up upcoming responsibilities and how much and their plans for work.

As much as Bunny enjoyed Jack being open again, he could tell there was something on the winter spirit's mind, but he didn't provide him. He knew Jack would talk when he was ready.

Shortly after finishing (and helping clean up), Jack said, "I think I'm going to head back to the North Pole."

Bunny stood up. "Alright. I'll see you there."

"Actually," Jack continued. He looked at Bunny, tracing his thumb over his staff. "...I wanted to go by myself."

For a moment, Bunny was surprised. Jack had relied on him a lot to take him to places, and he refused to go anywhere unless one of the Guardians was with him.

"I've been thinking about what you said," Jack explained. His hand went to his hoodie strings, which he began to fiddle with nervously. "And you're right. I won't be able to conquer my fear unless I make an effort to face it myself. S-So…I thought I'd see myself out this time. Just to see how it goes. I-If that's okay with you."

It wasn't often that Jack was ever this open, and Bunny wasn't used to it himself.

But what did feel familiar was the warmth of pride in his chest for Jack taking such a step.

"...Alright, mate. I'll let you go," said Bunny. "But if you run into any trouble, get to one of us immediately.

Jack smiled. "Thanks, Kangaroo. But I think I'll be fine."

Bunny returned his smile, but his worries still stirred beneath. Would Jack be fine? What if the Sprites showed up? What if Jack was hurt again?

Bunny refused to let that happen, but Jack was so intent on leaving on his own. All he could do was watch as the winter spirit stepped out the door and listened to the gust of Wind that swept him up from the ground, and out the Warren.

…

Everything was fine.

Everything was great.

Jack laughed and whooped as he swirled through the air. The Wind was blowing full blast with excitement and ecstasy upon being reunited with her winter child again. Jack deeply missed their lone flights together, so he made sure to make this one extra extravagant.

"Faster, Wind! Faster!" Jack urged. The Wind whirred and propelled Jack forward, her gusts ruffling his hair and sending snowflakes twirling. Jack twirled and looped, his laughter echoing like windchimes as he basked in the moment of freedom and mirth.

The two were sailing faster than usual, as Jack was still taking caution to avoid any trouble. Santoff Claussen wasn't too far from where the two were flying, and they hadn't run into any trouble.

So far, so good, Jack smiled. With the snowflakes spinning around him and the cold air nipping at his cheeks, Jack was sure nothing would go wrong.

…Or so he thought.

He sensed a presence approaching from behind, and Jack did a double take. Though it was far enough, Jack could feel the subtle increase in temperature. The winter spirit froze midair.

No.

In a heartbeat, Jack commanded the Wind to drop him to the ground. The temperatures continued to rise, making Jack feel more and more unsettled. The winter spirit dove into the nearest cave. Right when he slipped inside, he heard the snow melt and bubble where the Summer Spites had touched down.

He listened to them complain and growl at the frustration of being forced to follow him out this far, but Elianna commanded them to be quiet and made the area around them hotter to give them some semi-resistance to the colder temperatures.

"Jaaaaaaack,' Eliaana called. "We know you're out there!"

Jack held his staff to his chest, trembling as she taunted him. He thought his troubles were over, but here we were again. Outnumbered. Cornered. Alone.

"You can't hide forever, Jack!" Elianna shouted. Sweat dripped down Jack's brow. He squeezed his eyes shut, praying that they'd just pass him by and leave him alone—

Suddenly, a blast of heat exploded next to the winter spirit. Jack cried out as the cave collapsed around him. The winter spirit rolled out of the way of a second blow. The smell of burned fabric and smoke stung his nose. When he looked up from the snow, Elianna was standing above him. The rest of the sprites stood behind her, shivering, but with expressions deadly.

Elianna smiled maniacally, her hands filling with balls of heat. She grinned maniacly.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," she murmured. "After all those days toiling away at Mother Nature's stupid compensations when you should've been in my place!"

The snow around them melted, the temperature increasing as Elianna's anger rose. Jack instantly felt himself grow weaker, and he tried to reach for his staff, but Elianna blasted his hand with a ball of heat, burning his fingers. Jack screamed and pulled his hand away.

"It's about time you got what you REALLY DESERVE!" the Summer Sprite screamed, her eyes aflame with nothing but pure hate. Jack cowered away, his breath quickening as the group began to approach. The heat was overwhelming—suffocating. He was taken back to the jungle, where he had been left for hours in the rain on the floor, thinking he was going to die.

Jack shivered and tried to force himself to get up, but he was too scared and too weak. The heat was burning him now, and the winter spirit couldn't bring himself to make a move.

Jack squeezed his eyes shut, tears slipping out as he prepared to face pain that he knew he wouldn't be able to bear. Suddenly, there was a shout and the sound of snow being kicked up. Weapons clashed and clanged. The Summer Sprites yelled and shouted. Jack flinched and curled into himself, shielding himself as much as he could from their attack.

When the pandemonium died down, Jack willed himself to look up.

There, standing amid unconscious Summer Sprites was Bunny. The area around them had been melted, and the Pooka gripped his boomerangs as if they were his lifeline. He looked almost feral as he glared at the sprites surrounding him.

"B-Bunny—!" Jack cried.

The Pooka whirled around, his features returning to normal as he ran up to Jack and bent down.

"Jack! Are you alright?" he asked.

Jack stared at him, tattered and beaten. His burnt hand stung with pain. Slowly, his expression crinkled, and he burst into tears.

Immediately, Bunny pulled him into a hug. Jack clung to him, sobs wracking his body. Bunny rubbed his back, feeling awful.

"...Come on. I'll take you home," he said gently.

Jack nodded; he didn't let go.

Bunny picked up his staff and handed it to the winter spirit. With a gentle tap of his foot, he opened up a tunnel beneath them, and the Earth swallowed them both.

Author's Note: So...yeah. Things are looking too good for Jack. ='D

Though Jack is really old (317 QwQ), I still think an experience like this would be enough for him to reach somewhat of a breaking point. Being alone, beaten up just for existing, and readjusting to his new environment with the Guardians...he needed a good cry. QwQ

I know a lot of people tend to think authors make their favorite characters break down or cry for "just because," but they're human. They're not invincible. Crying is very cathartic, and it's not fair to poke or tease when they're simply expressing themselves. Especially when they've been through so much struggle. Characters (and people!) have layers. And I do intend to explore as many as I can through my writing.

(Yes, I know I'm talking about fictional characters, but they are still based on human psychology. If you want a good story, you have to have that emotional depth to it. ='D)

Anyway, that's enough of my rambling...Thank you guys so much for reading, and I promise things will start to look up next chapter! =)

PS - I accidently posted chapter 8 of ROTC instead of this one...so if any of you saw that chapter instead of this one at first...that's why. ='D

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203