Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nothing could beat a nighttime flight, that was something Jack was sure of. The wind, the stars and most of all the moon shining down on him all brought a comfort he couldn’t quite describe. Yeah, the moon was still quiet as a mouse, (they hadn’t really talked since the whole “turning into a guardian ordeal”) but he kept in mind that Mim was there and, for some unknown reason, looking after him the best way he could.
He hummed happily as the cold north pole air ruffled his hair. He zipped down before stopping abruptly.

“Ah shit..” He muttered.

He had been out for more than 24 hours. When North had agreed to take him in, he had specifically said that he had to check in at least every 24 hours. Jack always figured it was the protective father in him trying to tame the rowdy teenager, either way, he complied anyway so he wouldn’t upset the kind man and still have a decent bed to sleep in at the end of the day. But it seems like not wearing a watch finally came back to kick him in the ass.
He made a mental note to ask one of the Yeti’s to make him a stopwatch before promptly deciding to go in through the back. He continued the plummet downward, going through the winding tuneld of the takeoff track before touching down on the ground in front of the sled. He still found it impressive but other things about North surprised him more, like his father being time itself or the man even having a father in the first place, all things he had learned from the time spent with Saint Nick.
And speaking of interesting discoveries, he had started learning so much more about the guardians too. The existence of other, more powerful forces such as Mother Nature, or how far back the guardians actually went. When he had first found out about it, he had hyper fixated on it for weeks. He went all around the world trying to find all he could about it. His fellow guardians had indulged in answering all his burning questions, North even letting him into the archives for the first time. However, it all only went back so far. When asked about what they remembered most of the guardians only remembered back to when Pitch was driven away and one of their old guardian group members had died saving Mother Goose. If Jack asked about said member, they just told him it was all too fuzzy and they couldn’t tell him anything for certain. He had tried contacting the protectors he didn’t know, but to no avail. After a while he just dropped the issue and contented himself with what he knew.
Jack snuck his way through the tight passage into an almost peaceful workshop. Yes, there was still the hustle and bustle of the Yeti’s at work but things were calm, it being the start of the year. He walked to the kitchen determined to get a snack before hitting the hay to get the little hours of sleep he needed to function. He went for the fridge and got out a carton of milk. Just as the fridge door closed there was an overly dramatic clearing of the throat that made Jack jump. There, leaning on the door frame, arms crossed, was North.

“Hey… Jolly old Saint Nick!..” Jack said, dawning an awkward smile, trying to save his skin.

The older man was not amused.

“You’re late.” North gruffed.

Jack sighed.

“Look…” He rubbed the back of his neck not being able to look the man in the eyes. “...I’m sorry, I lost track of time. I was all over the world today and my time zones are all out of whack.” The boy pushed himself up to sit on the counter, opening the carton.

“Jack… you know I don’t give you many rules for your stay here but this one is important.” He paused and glanced between Jack and the carton “If you drink it straight from there you will sleep with the reindeer.”

Jack stopped half way through bringing the carton to his mouth

“Okay! Okay!..” He hopped off the counter, setting the milk down and grabbing a glass. “ It’s the first offense, North, I really didn’t mean any harm!”

The elder guardian sighed and pushed off the door frame uncrossing his arms and walking towards the frost spirit.

“I know you didn’t but I worry…” He picked up the milk and filled the cup the younger one held. “Pitch is still out there…” He set the carton down. “And you know he took a strange liking to you…”

Jack found himself once again unable to look the man in the eye as he turned to lean on the counter.

“You’re afraid he might come after me…”

“Yes, I don’t want you in that situation… You’re still very young, Jack, both being magical and a guardian…” North looked at the boy compassionately “I don’t want you alone with Pitch cau-”

“Cause I’m easy to trick…” Jack cut it, looking down at his milk in disappointment.

“No! No! That’s not at all what I meant, moy mal'chik…” Nicholas moved in front of the boy and rested his hands on his shoulder. “You are the strongest one out of all of us, Jack. And I know you are destined for great things, but I also know how much Pitch can get to you. He knows fear.. Better than anyone..”

Jack set the glass down and rubbed his forehead.

“I’m sorry… I know you just want what’s best for me…” He looked up at the man and gave him a smile. “Thanks… ya know.. For caring…”

North smiled back sweetly.

“Always…Just send a message if it happens again or you need to stay out for some reason.. Now..” He handed the boy his cup again “ Drink up and head to bed, you need your rest.”

Jack smiled, more sincerely this time.

“Yeah yeah.. Alright” The white haired boy downed the milk before walking to the doorway. “Goodnight!”
“Goodnight, Jack.” North said with a chuckle and a wave.

Jack smiled and gave a small salut before letting himself hover. He flew up to his room and let himself fall onto the bed. He buried his face into the soft sheets and thanked whatever force out there made Santa Claus so nice. He sighed, rolled over and looked up at his ceiling. It had been two years since everything had gone down and there had been no sign of Pitch. How could North still be worried? It was perhaps years of caution and old man wisdom all rolled into one. From what he knew, it seems like Pitch had disappeared and returned many times before.
Trying not to let all that worry him too much, Jack let himself drift off.
~
It was dark… and cold… too cold... even for him..
Jack looked around, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark place. And as they did there was shock. Dark shadows creeped along the walls as taunting whispers repeated sentences and he was struck with an overwhelming guilt. He tried to talk, tried to move but he wasn’t in control of his body.
His head turned, following the steady strum coming from the shadows. He turned and there was a figure trapped in a cocoon like capsule, shadows keeping the person there. He took a few steps and watched as the shadows enveloping the space would dissipate from him, almost like light vanquishing them.
His body felt heavy. The weight of something… clothing… armor on his body. He looked back at the figure. It was a man… and a man he knew… a man he knew well…
He started to run. He didn’t know where he was or who the man was but he felt the need to get to him.
But the whispers soon became more. Soon became louder. Overwhelming. He saw the man struggle, trying to fight the shadows.
The whisper became louder and louder, now demonic screams. Jack covered his ears, closing his eyes, wanting it to go away.
He heard the man scream. An all too familiar scream.
~
Jack woke in a cold sweat, gasping for air, tears brimming his eyes.

