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"It is a rather embarrassing thing, a task that really isn't fun, especially when you're no good at the job given."
"It's been a year, or so after Pitch Black's defeat, as you know, and about a year or so since I, Jack Frost, the Guardian of Fun, became an official Guardian. Now, I love being able to start blizzards, and snow storms, make snowballs, and snow days, that is fun! But, it's my side job hastily tagged on at the end of my first meeting with the Man in the Moon that I hate, and rather embarrassed by."
"No, it's not cleaning up snow, no it's not making weak snow - though I do that too on days I'm busy. No, it's to do with Autumn, and the changing of leaves from one colour to the next, from greens to reds... and, I can't paint for shit."
Toothiana, also dubbed Tooth as a quick nickname, was flying around the forests one Autumn. She had wanted to get back out in the field, just for a day or two, and let one of her fairies run the Palace. She almost forgot what it was like with the wind running through your wings, and the light of the Man in the Moon on her back, the pure delight at finding a tooth and gifting a child with a quarter. She's glad she decided to do this, it's nice.
She was on her way to collect a young, eight year old girls tooth - a bottom, central incisor, 36.2048° N, the country's longitude is 138.2529° E., Japan! She flew between trees, left and right, dodging when suddenly, she was hit by a stray leaf, and she froze in shock. She wasn't expecting that. Where did that come from?
She was hit again, only this time, she caught it before it fluttered to the ground. The offending leaf in question was not green, but was a mixture of sickly orange and yellows, carelessly splattered about the surface area of said leaf, but not only was it a terrible mixture of colours, and not only was it on messily, it was soaking wet, and dripping, unlike how they usually are - crunchy.
Where did this come from? She let the leaf flutter to the ground, and looked to her fingertips, seeing the same putrid colours on her skin, and she dragged her thumb across the colours - paint, it's paint. What the...? She flew up to the top of the trees, and saw something she never thought she would see, Jack Frost.
Well, no okay, it's not always unusual to see Jack up and about, especially now considering he's a guardian, and he comes to every meeting, (a little thing North decided to do, given the fact Jack had been alone for 300 years. Surely, the boy didn't want to be alone forever?) But, what is unusual, is that Jack wasn't smiling, or creating snow, he wasn't having fun. If anything, he looked bored, and uninterested, as if he could think of a thousand different things he'd rather be doing. And, what was he doing? Well, he was using his staff, haphazardly whacking at the leaves, as if beating them, but what shocked her was that the assaulted leaves turned a sickly yellow, in uneven and ugly blotches. His fingertips were yellow, and orange, as if he had tried had painting them, but the scowl of annoyance on her face was enough to tell her that hadn't gone so well.
Why was Jack painting the leaves? The leaves turn orange, red and yellow in Autumn because of the changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, and the leaves stop their food-making process. Sure, they weren't always that pretty, but a few looked decent at least.
With these thoughts on her mind, she decided that the bottom, central incisor would be her last trip today, as she had to have an impromptu visit with North.
Tooth now delivered to the Palace, and Jack seemingly nowhere in sight, Tooth fluttered through the open window of the Workshop, landing gracefully on the floor. She looked around, taking note of the Yeti's hard at work, and the Elves puttering about, as if they were working, (they aren't, they just let them thing that). She hesitantly walked forward, looking around, and dodged one of the yeti's, "oh, sorry Phil." She apologised with a shy smile, as Phil grumbled, walking past, a toy over his shoulder.
With a nervous cough, Tooth flew down the hall, all the way to North's office, his little, personal workshop. The man would spend his breaks in there, though of course, with Christmas coming closer and closer, the personal workshop was more empty than used, but it wasn't Christmas yet. She raised her hand, and delicately knocked on the door, as she waited for a response.
"Da, come in!" Called a jovial voice from inside, though said voice sounded confused.
Tooth slowly pushed open the door, and dipped her head in time to miss the small flying ice aeroplane.
North, sat in his chair, looked up at Tooth confused, which only grew when he saw her rather than a Yeti. But, his concern grew to worry, as he stood up quickly, "what's wrong?" He asked, as he went to grab his two swords.
Tooth fluttered forward, closing the door behind her, and she waved her hands, "nothing's wrong. At least, I don't think so - not enough wrong that it requires swords." She promised, gently flying over, and placing her hand on North's muscular arm, "I promise..."
With a careful evaluation with his blue eyes, North set his swords down, "then, what is problem?"
"It's Jack," Tooth said, and went to say, but North cut her off.
"Jack?!" North's eyes were panicked again, and went to grab his swords, and Tooth realised, maybe she should have been clearer, rather than open with Jack, a boy that North saw as a son in a way.
"He's fine!" Tooth promised, stopping the man again, though truthfully, she was unsure. I mean, he didn't look hurt, or seemed hurt, "it's just... well, he was painting leaves..."
North frowned, his black eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "painting leaves?"
"Yes, though he looked miserable and angry," Tooth reasoned. "I was wondering if you knew, why he was painting leaves?"
North shook his head slowly, after a moment of thinking, "net..."
"The leaves, no offence to Jack of course, but... they didn't look too," Tooth waved her hand, thinking of a way to word this without sounding too rude, "pretty..."
North shrugged his broad shoulders, his arms crossed, "they never do. Autumn leaves are bad in colour, nature turns them that way."
Tooth hummed, "right, do you think we should talk to Jack?"
"Talk to Jack?" Huffed North with a wave of his hand, "Jack is loose canon, he wants to talk, he will."
That was a good point, North's points were always good. Tooth nodded, "you're right... should we be worried?" She questioned, frowning, because what if this is cause for worry? Then what?
"Net," North said again, smiling now, "Jack is experimenting." He said, shrugging.
Tooth nodded, again that was a good point. Jack is a loose canon, he goes from one place to the other, he does things whenever he wants and rarely sticks to a schedule, and more often then not, likes to do and try different things, "all right. I just wanted to check." She said with a nod and smile, "thank you."
"Anytime," assured North, "anything else?"
"No, thank you," smiled Tooth, "I'll see you at the next meeting." She said, fluttering to the door, and opening it.
North called out a goodbye, and sat down again. He's not worried about Jack, though the boy is special to him, someone he sees as a close friend, and a son figure, he knows he can trust the boy, and he knows the boy can hold his own. If there was something to worry about, he would know.
Sandman - nicknamed Sandy - worked at night, and he didn't always have time to visit the guardians, so when he was coming over from the other end of the world, he didn't really expect to see Jack Frost out so late. Sure, the boy enjoys being out and about, causing mischief and chaos, but this... this was not that.
Jack Frost was hovering in the air, as he waved his staff around, though he looked... miserable, and distressed, like he could cry in a way. But, Sandy knew better then to comment on it, the near crying look on the boys face he means, not the fact the boy was assaulting the leaves with gross oranges and reds that clashed together like crazy.
If he had more time he would have gone over and asked what Jack was doing, but like I said, he didn't have time, so he went about his job, giving golden, happy dreams to children. He would talk to someone about it, maybe Tooth? He would tell North, but he knows how protective the man gets of the boy.
