Archive of Our Own

The first time it happened, Jack hadn't been expecting much.

He stumbled into a snowdrift, sitting down hard and clutching at his side. His hand came away bloody, blue-black dripping off his fingers into the snow. He hissed, gently curling up on his other side and pressing snow into the wound. 

Hopefully it'd do something to clot it, but he didn't have high hopes. Fucking Wendigo---if they were cannibals, why couldn't they eat other Wendigo? Why did they have to go after kids?

He wasn't even being paid. Some job being a Guardian was.

His head snapped up at the sound of a whistle, and Jack bristled, reaching for his staff. Ijiraq---exactly what he needed to turn this into a party. Even in his weakened state, he could probably send some warning ice ahead to keep it at bay. 

He strained his ears, the sound of heavy footsteps getting closer. The sounds increased until it was clear the person was running, and Jack flinched back as a large beast burst into the clearing.

"Jack? Crikey, mate, what's happened to ye?"

The voice sounded familiar, and Jack cracked an eye open, still clutching tightly onto his staff. The 'beast' turned out to be a very concerned Bunnymund, hovering over him and looking horrified.

Bunny reached out a tentative paw, but quickly retracted it. "Mate? Can ye speak?"

Jack grunted, pushing the tainted snow aside to reveal his side. "Wendigo."

"Wendigo", Bunny repeated, his expression switching between fury and concern. "Right, where are they?"

Jack giggled at him, the wooziness finally catching up to him. "Headless."

And with that, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out. 

Jack flashed in and out of consciousness, brief snapshots of the day swimming around in his mind.

Bunny cursing, pulling something green out of his bandolier and coating Jack's side in it. He'd whimpered from the pain, but fell asleep again when it numbed his side.

Watching the branches sway above him as Bunny carried him close to his chest through the forest.

Being set down in something soft, Bunny taking a seat next to him and holding Jack's hand, squeezing it and muttering something Jack couldn't catch.

He blinked his eyes open, groaning at the pain in his side as he sat up. He was in a large bedroom, likely Bunny's, and divested of his sweatshirt. A glance down showed him his side had been cleaned and wrapped, and he immediately glanced around for his staff.

It was next to him, lying innocuously against the nightstand. Jack sighed in relief that it seemed fine, no cracks or breaks.

He turned his attention to the room around him. There was a messy desk against one wall, underneath loads of children's drawings. All kinds of art supplies were sprawled across it, from clay to what looked like oil pastels.

He twisted his head around to look at the bed, and noted the large tapestry above him. He couldn't tell what the swirling symbols on it were, but the colors seemed to shift, from deep blue, to a clearer periwinkle, then a warm tan...

"Oi! Ye shouldn't be sitting up, Frostbite, lay yer skinny arse back down."

Jack snorted, turning around to see Bunny walking in, tray in hand. On it was what looked like an honest-to-god potion, some waffles, and fresh bandages.

"Hiya, doc. All that for me?", he teased, eyeing the tray warily.

Bunny, of course, didn't even blink as he laid the tray on the nightstand. He reached behind Jack for pillows, and Jack froze as soft fur brushed his neck. Then, there was a heavy paw pushing him back gently onto a soft surface, allowing him to recline without aggravating his side. 

Bunny hummed and placed the tray on Jack's lap. "Eat this", he directed, pointing to the waffles, "and drink this", another point, to the potion this time, "while I change your bandages."

Jack huffed. "Do I get to know what I'm ingesting, or is it just going to be a mystery merry-go-round of drugs?"

Bunny rolled his eyes and started unwrapping the bandages. "If I list all the ingredients, we'll be here for another century. Just think of it as green tea."

"Green tea", Jack echoed, stuttering as Bunny's fur came into contact with his waist. "Well, if I start hallucinating, I'll have North decorate this place like it's Christmas Eve. Why are you helping me, anyway? Shouldn't I be lying in a snowdrift, bleeding out?"

Bunny ignored the question, being more gentle than Jack could ever imagine as he bound Jack's side in fresh linen. "Ye ticklish or something, Frostbite? Try not to squirm, would ya?"

"I'm not squirming", Jack shot back, giving in and taking a swig of the 'tea', which actually did taste like its namesake. "And I'm not ticklish, I'm just not used to this."

Bunny hummed. "Being patched up? Ye can't have gone three hundred years without injuries."

"Being touched in general", Jack muttered, ignoring Bunny's wince. "Forgetting I couldn't be seen for a few centuries there?"

Bunny looked...almost guilty, and Jack immediately felt the sting of regret. Leave it to him to make the only person actually helping him uncomfortable.

"Never mind", he blurted out. "Yeah, that, whatever. Promise I won't move."

He redirected his attention to the tray, and chugged the tea before starting in on the waffles. Bunny, to his credit, remained silent, only keeping his eyes on the wound until he and Jack were both finished.

"Don't move around too much", he ordered as he stood, taking the tray from Jack's lap. "And tap the floor with yer crook if ye need me."

Jack nodded, avoiding his piercing green gaze. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Heard you loud and clear, Cottontail. Go paint eggs, or whatever it is you usually do."

He expected to hear the sound of pawsteps fading away, and cracked an eye open when there was nothing. Bunny was still standing there, staring down at Jack with a look he couldn't decipher.

Jack opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Bunny leaned in close.

Jack froze up, resisting the urge to move back as Bunny locked eyes with him. They hadn't been this close since the 'kangaroo' incident, and Jack was fairly sure they were inching towards the same sort of outcome.

Then Bunny's paw came up and flicked him on the forehead, and Jack jerked back. "Hey!"

Bunny's lips quirked up, and Jack frowned at him, rubbing the area. "That hurt!"

"Don't ask stupid questions and I won't do it again", Bunny said primly, before walking away.

Jack blinked as he was suddenly left feeling colder than ever, and gave him a confused glance. "What? What---hey! I didn't even---Bunny!"

He glared at the Pooka as he left, and huffed, tipping his head back. Well, it wasn't like he couldn't rely on the other Guardians, but he'd never expect Bunny to be the first one to help him.

Probably North, then Tooth, then Sandy, in that order. Mostly because of how busy they were---Tooth would've come running if she wasn't so busy all the time.

But Bunny? The Guardian of Hope had hated Jack for years, and only recently had they patched up their differences. Jack wasn't even sure the others wouldn't just leave him once he wasn't needed---he definitely didn't expect Bunny to even acknowledge his existence after they defeated Pitch.

And now the Pooka was playing bedside nurse. Jack rubbed his forehead to stave off a headache, and curled up on his side.

Well, it was probably just a fluke. He doubted it'd ever happen again.

The second time, Jack had nearly tasted death again.

He dodged and weaved around the Ijiraq, the shape-shifter snarling in its giant wolf-deer form. One of Jack's least favorite creatures, honestly.

He could avoid the snapping jaws at the front by shifting around to the back, where a large pair of hooves would catch him in the chest and send him careening into a tree.

The Wind was doing her best to keep him from meeting that fate, but Jack could feel himself getting slower. Joy, as a core, was all well and good, but a grand total of seven believers didn't do much to recharge it quickly. 

The Ijiraq's jaws closed around air moments after Jack flew upwards, but then a large tail came out of nowhere and slapped into him. Jack wheezed as he made impact with a hard trunk, his staff flying out of his grip into the forest behind him.

The Ijiraq turned to him and snarled, and Jack struggled to think through the haze clouding his vision. He probably broke a few ribs, his staff was nowhere to be found, and the Wind couldn't lift him without causing him to cry out in pain.

All in all, not the most ideal situation he'd ever been in. The question was whether he'd die here or be snapped out of the air if he tried to fly.

Luckily, he was saved from having to make a decision by the Ijiraq snapping its head behind it, snarling at...something?

Jack watched the Ijiraq explode into dust as a boomerang zipped through it, barely keeping his eyes on it as it moved back to its owner. Bunnymund stepped into the clearing, his gaze darting around the trees before coming to land on Jack. 

"What", Bunny started, growling, "the ruddy hell do ye think yer doing?"

Jack felt his eyelids close, his head lolling back against the tree. Before losing consciousness, he managed to get a mumble out.

"Dying, probably."

When he woke up---and thank goodness for that---he was in a room he didn't recognize.

Large and plush, very different from Bunny's bedroom. A glance at one of the tall windows, (which hurt, everything still hurt), told him it was snowing outside. And there was no sign of his staff. Probably still in the forest somewhere, and Jack grimaced at the thought of having to hunt it down. Maybe he could get the Wind to find it for him.

There was a knock at the door. Jack settled back into the pillows, closing his eyes and feigning sleep as the door opened. Whoever it was, he didn't need a scolding.

"He is not awake", said a low voice, which Jack placed as North's.

Someone tutted, and Jack heard soft footsteps. "Blighter should be up by now. Ain't a good sign."

Bunny had brought him here. Why had he brought him to North's, instead of taking him back to the Warren?

Jack was more puzzled at the indignation he felt at the thought. Did he want to be at the Warren? 

"We should let him sleep", Tooth whispered. "He needs time to recuperate!"

There was silence, which Jack took to mean Sandy was speaking in his own way. There were hums and murmurs from assent from the others, before they all filed out of the room.

Jack opened one eye to see Bunny still there, staring at him. He quickly shut it, and heard the door close.

"Right, Frostbite, ye can't fool me."

Jack internally groaned, opening both eyes. "Save the lecture, Roo, I'm recuperating, remember?"

Bunny stalked towards him, snarling. "Lecture? Ye could've died! Ye nearly would have, if I hadn't shown up!"

"And I'm very grateful to you", Jack replied, wincing as he tried to sit up.

Bunny was there in a flash, his paws gentle as ever despite the clear anger on his face. He steadied Jack, and leaned past him to grab more pillows and stuff them underneath Jack's lower back.

The motions caused his whiskers to brush against Jack's face, and he reeled back. As Bunny propped Jack up, his paws ghosted his waist, and Jack suddenly felt pulled in two directions.

He never wanted to feel the touch again, and he wanted to feel it all the time. The contrast left him dizzy, and he blinked a few times as Bunny kept talking.

"...and if yer lookin' fer yer staff, its in safekeeping with North. Figured we couldn't keep it in the room while your magic was going haywire."

"Haywire?", Jack echoed. "What do you mean?"

"Ye kept goin' through different frost patterns while ye were unconscious", Bunny muttered, finding it hard to look at Jack for some reason. "Hoar frost, rime...mostly spikes."

Jack suddenly felt nauseous. "Please tell me I didn't hurt anyone."

Bunny hesitated. "Ye didn't hurt anyone, but it was close calls for the others. Ye don't need to worry about it."

"What do you mean, for the others?", Jack demanded, confused. "Did I hurt you?"

Bunny snorted, and looked Jack in the eye. "Ye did not hurt me. Don't move, I'm going to tell the others ye woke up. Try to get some rest."

"Wh---no!", Jack exclaimed, suddenly feeling bereft as Bunny backed up. "Bunny, what do you mean? If I---if I did something, tell me!"

"Yer going to strain yourself, you keep that up", Bunny said calmly as he opened the door. "And don't worry, I won't let them all crowd you at once."

With that, he shut the door, leaving Jack feeling more frustrated than ever.

He fell asleep not soon after that, when it became clear Bunny wasn't coming back. Which was fine.