“What the fuck..?” He muttered under his breath.

It was a dream. He knew that. But it didn’t feel like one. It felt too real. Like he had lived that. Maybe not now, but before. A long time ago. Like something forgotten, begging to be remembered and fast.
He winced as a migraine hit him and rubbed his temples trying to easy the pain. He leaned back in his bed and closed his eyes. He definitely wouldn’t be able to get to sleep after that but he could at least wait for the headache to pass before heading back to work.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t bizzare for Tooth to call on Jack especially during more snowy times. They usually sort out their schedules so none of the Baby Tooths get caught in the cross hairs of one of Jack’s blizzards.
He hummed a random tune as he dipped into Tooth Palace and tried his best to avoid the busy fairies aggressively zipping through the air, busily working. He headed to the mid plaza where Tooth was frantically giving orders to all the little ones. He touched down.

“Wow… you really don’t get a break huh?” Jack said, leaning on his staff.

The guardian jumped at the sound of his voice and smiled.

“Jack!” She sighed. “You scared me!”

“Sorry, sorry! What’s up?” He asked, walking towards her.

“Nothing really, I just wanted to check in on you. Making sure you’re keeping to our agreement.” She gave him a knowing look. “And that you’re not overworking.”

He smiled at her worry.

“Yeah, I’ve been behaving.”

“Good.” she said going back to rapidly handing fairies the teeth containers. “I don’t want my fairies to find you passed out again..”

Jack sighed and looked down embarrassed. He remembered that time. It was the winter after everything went down and he had been working just a little too hard. He was passing over Sweden when he had blacked out and fallen from the sky. A Baby Tooth had found him and gotten help to carry him to the others. He had woken up to a (completely useless) ice pack on his head and a crowd of worried guardians all begging for an explanation. It was at that time that, between scholding and reprimanding him, North had offered him a place to sleep.

“That won’t happen again. Promise.” He finally got the courage to look at her again. “Not with all of you acting like mother hens.”

Tooth chuckled and rolled her eyes.

“We worry cause we care for you.”

“I know. I know.” Jack said, walking towards the edge of the place. “Anyway, gotta go give some kids a snow day.”

“Alright.” Toothina said with a smile. “Just be careful.”

“I will!” He shouted letting himself fall, wind catching him safely.

He let himself travel, spreading his magic where it was needed before returning to the comfort of that quiet town he had always adored.
It was nighttime but well into the AM hours. Sandy was long gone so Jack contented himself with walking on roof edges and looking down at the sleeping children. He walked a couple blocks, hoping to get a look at the peaceful sleeping face of the first kid that had seen him. However, when he got there, he was greeted instead by Jamie by his open window, elbows propped up on the sill, chin in his hands, eyelids fluttering sleepily. Jack floated down to him.

“Hey kiddo…” He said in a soft voice, trying not to startle the boy. His effort failed but a smile did dawn on the younger’s face.

“Oh.. Hey Jack..” Jamie mumbled with a yawn. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on you, is all.” The guardian answered, taking his first good look at the boy.

He looked tired, and not the childish tired he would get when it was past his bedtime (Jamie had long since grown out of that, now being an almost preteen as he would say). He had bags under his eyes which in turn were puffy and slightly red. His lips were chapped and Jack guessed, by the way he was basically halfway to dreamland, that the kid hadn’t slept well in nights.
As the boy hummed in response, Jack extended a hand to stroke a thumb softly over the underside of Jamie’s eye.

“You okay, Jamie?” He asked as the boy pulled away from him slightly.

“Fine!” He responded, straightening himself up. “Perfectly fine..”

Jack doubted that that was true and it must have shown on his face because all the composure the 10-year-old had tried to fein fell with a sigh.

“I.. I haven’t been sleeping…” He finally confessed, slumping over again.

Jack moved to sit on the windowsill and patted the spot next to his. Jamie climbed up and sat down, letting his feet dangle out the window.

“Is it..?”

“No!” The boy said, a little too quick. “I mean, Yes?... Well, Sorta…”

“Is it... The memories?” Jack asked, moving closer to the kid.

“No.. it’s like…” Jamie fiddled with his hands as he spoke “It’s not vivid dreams.. It’s not memories either.. I don’t see anything really… It’s more just..” He paused “..fear…”

“Fear?” Jack said, tensing up, as if the wind had blown colder.

“Yeah.. Just fear. It just overwhelms me and I wake up..” The boy had tears forming in his eyes. “There’s no reason for it.. It’s dumb. I’m sorry you probably have more important Guardian things to worry ab-”

“Hey. Hey. Jamie..” Jack said holding the kid’s shoulders and turning the boy to face him. “This is guardian stuff.. Fear is not dumb, there’s a reason for it.”

Jamie hugged the frost spirit tightly, burying his face in the comforting blue sweater. Jack held him, pulling him into his lap and moving to hold his face.

“There’s a reason for it. And we’ll figure it out, okay?” Jack said reassuringly, wipe the boy’s damp cheeks. “But for now…”

He moved Jamie to a more comfortable position in his lap, arms tightly around him, resting the ten year old’s head on his chest.

“Sleep..” He whispered. “Nothing can get to you. No boogeyman, no fear, no nothing.”

The boy nodded and curled himself against Jack, eyelids already heavy with sleep. Jack smiled looking down at him and leaning on the side of the window.

“I got you, kid…”

It took about two minutes for Jamie to completely fall asleep. When the guardian was sure moving him wouldn’t wake him, he placed him back in bed and tucked him in, determined to find an answer.
He jumped off the window and let the somewhat furious wind take him towards the forest.
North would disapprove of this, oh, that he was sure of. But as he landed in that half decaying clearing and walked towards the remains of that rickety old wooden bed, he honestly didn’t care. He had gone into “Guardian Mode” (as Bunny had teasingly dubbed whenever Jack got serious). He looked down the hole and felt something lodged in his throat. He shook his head, determined and gulped down whatever had been stopping him. Holding his breath, he jumped into it.
It was eerily quiet as the spirit waited for his eyes to adjust. When they did though, it wasn’t much better. It looked deserted, abandoned, lifeless. He took a shake step forward.