Floating in on a golden cloud, Sandy landed on the floor silently, as he looked around for Tooth. Small Tooth Fairies fluttered around, chirping and chattering, going in and out of the palace, collecting teeth and memories, and a few greeted him, and he happily waved back.
"52.3555° N, 1.1743° W — 53.1424° N, 7.6921° W, oh now 35.8617° N, 104.1954° E!" Came Tooth's voice, "it's his first baby tooth so be careful!" She called, as she flew around the large, golden Palace, looking around, before her eyes landed on her friend in gold. She smiled, and fluttered down, "Sandy, how are you?"
Sandy smiled, and gave her a thumbs up.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, but is there a reason you're here?" Tooth asked, gently to show she really wasn't being mean or rude, or trying not to be at least, it's just she's very much busy, and she's in a frenzy with all these teeth.
Sandy nodded, face serious to show he understood she wasn't being mean - not everyone can work one night a year. He made a sand picture over his head, of a snowflake, then a leaf, then a question mark: Why is Jack paint the leaves?
"Snowflake?" Hummed Tooth in thought, before she snapped her fingers, "Jack?" She asked, and he nodded at the clarification. Tooth fell silent again for a moment, before her eyes widened in realisation, "oh, you saw Jack and the leaves too?"
Sandy nodded, and made a snowflake again, then glared, then a leaf and a question mark; Why is Jack angry at the leaves?
Tooth shrugged, her palms up, "I don't know. I asked North if we should be worried, but he seems to be fine with whatever Jack's doing. I suggest we leave it, just as he suggested. He thinks Jack's experimenting..."
Sandy again, nodded, though this time slower as if absorbing what she just said, then frowned, as he made a snowflake again, and a tear roll down his cheek; Jack was crying.
"He was crying?" Repeated Tooth in worry, hand over he mouth in worry.
Sandy nodded, eyes wide as if to say; yes! So, we should worry!
Tooth frowned again, worried and unsure, "let's just... give it a few days, and if he's still painting leaves, and he's upset, we'll talk to him." She said, hands out, her voice soft.
With nothing else to do, Sandman nodded; I mean, if two people say not to worry just yet, then he'll keep his thoughts preoccupied.
Easter is not around the corner, which means it's the perfect time for E. Aster Bunnymund to visit Sophie Bennett, now three years old, and still incredibly adorable. The small ankle biter has gotten into art, and though the art work isn't any Picasso or Van Gogh, it was sweet and cute, and beautiful in it's own way. The girl had gifted Bunnymund with an artwork of her and Bunny together, drawn out of crayons, and was incredibly messy - you could hardly tell what they were really, all that tipped him off it was the two of them was the girl in the drawing had blonde hair, and the bunny in the drawing had two long ears... he's still going to treasure, and keep it, hang it up for all to see.
He was on his journey home, and yes, he could use his tunnels, he didn't really want to risk a child seeing him go down a tunnel, and follow, so he went into the forests to get home that way. He paused, his ears stiff and he stood up, sniffing the air, he knew that smell, the smell of ice and snow, of cold and joy, and this smell was followed by an annoyed curse. He hopped over to the noise, slow and cautious, he knew that voice too.
"The heck ya doin'?" Asked Bunnymund, staring on in stunned... not silence, but shock. Jack Frost was waving his staff around, cursing and yelling, hitting the leaves, as they turned all sorts of oranges, yellows and reds, but none were pretty... actually they were all rather hideous and clashed, blotched and spotty, and sagged as if there was too much paint on them... why was he painting the leaves?!
Jack jumped, having not expected company. He's kept this secret for 300 years, and now he has to come clean to Bunnymund? With a sigh, his shoulders slouched, he looked to his fellow guardian, "I'm changing the leaves, what's it look like?" And, okay, that came harsher than intended, but really, what did Bunnymund think he was doing?
Bunnymund raised an eyebrow, and hopped over, picking one of the soggy leaves with too much paint on from the dying branch, and inspected it. It was a hideous muddy brown, with specks of a vomit yellow on, and he looked up to Jack, rolling his eyes, "ya terrible."
"What?!" Asked Jack in outrage, eyes wide, as he huffed. "I've been doing this for years, Cottontail," he said, jabbing his orange painted finger to his chest, no doubt smearing paint on his blew jumper.
"Yeah, 'n' all those years 'ave been as useless as 'n ashtray on a motorbike," Bunnymund reasoned, as he let the leaf he was inspecting go. It didn't even fluttering, it just dropped it was that heavily coated in paint. He looked pointedly at the floor, and waved his paw around, "look at this mess! Ya colours don't blend and look at these lines!" He pulled a hideous red leaf off the tree, and gestured to the lines, that were painted a hideous neon orange, "this looks like ya just chucked on a bit o'paint and hoped some would stick.”
“How else am I supposed to do it?" Jack asked, with a helpless shrug, "do you know how many leaves I have to turn?!” Jack snatched the leaf away and tossed it aside. Really, he knew Bunnymund probably understood, after all, the Pooka had all those eggs to paint, but those eggs help him and run to wherever they need to go. He's only got a staff, and sometimes he needs to get his hands dirty for the finer details, because how can he make the lines in the leaves with his staff?! “So what if they aren't pretty?” He asked, standing on a branch coated in orange paint, and winced, feeling the cold paint stick to his feet, as he leaned on his staff.
“So what?! Don't ya have any pride in ya yakka?” Bunnymund asked, eyes wide.
“Its leaves!" Jack defended, not liking the fact Bunny was coming at him for doing his job, "nobody cares!” He said, annoyed. (How embarrassing he knows Australian slang...) Honestly, he did care, he really did, he was just terrible at it, and on more times than once, he's gone and screamed into his hoodie in anger. He's not good at painting! At first, he was rather excited, but then found all oranges look the same, as does the reds, and yellows, and all the leaves come out looking horrible, and he adds too much paint, not to mention, how can one blend and mix, and add detail? It makes no sense. He always starts out with a vision in mind, but it never ends up on the leaf. He starts off with his staff and hands, he even brings brushes to help him along the way, but the further along it gets, and the less pretty they become, he gets angry and just starts using his staff haphazardly.
"Nobody cares?" Repeated Bunnymund, looking shocked with a confused raised eyebrow. He just left, but he can make a trip back, he's not too far from Sophie's house. He waved a paw, "come on." He picked up one of the gross leaves Jack painted, and hopped off.
Jack opened his mouth to say he couldn't, but all that came out was on offending stuttering noise, and raised his staff, "wind, take me to Bunnymund." He sighed in defeat, and the wind swept him off his feet, and carried him through the trees, and after the fast hopping Bunny, "so? Where are we going?" He asked, as he finally caught up to the Pooka.
"I'm gonna prove to ya, that they ain't jus' leaves," Bunnymund said, looking to Jack. He sped up, not giving much of an indication of where he was going, and Jack sighed, following in silence.
Really, what was stopping him from fleeing? Nothing really. But, he was curious as to how Bunnymund was going 'going to prove him wrong'. Also, it doesn't help that he enjoyed the banter from the large Pooka, it was fun, so he did want to see what the guy had up his nonexistent sleeve.