He woke up again to the sounds of North and Bunny talking. Jack kept his eyes firmly closed and his breathing even, determined to not get caught this time.

"Is good that he is not using magic anymore", said North thoughtfully. "His system has likely calmed down."

"And a ruddy good thing too", Bunny muttered. "Still don't rightly know what he meant by it."

Jack had to try hard from keeping a frown passing onto his face. What was Bunny talking about?

"It is a good sign", North mused. "His first instinct was to protect you, Bunny. You must not take that for granted."

"Protect me from what?", Bunny protested. "You saw it---he put those blasted spikes around me just because Tooth touched me!"

Jack felt dread pool in his very core, and fought hard to keep still. He'd done what?

North chuckled, and at that moment, even though Jack couldn't see, he was fairly certain he and Bunny were feeling the same thing. North thought it was funny? 

He could've hurt Tooth! Who, generally speaking, was someone he was very fond of! Like an older sister, really. And for what? For who? For Bunny, who hadn't even been in danger?

"Winter spirits are territorial", North rumbled. "You are seeing me and Sleigh. Is much the same."

Bunny sputtered, and North hushed him. "S-So, what? Frostbite thinks I'm---what, his property? That makes no ruddy sense, ye've been having too much eggnog, mate."

"That is not what I am saying", North assured him. "It is just a theory, do not get your, ah, tail in twist. Just as likely Jack feels protective because you are fellow Guardian, and the one to save him, no less."

"Yer loony", Bunny grumbled. "Tooth's a Guardian too."

"You are Spring, he is Winter", North said quietly. "There is much connectedness there, more than simply Memory and Joy. Come, let us leave him to sleep. We will speak more in Workshop."

Only one set of footsteps faded away, and Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt fur brush his face. He didn't dare open his eyes, instead doing his all to keep his body calm.

He wanted to lean into the body heat, and at the same time, shy away from it. What was Bunny doing?

"Yer a ruddy idiot", Bunny muttered. "Don't know what ye were thinkin'. Trying to save me?"

There was a long pause, before Bunny let out a sigh that ghosted over Jack's neck. He felt goosebumps rise at it, and willed them away. "It is flatterin', though, I suppose. Good to know ye..."

He trailed off. "Ye better not be awake."

Jack kept feigning sleep as well as he could, and it seemed to pass the test. Bunny sighed again, and Jack felt the gentle press of a paw on his forehead. "Reckon it ain't the right time for this anyway. Sleep well, Snowdrop."

Snowdrop?

The third time, Jack could almost admit it was his fault.

Except it wasn't, really. Being cooped up at North's for weeks had driven him nuts, and, honestly, who could blame him for going a bit overboard when he was finally let out?

Bunny could, apparently.

He wasn't entirely sure how it started. Bunny had finally deemed him okay to start flying and running around again, ("Carefully, Frost"), and then Tooth had shown up.

Along with millions of fairies. 

"So, now that Jack has educated me a little bit on labor laws", Tooth explained cheerfully, giving Jack a fond yet exasperated glance, "I decided to give the fairies a bit of a break!"

"A...break", North echoed, glancing at his elves nervously. "You are sure about this? What about teeth?"

"That's where you come in", Tooth said, her grin turning sharp. "As my fellow Guardians, I'm sure you guys don't mind stepping in, right? Another race to see who collects the most teeth?"

Jack glanced at Bunny, who was already smirking at him. A raise of the arrogant Guardian's eyebrows was enough to convince Jack, and he nodded without thinking. "I'm in."

And then they were off, Jack and Bunny racing through the tunnels while North and the others took the Sleigh. They'd popped up in Venezuela first, Jack whooping as he flew from rooftop to rooftop, the pouch of coins Tooth had given him clinking against his hip. 

For the most part, he hadn't seen the other Guardians. They were relatively spread out, trying to reach every house. But when they did cross paths...

Jack had narrowly avoided a bit of Sandy's dreamsand, and stuck his tongue out at the starry Guardian as he flew out the window. He'd ducked just in time to keep from getting stuffed in North's suspiciously large sack, and Bunny...

Bunny had been on a rooftop, crouched where Jack couldn't see him, and they'd collided in midair as they both went for opposite houses. Dazed, Jack blinked up at the Pooka, who had a firm grip on his waist.

"Slow down, Frostbite", Bunny rumbled, before smirking at him and darting off. 

Jack felt his paws on his hips for the rest of the night, like a firebrand. If he closed his eyes, (and god, was he embarrassed that he'd even tried), it felt like he was in the Pooka's arms again.

Which was weird. He tried to shake it off, focusing on collecting as many teeth as he could.

Then his foot got caught on a chimney, and he tripped in midair, feeling his ankle twinge painfully. 

Jack stumbled, barely managing to catch himself on his staff, and glanced down at his foot. It was starting to swell, the skin around his ankle turning a deep blue.

Well, it wasn't like he had to walk. He could hover around bedrooms, and he trusted the Wind to cushion his ankle.

He took off into the air again, but winced as he heard a loud whistle. 

"That's a nasty bump there, Jacko."

Jack turned and glared at Bunny, who was leaning against the chimney, looking unimpressed. "How the bleedin' hell did ya manage to injure yerself again? It's barely been a day since ye were bedridden. I'm starting to think ye enjoy being stuck in one room, mate."

"It's fine, Bunny", Jack retorted icily, before turning to fly away.

Before he could get anywhere, he was grabbed, the Guardian of Hope carefully holding him to his chest. Jack choked as Bunny leaned over him, his fur tickling the back of his neck.

"Ye can't move around like that", Bunny said calmly, not giving Jack the chance to get away.

His grip was gentle but firm, and Jack struggled for a few seconds before giving up and sinking back into the soft fur. "Tooth needs our help!"

"Between all of us, we're basically almost done", Bunny retorted. "Don't tell me ye care about winning that much."

Jack sighed. "How did you even see me get injured? You weren't anywhere near me!"

Bunny chuckled, and Jack shuddered as he felt the heat of it against his skin. "Aw, were ye keepin' tabs on me, Frostbite?"

"Never mind", Jack bit out. "Fine, whatever, I'll take a break. You should go help her."

Bunny sighed, and carefully tugged Jack down until they were sitting. Jack was cradled between his legs, his back pressed against the Pooka's chest.

Firm arms wound around his waist, and Bunny rested his chin on his head. "Like I said, she's nearly done. And someone needs to make sure ye don't go flying off."

Jack scoffed, but there was no real heat behind it. It was a fair enough estimate, and honestly, it was getting harder to think with the heat radiating from Bunny. Jack could feel it through his clothes, a sweet, syrupy warmth that made him want to close his eyes and doze against that furry chest. 

Wait, what?

"You don't have to hold onto me", he mumbled petulantly, leaning forward and hating himself for it.

He wanted to sleep curled up against Bunny, he wanted to fly away to the Alps and never come back. What was Bunny doing to him?

Bunny didn't follow him, (Jack lamented, he wanted Bunny to pull him back, lean forward and chase him, always chase him), but his grip didn't falter either. 

"Ye'll forgive me fer not trustin' yer words", Bunny finally said. "Knowin' ye, we'd find ye in a tree with yer ankle the size of a knobbly orange."

Jack snorted, and made no further argument. Why was he trying to get away anyways? He'd never been held like this before, at least it was distracting him from the throbbing of his ankle, and he---wait, why was Bunny, what was he---

Bunny had started to shift away, slowly rising and not bringing Jack with him, despite what he'd just said. Jack tilted his head back, gazing at the Pooka standing tall above him, his gaze far away.

His complaints died on his tongue. This was an excellent angle to look at Bunny from, all that muscle on display...

He blinked. What was he thinking? This was Bunny, not someone he could ogle!

The fur had to be releasing some kind of weird pheromones, he reasoned. That was the only explanation. Weird alien rabbit genetics.

"Tooth", Bunny called out, making Jack startle. "We're gonna take five, lovie. Jack's gone and done himself another injury."

Tooth zipped up to them, looking concerned. She'd held no grudge against Jack about the spikes, and had waved off all his apologies airily. The glances she kept swiping between him and Bunny at the time had been weird, but Jack chalked it up to the oddness of the situation, nothing more.

"Oh, dear", Tooth said, giving Jack's ankle a once-over. "That looks bad! Jack, I know you don't like it, but..."

"I'm going to have to do a lot of nothing", Jack said gloomily. "Awesome."

Tooth gave him a sympathetic glance, and patted his shoulder. "Bunny will take good care of you, don't worry."

Bunny opened his mouth, presumably to protest, and Tooth silenced him with a look. Jack couldn't tell if it was sly or stern, and she zipped off before he could decide.

"...Right", Bunny mumbled. "We oughta get goin', then."

With that, he'd leaned down, and picked Jack up easily. Jack was too shocked to protest as Bunny held him close in a bridal carry, tapping his foot and opening up a tunnel beneath them.

Bunny held Jack's ankle carefully as he ran, a fact he was grateful for. He darted his eyes between Bunny's face and his neck, before finally giving in to his urges and relaxing. Bunny huffed when Jack hesitantly hid his face in his chest fur, but said nothing.

Then they were in the green of the Warren, and Jack glanced around. It looked different at night, but no less beautiful.

Bunny walked them slowly to his home, the soft rocking motions soothing Jack to sleep in his arms.

When he woke up, he was back in Bunny's bed. His ankle was wrapped and propped up on a pillow, and Jack's staff was in the same place as last time, resting against the side table.

The only difference was, this time, Bunny was in the bed with him.

Jack wasn't entirely sure how they'd managed to get in this position. He was lying on his back, with his arm wrapped around the Pooka and his hand fisted in the fur at the base of his spine. Bunny's nose was in the junction where Jack's neck met his shoulder, and one of his arms was wrapped around Jack's waist. 

The Pooka was quietly snoring, and Jack halfheartedly tried to move his arm. Bunny growled softly, nosing harder into Jack's neck, and Jack nearly whined.

He tilted his head away, squeezing his eyes shut against the many sensations. Bunny on top of him, around him...Jack was fine with staying like this. Part of him wasn't close to satisfied, demanded that he press closer, wrap all of himself around Bunny and never let the Pooka go.

Probably the part affected by those pheromones Bunny was undoubtedly letting out. A section of his hindbrain that should never be listened to, no matter how tempting the thoughts were. It wasn't like he could move much with his ankle anyway.

And Bunny...well, he probably thought Jack was a cool pillow. None of this meant anything.

Jack sighed, trying hard to keep from trembling as Bunny's cool nose pressed into his skin, his soft breaths melting the ice on Jack's skin before it reformed again. If the rooftop had been bad, this was torture. In the best way possible, yes, but he was skirting the edge of overwhelmed.

Thankfully, the Pooka chose that moment to wake up. Jack held very still as Bunny snuffled, groaning before unwinding his arm from Jack's waist.

Jack mourned the loss of contact, but tried not to let it show on his face. Bunny stretched, and Jack watched, transfixed, before dark green eyes snapped to his.

"Morning, Cottontail", Jack murmured, focusing hard to keep frost from crackling on his cheeks. "Care to explain your bedside manner?"

"I'm committed to the health of my patients", Bunny replied, not missing a beat, though Jack could see his ears turning red. "Ice over those bandages for me, would ya?"

Jack did as he was told, sighing as the pain faded to numbness. "So, I'm stuck in this bed for how long?"