“Pitch?” He called out, voice threatening to betray him and falter. His voice echoed and the uneasy feeling grew. No answer. He called out again.

“Pitch?!”

Again, there was no answer. He sighed and realized he would have to go in farther. He took slow steps, white knuckles gripping his staff, taking deep breaths and venturing through. Slowly, it got darker. The lights dimmed and it was harder to see, but Jack kept going. He must have been so focused on getting his legs to move that he didn’t notice when the hallway he had trekked down had been completely engulfed in shadows. He froze. He couldn’t see anything. He looked back and saw the small trickle of light farther away then he had thought. A chill went down his spine and he got a queasy feeling. Something wasn’t right.
Looking at the darkness in front of him, he blinked to make sure fear wasn’t messing with him. The darkness was… moving… breathing… With shaky arms, he braced his staff and raised it before bringing it down onto the ground hard.
The darkness parted but with it came a stampede of what Jack could only describe as horrid shadows. They rushed over him with a powerful gust of wind that would’ve blown him off his feet if he hadn’t been paralyzed. Paralyzed with fear.
The horde rushed out the tunnel and towards the small light leaving Jack to shake, tears starting to rush down his face. He screamed, desperate to get all the uncontrollable terror out. It rattled him and he fell to his knees, sobs choking out the desperate cry.
He stayed there, tremors consuming him, for who knows how long. He could swear that he’d never felt that in his life, but that would be a lie. Deep down, in some primal, ancient part of him, he had. And it was after the fear partially left, that the other bygone emotions crashed over him. Sorrow, Longing, Guilt, Remorse, it all made him sob once more.
He could’ve stayed there, for hours, wallowing in alien yet familiar emotions but something pulled him out. A small groan. His head shot up.

“Pitch…?” He said wiping the tears from his face and shakily getting to his feet. Using his staff for support, he followed the direction of the sound.
He stumbled out of the hall and into a small round room. He winced and covered his eyes as the glow of the walls hit his retinas. In the middle was a figure. He rushed towards it but stopped as he noticed the same living gloom enveloped them.

he felt the need to get to him

“Pitch?...” He tried once more. This time there was a groan in response. The figure lifted his head.
It was Pitch, or at least Jack thought. His skin seemed to be falling away, revealing a tan underside. His eyes were swirling with green, something Pitch would be caught dead in. And that dreaded darkness, trapping him.
He looked up and sheer panic swept his face.

“What are you doing here?!” He cried out in desperation. “It’s not safe! You need to leave!”

Jack stuttered as the darkness began to stir, getting riled up.

“Go! Please! Before they get you!” The supposed Pitch cried out at the guardian “Please! Ni-”

He couldn’t finish as the darkness attacked covering and sticking to the man, drowning him. Jack couldn’t get his legs to move as the man disappeared. Even then, when those sickly yellow eyes shone through, that wicked smile formed and the booming laugh echoed through the many halls, Jack bolted out of there, not looking back. His heart beat out of his chest and he gasped for air as he barely flew through the narrow exit and out into the night sky. He had been looking for an answer, but he only had more questions.

Chapter Text

He barely had time to let the cool air help him regain his thoughts because when he looked up at the sky he saw them. The northern lights. The summoning tool for the guardians.
He rushes back to the north, wind whipping against his face from the speed. He tried his best to keep calm but, after the display he had just seen, his mind could only race with what possibly could have caused the guardians to need to gather.
He flew through the open roof of the workshop also running into the elves that were busily trying to serve cookies to the guests. When Jack finally got his feet on his ground, his eyes darted around trying to read the room.
It didn’t seem like any of the guardians were in any hurry or that this meeting was urgent in any way. He let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding and let his shoulders relax.
Bunnymund took note of this and walked towards him, sugar cookie in one hand.
“You alright, mate?” He asked standing in front of Jack, large body blocking his view from everything else.
Bunny tended to do this. He knew it helped Jack calm down and come back to himself whenever he felt overwhelmed.
Jack nodded and let his head drop so it was leaning on the rabbit’s chest. He focused on catching his breath as a furry paw came to rest on the back on his head, stroking his hair softly.
None of the surrounding people seemed to bat an eye to this, it was quite typical of Bunnymund to be seen comforting Jack. When the initial confrontation and teasing between them had died down, they had realized they quite enjoyed each other’s company. They would spend a lot of time together since both of them traveled around the world a lot. It was clear to see that the two had a sort of bond.
When Jack pulled away (Bunny always let him regulate how long these moments lasted), he nodded again.

“Yeah..yeah!” He shook himself out and exhaled heavily “I guess I just got concerned when I saw the lights.”

Bunny smiled at him and let out a softy hum, finishing the cookie he had kept in his hand.

“Well, no one seems alarmed or extremely jittery, so I think it’s just pleasantries.”

Jack smiled at him and walked towards the center of the room.

“Who called this meeting anyway?”

“I did!” Tooth replied, flying forward. “I just… my fairies have been noticing something and it’s been concerning me.”

North motioned towards the table they had recently acquired. It was round, with five seats (but room for more) and a hole in the center where the crystal could rise, not that it had been needed lately. They all sat down, Bunnymaud with his feet up, Sandy sitting crisscrossed on the chair, and the other older two sitting normally. Jack opted to sit on the table, one leg up on his chair and the other dangling off, leaning on his staff.

Sandman jingled and looked at Tooth as a question mark appeared above his head.

“Um…” She started, hands a little shaky as concern grew in all of the others. “My fairies have been reporting some things to me, like I said, that have just made me feel off…”

“Off how, Tooth?” North questioned, leaning towards her stroking his beard.

“Just... It started with one report than another and pretty soon almost half of the kids in the North American region were doing it…”

“Doing what?...”

It was Bunny who asked this time, taking his feet off of the table with his ears perking up.

“Waking up!” She said, a hint of distress in her voice, hands waving as she spoke “Just bolting up, suddenly, with no warning, in the middle of the night. Some scream, some cry, others just shake and stay there, but there’s always no warning. They’re fine then they’re not!”