It didn't take too long to arrive, and upon seeing the familiar house, Jack was unsure if he was going to run, or smile. Surely, Jamie would be on his side, but that was if Bunnymund was going to go to Jamie. Bunnymund hopped over to the fence, and went inside the backyard, and Jack floated down upon the fence, sitting there.
Sophie was outside, and no Jamie. The girl was covered head to toe in paint, and Jack smiled in amusement, which grew fond as he saw Bunnymund's face soften and smile.
"Bunny!" Smiled Sophie, as she ran to the Pooka, and hugged him with a laugh.
The Pooka laughed, and hugged back, picking her up, "af'ernoon." He smiled, and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear with a smile, "I just came back to ask ya somethin'."
Sophie wriggled from Bunnymund's grasp, and nodded with a bright smile, "okay!" She giggled, jumping, and covering her mouth in joy.
Bunnymund knelt down, and picked a green leaf off the floor, then painted the leaf quickly, nothing special, just a nice blend of oranges, and held out the pretty orange leaf, and the gross brown leaf, “which ah these d'ya like better?”
Sophie tilted her head and looked between the two, carefully inspecting them, before she gently grabbed the one Bunnymund painted. “This one! 'S pretty! Hop, hop!" She giggled, jumping up and down.
Jack rolled his eyes, though even he couldn't deny, Bunnymund's was betters. “She's playing favourites,” he tried, I mean, she could very well be, but he doubted it.
“Or you're just no good at paintin'.” Bunnymund scoffed, as he ruffled Sophie's hair. “Ya can keep that," he smiled softly.
“Thank you, hop hop.” She giggled, her eyes lighting up with an idea to keep this gift safe, and she hopped inside, with a laugh, "mommy! Look at pretty!"
“She totally played favourites," smirked Jack.
Bunnymund shook his head at the boys hopelessness, and stood up. “I can teach ya to paint. Still won't be any good this batch, but next year you'll be better.”
“You'd teach me to paint?” Jack raised an eyebrow, unable to keep the scepticism out of his voice.
“Offered, didn't I?" Bunnymund said with a shrug, crossing his arms. "Probably won't be able to start til after the New Year since ya got work ta do right now. We can start while I work on Easter.”
“Really?” There was an edge of excitement in Jack's voice, he tried to hide it, he really did, but he just wanted to be good at his job. He wanted to be able to paint the leaves, he needed to! Not to mention, time with Bunnymund, that seems exciting! But, his scowl didn't match his tone, he really wanted to look annoyed.
“Yeah. Whenever ya want to start, tap on the ground twice when you want into the Warren.”
“And you'll teach me to paint?" Jack asked cautiously.
“And I'll teach you to paint.” Bunnymund nodded, as he tapped the ground and opened a portal. He just ran back and forth twice already, he didn't really fancy running again. “Let me know when you got time.”
“I will.” Jack was grinning now, as he watch Bunnymund jumped into the tunnels and head home.
Oh boy, what have they just got themselves into?
All throughout Christmas North, Tooth and Sandy had been throwing Jack cautious looks, watching him to see if anything was off, and honestly? It was kind of creeping the boy out. So, he was absolutely delighted when Christmas came and went, because now he can focus on his side job of changing leaves, and he can spent time with Bunnymund! He tapped his left foot twice on the ground, and smiled in giddy joy when a hole opened for him - really, Bunny gave him too much power. It took him about forty minutes of aimless, and increasingly annoyed wandering tunnels and caverns to find the main cavern, which held a patiently waiting Bunnymund.
"Took your time." Smirked Bunnymund.
Jack glared and plopped down next to him on a stone seat. "Are we going to paint or what?"
Bunnymund let the painted egg in his hand hop to the ground, and watched it run over to join the group of painted brethren waiting off to the side. "Yeah, yeah, no need to cop an attitude. Pick a brush and a colour." He said, gesturing to the stone table filled with colours. I mean, how bad could it be?
Its a complete disaster. For all the detail, and intricate designs that goes into his frost, Jack can't paint a target on a bullseye. Bunnymund stared in horrified fascination at the egg sitting in the grass between them, eyes wide in amazement.
"I don't even have paint that colour. How did ya get that colour?" Bunnymund asked, voice clear in shock, and morbid awe. Jack deserved a medal for getting that colour.
"I don't know?" Jack poked at the egg in a half-heatedly, using the tip of the wooden end of the brush.
"That colour doesn't even exist in nature." In a weird way, Bunnymund was proud the boy managed to mess up this badly. It was rather comical.
"Can we focus on something other than the colour?!" Snapped Jack, wanting nothing more than to bury his head in his arms and possible cry again. He could see clearly in his head what he wanted, but it came out all wrong!
The egg was the colour of strained, beat up, old peaches, that is if the peaches had been thrown up by someone who'd also eaten an abundance of green highlighter ink. It was unpleasant to look at, and seemed like it should smell like the inside of an abandoned but not empty meat locker.
Bunnymund covered his face with his paws, and took a deep breath. "Okay. So, your first try isn't so good. That's fine." He said, trying to reassure the spirit next to him. At least now he knew where Jack was up to in the painting world.
"It's really awful, isn't it?"Jack asked in a quiet voice, trying to hide his sadness. He really messed up.
"Yes." Agreed Bunnymund, and he didn't want to be knock Jack down, but he also knew the spirit liked it when he was honest. "But that's okay, we'll work on it." That is very true, you can start from nothing and learn.
"Maybe its better if I keep doing it my way." Jack ran a hand through his hair, carding his fingers through the white strands. "Half-arsed or not, the job gets done." And, any time he does his job, he'll hide away in shame.
"This is a minor setback." Bunnymund said, and reached up, taking Jack's hand from his white hair, that he was now tugging out. Even through his fury paws, he could feel how soft his white hair was, like blankets. "Let's just not mix colours this time, yeah?" Bunnymund said, gently nudging Jack's shoulder in a friendly manner, before he handed him a new, white egg and set about trying to salvage the strained highlighter peach one. "Just paint it one colour, and then we'll work on patterns."
The second egg got a coat of royal blue, and the paint while decent, is a little uneven and streaky in places. "I don't think I'm very good at this." Jack sighed, setting the egg down with sagged shoulders.
"Its fine, paintin' isn't as easy as everyone seems to think." Bunnymund promised, setting loose the saved peach egg. Really, the coating was alright for someone who wasn't very good, and he passed him a brush with finer bristles. "Okay, patterns are the fun part. Just try somethin' simple, like spots." He said, and looked back down to his own egg.
He looked up two minutes later, his egg now with a nice pastel pink, and is now staring in horror, honestly he has no idea where Jack got neon pink paint from. Jack glanced up and frowned at him, seeing the Pooka's wide, shocked eyes, “what?”
“Are you not seein' the problem with those colours?” Bunnymund asked in shock, surely Jack must be messing around.
Jack looked at the egg, turning it in his fingers, looking between the pink and blue, “no? What's the matter with them?” Honestly, he's seen pink and blue things mixed and blended together, or used for patterning! Jamie's notebook is blue, with pink swirls, so by Jack's logic, blue and pink dots would look nice on eggs!