Bunny moved carefully over him, stepping onto the floor and stretching again. Jack tried not to stare, and glanced away when Bunny looked back at him. "Ye seem to heal quicker than regular humans, so I'd say two weeks."

"Great", Jack muttered, already feeling restless. "Do you only have one bed here? I can hang out on the couch if you have one."

Bunny turned away, and Jack watched him curiously. The fur on his shoulders raised before he smoothed it out with one paw, and he spoke without looking at Jack. "Tooth'd have my head if I let ye kip on the couch."

Then he turned, looking serious. "But I'll probably sleep there while yer here."

"Wh---no", Jack protested. "I can't make you do that while you're taking care of me. It---this is fine. This morning. That. It's---it's fine."

His eyes darted all over the room as he spoke. How could he make this sound normal?

Yes, Bunny, I want to share a bed with you. Purely for your comfort. Definitely not because something about you is addictive.

Bunny chuckled, and gave Jack a look that was almost...heated. 

Nope, no way, he was definitely imagining it.

"Good to hear", Bunny said, turning back towards the exit. "Any preference for brekkies?"

"Waffles would be nice."

"Keep icing over the wrap", Bunny called back as he left. "And don't ye move!"

"Yes, Mom", Jack muttered.

"Oi, I heard that!"

The following weeks were torture. 

Bunny, for the most part, played host as well as he had the first time Jack had ended up in the Warren. He brought Jack books from his library, and would bring his eggs to the bedroom so he could paint and speak to Jack.

It was kind of adorable, Jack mused, how the eggs would all clamor around Bunnymund, each one shoving another out of the way for his attention.

He halfheartedly offered to help, fully expecting a sharp rebuke. But Bunny had only lightly chided him, explaining that he could help once he was able to move around properly. He didn't want the eggs jostling his ankle while it was healing, he said.

Jack had felt warmth spread through his entire body at that, and tipped his head back onto the pillow so Bunny wouldn't see it.

The days were all well and good. Bunny kept his distance except for when he was checking on Jack's ankle or adjusting his pillows, and Jack was slowly getting used to his touches.

The nights were the problem.

They'd fall asleep side by side, and Jack would often wake up in the middle of the night to find not an inch of space between them.

Bunny had taken to Jack's neck like it was his own personal pillow. He'd nose into it, not to be moved for anything, and wouldn't budge until he woke up.

And then, one night, Jack had tried to scoot away. The contact was good, but the Warren seemed warmer than usual. He overheated especially easily, and having Bunny on top of him wasn't helping matters.

He started by budging his feet away, then unwrapped his arms from the Pooka's torso. Bunny let out a grumble, and his arm tightened on Jack's waist.

Jack sighed, and braced one hand on Bunny's paw and the other on his chest. He pushed Bunny back as he pried his paw off, and tried to push the Pooka on his side.

Bunny really didn't like that.

Immediately, Jack was near covered with a wall of fur, and Bunny growled, before sinking his teeth into Jack's neck.

Jack yelped, bracing his hands on the Pooka's chest but not trying to push him away, not really. Bunny wasn't biting him hard enough to break skin, just enough to...chide him?

He gasped as the sharp press of teeth turned into licking, and couldn't hold back his whine. 

"Bunny", he whispered, tugging at the fur on his chest. "Bunny, wake up!"

The whiskers tickling his face twitched, and the Pooka frowned in his sleep. Jack changed tactics, moving his hands to Bunny's shoulders and attempting to shake him awake. 

"Jack?", came the slurred mumble as Bunny finally opened his eyes, bleary green meeting dark blue. "Wha...?"

"You bit me!", Jack whispered accusatorily. 

"What...", Bunny trailed off, before his nose twitched and he looked at Jack's neck. "Crikey!"

"What the hell?", Jack hissed. "Do I look like a chew toy to you?"

"Sorry", Bunny mumbled, still staring at Jack's neck. "Didn't mean to."

"That's all you have to say?", Jack retorted. "Why did you bite me?"

"Go back to sleep", Bunny said, avoiding Jack's gaze. "'S late."

And with that, he rolled over, his back to Jack. Jack gaped at him, and shoved at his shoulder.

"What the hell? You can't just---Bunny! Explain!"

Bunny's response was an extremely realistic snore, and Jack glared at his back. "You're the worst."

He fell asleep, eventually, but when he woke up in the morning, they were entangled again like they'd never separated.

Jack noticed, over the next few days, that Bunny's gaze would stray to his neck when they spoke.

Often times, now, he would paint the eggs facing away from Jack, and wouldn't hover after changing his bandages.

Jack wasn't fond of the change, but every time he brought it up, Bunny would make an excuse and leave.

So he decided to take matters into his own hands. 

He didn't stumble as he got out of bed, and reached for his staff. He leaned on it heavily as he limped towards the door.

This time, Bunny had claimed something in the kitchen needed attending to. Well, it been nearly two weeks. Jack could help him.

The throbbing from when he first arrived had dulled to light twinges of pain when he walked, and Jack made his way to the kitchen without any mishaps.

Which was a miracle, because Bunny's home was a mess. His room hadn't been that bad, but there were all sorts of things scattered throughout his burrow.

Errant eggs running around looking for him, random tiny golems that would bump into each other and have staring contests, and Jack was pretty sure he spotted a room overflowing with plants.

When he found him, Bunny was in the kitchen, but he was gripping the counter and muttering to himself.

Jack strained his ears, but could only pick up a few words.

"...fun times...millennia...ain't even proper courtin'...won't even want to..."

Jack frowned, the words making no sense to him. He hesitantly reached out with his magic, and was relieved to feel a snowball form in his palm.

He threw it directly at Bunny's head, and relished the yelp the Pooka let out. Bunny spun around, his ears twitching madly as he glared at Jack.

"Yer supposed to be in bed! And don't use yer blasted magic in me Warren!"

Jack laughed, leaning heavily on his staff. "You're so easily startled! And I can walk just fine now, Bunny, I wanna help!"

He eyed the empty counter, reconsidering his words. "Though, it doesn't look like you were even doing anything."

"I was thinking about what to cook", Bunny snapped. "Get back to restin'."

"Make me", Jack challenged, resting his staff between his shoulders.

Bunny's eyes flashed at that, and he started towards Jack. Jack let out a delighted whoop, taking to the air and dashing through the nearest tunnel.

The heavy slap of pawsteps on dirt followed him as he turned at random through tunnels, winding up in a random storage room. There was only one exit, and as Jack turned, Bunny was there, leaning against the doorframe.

Not even out of breath, the bastard.

"Caught ye", Bunny drawled, smirking at him. "Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Jack stuck out his tongue at him. "You're no fun! C'mon, let me help. I'm going crazy in there!"

"Too bad", Bunny said dryly, walking towards him. "If ye mess up yer ankle again, ye'll be stuck here for even longer. Does that sound good to ye?"

An idea flitted into Jack's mind, half-formed, but before he could chase it, Bunny's arms were around him. 

He pried Jack's staff from his hand and lifted the sprite, carrying him in one arm. Jack tested his thighs against the tight grip, and sighed as Bunny's arm didn't even budge.

"What's with you lately?", Jack asked, poking Bunny's cheek. "You know I'm not actually mad about you biting me, right? I was just surprised."

Bunny froze, and started walking again. "Right."

"Bunny, I'm serious", Jack said, frowning and trying to meet his eyes. "I'm not angry with you."

Bunny pressed his lips together, and kept his gaze trained forward. Jack huffed and grabbed his cheeks, forcibly turning Bunny's face towards him.

"You keep not looking at me! Am I too Wintery for you or something?", he demanded. "Seriously, if it's not the biting thing, what's the problem?"

"There's no problem, Frostbite", Bunny started, but Jack interrupted him, frustrated.

"Can you hear yourself? Of course there is!", he exclaimed, before letting go of Bunny's face and turning away. "I thought you would be mature enough to actually tell me if something's wrong, instead of just waiting for me to figure it out!"

Bunny sighed, and shifted Jack so his face was buried in his ruff. He sat down on the bed, and ran his chin over Jack's hair, smoothing it out.

"It's not you", Bunny said gently, one paw rubbing circles into Jack's back.

Jack leaned into him, drinking up the contact. "I find that hard to believe", he said, his words muffled by Bunny's fur.

Bunny was silent for a few beats. "It's not yer fault, at least. I'm just..."

He trailed off, and Jack tipped his head back to gaze at him. The Pooka was looking down at him, his eyes conflicted. 

"Ye just focus on gettin' better so ye won't have to be cooped up in here", Bunny finally said. "That's all ye need to worry about. I'm apples, Jack."

Jack frowned, and his next words were spoken into Bunny's fur. "Fine, just...quit painting the eggs and not looking at me, it's weird."

Bunny laughed, and Jack smiled at the feeling of his Joy. Bunny's Joy was hard to come by---the rabbit stressed himself out too much---but when Jack felt it, it was like a cold breeze on a hot day. 

"Deal", Bunny promised, looking at him fondly. 

The fourth time ended up being a mess, and also not the fourth time at all, not really.

He'd managed to heal up fine without any awkward incidents, and Bunny cleared him to leave.

After that, Jack lost his head a little bit. 

Jack was certain the disappointed look in Bunny's eyes as he left was pure imagination. He couldn't stop feeling the phantom touches of the Pooka's arms around him, so he dealt with it the only way he knew how.

By running away to the Alps to sulk. A totally normal and healthy response.

Well, he never claimed to be the most mature spirit around. He huffed, sitting on a snowbank and crashing large shards of ice against a cliff face.

It was therapeutic, watching the ice shatter into tiny pieces and drift down to join the snow. Jack had gotten the idea after watching a group of girls slam pieces of pottery in a studio, though they'd been wearing protective gear.

He could move the ice pretty far, so he didn't need that. He sighed, running a hand through his hair and lifting his staff again.

Jack couldn’t get him out of his head. All that soft gray fur, the muscle hiding underneath, those piercing green eyes…

The warmth he felt when Bunny was near, the sense of completion when he touched him. The way Jack wanted to pull him close and never let go and, simultaneously, run for the hills when he saw him.

Okay, so he probably had a crush on Bunny. Awesome.

It wasn't like that was completely hopeless, or anything. Bunny could have anyone he wanted, there was no way he wanted Jack.

Jack sent more ice slamming into the cliff face. "Stupid, idiotic, handsome kangaroo."

Why did Bunny have to keep taking care of him? Did he feel obligated to? Jack flopped backwards into the snow, glaring up at the sky.

Why did he have to fall in love with the one person he had no chance with? 

Without looking, he lifted his staff again, humming when he heard the satisfying crunch of ice against the cliff. 

Then a frost bunny hopped onto him, and Jack shrieked.

He sat up quickly, nearly doubling over with his surprise. In his hands was a perfectly formed frost bunny, almost identical to the one he'd created in Jamie's room. Jack gaped down at it. "Where did you come from?"

The frost bunny twitched its nose at him, and Jack sighed, placing it down in the snow and watching it hop around. "You are just cruel."

"Who's cruel?"

Jack yelped, quickly standing and hiding his staff behind him. Bunny was in front of him, looking completely confused.

Jack glanced behind him, kicking up some snow to hide the frost bunny. "H-Hey, Bunny! What are you doing here?"

"Was lookin' for ye", Bunny said, glancing away. "How ya holdin' up?"