Sandy intervened this time, jingling sounding through the hall as he symbolized that he’d noticed it a few times too. He would always just put them back to sleep with pleasant dreams and not think much of it. It was typical for kids to feel scared in the night.

“But it’s not normal… This isn’t… I…” You could tell she was struggling to get the words out. “ I got worried so I decided to go around and see for myself… I was at this little girl’s house, she couldn’t have been more than four… She’s just sleeping soundly in her unicorn bed, peaceful. I’m about to leave and she... She bolts upright and-”

Tooth choked up, tears gleaming in her eyes. One of North’s hands rests on her shoulder reassuringly, as he trades looks with the others. Jack shifts in his place, one leg coming up to rest on the table.

“I’m okay… I’m okay…” She finally says, wiping her eyes. She takes a deep breath and straightens herself up. “She bolts upright and screams… And- Mim be safe- I had never heard anything like it… just pure terror.”

North shifted back to his seat and put his hands together.

“So… Pitch is back?”

“No…” Jack couldn’t stop as the word came out, getting all the guardians to look at him. “I mean… That’s not what they were saying or so it seems…” He cleared his throat and moved to completely be on the table. “Were there any signs of nightmare activity?...”

Both Tooth and Sandy shook their head.

“No there isn’t… They’re just sleeping peacefully then suddenly not… There’s no shifting, no discomfort just…”

“Fear…” Jack finished her thought, looking at this staff intently. When he looked up again, all the guardians were looking at him, Tooth nodding with approval.

“Uh... I visited Jamie earlier and he told me basically the same thing…”

Bunny’s foot thumped on the floor and his ear twitched.

“This could be Pitch still… It absolutely could! I mean fe-”

“It’s not Pitch!” Jack said, suddenly feeling very defensive. He pressed his lips together knowing whatever he was about to say was digging his own grave. “I know it wasn’t…”

“How?” North asked, leaning forward, frown already forming. Jack could already feel the disappointment.

“I… I may have visited the entrance of his hideout…”He mumbled shyly. They didn’t have to know about him actually going in, he thought, and all the confusing emotions that came along with it.

Immediately there was a chorus of disappointed rants and reprimands from the collection of older guardians (although it was just aggressive jingling on Sandy’s part). Jack covered his ears and made a pained face, jumping off the table to stand behind it.

“Hey. Hey! HEY!” He shouted, getting all the others to quiet down. They all shot him disapproving glances as he continued. “When Jamie told me, I got worried. So… I decided to go check. Gotta be a guardian right?”

“But Jack…” Tooth said, standing. “It’s dangerous! What if he was there?”

Jack winced and rolled on the balls of his feet extending his arms.

“I’m fine… See? Besides… I can safely say it wasn’t him!” He sat back down and so did Tooth. “He- It just… it felt off… like he wasn’t there..”

Bunny was growing more impatient by the second.

“So if it wasn’t Boogy fearland, who was it?” He edged on, twirling a boomerang in his hand for comfort. “Some creature or unknown force?”

“A new player perhaps?” North stroked his beard again, thinking over the possibility.

“Whatever it is… we’re completely in the dark about it and Jack disproved our best lead?” Bunnymaud shot the younger one a look that said ‘we’ll talk later’. “We’re stuck. We’ve got nothing!”

Just as he finished his remark a rare but familiar light shone into the hall. Jack smiled as he flew up, looking at the moon now moving into view.

“Manny!” He exclaimed, ecstatic as any feeling of fear suddenly felt lightyears away. “You have something to say?”

The light slowly shone over Jack as the other guardians watched. He seemed to be glowing, clothes and hair lighting up. It only lasted a moment though as the beam quickly moved to the table. Shadows flashed fast as they tried their best to make out what they were.

Shadowbeings (ones Jack recognized too well), a prison, a little girl, a man, a staff, a heart, and an armor helmet.

“What… what’s that supposed to mean old friend?” North asked looking up. Like usual, there was no response but instead, the crystal started to rise from the ground.

North smiled pridefully and eyed Bunny.

“See... I told you the hole was a good idea!”

The rabbit scoffed as he moved closer to the center.

“It’s a big deal, I see.”

“ Another guardian?” Tooth said excitedly. “I wonder…”

The crystal lit up as the beam shone down on it, a shape taking form.

“Whoever it is… They’ll help.” Reassured North. “Just like we learned from Jack.

Jack smiled at the older man and looked back at the crystal only for his smile to drop.

There, in the shape of it, the supposed new guardian….

...was Pitch Black.

Chapter Text

There were cries of outrage that Jack figured would be heard in the south pole. He covered his ears again and moved away from the angry flailing guardians, focusing on the crystal.

“Guys…” He said, upon closer inspection. The shouting didn’t stop. “Guys!” It all continued. Jack flew above them and took a deep breath.

“EVERYONE SHUT UP!”

The shock came over all of their faces as they looked up. He slowly floated down and pointed at the crystal with his staff.

“That’s the new guardian.”

“Yeah!” exclaimed Bunnymaud, foot pounding furiously on the ground, nostrils flaring. “It’s fucking Pitch. Now-” he turned and pointed an accusatory finger at the moon. “-I’ve played along and I’ve listened but I don’t know what shit you’re pulling-”

“Look at it!” Urged Jack “Really look at it! Does that look like Pitch?”

“Yes!” North replied automatically then looking closer. “Wait… No.”

“Is that armor? He’s never worn armor!” said Toothina, inspecting closer as well.

“And a sword! And-and medals of honor!” continued Jack “It might look like him but I really don’t think it is!”

Aster turned up his nose: “Sure as hell looks healthier than normal.”

Jack nodded, eyes fixed on the man-that-might-not-be-pitch-black, an almost familiar figure. At a certain point, they were all looking, trying to understand. No one knew what to do. There was a long moment of silence as it set in that something about the previous malicious figure was going to change or have to, at least.

Sandy jingled cautiously up at North, asking for leadership.

“I… I don’t know Sandy…” He replied, fiddling with his belt. “Moony’s never been wrong. He’s always handpicked every single one of us…”

“What are you saying?!” Bunny asked with indignity “That we go talk to the bastard?”