“What's— Jack, those colours don't go together.” Bunnymund reasoned, gesturing to the egg with his paintbrush.
“Why not?” Jack frowned down at the egg, lowering his paintbrush. It looked nice on the notebook.
“Because neon pink doesn't go with anything.” Bunnymund explained, in a rather simple way. Of course neon pink went with things, but it took some skill to get it right, and maybe, he should teach the white haired boy about Colour Theory before they continued. The hideously painted royal blue and neon pink egg wiggled out of Jack's white, paint stained hand and joined the group of pretty painted eggs. Bunnymund watched it go with a pained expression, wanting nothing more but to stop it, but didn't.
Bunnymund spent the rest of the afternoon teaching Jack colour combinations, and why neon colours should never really be used for anything except raves, or if a rebellious teen decided to anger their parents. Bunnymund also quickly discovered a slight problem with Jack, one that's he never really dealt with before, and it was going to be a bit difficult to help.
There ere two eggs standing before them, both with a finished coat and waiting for detail work, and Jack, under Bunnymund's watchful eye, was trying to find a complimentary colour. His hand was shaking, and hesitating over a paint that would go nicely with the darker of the two eggs, his hand hovering over them. He glanced up at Bunnymund for encouragement, before picking up the lighter egg and dipping his brush into the paint.
“Nah mate, use that one on the other egg.” Bunnymund cut in with a careful voice.
Jack looked from the egg in his hand, to the one nestled in the green grass. “Why?” He asked confused, what was the difference between them?
“It'll go better with the darker green.” Bunnymund answered, nodding to the one nestled in the grass.
The paintbrush's handle tapped nervously against Jack's leg, a confused frown on his thin, pale lips, “but they're the same colour.”
Bunnymund's ears twitched forward and scooped up another two eggs. “What about these?” He asked, holding the eggs out to him.
“They're both blue?” Jack asked, unsure where this was going.
“But, is it the same shade of blue?” Bunnymund implored.
“No?” Jack answered unsure, and nervous, fiddling with the egg in his hand. “Is something wrong?” He asked, now scared.
Bunnymund sighed and set the eggs down carefully. “Okay, no big deal. Doesn't matter too much in leaf changing.” He said, thinking of ways to work around this, thinking of ways to help Jack. It did matter really, if it is green and red he has issues with, then it's going to be difficult with orange, red, browns and yellows...
“What doesn't?” Jack asked, confused.
“You being colourblind.” Bunnymund said, nodding his head to him.
“What?”
“Partially.” Bunnymund amended, quickly. “You can see most colours fine. Its probably red and green, its not that uncommon in humans.” He shrugged.
“I'm not colourblind," Jack cut in quickly, "I would have noticed.” Surely not, he's got to be different from the other guardians what by starting off dead, and now he's got to be different from humans by being colourblind?
“Partially colourblind. And most people don't notice it.” Bunnymund shrugged and switched the egg in his hand for the other. “S'okay. Clearly doesn't affect the way you do yer job.” What were those glasses called? Maybe, he could find a pair for Jack?
Jack looked like he was about to throw the egg in his hand, or squeeze and crush it. “Well great! This has been a swell waste of an afternoon.” He shoved the egg into Bunnymund's paws and snatched up his staff. “I'll see you later.” He stood up, and stormed off, god this is stupid!
“Oi, you can't just-” But Jack was already in a tunnel and out of sight. “Brat.”
Jack still can't paint, still can't pattern, and now he's colourblind! Why does the Man in the Moon hate him? Why was he given this job? Why didn't the Moon fix his eyes? Seriously, how's he going to do this job and succeed?
He just wants to be able to do this, he just... wants to be able to impress Bunnymund a bit. The guy finds him annoying, and now he probably hates him. God, he hopes Bunnymund still wants to help him.
Three days, it took three days for Jack to get over his embarrassment, it took three days to decide to go back, it took three days swallow his pride, and go back to Bunnymund's. With a hesitant double tap of his left foot on the ground, while clinging to his staff, pulling it to his chest, and there opened a portal.
It only took Jack thirty minutes to find Bunnymund this time, dragging his feet, and Bunnymund knew he was dragging his feet.
"What'dya want frostbite?" Bunnymund asked, arms crossed, with his eyebrow up.
Jack was shifting nervously on his feet, wringing the staff between his hands, and finally sat down a fair distance away from him. "Sorry. About the other day." He said, looking down to the floor, "I got frustrated." He reasoned, "I always do..."
Bunnymund hummed in acknowledgement, "I understand that." And, he did. He understands, and he nudged an egg over to Jack. "Give it a solid coat, and then I'll teach you how to do web patterns. You can use that for your leaves next year."
The egg was painted a soft purple, and the webs were blue. It took about sixteen eggs to really get the hang of it, but Jack's hands were steady and Bunnymund was patient. Jack couldn't lie, he felt good, this felt right, the egg actually looked good for once.
"You got an eye for detail, I'll give you that." Bunnymund chuckled, and turned the egg around, inspecting it carefully. "If you put half this work into your leaves it'd be a thing of beauty." He said with a smile.
"I still don't really get how I'm supposed to do this with leaves." Sighed Jack, as he looked down in defeat, "I can't paint them all by hand." He can paint them with his staff when it's solid colours, but not when it came to detail. He's never tried it before.
"No, course not." Bunnymund agreed, and handed him another egg. "Let's learn how to blend now."
"Wait, I thought I was't allowed to mix colours?" Jack said suddenly, eyes wide in panic, looking at Bunnymund suddenly.
"We're not mixing, we're blending." Bunnymund corrected, then made a 'come here' motion with his paws. "Scoot closer so you can see what I'm doing." Jack pressed into his side, and Bunnymund gave himself a silent pat on his back for not tensing up. The boy really is cold, freezing, but it was nice, Jack being so close to him. "This might be harder for you since you gotta pick colours that look good together." He explained while he painted, and the end result was an egg coloured to look like a sunset. "We'll start you off simple, just two colours."
They spent a week learning how to properly match and blend colours, all the while Bunnymund was hunting up and down for those glasses, and Jack eventually learned to just ask Bunnymund when he couldn't tell the difference between colours.
Jack was staring at two different shades of red, and he sighed, even though he was fine with asking Bunnymund, it still wasn't something he enjoyed, asking for help. "Which red is brighter?" Jack eventually asked, looking to Bunnymund with a pained expression.
Bunnymund looked to the red, of course he could see and tell the difference between them, and he shrugged, "hey, why don't ya try somethin'?" He said, and pulled out a blue box, with a white ribbon and bow, and he handed over.
Jack raised an eyebrow, and looked to the box, feeling a giddy joy in his stomach, and he looked over the box, "you got me a gift?"
"I did," Bunnymund answered, nodding, feeling a swirl of anxiety in his stomach, butterflies fluttering around. "Open it."
Jack smiled, and with greedy, yet nimble fingers, pulled open the ribbon, and pulled to the of the box of. The box had a cushioned, white inside, with a piece of blue cloth, and... glasses? The frame was black, and thin, and the lenses blue, and tinted. He looked to Bunnymund with a smile, "you got me sunglasses?"