"I'm fine", Jack replied slowly, before noting that Bunny's ears were red. "Oh, shoot, your ears! Bunny, you'll freeze out here, let's go somewhere else."

Bunny blinked at him. "Ah---er---yeah, good idea. The cold is---er---not good for 'em."

Bunny thumped his foot on the ground, and they both ended up in a large tunnel. Jack sighed, leaning heavily on his staff and grinning at Bunny, hoping his smile hid his panic. "So, you were worried about me?"

"O' course", Bunny grumbled. "Ye just vanished out o' nowhere."

Jack hummed, walking around him, before a long-forgotten idea reared its head. "Actually, Bun Bun, now that you mention it, my ankle is bothering me a little bit."

Bunny tutted. "Ye haven't been runnin' around and aggravatin' it, have you?"

"Aw, come on, would I do that?"

"...Let's go to the Warren, I'll check it out", Bunny huffed, running a paw over his face tiredly.

Jack tried to keep the from looking too happy. Okay, this was probably really selfish, but it was a good excuse to see Bunny!

He would probably feel worse about it if going to the Warren hadn't been Bunny's idea, he mused.

"So, are you like the assigned doctor of the Guardians?", Jack asked him curiously as they walked.

"Not really", Bunny shrugged. "Most of 'em use their magic and believers to heal, but with ye..."

"Ah."

They walked in silence for a bit after that, before Bunny stopped and turned to him. "Didn't mean to be rude, with that. It's just---"

Jack shook his head. "No, it's fine. It's the truth. And besides, once I get more believers, you won't have to take care of me anymore!"

"Aye", Bunny muttered. "Bet ye can't wait."

Jack turned to him, confused. "What?"

"Nothing", Bunny shook his head, before stopping Jack. "Ye know, walkin'll make yer ankle worse, Frostbite."

Jack raised his eyebrows at him, allowing a small smirk to curl his lips. "If only there was someone around who could carry me."

Bunny huffed, and Jack grinned as he was lifted and cradled close to his chest. Bunny had a soft smile on his face as he walked. "Yer really enjoyin' this, aren't ye?"

"You've spoiled me", Jack teased him. "It's your fault."

Bunny sighed, and Jack soon fell asleep against his warm chest, wondering at the rumbling he could hear from deep inside.

When they got to the Warren, Jack glanced around curiously. "So, do you actually take breaks, or is it Easter prep all year round?"

"Don't be ridiculous", Bunny scoffed. "'Course I take breaks, the Warren needs tendin' to as well."

"God, you're such a workaholic", Jack quipped, giggling as Bunny shot him a sharp look.

"Well, we can't all run around light as a feather", Bunny grumbled. "Some of us have responsibilities, Frost."

"Hmm, I have no home and no responsibilities, could these two things be connected?", Jack mused, grinning.

Bunny stopped short at that, though, shooting Jack an odd look. "Whaddya mean?"

Jack raised his eyebrows at him. "What, did you think I had an ice palace hidden away somewhere this whole time? You know Burgess is my main haunt, I can't exactly buy a house there."

"Ye...", Bunny started. "Ye don't have anywhere to live?"

Jack shrugged. "I mean, yeah? It saves me from cleaning."

"Jack", Bunny asked slowly, his voice becoming serious. "Where do ye sleep?"

"A tree, usually", Jack answered, shrugging as Bunny got into his burrow. "There's a really nice one in Burgess I usually use. If I'm anywhere else, though, any random snowbank or a tree will do just fine."

"That cannot be good for your back, mate", Bunny huffed, setting Jack down on his bed. 

Jack watched as Bunny fluffed the pillows around him, and glanced up at the tapestry, which was a cool blue again. "Why does your tapestry change colors? It seems to like blue."

Bunny winced at that, and he glanced between Jack and the tapestry before turning his attention to Jack's ankle. "S-Suppose it does. It, er, sort of reflects my mood, or my thoughts."

He mumbled the last part, and Jack strained to catch it. "So, you're feeling blue?"

Bunny snorted. "Nah. Does your ankle twinge when ye walk?"

Jack frowned as he changed the subject, but took the opportunity presented. "Yeah, it hurts really bad. I have to rely on the Wind for everything, I think I'll need to rest here for another week at least."

“A week, aye?”, Bunny murmured, frowning at Jack’s ankle. “I’ll just get ye another potion then, and—-“

“No!”, Jack blurted out, waving his hands in front of him. “It doesn’t hurt right now, just—-just when I’m moving it. No need for potions.”

And he wasn’t sure what ingesting one of Bunny’s concoctions would do to him when he wasn’t injured, and he’d rather not take any chances. 

Bunny raised an eyebrow at him, and Jack glanced away, frost crackling its way up his neck. "It's---it's not as serious as last time. I only said a week, remember?"

"Uh huh", Bunny said slowly, and Jack was sure he heard a note of amusement in his voice. "Well, as it stands, I ain't much for kippin' on the couch for a week. Mind if I sleep here too?"

Jack couldn't stop his fingers from twitching in excitement under the blanket, but he tried to keep his voice calm as he turned back to Bunny and shrugged. "Sure. It's not like I cared last time."

"No, ye didn't", Bunny agreed, his voice warm.

Jack flushed as Bunny moved closer, his green eyes pinning Jack to the bed. "In fact, I think I'll have to keep a real close eye on ye. Even after ye heal up---seems like ye've got an affinity for hurtin' yerself."

"I don't know what you mean", Jack huffed, glancing away. "I'm not that accident prone."

Bunny moved even closer, his twitching nose only a few inches from Jack's own. "I'm sure ye don't, Frost. What were ye doin' in the Alps, anyway? Ye sounded out of sorts."

Jack felt the frost on his cheeks and neck thicken, and his eyes darted back to Bunny's before he glared down at his lap. "I was just...letting off steam. Being cooped up isn't my favorite thing in the world, remember?"

Bunny hummed noncommittally. "Well, it certainly didn't seem that way while ye were here. Behaved better than I expected."

"Gee, thanks", Jack snorted. "And what about you? You're too much of a workaholic to take meal breaks, much less one to track me down. And I know it wasn't easy, I asked the Wind to scatter my scent."

"Because ye knew I'd come lookin' for ye?", Bunny challenged him, crossing his arms. "What were ye really running from, eh?"

"Me?", Jack sputtered. "Running? I'm not---I wasn't---why did you come looking for me?"

Bunny huffed. "I told ye, I was worried."

"But why?", Jack pressed. "You had no way of knowing I was injured, unless you were watching me or something."

Dread pooled in his throat at the idea---he hadn't exactly been quiet while complaining about his crush. "Which, uh, you weren't, right?"

"'Course not", Bunny said, rolling his eyes. "I just happen to know exactly how 'accident prone' ye are. Figured prevention was protection in this case."

"Ha ha", Jack muttered. "Whatever. Don't you have eggs to paint?"

"Kickin' me out of my own burrow?", Bunny whistled. "That's a new low."

"Well, I'm here so often it's practically mine too", Jack huffed without thinking.

Then his words caught up to him, and his eyes widened. "Er---not that I'm, like, uh...I mean, obviously it's your burrow..."

He trailed off, wanting badly to grab his staff and fly away, but Bunny only chuckled. "Suppose ye have a point. But I know ye don't like to be left alone with nothin' to do. Reckon yer up to helpin' me?"

Jack blinked at him, not sure if he'd heard correctly. "You...you want me to...to help you paint the eggs?"

"Nope", Bunny answered cheerfully. "Told ya last time, remember? They're not bright little buggers, they'll jostle yer ankle. What ye can do is help me by weaving baskets."

"Oh", Jack breathed, still confused. "But you...you actually want me to help you?"

Bunny rolled his eyes, reaching out a paw and ruffling Jack's hair, only adding to his bewilderment. "Don't exactly see anyone else here volunteerin', do ya? 'Sides, I've seen what ye can do with frost. Yer a delicate little shit when ye want to be, I'm sure ye can manage it."

And with that, he shot Jack a smirk and left, leaving the sprite's cheeks burning with the chill of his ice and his skin suddenly feeling cold from his absence. 

The next two hours scrambled Jack's brain so brilliantly he wasn't sure he hadn't dreamt them up.

Bunny sat on the floor, as close to Jack as he could, dozens of eggs running around him. Once they were painted, they toddled off to who-knows-where, but until then, they were all determined to stay as close to Bunny as possible.

Jack held back his sigh as one of the eggs hopped onto Bunny's leg and the Pooka gave it an absentminded pat.

He was jealous of an egg. It was a new low.

His hands moved easily, weaving grass into small baskets for Bunny to carry topside. It wasn't too different from work he'd done when he was alive, and he quickly fell into the rhythm of it.

They seldom spoke, unless Jack complimented the coloring of an egg or Bunny murmured something about his baskets.

Jack felt so...so safe. The warmth of the Warren, of good company, of just being able to sit and exist with someone else without any expectations...

It was nice. It had barely been a day, and he was already dreading leaving.

And then Bunny solved his problem for him.

"So, Frostbite", he started, his eyes on the egg he was painting, a deep blue with white lines swirling around it. "Do ye mind not having a home?"

Jack blinked at the question, raising his gaze from the basket to Bunny, whose ears were twitching. "I mean, I guess I used to, but..."

He trailed off, really thinking about it. "Well, I kind of have to move all over the country for the seasons. I kind of got used to being on the move, and it's honestly freeing, not being tied to one place. Burgess will always be my home, but...well, you have to leave the nest eventually, right?"

Bunny snorted. "Suppose that's one way of lookin' at it. Though typically ye leave the nest and make one of your own."

"True. I used to mind, though", Jack mused. "I would always...well, I'd always try to create a home when I found a place I liked. But not having anyone there, no one to come back to but the animals...it got lonely quick. And the kids would only have snow days for so long, you know?"

Bunny hummed, meeting Jack's gaze. "Must've been hard."

Jack glanced away, his eyes suddenly stinging. "Yeah, I guess it was."

He tried to keep the tightness out of his voice. "Uh, why do you ask?"

Bunny was quiet for a few beats, and Jack glanced back at him. "Bunny?"

The Pooka glanced between him and the basket, and Jack saw him swallow. "Well, I know ye said ye don't mind not havin' a place to kip now, but..."

He took a deep breath and met Jack's gaze dead on, his green eyes boring into Jack's. "Ye can stay here. If ye'd like to. Whenever, really, I don't even have to be here. Ye can pop in whenever, is what I'm saying."

Jack watched him ramble, gesturing with his paintbrush, with dawning awe. "You...you want me to live with you?"

"I-I mean", Bunny stammered. "Well, not---not quite, I'm just sayin' if ye ever need a place to stay---"

"Yes", Jack breathed out, feeling his heart slam against his chest. "Yeah, I'd---I'd like that, Bunny."

Bunny seemed to calm somewhat at that, though his ears and nose were still twitching. "Yeah?"

Jack laughed. "Come on, you really think I'd say no to that? I'm still not sure this isn’t a dream, you want me to stay with you? Aren't you worried about me freezing the place?"

Bunny scoffed. "Somehow, I don't think that'll be a problem as long as it's just us."

Jack flushed at that, remembering how his ice had reacted to Bunny before. "Uh, speaking of which, are you ever going to tell me what happened at North's?"

Sure, he already knew, but it wasn't like Bunny knew that. 