North started to nod and Aster just got angrier.

“No! No way! We are not going to have a nice chat over tea and biscuits with that monster!”

Jack felt a rush of defensiveness swell in his chest at the word “monster”.

“Bunnymund!” He snapped and the other’s expression dropped, replaced with shock. Jack stumbled to regain his composure. “I mean… we should give it a chance, right? MiM knows what he’s doing…”
North let a soft smile slip in Jack’s direction before putting on his serious leader face.

“Alright, Bunny and I will go capture Pitch. Sandy, make sure to stay on top of any children who wake up because of the fear. Tooth, I need you to go to Santoff Claussen and find Katharine, maybe see if Ombric has anything that can help in the library.”

“The safe haven for dreamers? Can I go?” Jack, who had been waving Sandy goodbye as he left, looked at Tooth, excitement in his eye. He’d recently heard of the small town that housed some of the other guardians and, previously, Saint Nick himself, but he hadn’t had the time to visit yet.

“It’s going to be business, Jack.” She smiled, apologetically “I promise you can visit some other time, so you can look around properly.”

With that, she zipped off. Jack nodded and sat, cross-legged on-air, watching all the guardians gather their things.

“Can I go with you two then?”

North and Bunny both looked up at him. Aster drew in a breath.

“Are you sure, mate? We’re gonna be-”

“Yes, dealing with Pitch, I know! But I want to be a guardian, it’s my job! I can handle myself!” Jack said, letting out an irritated huff.

The older two traded a look as North prepared a snow globe. He then nodded and threw the globe, walking through it with Bunny following. Jack smiled triumphantly and went through the portal.
They arrived at the entrance and Jack sucked his lip in, remembering the earlier events. The three men stood there for a while, eyeing the hole in the ground. North took a breath and started forward, entering cautiously. Jack took it as a sign to move and followed, only to be stopped by a furred paw on his shoulder.

“Be careful…” Bunny urged him. Jack just nodded in response and walked in.

Jack’s stomach dropped as the fear set in again. He could tell the others felt it too, Bunny had his fur on end and North his hands on his sabers. They kept walking, through the winding halls and rooms of the seemingly abandoned underground hideout. At a certain point, Jack stopped, knowing the way to where he had seen Pitch earlier. He needed to find that place again, but he couldn’t explain how he knew to go down that specific path and they would never believe that it was just a gut feeling. He was already in enough trouble as it was.

“I’ll check down here!” He called out and flew down the hall before the other guardians could protest.

He retraced his steps from earlier and choked on a whimper as the fear grew. Part of him wanted to turn around and get out of there, dreading the terror he knew would come with another ambush of whatever those creatures were.

“Pitch!?” He called out, touching down carefully, staff at the ready.

There was a choked sound that echoed through the halls. He followed the sound and the increasing fear. The darkness started to writhe and move the further he went in. Jack did all he could to avoid touching the horrible things that made his skin crawl. Another distressed cry led Jack to the dreaded room and it was a nightmare scene. The living darkness engulfing the supposedly-pitch-man, a single tan-shaded arm extending in a cry for help. Before it all could paralyze him again, The guardian shoot forward and grabbed the arm, trying to pull out the man. As soon as they touched, all the emotions flooded back and tears filled his eyes again. He pushed through it though, something inside his brain chanting to get the man out as he tugged on his arm. This resulted in the darkness stirring and trying to engulf him as well. Panic took over as he whipped his staff trying to push the shadows away but much to no avail. In a final desperate attempt, he brought the staff down between both of them, letting out a scream. A flash of light erupted from the staff and the shadows screeched and raced away. Jack caught the man as he fell, his own body feeling limp and frail. “Pitch” looked up at him completely disheveled and not quite altogether, tried to speak but his voice gave out.

“Okay...Okay...Pitch? Just hold onto me...” Jack said, out of breath, wrapping one arm around his shoulders.

He started out of the hall calling out to the other guardian always looking back to check if anything was following them. He kept calling out, checking on the man as well. Eventually North and Aster rushed to his side, carrying what looked like a necklace.

“Jack, look! We fou-Is that Pitch?!” Bunny asked as the weary man extended his hand for the locket.

“Fuck if I know!” Jack said in a panic as the man grabbed the piece of jewelry.

That small action seemed to set off the beasts that crawled the walls as they all suddenly swarmed to the man, the impact and fear sending all three guardians back. Jack gasped as the terror set in and he watched the man morph back into his worst fear.

“Hello, guardians…” chuckled the chilling voice as eyes shone gold.

Chapter Text

Fear.

When Jack saw that face again, that was the emotion that took over. Time froze as Pitch loomed over him and the surrounding creatures howled in delight at their semi-restored master. The man that had occupied Jack's mind and many of his dreams the last few days seemed totally different from the monster now in front of him. He had seemed reasonable, Pitch was… insane.

“Jack! Move!” Bunnymaud called out to him, helping Jack register that the world was still moving and that Pitch was stalking towards him. He hastily got up and grabbed his staff, dodging the shadows that rushed to meet Pitch.

When he got to the other guardians, they immediately got in front of him. North store at Pitch as he cackled walking towards them, Bunny focusing on calming down Jack, who was breathing heavily and wide-eyed.

“Breath, Jack. We’ve got it” He said as took his boomerangs out of their holsters. “Just focus on getting your bearings.”

With only a look shared between them, North and Bunnymaud both charged at Pitch. They cut through the shadows that lept to Pitch’s aid, others circling at his feet and some even racing out of the surrounding woods, rushing by Jack and leaving him shaken. He watched as the struggle continued.

With every blow that landed another dark creature dissipated. The others compensated, crawling over and around Pitch, trying to keep him protected. It seemed to be working but every so often, Jack would catch a glimpse of tan and gold between the shadows.

“Get the shadows away from him…” Jack mumbled.

“What?!” Bunny called out, catching one of his boomerangs that spun towards him.

“Get the shadows away from him!” Jack shouted, gripping his staff with more confidence. “When he isn’t covered he’s weak!”