"Somethin' like that," smiled Bunnymund, and nodded. "Put 'em on."
Jack smiled, and put the glasses on his face, pushing them up his nose. He then looked to Bunnymund, "how do I look?" He grinned, smirking, biting his lower lip.
Bunnymund laughed, and smiled, "ya look good." The glasses really did look good on his face, he couldn't lie, and he said, "look at the eggs, 'n' you tell me which one's brighter."
Jack frowned, and looked down to the eggs confused, but paused. He looked between the two eggs, inhaling sharply, and picked up one, the left one and held it up, "this one." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
Bunnymund nodded with a soft smile, "yeah."
Jack smiled, pulling the glasses down his nose, and looked between the eggs - they're the same colour. He pushed them up his nose - he's holding the bright egg. These glasses are amazing, and he smiled to Bunnymund, who smiled back - it took everything to not hug him.
A month into lessons, a month of Jack looking around at everything with his glasses, (and finally realising North's clothes weren't all one shade of red), was when Sandy stopped by to make sure Bunnymund wasn't stressing himself out over Easter, and found Jack and Bunnymund trying to paint eggs in a plaid.
"Hey Sandy." Bunnymund didn't look up from his egg, but Jack was ready for a distraction. Any distraction. "What's up?" He asked, bring he leg up, his chin resting on his knee, and... okay, so Sandy's not changed, he's all the same shade of gold, albeit a bit brighter.
Sandy frowned confused, and the sand above his head formed into snowflake, and then a question mark.
"He's teaching me to paint." Jack shrugged, and in under a second, decided not to come clean about his side job. "Apparently my art weren't up to his standards."
Bunnymund was confused, wondering why Jack was keeping the whole 'painting leaves' business so secretive, but he respected Jack's silent wishes, and scoffed, "oh please, your 'art' didn't even know what standards were."
"I think I did okay." Jack defended, with a shrug.
"Yeah, if you wanted everyone to think you were a talent-less hack." Bunnymund grinned.
Jack huffed and kicks lightly at the pooka's leg, his foot more brushing against his fury leg, and gently held it there. "So what's up?" He asked, looking at Sandy.
Sandy shrugs, and the sand formed a plank that had a screw partially undone. Bunnymund rolled his eyes and snorted in agreement, his cheeks flushing under his fur, feeling Jack's cool foot against his leg, "I aught ta have a screw loose after spendin' so much time with this brat."
"Whatever, you love me." Jack smirked, and set his egg on the grass and stretched, his back and arms cracking. "Okay, I don't think I can hold another paintbrush today."
"Good, gettin' tired of lookin' at your face." Bunnymund smirked, looking up from his egg finally, to look at the smiling boy.
"My face is awesome." Jack scoffed, as he stood up and brushed his pants off. "I'm gonna go see if Jaime is home form school." He said, and pulled off the glasses, blinking as he adjusted to the colour difference, "I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked, putting the glasses in it's blue case.
"Yeah, see yah." Bunnymund said, before reminding the winter spirit, "paisley tomorrow." Jack winced, he's not looking forward to that design, but nodded before taking off down one of the tunnels, a lot slower than he would have done a month ago. There's a moment of silence before Bunnymund shoots Sandy a warning look. "Don't start."
Sandy smiled placidly, and held his hands up in defence. Bunnymund glared at him suspiciously before picking up another egg. Sandy floated down to the grass next to him and settled in, leaning comfortably against a mossy stone. He stared expectantly at Bunnymund, until the pooka was finally grinding his teeth in aggravation.
"What?!" Snapped the bunny.
A tree formed above Sandy's head, as he shook his head side to side to silent beat, mocking Bunnymund. The spring spirit threw a paintbrush at him, when a sand version of himself and Jack appeared. "What are you, six?"
Sandy's entire body shook as he laughed silently, eyes closed and holding his stomach.
"Rack off." Really, these are thoughts he didn't want to have, not of Jack. “Not everything has to have romantic overtones just cause you spend all your time reading those trashy dime novels.” Besides, it would never work, even if he was considering it.
"So, how come yer keepin' the whole 'turning leaves' thing quiet?" Bunnymund asked the next day, when Jack came back.
Honestly, Jack was not too excited about today, he was not looking forward to the design of today. Paisley, also known as the ornamental textile design using the boteh or buta, a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end, with all kinds of designs in it, and around it, and then colours to add to it - people colour them in to relieve stress, but something tells him this will give him stress. And, now he's being questioned by his choice of secrecy? With a sigh, Jack fell down to his seat, yes his seat, he's kind of claimed it as his own, and pulled out his glasses, sliding them on his face, "does it matter?"
"Kinda mate," Bunnymund reasoned. "I wanna why I'm keepin' this a secret."
It was a sound reason, a very sound reason, Jack couldn't deny and he sighed. He scratch the tip of his nose, rubbing his nose, "I just don't want the others to know - it's kinda like a side job you don't want anyone to know about, you know? You took the job for extra pay, but it's embarrassing, so you tell no one." Jack explained, wrapping his arms around himself, "I just don't want anyone to know, at least... not until I get better." He said, picking up the white egg, and waved it.
"You are better," Bunnymund said, and found himself using a soft, fond voice. Huh, the guy really was getting better, "but, I won't tell them anything until you're ready."
Jack smiled, looking down shyly, raising his bare foot, and dragging it up the pooka's leg, "thanks Bunnymund..."
Bunnymund smiled softly, blushing lightly, and nudged his foot with his foot, and picked up a paintbrush, twirling it between his paws, "call me Aster."
"Aster?" Questioned Jack, looking up, his eyes swimming in confusion behind his glasses.
"Yeah, Aster," nodded Bunnymund. "My name, E. Aster Bunnymund."
Jack's confusion turned into a soft smile, "alright Aster."
By the end of month two Jack could paint a number of impressive, but ultimately useless patterns, and knew how to blend and match colours as well as any artist. He even got better at mixing colours, and sure, there's still a few times of that putrid peach colour, mixed with highlighter colours, but now he had glasses, they looked better.
The eggs were ahead of schedule thanks to Jack's help, and so Bunnymund was busying himself with making chocolates, something he's not been able to do for years given how busy his holiday got, and Jack continued to paint and practice, while eating any candy Bunnymund gave him.
"Try this one." Bunnymund said, holding out a tray, and Jack popped the chocolate in his mouth without question, and almost immediately spat it out. “Not good?” Bunnymund asked, frowning, rather hurt and offended.
"Oh my god, what is that?" Jack yelled, face scrunched up in agony, as he scraped his tongue on his front teeth. He would have wiped his tongue with his hand if he could, but his fingers were covered in paint. "Ew!"
"It's peach liqueur." Laughed Bunnymund, now less offended as he realised Jack genuinely didn't like it. "I think its more North's speed," he reasoned, handing another tray of chocolate over. "Here, this one you'll like."