Bunny sighed, and looked back down at the eggs. "Does it really matter, mate? Ye didn't hurt anyone."

"Of course it matters", Jack argued. "I should know everything my magic can do, even if I'm not conscious while it's doing it."

Bunny seemed to mull it over, before sighing again. "Right, just don't freak out, yeah?"

He waited for Jack's nod before continuing, glancing away. "Ye just put some spikes around me, no big deal."

"Spikes?!", Jack echoed, trying his best to sound surprised and horrified. "You said I didn't hurt you!"

"And ye didn't!", Bunny snapped, turning back to him. "Ye did it to---to protect me, I suppose."

He muttered the last part, and Jack frowned at him. "And why would I do that?"

It was a question he'd been trying to answer himself since it had happened, but hadn't he always known the answer? He'd all but admitted it to himself in the mountains, never mind North's thoughts on the matter. 

Bunny looked up, his gaze sharp. "I reckon yer the only one that can answer that, mate."

Jack huffed, sinking back down into the pillows. "What, did I just do it unprompted?"

Bunny rolled his eyes, his ears turning red. "Tooth put her hand on my shoulder, and bam, ice spikes all around me. Don't freak out, mind, she's got the reflexes of a hummingbird, no damage done."

Jack allowed horror to wash over his features. "I hurt Tooth?"

It looked like Tooth hadn't told Bunny that Jack had already apologized about the incident, which was good.

"Ye did not", Bunny growled. "Crikey, would it kill ya to listen to me? All ye did was protect me, ya blighter."

Jack snorted derisively. "And somehow you sound mad about that."

"North said---", Bunny started before cutting himself off. "Nothing. Suppose ye'll just have to ask yerself why ye did it."

Jack raised his eyebrows at him, but when Bunny didn't continue, he turned back to his basket. "Alright. As long as no one was hurt, I guess it doesn't matter."

He watched as Bunny's ears drooped, and couldn't tell if it was in relief or disappointment.

And then came nightfall, and Bunny was entwined around Jack again. Only this time, Jack's body had even more of a reaction than before.

His hands were tied above him, pulling his body into a long, lithe line. He tugged at his bonds, trembling as Bunny's mouth moved over his skin.

Bunny had tackled him out of the sky, nosing into his neck and purring like he couldn't get enough of Jack. From there, it had only taken a moment to get to the Warren before Bunny was stripping Jack’s clothes off, nearly ripping the garments in his excitement.

His bracers were still on, as clothed as Jack could get him, and the situation sent a thrill through the sprite. He moaned, long and loud, as Bunny nipped along his stomach, the fur on his chest rubbing sinfully against Jack's cock.

He tried to thrust into the warmth, but two firm paws kept his thighs pinned and spread.

Helpless.

And oh, how Jack loved being helpless underneath him.

Bunny's eyes darted up to his, bright and teasing, as he dipped a finger into Jack's very loose hole. "Ready to beg yet, love?"

Jack panted, gazing up at the ceiling, unseeing. "B-Bunny, please, come on..."

It had been an hour, a long, torturous hour of Bunny getting him close before leaving him at the brink, then teasing him towards release again. He'd licked into Jack, relishing the whimpers as he thrusted his tongue in and out.

Then he'd carefully sheathed his claws, slowly thrusting in one finger and then the next, until Jack was sobbing, begging for anything. He'd kept his fur away from Jack's cock, always pulling his fingers out and leaving him empty right as he was about to cum.

And then, he'd done the worst thing Jack could think of. He'd pressed the head of his cock to Jack's hole, watching with amusement as Jack squirmed, writhing in an attempt to spear himself on his mate's dick. 

Of course, a strong paw on his hips kept that from happening, and Jack had watched with horror as Bunny started to stroke himself, releasing a guttural moan that made Jack’s cock twitch.

"N-No", Jack had croaked. "No, Bunny, please, let me---please! Put it in, come on, just the tip---"

"Listen to yerself", Bunny had rumbled, groaning as he stroked faster. "I'm giving ye what ye want, aren't I? Ye should be thanking me, love."

Jack whined. "Bunny---please, please, I'll make you feel so good, please just fuck me! Give me anything, I need it!"

"I have", Bunny murmured. "I gave ye my fingers and my tongue, and yer still begging for more? Greedy little thing, aren't you?"

Tears had tracked their way down Jack's face, his desperation overflowing. "I-I don't---Bunny---"

And then Bunny had thrust into him, all at once, right as he came. Jack arched off the bed, gasping and tugging at his bonds as warm cum flooded his hole.

It was so good, everything he'd been hoping for, but it still wasn't enough. Bunny ground against him, panting as he rode out his orgasm. "That what you wanted, love? Hm?"

"Bunny", Jack whined. "Bunny---"

He hadn't been able to whimper anything but his name, crying harder when Bunny pulled out, thin streams of cum leaking from his hole. "Bunny!"

"Shh", Bunny whispered, easily collecting the cum with a finger and pushing it back in, making Jack moan. "You're doing so well for me, Jack, come on, just a bit more---"

Jack woke with a start, gasping as pleasure raced through him. 

The bed was empty, and he frowned at the pulled back blanket. He was fairly certain Bunny had fallen asleep against him, had he...?

He groaned, sitting up and covering his face as ice crackled across it. Had he been making noises in his sleep? Had Bunny heard them, electing to save the awkward conversation and sleep somewhere else? Had Bunny heard him moaning his name?

He sighed, scrubbing his face. He'd chased his host from his own bed. Awesome.

He carefully clambered out of bed, wincing at the cold wetness in his pants. Well, at least he hadn't stained the sheets.

Through a quick bit of magic, the mess in his clothes was frozen and flicked into dust, and he (and his pants) were dry again. With that done, Jack grabbed his staff and set off to find Bunny.

As for the dream---he honestly wasn't sure what he'd expected to happen when he shared a bed with his crush.

At least Bunny hadn't been there when he'd cum, he mused, before he heard noise from the bathroom.

He stopped a few feet from the door, hesitating before leaning on his staff.

"Bunny?", he called out quietly. 

The door opened, and Bunny emerged, the fur on his paws and groin mussed and damp. "Mornin', Frostbite. Bit early for a wake up call, isn't it?"

Jack glanced down, not sure he could meet his friends' eyes after the dream he'd just had. "Sorry, I was just worried---I woke up and you weren't there."

"Aw, did you miss me already?", Bunny drawled, walking side by side with Jack. 

Jack huffed, keeping his gaze on the floor. "I, um, I didn't wake you, or anything, did I?"

Bunny was only silent for a moment. "Nah, just had to use the loo. Why would ye think that?"

"No reason", Jack muttered as they approached the bed again, taking care to limp the whole way back. "Just---had a weird dream."

Bunny hummed at that, helping Jack into the bed before settling beside it. "Well, yer fine. Try and get some rest."

With that, he rolled over, and Jack was too tired to notice Bunny hadn't been able to meet his eyes either.

The week passed too quickly for Jack, and all too soon he found himself above ground again.

Bunny had watched him leave, explaining that two taps of his staff would open up a tunnel for him. Jack was itching to go back, but he knew he should give Bunny a few moments of peace at least.

He was in Burgess, idly frosting over the pond as he dipped low and flew up, skipping more than anything else. The frost spiraled out, creating beautiful grooves before melting again, the only sound aside from the quiet nighttime bustle of the city.

It wasn't enough to distract Jack, but the large aurora in the sky was.

He quickly flipped his staff up, calling to the Wind to take him to North's. When he got there, Tooth and Bunny were already crowded around the globe, and Sandy was looking concerned and speaking with North.

"What's going on?", Jack asked, looking around warily. "Not Pitch again?"

"Not Pitch", Bunny confirmed, frowning at the bright lights on the globe. "North says it's some sorta wolf pack."

"Wolves?", Jack blinked at him, feeling dread skitter down his spine. "Not...not werewolves, right?"

Bunny turned at that, glancing over Jack's form. "North?"

"I am afraid so", North said gravely. "You are familiar with them?"

"Familiar?", Jack spat. "I nearly died to them before, they're not fun to hang around with."

Bunny stepped closer to him, his brows furrowing. "What happened?"

Jack snorted, fixing his gaze on the window outside, twinkling stars barely visible. "What do you think happened? They saw a winter sprite taking a nap in a snowbank and decided I would make a good meal. I only escaped because of the Wind."

He frowned as he recalled the memories, the sharp swipe of claws and jeering howls. The sound had stayed with him long after, and he hadn't slept for a week.

The warm press of a paw on his shoulder jerked him out of it, and he glanced up at Bunny. He squeezed his shoulder once, glancing at North. "The four of us can take ‘em. There's no need for Frostbite to come along."

"What?", Jack protested, shrugging his paw off. "No, no way. I'm not scared of them, and I can't let you guys fight them alone."

"Jack has experience with them", North added thoughtfully. "And he is much stronger now, and he has us. We will not let him get injured."

"Absolutely not", Bunny snarled, stepping in front of Jack. "He's already had to deal with them once, he shouldn't have to do it again."

"Are you even listening to me?", Jack snapped, peering around Bunny. "I said I wanted to come! I'm not fragile, I can handle it!"

Bunny glared at him, something fierce in his eyes, but Tooth zipped over before he could speak. "As much as I'd like to keep Jack safe too, North is right. If these werewolves are as nasty as Jack says, we'll need all our strength to defeat them. North said they've been targeting small towns and stealing children, and I'm sure Jack can help us."

She gave Jack a reassuring smile, and mouthed something at Bunny. Jack squinted to make it out. "What do you mean, you'll take responsibility?"

"Nothing, dear", Tooth said, flitting off as Bunny scowled at her. "Just try to keep out of their way---I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure Bunny will have his eyes on you."

Jack frowned after her, glancing between her glittering trail and Bunny. "What was that?"

"Nothing", Bunny muttered gruffly, moving towards the globe again. "Fine, let's go crush the blighters."

They wasted no time, and despite his vehement protests, Bunny was stuffed into the Sleigh along with Jack.

They sat together in the back, Tooth and Sandy in front of them and chatting away. Jack glanced at Bunny, feeling simultaneously amused and pitying at the look on his face.

"It might help if you didn't glance outside", he suggested.

Bunny shot him a sharp look. "And where, pray tell, am I supposed to look? The walls aren't exactly high, Frostbite."

Jack huffed. "Well, you could focus on something else."

Or someone else, but that was beside the point.

"What were you and Tooth talking about?", Jack pressed. "You know I don't need either of you to take responsibility for me."

Bunny growled something unintelligible at that, and Jack frowned at him. "Come again?"

"I think ye and I both know yer rather accident prone", Bunny snapped. "And ye've just barely healed up again, so excuse me if I think putting you in battle is a bad idea."

Jack scoffed. "It's my life, Bunny. It isn't up to you which risks I take and don't take."

"Ye were trembling back there, don't think I didn't see", Bunny muttered. 

"And what, you think that makes me a worse fighter?", Jack retorted. "Fear doesn't make me weak, Bunny, it makes me quick."

"That isn't---", Bunny cut himself off, scrubbing a paw over his face. "Whatever. Just...try and stay out of trouble, alright?"

Jack huffed and sat back, only a little curious at how easily Bunny had given up. "Don't tell me what to do."