There was a mutual nod as their plan changed. They spread out, dividing Pitch’s attention. Jack took to the sky, feeling Pitch’s eye on him as a smirk formed on his face.

He dodged the creatures that were sent after him as North sped behind Pitch and Aster kept his attention forward. Shadows swirled after the two guardians, desperately trying to land a hit. Bunny kicked them as they came his way and Nick spun his blade, backhanding the ones that tried to attack him. He spun closer as Bunny whistled and sent off four boomerangs.

With Pitch and the shadowlings thoroughly distracted by the spinning weapons and raining ice, Klaus dodged next to Pitch and slashed his side. Pitch cried out, gripping his side as the thousand of shadows echoed his pain. North got back up to his feet quickly realizing all of the opposition’s attention was now turned on him.

North ran, dodging behind trees as he avoided the now enraged darkness. Jack tried to bring at least some focus back to him and Maud, but all efforts were in vain as even Pitch advanced towards North. Bunny raced around, catching his boomerangs and taking out some of the shadows that defended Pitch’s back. It was useless, Shadows surrounded North restraining him. He grunted as shadows twisted his arm and his sabers fell to the floor. A wickedly delighted grin crossed Pitch’s face.

Before Jack could react, Aster lunged. Without even turning his head, Pitch’s darkness-covered hand gripped around Bunny’s throat. He desperately kicked at the arm, trying to free himself as Jack rushed down. More shadows moved over Pitch, trying to smoother the two cornered guardians.

“Hey!” Jack called out finally getting Pitch’s gaze on him. His eyes darted between Pitch and the struggling North and Maud. Jack’s breathing got faster as his hands shook. Pitch only looked at him, snarling in a taunting manner.

“Jack!” North cried out from under the blanket of darkness that covered his face.

Jack frowned and gripped his staff that lit up. Pitch raised an eyebrow and that was it. Jack could barely control himself as he barreled towards a blank spot on Pitch’s chest. He slammed the top end of his glowing staff against it with full force.

The flash of light was blinding. Aster was dropped to the ground and Klaus covered his head, shielding himself from the blast. Jack was sent flying, back hitting a tree as he cried out, pain shooting up his spine. He fell to the ground, staff a couple of feet from him.

As the dust settled and most of the shadows slinked away, Pitch lay on the ground, knocked out cold. Some fearlings still clung to him, but patches of that unrecognizable skin showed through.

“Jack?!” Bunny called out, getting back on his feet and rushing over. “What was that? Are you okay?!”

He got up slowly, rolling his shoulders to alleviate the ache. He nodded.

“Yeah…yeah… I’m okay…” Jack stood up, shaking himself off, eyes never leaving the unconscious man.

“Whatever it was…” North laughed “You should have done it sooner.”

Jack just kept nodding, walking towards Pitch. Bunny went to stop him but a snowglobe portal opening up interrupted him.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re all okay!” Tooth said flying out and looking over Bunny and North like a worried mother.

“Woah.” Said a woman who had accompanied Tooth through the portal. “We certainly missed something.”

Jack ignored all of this though, kneeling down next to Pitch. His hand seemed to move on its own as it hovered over his body glowing softly. With each movement of Jack’s hand, the shadows that covered Pitch’s body would also shift. They inched away from the light, giving way to the man that lay underneath.
Jack watched, mesmerized, as the darkness seemed to burn off, desperately trying to cling to the man. It seemed like-

A hand came to rest on top of his own. He jumped as the light disappeared and he turned to see a brunette woman crouching next to him, smiling softly.

“Hi…” She said putting her hand out. “I’m Katherine.”

Jack blinked. “Katherine…” He repeated before shaking his head. “Katherine! Mother Goose! Yes!” He took her hand, shaking it enthusiastically. “It’s so good to finally meet you! I’m Jack… Frost!”

She laughed at his awkwardness, some hair falling in her face. She was pretty, Jack thought, and not at all what he had imagined when he’d learned of the other guardian. Rather than an old granny, she looked more his age and was dressed ready for adventure. She was familiar and comforting, like coming home after weeks away.

“What… What were you doing there?” Katherine asked, pointing at his hand then back at Pitch.
“I…” He rubbed his hand, trying to recall the last couple of minutes. Jack could only laugh. “I don’t know actually…”

She looked at him for a while and studied his face. Jack’s smile slowly dropped as her gaze seemed to be searching for something. Before he could comment she blinked and stood up, dusting herself off.

“Anyone gonna help us lug him off?” She called out to the yeti’s that had come after them through the portal.

They grunted and opened a sack, moving to pick up Pitch. Before they could touch him, Jack used his staff and grabbed the Yeti’s wrist. They all stared at him.

“Oh…” He let the Yeti go who grunted in response as it lifted Pitch from off the ground and into the sack.

Jack turned around, averting his gaze and trying not to get upset. He grimaced at the weird protectiveness that seemed to take over whenever he was around Pitch. The ancient connection that seemed to engulf his mind, the illusion of alliance that pulled at his fingertips and gripped his heart. Jack saw a broken, hurt man and didn’t want him hurting any longer.

How could he feel that? This was Pitch! Not some fallen soldier! That vivid dream was just messing with his head…

“You okay?”

Katherine tapping his shoulder brought Jack back to the moment.

“We’re heading back North…” She said, smiling sympathetically. “ You coming with?”

Jack watched as the Yetis went back through a portal, followed by Aster, Toothina, and North. His eyes darted to the sack that disappeared through the light. He looked away, rubbing the bridge of his nose to calm down.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m going.”

He followed Katharine as they both stepped through the swirling light

Chapter Text

“Fucking hell! Can you be a little more gentle?!” Jack said in response to the Yeti tossing Pitch into the small dungeon.

All he got in response was an amused grunt and dismissal of his concern. The iron door shut with heavy noise and Jack crouched, looking at the still unconscious man. He rubbed his face a let out a sigh. He was completely overwhelmed and he was starting to doubt that he had any control over his emotions. Maybe it was the mistreatment of someone in the same place as him a couple of years back (He wouldn’t have liked being thrown in a dungeon). Maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t known North had a dungeon until 5 minutes ago. Maybe it was that he had only just met a very important guardian and was starting to realize that, even with his extensive research, there was so much about the guardians he still didn’t know.