Jack pulled his sleeve over his hand, and reached over, using the jumper and picked up a piece, being careful to not get paint of the chocolates. He slowly, and hesitantly bit into it, and before he even finished the first mouthful, he quickly shoved the other half into his mouth. He looked up to Bunnymund, his face serious, "make more."
Bunnymund laughed loudly, and shook his head. "I'm not makin' these just for you. Ya think kids'll like 'em?"
"Yes. Make more." Jack said, tone serious.
Six batches of candy, Jack staring hungrily at the batches, and twenty eggs painted later, North came crashing into the Warren, with heavy footsteps, and a loud, booming voice.
"Bunny!" Called North with a wide smile, "Sandy says you're making chocolates!" Finally, he noticed Jack, sat in the seat and covered in paint with glasses, and smiled, "hello Jack!" He managed to hide his worry well, what was he doing here, covered in paint?
"Hey." Jack greeted, with a colourful hand wave.
"Don't you touch that pot." Bunnymund said, waving his wooden spoon threateningly. Jack couldn't help but link Bunnymund with a housewife, all he was missing was a pink apron. "You can have the rejects over there on the counter." Bunnymund said, pointing to another counter.
North happily descended upon the pan of candies, like a tornado on a Kansas farmhouse (Jack watched Wizard of Oz with Jamie and his friends, it was a good movie). Jack watched in appalled amazement, and politely refused with a shake of his head, and smile, holding back gags of disgust when the liqueur chocolates were offered by North's happily outstretched hand.
"You got manners, North, use 'em." Bunnymund scolded, watching North disapprovingly. Again, Jack couldn't help but connect Bunnymund with a doting housewife, and a stern mother who watched over his child. "Be a good influence on the little miscreant."
"Miscreant?" Jack scoffed, as he pressed a hand to his chest in mock hurt. "I thought we were friends." He said with a fake sob, shoulders jerking up with a smile.
"Button up, you." Bunnymund said, waving his spoon to Jack, as he tossed a piece of chocolate to him, and Jack leaned forward to catch it in his mouth. "And you," he pointed his spoon back at North, who was watching Bunnymund and Jack ccarefully. "What?"
North was slowly chewing, watching them thoughtfully, with curious eyes.
Bunnymund instantly knew what North's face meant, and knew he had to get Jack away from this. "Go put that one with the rest of the flock." Bunnymund said, as he shooed Jack out of his kitchen, and Jack laughed, walking out. He then rounded on North, "if you've been talking to Sandy—"
"He has interesting point, no?" North shrugged, face all knowing.
"He most certainly does not." Bunnymund said, whacking the wooden spoon against North's buff chest. "Listen 'ere ya old burglar—"
"Burglar!" Called North, voice loud, and offended. "I was king of thieves," he said, hand on his chest, "not burglar! How dare you!"
"Yer not botherin' Jack, 'n' fillin' his head with all kinds of nonsense." Bunnymund said, his heart pounding painfully against his chest, it was a thought he found himself repressing down.
"Does not look like nonsense." North said, as he gently brushed his chest clean from the spoon. "Is it bad thing? To have someone close?" He asked, and again, Bunnymund knew the undertone of North's suggestion, is it a bad thing to love someone? To try for a relationship with someone?
"I don't need—"
"Are you guys fighting?" Jack asked, and the two looked over. Jack looked nervously between the two, shuffling on his feet. "Should I leave?" He asked, jabbing his thumb behind him.
"No, no!" North called, waving his hand, as if waving off Jack's concern. "Having discussion, not argument." He promised, that's the last thing he would want, to make Jack think they were arguing.
"Bout what?" Jack asked, easing up as he rocked on his feet.
"About office romance."
"Are you going to ask Tooth out?" Jack frowned at them in thought, carefully thinking. "I don't think she has time to date." He reasoned, though if North did ask her out, and she said yes, obviously he'd support it!
"No, not Tooth." North replied.
"Are you asking Aster out?" Jack asked, tone clipped and deep, trying to cover his anger, and jealousy. If North asked Bunnymund, that was the one thing he might nor be able to support.
"What's with that tone?" Bunnymund demanded, though he felt gross to even think about dating North.
"Sandy?"
"I am not asking anyone out." North insisted firmly, waving his hands. "Entirely hypothetical conversation."
"Okay." Jack drew the word out, and raised an eyebrow at Bunny, who only shrugged back in response. "I think I'm heading out." He said, pulling off his glasses, pocketing them, and walked past Bunnymund, and smiled to him, "see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, 'course." Bunnymund nodded, smiling back.
North listened carefully, as Jack's wind whistled through the tunnels, and waited until he couldn't hear it anymore. He turned back to Bunnymund, who was determinedly stirring his chocolate, no longer looking at North. Though he felt protective of Jack, the boy he saw as a son, he couldn't lie, "you would make cute couple."
Bunnymund spun, and slammed his spoon square against the chest and completely ruined North's red shirt forever.
Jack and Bunnymund were on their backs, sprawled out on the grass, as they looked up to the sky, the sun beating down on them. Jack had a bag of reject chocolates that Bunnymund let him have, and was slowly eating them.
"How's Jamie?" Asked Bunnymund, his nose twitching, as he glanced to Jack's side profile. His nose was all cute, and button like, it was adorable.
Jack's eyes slid to the side, to see Bunnymund looking at him. The two looked away quickly and Jack answered with a nervous cough, "good, good. Kid aced his Spanish test, and got highest for American History." He said, not commenting on the fact that the term 'aced' is more of a term Bunnymund would use rather than himself. Honestly, Bunnymund's nose was adorable when it twitched, it was so cute!
"Good, 'm thinkin' about goin' seeing Sophie again," Bunnymund hadn't been able to considering he had a holiday to prepare for. He stopped by for Easter, but was unable to stay.
"You should, she misses you," Jack reasoned. Anytime he went round to talk to Jamie, and hang out with the kids, Sophie was there, asking about Bunnymund, where he was, how he was doing, hop, hop, hop.
Bunnymund smiled softly, that ankle bitter is a gem.
The two fell back into silence, looking at the sky, as birds and butterflies flew past - this was the moment in which Jack pushed on his glasses again, seeing the sky, and flying creatures in different colours and shades was amazing. Right now, instead of working, they spent the next day after Easter resting and talking.
Tooth showed up that day, just to check on the two, and found them both sprawled out on the grass. She fluttered over to them with a soft smile, and didn't seem to notice the growing concern and uncomfortable looks Bunnymund was shooting her, the longer she went without saying anything.
"No painting today?" Tooth finally asked, soft and gentle, as she landed in the soft grass next to their heads.
"Taking a break for a few days." Bunnymund answered, eyes closed, tired.
Tooth nodded, humming, as she gently brushed grass off Bunnymund's head with gentle fingers. "Heard you had a lot of help this year." She said, pointedly looking at Jack.
"Mmm. Little bugger's all right when he's not being a menace." Bunnymund caved, the kid was great, amazing, he's learned so much, and their banter was all in good nature. It was fun.
Jack mumbled tiredly and rolls onto his side, head pressed against his arm, nudging his glasses, "not a menace."
Tooth smiled and carded her fingers through Jack's soft hair, until he was practically a pile of gooey sleepiness. "You worked him too hard." She said, fondly.