"Crikey, do ye have to be so...so impossible all the time?", Bunny blurted out. "I'm sayin' this because I'm worried about you, Snowdrop!"

Jack blinked at him, his anger momentarily forgotten. "Snowdrop?"

Bunny opened his mouth and closed it, glancing between Jack's eyes and mouth. "Er---"

They were interrupted by a sharp swerve from North, causing Jack to slide down the wood right into Bunny. Bunny yelped, clinging onto the side of the Sleigh for dear life as one strong arm wound around Jack, crushing them together.

Startled though he was, Jack welcomed the warmth, leaning into Bunny long after they had straightened out again. Bunny had fallen silent as well, and didn't move his arm.

Jack jumped lightly at the press of Bunny's chin to the top of his head, but didn't say anything, loathe to break their momentary peace. Instead, he leaned into it, pressing his cheek against the soft fur on Bunny's chest and drinking up the contact.

They stayed that way, breathing together and pressed to the side of the Sleigh until North touched down. Bunny huffed a sigh of relief, and Jack tried to stifle his giggle, but the twitch of Bunny's whiskers told him he'd heard it anyway. 

Bunny hopped out easily, and Jack followed him, glancing at the snow-sunken landscape. Pine trees clumped together at random intervals, and Jack strained his ears but couldn't hear anything.

"Whole forest's asleep", Bunny rumbled, following Jack's train of thought. "Oughta make it easier to hear 'em coming."

Jack shook his head, frowning. "They can be pretty quiet until they're on top of you. And the snow won't help, either. The best we can hope for is a warning from the birds or the deer."

Tooth flitted about anxiously. "I don't suppose it would be cheating to use dreamsand?"

"Cheating, strategy", Jack mused. "Is there really a difference?"

"Of course ye'd say that", Bunny snorted, stalking past him to glare at the tree line. "We can’t send Sandy off alone. What's the plan, then, North?"

The Cossack had remained in his sleigh, electing to offer airborne support along with Jack. This wasn't the first time they had all fought together, and Jack knew Tooth and Bunny were the best on-ground fighters, while he, Sandy, and North attacked from above.

"We wait", North rumbled. "They will come to us."

"So we're sitting ducks", Bunny grumbled. "Awesome."

"We could always send out a decoy", Jack suggested, laying his staff across his shoulders. "I'm pretty sure I'm the fastest here."

Bunny turned to him slowly. "Come again?"

Jack smirked at him, moving until he was walking backwards towards the trees. "You heard me. Neither of us like to sit around and wait, I'm sure I can find them and lead them here no problem."

"Like hell", Bunny growled, stalking towards him. "Ye really think I'm letting you go off alone---"

Jack rolled his eyes, tired of hearing what he was and wasn't allowed, and whistled, the Wind lifting him into the air easily. "Blah, blah, blah. Catch you later, Cottontail!"

"Oi!", Bunny shouted as Jack darted away. 

He was sure he heard a muffled snort from Tooth as he left, and allowed the Wind to buoy him higher, racing through the trees. The soft slap of paws on snow wasn't far behind him, and Jack laughed.

A quick glance over his shoulder revealed Bunny, a grin on his face despite his annoyances, easily keeping pace with Jack. "Fastest here, eh?"

"Well, I had to say something to get you to move", Jack called back cheekily. "Feeling better?"

He only heard the absence of movement for a moment before there was a mound of fur tackling him out of the air, and they rolled together into a snowdrift. Jack ended up above him, digging his fingers into Bunny’s chest with his thighs splayed over his hips and supported by his paws.

Of course, Bunny wasn't even out of breath, and he smirked up at Jack. "Ye've got to be more aware than that, Frostbite."

Jack huffed, the warmth from Bunny's paws evident even through his pants. "I was aware. Aware that you're a huge cheater."

Bunny's eyes sharpened, and Jack yelped as he quickly flipped them, pressing Jack into the snow as he loomed over him. "Cheating, eh? And how do ye justify that?"

"You grabbed me out of the sky", Jack scoffed. "It's supposed to be a race, not a wrestling match."

"Ye'd lose immediately if it was."

"Oh, you wanna bet?"

Jack smirked up at him, and Bunny rolled his eyes. There was a quick flash of movement, and Jack protested as he was covered in snow. "Hey!"

"There ye go", came Bunny's muffled voice, amused. "That's what it feels like, ye terror."

Jack pushed the snow off his face, waving his hand and grinning as a large snowball slammed into the side of Bunny's head. The Pooka sputtered, glaring down at Jack and pressing him heavily into the ground. "Oh, now yer just askin' for it."

He pulled Jack up by his hoodie until they were nose to nose, and Jack couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Asking for what?"

"Bunny! Jack!"

They both blinked at Tooth's faraway call, and Bunny immediately hopped off of Jack, helping the sprite up. He strained his ears, and darted back the way they had come. 

Jack spun his staff easily, calling upon the snow around them as he followed. As they moved closer, he could hear the sound of blades clashing, and his heart grew cold with fear.

He'd wasted time flirting with Bunny when he was supposed to be looking, and now the werewolves had found his friends.

He burst from the treeline, scanning the battle. Tooth was a colorful blur, her small but deadly daggers flashing through the air. North was up in the Sleigh, flinging destructive silver toys out of his sack down at the werewolves. 

Sandy was above him, avoiding the werewolves’ jumps and throwing dreamsand javelins, each one knocking out a werewolf every time they struck. Snarls and snores filled the air in equal measure, occasionally punctuated with the sharp noises of blades and small bombs.

Jack swirled his staff around, bidding the snow and ice to burst and freeze and pierce. He was able to turn two werewolves into ice blocks before the pack noticed his arrival.

And Bunny...

Bunny was darting in and out of tunnels, yanking werewolves down with him and doing god knows what before the tunnels spat them back out. 

Jack dove out of the way as a werewolf jumped up, its claws extended and muzzle bared in a snarl. It nearly slashed his pants, but the Wind yanked him back at the last second. He retaliated by running his hands along his staff, turning the ground where the werewolves were icy and slick. He chortled as the next one to jump lost its footing and was hit by a sand javelin, out for the count.

Then Bunny burst out of the ground, boomerangs flying. Jack froze for a moment, watching as he moved with liquid grace, easily cutting through werewolves with fierce determination.

He flew closer, still spinning his staff and freezing werewolves where he could. The pack was slowly thinning out, more and more wolves being cut down. Jack hadn't anticipated how much easier it would be to stop them with all the Guardians there.

Then a werewolf was bounding towards Bunny from behind him, and Jack's blood turned to ice. He flew as fast as he could, dipping low as the wolf got closer.

Bunny's eyes were on the wolves ahead of him, but he called to Jack all the same. "The ruddy hell are ye doin'? I told ye to stay out of trouble, get lost!"

Jack didn't bother replying, and touched down behind him, their backs to each other. He struck the snow with his staff, watching with satisfaction as the wolf on his right staggered back, spikes bursting in front of him.

Then there were teeth tearing into his side, and Jack gasped as a werewolf came out of nowhere, claws slashing into his back as its muzzle clamped onto his ribs.

Jack only had the time to whack it in the side with his staff, but its jaws held an iron grip on him, and he grit his teeth against the sharp pain as he called upon the snow.

Bury him bury him devour cover and kill bury him bury him bury him

The snow responded beautifully, a cacophony of voices in his head which Jack wasn't sure belonged to him or the ice. A blizzard grew immediately, snow so thick in the air that Jack could barely see, but he could feel the wolf being dragged back by the snow, the weight of it pushing the wolf down until it froze.

Jack's vision grew blurry as the pain in his side and back became all he could register, and he staggered, leaning heavily against the warm weight behind him.

"Jack?", Bunny asked, still facing forward, crouched with his boomerangs. "Jack---what're ye---"

"Bunny", Jack choked out before falling, barely able to keep his grip on his staff. "B-Be more careful, idiot kangaroo."

"Jack", Bunny's voice was urgent, and suddenly much closer. "Jack---crikey, yer---Jack, hey, stay awake! Stay with---"

Jack passed out before he could finish, his head lolling back against the ground. A barely murmured "sorry" was all he could manage before darkness overtook him.

All four of the other Guardians, gathered around him. Tooth had her hands over her mouth, silent tears tracking down her cheeks. Sandy kept flashing images at Bunny and North, the former of whom was snarling and the latter holding his hands up, placating. 

"Manny will heal him", North had been saying to a furious Bunny. "He will not let a Guardian die."

"We need to move him", Bunny snarled. "He's just---he's just lyin' there, bleedin' out, and we're just standing around here? He needs healin', and fast!"

"Manny will do that", North placated, but Bunny interrupted him.

"Where was he before, then, eh?"

Tooth looked up from Jack to gaze at Bunny, her voice tight, straining against her throat. "What do you mean?"

"Two years", Bunny growled. "Two years I've been patchin' Jack up when he's gotten injured, and not once did Manny step in to help out. And they weren't all easy injuries, some of 'em were like this! What makes you think Manny will do anythin', eh? Barely spoke to Jack before he became a Guardian, didn't he?"

Jack had tried to say something at that, but his vision grew spotty again and his head fell back against the ground.

He was in the bed at North's again, blue-black seeping through his bandages. His pain was gone, and he felt like he was floating.

He really hoped he wasn't dead.

An attempt to sit up reassured him that he wasn't, as he barely had the strength to prop himself up and instead slipped back into the pillows, his eyes shutting as he sighed. At least if he was a ghost or something, he would've been able to get right up.

Maybe Manny had come through after all.

The door opened, startling Jack, and he looked at who had entered.

Bunny, who was gaping back at him, his eyes dipping between Jack's own and his injuries. "Jack."

"Bunny", Jack greeted him, his voice nothing more than a whisper. "What's up?"

To his surprise, Bunny's lips pulled back in a snarl as he stalked over to Jack. "What's up? What's up? Ye were out for a week! I thought---we thought---"

"That I was dead?", Jack finished for him. "Aw, you can't get rid of me that easily, Roo."

"Don't ye dare", Bunny growled, his voice low and threatening as he loomed over him. "Don't ye dare joke about this. Ye shouldn't have ever gotten injured---ye shouldn't have been anywhere near me. What the hell were ye thinking?"

"There was a wolf behind you", Jack snapped, trying to sit up again. "I was thinking that I maybe didn't want you to die."

"So you sacrifice yourself instead?", Bunny hissed, steadying Jack with a paw and helping him sit up. "I told ye to stay out of trouble! To leave them to us!"

He glanced down at the bandages, turning to the side table and rifling through the drawers before pulling out a roll of linen. Jack rolled his eyes, not missing how Bunny's eyes flashed at the obvious dismissal.

"And I told you not to tell me what to do. I'd do it again, you know."

And then Bunny was directly in his face, sharp teeth on display as he snarled. "Don't ye ever say that again."

"Why not?", Jack challenged him. "It's the truth. I'd do it again, over and over---hey!"

Bunny pushed him back against the pillows, hopping up onto the bed while avoiding Jack's injuries. His paw rested at the base of Jack's throat, making him swallow convulsively. "Bunny?"

"You", Bunny started, his voice deadly calm. "Could have died. I thought ye were goin' to, and if Manny hadn't healed ye, ye would have."

He leaned in close, his whiskers tickling Jack's face as they came nose to nose.

"I am not losing you too, ye hear me?", he hissed, dark green eyes boring into Jack's own.