Jack stood up, took one last look at Pitch, and walked back to the grand hall. He was exhausted, and the slowly growing conversation told him he wasn’t getting a break any time soon.

“He still tried to attack us!” Bunny argued as Jack walked in. “Even when we were recruiting him.”

“I would hardly call that recruiting,” Jack responded, moving to sit down. “And you both saw how weak he was when we regrouped.”

“It was likely a ploy to get us to drop our guard.” North said.

He was serious. More serious than Jack had seen him in a long time. His expression only made Jack more torn. On one hand, he knew that part of that protectiveness was for his sake. On the other, the treatment of the “recruit” like such an outsider didn’t sit right with him.

“I don’t like this!” Tooth cut in. “Not one bit! Him! Under this roof! If he comes too and gets loose, who knows what he might do!”

“Yeah! She’s right…” Bunny said, tapping his foot as Sandy jingled in agreement. “ Maybe he has just been waiting for a chance like this! Maybe he hijacked the crystal! Maybe he got to MiM!”

“HEY!” Jack, North, and Katherine all snapped at the same time. They all looked at each other, slowly backing down and regaining composure. Katherine was the one to continue:

“Aster, I know you’re worried. But I know MiM has a reason for everything. He’s got a plan. He can be very intimidating for his size and-”

“Wait…” Jack stopped her. “You’ve met him?!”

“Yeah,” She said, turning to him. “When I was on the moon after-” She cleared her throat. “I stayed with him for a while.”

Jack was awestruck. He looked at the other guardians getting up from his chair.

“You knew about this?”

“Well…” North started only to get interrupted.

“You KNEW that it was possible to meet him! And you never told me?!”

“Jack, the situation was complicated,” Katherine said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “It was an exception made for my par-”

Jack moved away from her, backing away from the rest of the group. Bunny tried to reach out but he lifted off the ground tears welling up in his eyes.

“You all know so much that I don’t! And you don’t even think to clue me in on it…”

Before any of the others could refute him, he flew out of the open skylight into the cold night air, needing to get away from the horrible otherness he felt. He wiped the tears that fell down his face, getting as high as he could, directly in front of the sliver of moon that was visible. He let out a scream, hoping it would get someone’s attention.

“THIS IS INFURIATING !!” Jack sobbed between each scream. “EVERY TIME I think I have a grasp on all of this, I’M PROVEN WRONG!”

He gripped his staff, hunching over it as he cried, the feeling of being inconsequential draping his mind. He felt like a lost child, scared and cold, the freeze in his bones suddenly feeling real and prominent. He looked back up at the MiM, cheeks soaked and eyes red.

“I just want to be a guardian…Please… I just wanna belong.”

Jack stayed there, curled up in mid-air, for who knows how long. After he had gone quiet, only his shaky breath filling the silent air, he slowly unfurled himself. There was an ache in him as he stretched and he wasn’t quite ready to face the rest of the guardians yet. Not in any rush, he slowly flew to Jamie’s house, wanting the comfort of the kid's presence.

He got to the window and looked inside. Jamie was asleep, to much relief of Jack. He was incredibly perceptive to Jack’s feelings and that’s the last thing he needed. He slowly climbed inside, moving to sit on the floor by the end of the bed. He rested his head on the mattress and closed his eyes, letting his breathing calm down as he listened to Jamie’s soft snores.

He must’ve dozed off because Jack woke up to Jamie screaming and racing out of bed, straight into the hall. He followed, stopping Jamie before he ran into the pitch-black that seemed to be in place of Sophie’s room. He landed in front of him, Jamie running into Jack’s chest a full speed, rambling in a panic about how she was in danger.

“Jamie! Jamie!” Jack whispered, shaking him fully awake.

He gasped, breathing heavily, eyes wild as he looked around in distress.
“Sophie!” Jamie panted, on the verge of tears. “She’s hurt!”

“No! No, buddy!” Jack assured him, looking behind him.

The darkness had disappeared and the hall was back to normal, with the light glow of a nightlight seeping through the cracked door.

“She’s okay.” He said, turning back to Jamie. “She’s safe. It was just a bad dream…”

He nodded, rubbing his eyes as he dropped into Jack’s arms, exhaustion taking over. He picked him up, taking him back to bed and tucking him in. Jack stroked his hair, whispering reassurances and safety up until he finally got to sleep.

Once Jamie’s breathing steadied, Jack’s whole demeanor changed. His hands tighten around his staff and he raced out the window, going straight back to the North Pole. Any other feelings were now replaced by anger as he went directly to the dungeon. He speed past the protesting Yeti’s and froze the lock, breaking the door open. He hovered at the door, staring Pitch down.

“Why him?!” He barked at the slumped-over man.

He looked sickly, darkness uneven and gushing pathetically. He looked like he was shaking. He looked scared. Jack didn’t notice this though as he landed and gripped the man by the collar aiming his staff.

“Of all the children in the world! Why HIM?!”

Jack’s shout made the darkness roar and a form rose above Pitch, dashing for the exit. Thinking fast, he froze the cell closed and watched as the shadow bounced around, screeching. His leg bounced, as the ice that had formed seemed to glow softly.

“Corner it best you can.” Came a gruff, horse voice from where Pitch had fallen to the floor.

Jack took the advice, having no better option, and focused on sending blows of magic to the shadow slowly trapping it towards the makeshift ice door.

“Close it in, it’ll weaken in the light.”

Jack put up more walls, now stopping the thing from moving past him in any way. The light of the ice grew and so did his frustration.

“Use that energy.” This time a wheeze interrupted him. “Pierce it’s core.”

Jack’s face was set in anger as the light nearly became blinding and he brought his staff over his head. He brought the end down on the wriggling thing as light shot through it. The shadow let out a pitiful wail as it seemed to burst, spreading splots of darkness all over.

He panted, feeling what was left of the creature almost sizzling against his skin. He looked around, trying to gain his composure.

"Holy shit..." Jack watched as the last bits of black dissipated "Holy Shit!"

He jumped up and down excitedly and laughed, as the adrenaline stopped coursing through his veins.