"Wouldn't take no for an answer." Bunnymund arched off the grass, and stretched until his back cracked loudly, and he sighed in relief. "Insisted on doing a little bit of everything."
"Well he doesn't have a holiday, can't really blame him for wanting to know what its like." Tooth smiled, as she gently tugged at his ear. "So how are the painting lessons going?"
"Good, kid's got talent." Bunnymund smiled, knowing that he'd come to Jack again for help. "You should see the detail he can fit on a chicken's egg."
Tooth frowned, and nodded, "so, what's the reason for these painting lessons?
"Eh, he juts wants to learn," shrugged Bunnymund, lying. He meant what he said, he'd keep it a secret until the kid wanted others to know. "What we need to do is figure out how he gets the things in his head to come out his staff." He said, it was one thing being able to make the paint come out, but to control it and design it? That's a little more difficult.
"Maybe you're over thinking it." Tooth suggested, before she paused in combing Jack's hair, and tweaked Bunnymund's ear affectionately. "Maybe its just a matter of not trying and waiting for it to happen naturally? Whatever it is you're doing?"
Bunnymund cracked an eye open, and looked at her accusingly. "We're not talking about Jack painting anymore are we?" He accused in a knowing tone.
"North and Sandy may have mentioned a few things." Tooth shrugged innocently.
"You lot." He snorted. "You're worse than a grannie's sewing circle." He said, shaking his head, fondly.
"You love us anyway."
"Manny help me, I do." He eagerly pressed into her soft hand when she scratched behind his ear. They fell silent for a long few minutes, enjoying the quiet company, with Bunnymund slowly falling asleep, when Tooth spoke again, more quietly than before, not wanting to fully rouse either of the males.
"I think the reason North and Sandy want you two to happen so badly is because you're so similar." Tooth reasoned, "we're all one of a kind in our own way but you two were both alone so much longer than any of us. Once you stopped fighting each other and started being yourselves you both just," She stopped and frowned slightly. "I guess you both settled, sort of."
"Settled?" Bunnymund asked with a quiet, confused hum.
"Mm-hm. I can't say for Jack, I mean, we all heard rumours about him, but we don't really know what he was like. But we knew you. And you've just... settled." Tooth said, unsure how else to phrase it.
Bunnymund leaned up, and looked to her, "explain. I have no idea what you're on about."
"Like, okay." She raised her hand, and waved it, like she could ease her thoughts out, and shape them into words. "You've been this big, bad warrior guy who protects for nearly as long as I can remember. But, you weren't always a warrior first and foremost. And when you're down here, teaching Jack to paint and showing him how to exist with other people again, its like you're not just the Easter Bunny. You're Aster again. And Aster does things like laugh at silly jokes and invent new flavors and has the patience and makes the time to teach someone something new just for the sake of sharing knowledge." She fell, silent again and let her hands rest in her lap, looking at Bunny imploringly in hopes that he understood what she was trying to say.
Bunnymund fell silent in thought, and realised, she's right. It's thanks to Jack he's less uptight, and more relaxed... less 'Easter Bunny', more 'Aster' - heck, he even told Jack to call him 'Aster'! "I guess I sort of forgot how to be Aster," sighed Bunnymund at the realisation. "Not a lot of situations where a time travelling, immortal scholar is needed more than a warrior."
"I think Jack could use a time travelling, immortal scholar." Tooth said, her tone gentle, though a hint of joking, as she had a far off look in her eyes, as she stared at the mossy rocks around them. "And I think Aster could use some Jack too."
Bunnymund looked over at the sleeping boy, that was happily cuddling the little egg that had refused to leave his side. "Maybe Aster could," he said, realising this was something he wanted. He's not felt this way in a long time, he's not felt this happy in a long time, and Jack... Jack was that happiness.
Tooth smiled at him, a mix of motherly pride and the kind of hope that goes with loving someone with all you have. "You're such a silly old rabbit." She chuckled.
“Hush, song bird.”
Lessons resumed a week after Easter, and they focused more on using the staff to create colours than painting eggs, which meant less time to play footsie under the desk. Making colours though, was turning out to be much more difficult that making frost. Jack nearly threw his staff in frustration at one point, and at another point, nearly snapped it half, and Bunnymund decided they need a break, especially since he now knew how annoyed Jack could get when things didn't go his way.
"Just sit down and take a breather." Bunnymund insisted, as he handed him an egg and a paintbrush.
Jack instantly felt his anger melting away with the now familiar motions, and he wondered when painting eggs became a relaxation task for him, "I'll never be able to do this." He sighed, as he painted without much thought.
"Nonsense," insisted Bunnymund, tone and eyes painfully soft. "You've made great progress."
"I can't make colours." Reasoned Jack, glancing up at Bunnymund before staring intensely at the egg.
"Maybe not, but look at the lattice you've got on that egg already." Jack paused at Bunnymund's words, and scowled at the egg. Huh, look at that, almost like second nature. "North can't even paint a straight line, not even to save his life," Bunnymund chuckled.
"That's great, but this isn't my job," Jack reasoned, feeling like a failure all over again. So much for impressing Bunnymund, and taking pride in his work. "I'm not any better at doing my job."
Bunnymund sat back and drummed his fingers against the grass. "Maybe we're trying too hard." He said, remembering Tooth's words. "How'd you first learn to make your frost?"
"I didn't learn anything." Jack reasoned, "I woke up and could do it."
"Its the same for the colours right?" Bunnymund insisted, "you can make them without instruction, you just can't do details with it like you can your frost."
Jack shrugged, and drew a generic flower on the egg, though the colours looked nice. "I guess," he sighed, "its always just happened when I needed it to."
"You've never tried to change leaves out of season?" Bunnymund asked, eyebrow raised.
Jack sighed, "I tried in the beginning Aster, like really tried. But, then I failed and kept failing, so... after that, I never saw the point."
Bunnymund fell silent, to be alone, and fail at one of the jobs the Man in the Moon gave you must have been terrible. No wonder Jack didn't really care. "Okay, let's try something else." He pressed a paw to the grass, and when he raised his paw a stalk covered in leaves grew from the ground. "C'mere."
Jack slid off his rock, and settled cross legged in font of Bunnyund. "This is dumb," he quipped, arms crossed.
"Your face is dumb." Bunnymund said back, though was said too softly for it to hurt, and Jack smiled at the familiarity of bantering. "Try to change the leaves' colours. No details or specifics, just change them the way you usually do."
Jack sighed, and touched the crook of his staff to the highest leaf. It slowly turned from a lush, healthy green, to a soft yellow.
"Now try to blend some red into it."
Jack lets out a slow puff of air, and urged the leaf to change. The yellow closer to the edges starts to darken and it spread inward, and soon the leaf went from yellow to orange to red.
“Good. See?" Smiled the pooka, "progress.” Bunnymund ruffled Jack's hair for a second longer than necessary, relishing the soft strands. "We'll have some proper autumn leaves in no time."
Jack bat his paw away, but couldn't stop smiling. "You're a dork," he said, a little too fond for it to mean anything bad.