"Bunny", Jack said weakly, his heart racing for a completely different reason. "You would have done the same thing if it had been me."

Bunny blinked at that, his eyes darting between Jack's own as he carefully unwrapped the bandages and started to replace them. "Yeah?"

Jack scoffed. "Don't try to play the tough guy. You would do it for any of us."

"Be that as it may", Bunny growled, tying off the wrap and hopping off of him. "Don't ye ever do anything like that again. Gettin' hurt myself is nothin' compared to watching ye get hurt for me."

"I'm not letting you die", Jack argued. "Don't ask me to promise that."

"Do ye have to be so difficult all the time?", Bunny snapped. "Do ye even know how worried I was? How worried we all were?"

"Well, I'm sorry", Jack snapped back. "I'm very sorry for worrying all of you by saving your life. I'm very sorry for being difficult and not agreeing with just letting you get hurt. I'm especially sorry that you feel that I'm your responsibility! I have a right to my own life, Bunny! And if I want to risk it for you, I'm going to!"

"Why?", Bunny snarled, getting in his face again. "Why the hell would ye---"

"Because!", Jack shouted. "Because I---"

He cut himself off, glancing away. "Because we're on a team, and that's what teammates do for each other."

Coward, he was such a coward.

Bunny scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Right. So ye'd do that for Tooth, would ya?"

"Of course", Jack snapped, and he meant it. "It's not like it matters anyway, I didn't die! I'm right here!"

"You're right here", Bunny repeated slowly. "Yer right here, but yer still running."

"Running?", Jack echoed. "What are you talking about?"

Bunny scoffed again, but before he could say anything, the door burst open. Tooth fluttered in, frantic, followed by a slower North and a serene looking Sandy.

"See! I told you he will be fine!", North boomed, Sandy nodding genially behind him and flashing Jack a thumbs up.

"Ye shut yer gob", Bunny said tiredly, scrubbing a paw over his face. "Right, ye lot can look after him now. 'M headed back to the Warren."

"You're leaving?", Jack asked, blinking. "Already? But I just woke up!"

Tooth hovered by his bedside, glancing between him and Bunny. "You should stay, Bunny. At least for a little while."

"Blighter's up now, he doesn't need me here. Ye'll coddle him more than enough", Bunny snorted.

"Bunny", Jack pleaded, suddenly feeling bereft at the idea of him leaving so soon. "Just hang out for a bit? I still have no idea what happened!"

Bunny looked at him for a long second, and Jack couldn't tear his gaze away. But then he sighed and turned, waving a paw carelessly. "They'll catch ye up, Frostbite. I have work to do."

And then he tapped the floor, dropping into a tunnel and taking Jack's heart with him.

Jack tried to keep the disappointment off his face, and turned to Tooth. "So, I'm here. What happened?"

"We finished off the werewolves", Tooth explained, frowning at the white flower that popped up from Bunny's tunnel. "You were bleeding out, and Manny shone down after a while with enough concentrated moonlight to heal you, sort of like the first time."

Jack nodded. They'd all been told about his rebirth from the ice, and were familiar with Manny's healing. "So why is Bunny's tail in such a twist about it?"

"You were reckless", Tooth pointed out, her tone bordering on scolding. "You know you're safer in the air."

Jack shrugged. "Couldn't let them get to him."

Tooth opened her mouth to say something, but shook her head fondly, mischief in her eyes. "No, I'm sure you couldn't. And there was the fact of you being asleep for a week while the moonbeams healed you. I'm afraid it drove Bunny a bit crazy waiting for you to wake up."

Jack frowned. "Was he here the whole time?"

"Oh, yes", Tooth said, sounding like she was trying not to laugh. "In fact, he didn't leave your side. Fell asleep on the floor a couple of times."

Sandy flashed a few symbols. It was funny.

Jack snorted at that, and turned to North. "Well, at least they're taken care of now."

He hesitated before speaking again. "And I'm, uh, sorry if I worried you guys."

"Oh, Jack", Tooth gave him a careful hug. "We were scared, but we knew you would recover. And we'd have done the same, if it had been you."

"We felt your absence as a pain of its own", North rumbled, and Jack felt tears sting his eyes. "You are part of family."

"Thanks", he croaked, laughing as Sandy flashed images of a grumpy bunny yelling at a star, a tooth, and a Santa hat. "He was really torn up, huh?"

He ignored the warmth that filled his chest at the idea. The grumpy Easter Bunny yelling at the other Guardians because he was worried about Jack.

Then Sandy flashed a few more symbols, and Jack felt frost crackle over his cheeks. "What---what do you mean?"

You know what I mean.

"I do not", Jack retorted hotly. "I'm not obtuse."

You are and you know it. Are you able to fly?

Jack carefully got out of bed, his side only stinging briefly until he straightened. "Yeah, probably. It isn't like there's fresh blood."

"The wound will have closed by now", North agreed. "Your muscles will be unused to movement, but they should remember easily."

Tooth nodded, and Jack reached for his staff. It only took a moment for him to rise into the air, his muscles only slightly protesting the movement. "Yeah, I think I should be okay."

You should go after him, Sandy signed. You have been dancing around this for far too long.

Jack gaped at him. "What are you talking about?"

Do you want me to explain it in front of everyone?

Sandy gave him a look, and Jack flushed deeper. "Fine, I'll---I'll talk to him, or whatever. But I don't think he's going to want to see me."

Obtuse, Sandy signed again, and Jack stuck his tongue out at him as he tapped the ground with his staff. "See you guys later!"

"Be safe", Tooth called after him, amusement in her voice as Jack dropped into a tunnel.

Jack slid into the Warren easily, nearly stumbling over his staff as he landed. It was bright as ever, the stone golems regarding him solemnly as he passed.

He frosted them over as he walked by, laughing at their creaky protests. "Sorry, guys. Habit. Don't suppose you've seen the big guy?"

He glanced around as he moved deeper into the Warren, closer to Bunny's burrow. The stone golems creaked in response, and one changed its face to a decidedly smug expression, but Jack wasn't sure what that meant, so he continued on.

"Bunny?", he called out. "You here?"

There was no response, and Jack frowned, taking to the sky and ignoring the twinge in his side as he did so. "Bunny!"

He flew onwards, closer to the burrow, stopping when he saw gray fur. "There you are!"

Bunny was leaning against a large tree, sketchpad in hand. He glanced up, eyes wide, then closed the sketchbook and placed it behind his back, between him and the trunk.

"Jack", Bunny exhaled as he drew closer. "What are ye doing here? Ye should be at North's, restin'."

"I was resting for a whole week, I'm fine", Jack shrugged, touching down next to him. "What are you doing?"

Bunny shrugged, and Jack leaned down, gripping onto his staff. "You said you had work to do."

Bunny avoided his gaze. "I do have work to do. Had to sketch some designs, and now I've gotta paint the googies. Got a week's worth of work to catch up on, so ye'd better get goin'. Back to North's, now."

"Or I could help", Jack offered. "It's not my leg that's injured this time."

Bunny stood up, grabbing his sketchbook and still not looking at him. "If ye don't rest, yer side'll take a lot longer to heal."

He started towards the burrow without a backwards glance, and Jack followed him.

"Tooth said you were with me the whole time", Jack blurted out, just wanting Bunny to look at him, acknowledge he was there. "...Is that true?"

Bunny froze at that, the fur on his shoulders standing up. He chittered something under his breath, and Jack watched him curiously. "...Meddlin' sheila. Shouldn't listen to her."

"Is it true?", Jack pressed, following Bunny into the burrow. "And would you turn around? I am talking to you, you know."

"When ye should be resting", Bunny said flatly, moving deeper into the burrow. "Go back to North's, he'll look after ye better than I can."

"I doubt that", Jack retorted. "Bunny. Is it true?"

"So what if it is, Frostbite?", Bunny snapped, rubbing a paw over his face. "Will ye finally leave me alone if I tell ye?"

"Maybe", Jack snorted, ignoring the pang of hurt at how badly Bunny wanted him gone. "...I liked Snowdrop better."

He muttered the last part, but Bunny's ears twitched, and Jack watched him as he moved around the kitchen. "So?"

"Yeah", Bunny exhaled. "Yeah, I was with ye a fair bit."

"She said all the time", Jack pointed out. "That you never left my side."

"No, I didn't", Bunny said, sounding resigned. "But now yer up."

"I am", Jack echoed. "Is something wrong?"

Bunny scoffed. "Is something wrong?"

"That's what I asked", Jack snapped, irritated now. "Jesus---will you just---"

He leaned his staff against the wall and stepped into Bunny's space, grabbing the Pooka's shoulder and forcibly turning him around. "Will you look at me?"

He froze at the look on Bunny's face. His green eyes were shining with tears that hadn't yet fallen, his upper lip curled and whiskers twitching. "...Bunny?"

He hesitantly took his hand off the Pooka's shoulder. "Look, I'm---I really am sorry for worrying you, I just..."

He glanced down. "You know why I had to."

Bunny didn't speak, and Jack glanced up at him, pleading. "Bunny, I'm sorry, okay? Just---what do I have to do to make it up to you?"

Suddenly, he was surrounded by warm fur, and Jack squeaked as Bunny carefully folded him into his arms, taking care to avoid his bandages. The press of a furry chin on his head made Jack's breath hitch, and he carefully curled his fingers into the fur on Bunny's chest. "...Bunny?"

Bunny sighed, a deep exhale of breath that moved through Jack. "Ye scared me."

He carefully moved his chin over Jack's head, smoothing out his hair. Jack sighed, melting into his embrace and pressing back into the contact. "I'm sorry."

Bunny was silent for a few beats. "...No, I’m sorry. Ye have nothing to apologize for. I wasn't bein' fair to ye. Yellin' at ya when I should've been thanking ye. Without ye, I would've had a few scratches meself."

"It's okay", Jack exhaled. "I would've been pretty mad if it was the other way around."

He glanced up at Bunny hesitantly, Sandy's words fresh in his mind. "You..."

He took in a deep breath and steeled himself, ignoring the way his pulse jumped. "I don't want to run anymore."

Bunny looked down at him, surprise etched on his face. Jack brushed his hand through his cheek fur, collecting the tears that had fallen and wiping them away.

"Jack?"

"I did it because I love you", Jack admitted, cupping Bunny's cheek and running his thumb over it. "I...there was no other option for me, Bunny."

He looked down, bracing his hands on Bunny's chest to push himself out of the embrace. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry if you hate me for it, and I'm sorry if I've just made things weird between us. You---you can ignore it if you want, we can just---just go back to normal. You don't even have to patch me up anymore."

"I don't want to ignore it", Bunny croaked suddenly, his arms tightening around Jack, pressing them together. "I don't---"

He cut himself off, swallowing hard and tilting Jack's face up with one paw. Jack blinked at him, hope rising in his chest and his pulse going double-time. "Bunny?"

"How could ye ever think I hated you, after the first time?", Bunny whispered, his eyes darting between Jack's own. "How could I ever hate ye?"

He leaned closer, giving Jack the time to move away, but Jack stayed firmly where he was.

"As hard as I've tried", Bunny murmured, Jack gasping as their lips barely brushed together. "I couldn't---I couldn't ever bring myself to be more than annoyed with ya, and even then, I still wanted to do this."

He closed the gap, and Jack moaned as their lips met, curling his fingers into Bunny's fur. Bunny kissed him slow and deep, nipping at his lips then soothing the hurt with his tongue just as fast. He kissed Jack like he was claiming him, his paw winding into Jack's hair and tugging his head to the side as he licked into his mouth, both of them moaning in unison.

Jack was panting when he finally pulled back, his cheeks icy hot with frost as he looked wonderingly up at Bunny.

"I love ye too", Bunny exhaled. "Of course I do, Frostbite, I have since---since the first time, at least."

"Since the first time", Jack breathed. "Like...two years ago, first time?"

At Bunny's hesitant nod, Jack gaped at him. "You felt like this for two years?"

"Yes", Bunny growled out, his ears turning red. "And ye drove me nuts for all of it. Would it kill ya to have some self-preservation skills?"

"They weren't all like this", Jack pointed out, absentmindedly touching his lips. "And it's not like I did it on purpose."

Well, one of them had been on purpose, but he hadn't actually been injured, so it didn't count.

Bunny huffed, guiding Jack under his chin again. "...Reckon I owe ye an explanation."

"That would be nice", Jack agreed, pressing his cheek into the warmth of Bunny's chest. "And what are you doing, anyway? You’re always using me as a chinrest."

Bunny hesitated, carefully moving away from Jack. Jack opened his mouth to protest, but shut it when Bunny laced his fingers with his, tugging him towards the bedroom. "...Might wanna be sitting down for this, mate."

"Okay", Jack breathed, his pulse still jumping as Bunny’s paws warmed his hand. "Yeah, okay."

Jack blinked at Bunny, his grin growing huge. "I'm your what?"

"My mate", Bunny repeated, his ears bright red. "It's what chinning means---ye found someone ye feel like ye belong with, who you can be around all the time."

"You've been doing that for ages", Jack crowed. "And you said I was running? You never said anything!"

"I didn't want to scare ya!", Bunny protested. "Finding yer mate is a big deal!"

Jack grinned, moving from his seat beside Bunny to straddle his lap. Bunny swallowed, his paws gripping onto Jack's waist. "Jack?"

"So", Jack breathed, daring to run his fingers through Bunny's chest fur, leaving a trail of frost in his wake. "You've been making me smell like you. Like I'm yours."

Bunny shuddered, either at the chill or his words, and his paws tightened on Jack's skin. "Suppose I have", he rasped. "But if ye don't want to---"

Jack shoved his hand over Bunny's muzzle, cutting him off. He leaned in close, narrowing his eyes. "Don't you dare stop. My question is, how do I do it back to you?"

Bunny's eyes softened, and he delicately grasped Jack's wrist, moving his hand off of his face and nuzzling into it. Jack bit off a whine as he rubbed his nose over his wrist, the sensation making him shudder.

"Ye already have", Bunny murmured. "Every time ye press back into it---even if ye aren't built quite the same---yer magic leaves its traces on me. Tooth sniffed it out right away."

Jack blinked, his mind going back over all the interactions the three of them had together. "...How long has she known?"

"Too long", Bunny snorted. "Women's intuition, I suppose. Wouldn't let me hear the end of it---she was always yellin' at me to come clean about it."

"Yeah", Jack agreed weakly. "Yeah, it's all making sense now."

Bunny laughed, releasing Jack's wrist and nuzzling into his neck. Jack gasped, tilting his head to the side. "S-So...what now?"

"What now", Bunny mused, breathing over Jack's neck and smiling into his skin when he whined. "Is up to you. I know ye said ye'd like to stay here---invitation still stands."

"Yeah", Jack breathed, turning his head to try and nuzzle back into Bunny's cheek. "So, what, you basically asked me to move in with you before even asking me out?"

Bunny groaned as Jack rubbed against him. "Didn't seem right that ye don't have a place to call home."

Jack was silent for a few beats, and his hands found their way to Bunny's shoulders. "Well, now that we've done everything properly---sort of---"

He ran his fingers over Bunny's fur, sending small trails of frost down his body and grinning as Bunny shuddered. "Should we tell the others?"

"Reckon they all know, except for North", Bunny rumbled, his paw sliding under Jack's hoodie and tracing up his back. "'M sure Sandy'll tell him soon."

Jack blinked, the memory of his dream coming back and making him flush. "Oh, right. God, I'm not gonna be able to look at him for a few days."

"Whaddya mean?", Bunny asked, pulling back and looking at Jack.

Jack flushed deeper, glancing down and twisting his hands together. "Uh---remember a while back, when I was, um, I woke up, and you were in the bathroom?"

"Ah", Bunny exhaled, taking Jack's hands and smoothing his paws over them. "I lied to ya, mate."

Jack's head snapped up, and he looked at Bunny in confusion. "What?"

"Then", Bunny clarified. "Ye---er, ye did wake me up. Ye were moaning my name, and begging so prettily..."

He shook his head, Jack groaning in embarrassment and trying to bury his face in Bunny's chest fur. Bunny wasn't having it, though, and cupped his jaw to make him meet his gaze. "Could barely stop myself from ruttin' against ya, and ye were asleep. Figured if I was goin' to give in, I oughta do it away from ye."

Jack huffed, and Bunny gently traced his paw over his cheek, collecting the frost that gathered there. "Wasn't easy, steppin' away from ya when ye kept whining for me. Hardest thing I've had to do in ages."

"That's so embarrassing", Jack muttered, breaking his gaze. "And---and Sandy probably saw what I was dreaming about, too..."

"Yep", Bunny agreed, shifting to stand up. "And he's got me at a disadvantage."

Jack furrowed his brows as Bunny lifted him, moving them so Jack was lying on the bed under him. He spread his legs, giving Bunny the room to settle between them, as Bunny sat and cupped his jaw with one paw, moving it down to trace around his neck.

"Bunny", Jack murmured, baring his throat. "What do you mean?"

"He knows what ye were dreamin' about", Bunny explained, pressing his paw into Jack's pulse point to hear his breath hitch. "But I don't. Care to tell me?"

Jack grinned at him cheekily, lifting a leg to wrap it around Bunny's waist and draw him closer. "Nah. I can show you, though."

Bunny laughed as he pulled him down, kissing over Jack's face again. "Go on then, love."

He smirked at the loud crackle of frost over Jack's cheeks, nuzzling into the cold. "Sure ye can manage? If it's too much---"

"Shut up", Jack rasped, pulling him down into a kiss.

They didn't talk for about an hour after that.

A few weeks later...

Jack moaned, the slide of paws on his skin too much for him to bear. "Bunny..."

"Open your eyes", Bunny growled behind him, the paw on his throat tightening. "Watch, love."

Jack fluttered his eyes open, whining at the sight that greeted him. Bunny had set up a mirror in front of their bed at Jack's request, and Jack was seriously starting to regret it.

He was poised over Bunny's lap, legs spread and held wide apart by two strong paws. He was covered in marks, reds and blues and purples dotting his skin where Bunny had sunk his teeth in, always kissing the spots lovingly after. Two more paws rested on his throat and waist, the last set keeping Jack's arms restrained behind him.

Jack had teased him for hours, sending frost trails over his fur while he was painting eggs, rubbing his ears when he was trying to cook...

Bunny had finally snapped and pinned him to the wall when Jack slipped chocolate into his mouth, kissing Bunny to get a taste. He'd kissed Jack with a crazed desperation, rutting against him until Jack whined for his cock, then picking him up easily as his arms unfolded from his body. 

And now he'd sat Jack on his cock, thrusting up into him and grinning as Jack arched and moaned, desperate for friction on his own aching cock. Bunny had already cum once, his seed dribbling out of Jack's hole where they were joined.

Jack whimpered at the muted smack of their skin together, groaning when one of Bunny's paws left his waist to ghost over his cock. "Bunny..."

"Ye wanted it like this", Bunny reminded him, his eyes dark from where they met Jack's gaze in the mirror. "Be good for me, Jack. Take it."

Jack groaned, his words going straight to his cock as his thighs trembled. "P-Please, I wanna..."

"Doesn't matter what ya want", Bunny murmured in a soothing tone, his paw leaving Jack's cock to rub soothingly at his thighs. "Got me all worked up, didn't ya?"

A bitten-off whine left Jack's throat as Bunny raised him off his cock, only the head still in. "Wh---what---"

Then Bunny gave himself a few pumps, and Jack lost all sense of reason. "N-No---no, Bunny, please---"

"Shh", Bunny whispered, nuzzling into Jack's neck. "Look at yerself, love. This is what ye wanted, isn't it?"

"Please", Jack begged, squirming helplessly. "Bunny---"

Bunny took pity on him, slipping more of his cock back into Jack's hole. "Like this?"

"No---more---", Jack pleaded, still writhing around, his eyes glued to the mirror.

"No more?", Bunny chuckled, keeping Jack still and slowly drawing his cock back out, the drag along sensitive nerves bringing tears to Jack's eyes.

"No!", he cried out. "No, Bunny, please---please---"

He thrust in all at once, the force of it making Jack's tears fall. He moaned, leaning back into Bunny's chest and tilting his head back for a kiss.

Bunny gave it to him, a paw leaving Jack's throat to guide his jaw, crushing their mouths together. Jack whimpered as he started thrusting again, and shrieked when a paw wrapped around his cock. "Bunny!"

"That's it", Bunny groaned, chasing after both their orgasms. "That's it, my love. Yer being so good---take it, c'mon, cum nice and pretty for me, Jack."

Jack screamed as Bunny squeezed his cock, another paw tracing over his balls as he thrust hard into Jack. Bunny grunted as he came again, grinding his hips into Jack to ensure he didn't waste a single drop.

Jack sobbed as Bunny's cum flooded him, the warmth of it making Jack cum in tandem. His cock shot cum over his chest as Bunny coaxed him through it, not stopping until Jack was whimpering.

Then he carefully lifted Jack off of his cock, kissing away his whine. He bore Jack down to the bed, leaning down and licking up his cum. Jack sighed, raising a weak arm to rub through Bunny's fur as he cleaned him up, one of Bunny's many paws interlaced with his other hand. 

"So good", Bunny murmured in between licks, pressing kisses to Jack's cheeks and lips when he could. "So good for me, love."

"I love you", Jack whispered, his voice shot. 

"I love you too", Bunny murmured back, pressing a comforting lick to Jack's cheek. "Wasn't too much?"

Jack shook his head, smiling. "It was perfect."

Bunny purred at that, rubbing his chin over Jack's head before dipping low to continue cleaning him. Jack moaned as his tongue lapped around his hole, cleaning him of the cum that was slowly dripping out, staining his thighs.

When they were finally clean (Bunny had insisted on a shower, though Jack was more than happy to go to sleep like that), Bunny curled around him, and Jack sighed happily as he rested his head on Bunny's shoulder. 

"How long until...you know, your arms...?", he asked sleepily. 

"A couple hours", Bunny rumbled back, pulling Jack closer and winding all his arms around him. "Won't last too long, only had a bit of chocolate."

Jack hummed, his eyes drifting shut as Bunny chinned him again, trying his best to rub back into the contact. 

They fell asleep together, Bunny's purrs reverberating through Jack's body as their soft breaths filled the room. 

And far away, in Santa's Workshop, Sandy held out an expectant hand to Tooth, who huffed but gave him what he asked for. All while making a mental note to never bet on her friends' love lives again, at least not against the Sandman.