Bunnymund smiled, as he leans back on his arms, a flush coating his cheeks under his fur. "Go get a piece of chocolate and we'll call it a day."
"Already?" Asked Jack, with a noticeable tone of disappointment.
The pooka hummed and nodded, "we aren't getting better results than that today. Go run off and cause trouble, or property damage. Whatever it is you do when among humans." He waved a paw with a smile, he does wonder what Jack does in detail, maybe one day he'll learn.
Jack hesitated and messed with his staff, wringing and squeezing it until it was warm. "Could I, maybe hang around for a little longer?" He asked quietly, before quickly giving his reason, "Jaime's still probably in school and I don't really have anything to do yet."
"Yeah, sure." Bunnymund said, and waved a paw, smiling wider. Jack didn't need a reason to stay. "Have I ever told you about the time North was almost sacrificed to a volcano spirit?"
"No." Jack perked up and leaned forward eagerly, as he kept his glasses on.
"Katherine tells it better 'en me but we'll just have to make do for today."
"Katherine?" Jack hummed in thought, yes, he knows Katherine. "The one who's friends with Nightlight, they're the two who aren't around much, since they travel right?" He asked, getting a hum of agreement from Bunnymund - Jack knew Nightlight, really knew the guy. He's a good guy, a good friend.
Bunnymund coughed, "the volcano story." He pointed to Jack in a warning manner, "you can't tell North I told you this."
"Promise." Jack settled in, and Bunny told him the story they all swore to never tell anyone.
In the end, the simplest solution is the right one.
Now that Jack knows how to paint the patterns, now that they're familiar to his hands and his mind, it was just a matter of not trying so hard. It was a month before Autumn is going to start that Bunnymund realised they have done exactly what they set out to do.
Jack was leaning against a tree by his pond, staff in hand and the crook resting against the trunk. Bunny watched in fascination, of the curling, reaching yellow spread from the stem to the tips. He watched the delicate veins of red spread and dance across the leaves until they were a gorgeous patchwork of colours perfect for fall, and looking like they're straight from a painting.
"Hey." Jack flinched and nearly slammed his head into the tree when he jerked around to look at him. Bunnymund merely smiled, albeit a bit sheepishly, and pointed to the changed leaves above the boy's head. "Beautiful work, Frost."
Jack turned a beaming smile to Bunnymund, and the pooka felt his breath catch at the expression. It's the look he's seen hundreds of thousands time before on the faces of children. It's a look of pure delighted glee and pride at a task well done. And Jack was proud, and to see Bunnymund impressed, it made him all giddy, and he couldn't hold himself back.
If Bunnymund though that Jack's smile was probably the most wonderful thing he'd seen in a very long time, it got even better when Jack laughed and threw his arms around him. Bunnymund instantly hugged back, just at tightly and neither of them let go for a long time, just enjoyed each other presence.
"Thanks, Aster." Jack said when he eventually stepped back, but still held onto the over grown rabbit. "They really do look better than before."
"I told you so." Bunnymund pressed his forehead to Jack's, bumping their noses together. "Come on down to the Warren. We can celebrate with the latest batch of chocolates."
"Yeah." If Jack sounded a little breathless when he answered, Bunnymund wasn't going to say anything. He tapped on the ground and hopped down into the tunnel, as he waited for Jack to land on the ground next to him.
Jack landed, and smiled shyly, before he hesitantly took Bunnymund's paw in his hand and leaned against his side.
Bunnymund smiled and squeezes his hand. "North and Sandy will never let us live this down." Jack's laughter bounced off the walls of the tunnel and makes the Warren feel more like home than ever.
"And that, is why I have this hickey."
Jamie, who is standing, looking up at Jack that Autumn, scowls and says, "I didn't ask about the hickey... remember? I asked why you was painting the leaves orange?"
"Oh, well, I told you didn't I?" Jack asks, really, nobody has asked him yet, so he's not brought it up. He gently places his staff against the tree trunk, and smiles as the leaves turn a soft orange. Besides his fingertips and hands that are have a coating of oranges, and yellows, he's also has a bright red hickey on his neck that he's unable to hide.
Well, Jamie can't like. Jack did answer his question, and the question about his glasses, but he never asked about the red mark on Jack's neck. Ew.
The Northern Lights are what take Jack's attention from both Jamie, and his job. He frowns in worry, and looks to Jamie, "I'll be back soon." He smiles, and holds his staff up, "bye Jamie. Wind, take me to the Pole!" He calls, and the wind picks him up.
Jamie watches Jack leave, and waves his hand hand, "bye Jack!"
It's a short trip, as he lands on the windowsill to North's personal workshop, and he closes the window. He opens the door, and closes it to see Sandy flying around in an aeroplane, standing down on the floor, while Tooth flutters in with her Tooth Fairies, and North is standing in the middle of the room. Bunnymund saw Jack, and smirks seeing the hickey, which makes Jack glare back, moving over to each other, as Jack slips his hand into Bunnymund's paw.
"What's this about North?" Asks Tooth, fluttering over worried.
It's getting closer to Christmas, so surely North has a reason for calling them all there, "we have issue."
Bunnymund perks up, his ears stiff, "is it Pitch Black again?"
"No, it's Jack," North says, looking to Jack.
Jack raises his eyebrow, "me? Am I in trouble?" He asks, glancing to an equally confused Bunnymund.
Bunnymund's eyes landing on the bright red, not healing hickey on Jack's neck, and quickly looks to North, paws up in surrender, "it's mutual!"
Sandman frowns, and shows a sandy question mark over his head.
Jack's hand goes up, and caressing his neck, as his fingers gently rubs the hickey, "come on. You three knew this was coming—"
"Da, we did. That's not problem," North assures, waving his hand. "Glasses, why are you wearing his glasses?"
Jack sighs, and pinches his nose, taking off his glasses, and blinks. Oh, that's a big difference. He pockets them, and spins his staff, "I don't have time for this, I have leaves I have to change over." He sighs, he needs to go and do his jobs.
"What? What do you mean?" Tooth asks, fluttering over with a frown on her lips.
Jack frowns, and shrugs, "I mean when it gets to Autumn, I change the leaves from green to orange... and, I'm colourblind, so Aster got me these glasses." He says, and points to his glasses. "So, can I go? I have a lot of leaves to change."
North blinks, and says, "oh. Well, yes... that makes sense."
"We were worried about you, we didn't know what you was doing," Tooth says, frowning.
Sandy nods, frowning.
"Well, yeah," shrugs Jack. "I didn't really want anyone knowing, and after I got good, nobody asked." He says, and looks between them all, "is there anything else?"
North swallow, "ah, well. No then, go ahead... do your job." He says, waving his hand, waving him off.
Jack nods, and looks to Bunnymund, "I'll be back tonight, Aster."
Bunnymund smiles, and presses a gentle kiss to Jack's lips, rubbing his nose against Jack's, "all right. I'll see you tonight."
Jack grins, and moves to an open window, allowing the wind to carry him to the forest, to continue his job that he now enjoyed, and allowed him to get closer with Aster. He wouldn't change it for the world.