"I didn't know you could actually kill those things without Sandy's magic..."

There was no comment.

"Pitch?..."

The man didn't reply.

"Come on.." The guardian grumbled as he turned around. "Don't sulk now cause you helped the good gu-"

He was handsome, even in the raggedy state he was in. That was one of the first things he noticed. The tan skin that had only been teased was now on full display, raven black hair falling and framing his face, with a new life to it he had never seen before. The face structure was similar but stronger, more muscular. In fact, his whole body seemed more athletic. Beneath the bent and scraped-up gold armor, there was a dynamic shape that made Jack’s cheeks darken, especially as piercing green eyes met his.

Now Jack didn't know much, but he knew one thing for certain. The man in chains was not Pitch Black.

Chapter Text

He was staring. Jack was acutely aware of how he was staring at the man. Was it fear? Shock? Confusion? Attraction? He couldn’t say.

“Uh…” He rolled on the balls of his feet, not knowing what to do next. “Thanks…”

Not-Pitch let out a laugh that slowly turned into a cough.

“I should be thanking you, young man.” He sighed and leaned his head back. “It has been centuries since my mind has been this clear.”

Jack just nodded, not wanting to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Black creatures had just come out of this man and he was smiling, tears of relief in his eyes.

“Can I have some water?” Not-Pitch croaked.

“Yeah.” Jack nodded, proceeding to use the end of his staff to crack the ice entrance.

He could get a cup of water. He could do that. So he did, walking up from the dungeons to the kitchen. As he got the man some water, getting the biggest cup he found, he could still hear the other guardians arguing. It didn’t really register though, Jack had too much going on in his head.

He mentally went through all the possible options. Maybe Pitch was using a disguise to look like the man that had appeared via the crystal. But there was no way he could’ve known what he was supposed to look like. Maybe in that flash of light, Jack had somehow transported someone. His powers have been acting weird after all. Maybe he had been knocked out and was dreaming, about to wake up at any moment.

“Here’s your water, Mister…” He trailed off, walking back into the cell.

“Of course, where are my manners,” Not-Pitch said, berating himself. “My name is Kozmotis Pitchiner. I’m the general for the House of Lunanoff.”

The armor suddenly made sense. And that name… Where had he heard it before?

“Kozmotis. Okay.” Jack repeated, making sure to remember it. “Are you okay? You just had shadows burst out of you.”

“I would rather them out than in.” Kozmotis remarked.

They stayed in silence, neither knowing what to do in this situation.

“And you are?”

“Oh! I’m Jack Frost.” He responded, extending the glass of water. “I’m a guardian.”

“Who are you guarding?” Kozmotis asked, trying to reach for the cup, only for his wrist chain to stop him.

“The children of earth, I guess?” Jack shrugged, half paying attention and looking around, trying to figure out the best way to give him the water.

“Only guardian I ever knew was Tsar’s.”

“Tsar?” Jack asked, furrowing his eyebrows. He really should’ve thought this through more.

“The Lunar prince. I can only imagine he’s probably well grown now.”

That snapped Jack out of the trance he had been in.

“Wait? Do you mean the Man in the Moon?”

He put the cup down, much to Kozmotis’ disappointment. How could he know MiM? Did the other guardians know about this? He had way more questions than he had answers and it was starting to get frustrating. He felt tense, rubbing his forehead and tapping his foot. Jack wanted to scream again. Shake him and demand this man answers.

Instead, he looked at Kozmotis, trying to get to the cup of water, looking like he’d been through hell. Jack realized that maybe he needed a little more help than he did right now.
He sighed and dropped to sit crisscrossed, catching Kozmotis’ attention again.

“I’m gonna let you out now,” Jack explained. “Cause I think we can help each other. Plus, you have to drink your water.”

Kozmotis nodded and extended his hands to the best of his abilities. Jack passed his hand over the chains and they froze, snapping open and falling to the floor. He helped him up, as Not-Pitch was still shaky, having to move by himself.

“Jack?! What are you doing?!”

Both of them turned to find Katherine at the ruined entrance of the cell. She looked furious and Jack suddenly felt concerned, not having seen her like this before. She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Kozmotis, scowling at the man.

“Look…” He said, putting his hands up. “I know that I have probably hurt you the most. I know I took hi-”

“Shut up!” She snapped at him, and Jack could see what looked like tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to hear a word out of you!”

Katherine reached for her belt and took out a curved dagger, threatening him.

“What, the FUCK, are you thinking?” She whispered to Jack. If he felt in danger, he could only imagine how Kozmotis was feeling.

“He’s not Pitch! Katherine, please! He’s disoriented!” He urged. “I helped him get rid of the fearlings!”

“That’s what he wants you to think!” She snapped, walking towards him.

“Please!” Kozmotis begged, keeping his voice low. “Listen to him. I am in debt both to him and to the rest of you for saving me. So put the knife down and-”

“Liar!” Katherine shouted, lunging at him.

Jack jumped into action, grabbing his staff and putting himself between the two others. He caught her hand with the hook of his staff, the low glow back on his skin.

“Katherine!” He barked, finally catching her eye. “He knows MiM!”

She took a step back, letting her arm drop.

“What?”

“He knows MiM!” Jack repeated. “He knows shit about him that he really shouldn’t.”

“Explain…” She said, flashing her dagger at him.

He sighed and put his hands down.

“The moon was a huge kingdom. This was… years ago. MiM’s parents were benevolent rulers and I was their general.” He kept his voice low, not daring to meet her eyes. She kept staring at him though, not wanting to let him out of her sight. “I was in charge of leading the attack against the fearlings. I was guarding the prison…” His voice got shaky. “They tricked me… They imitated my daughter's voice and lured me in…She was missing and I was so desperate…Then they took control. And what I’ve done…” His head fell in his hands, breathing stuttering as if he was about to cry.

Jack could only look at him. He looked broken, suffering hanging in his eyes that he knew was centuries in the making. This was what Pitch truly was, behind all the fear and sadism. All the attacks and taunts, underneath that creature, was Kozmotis, watching it all in horror.

“I…” Jack finally said after long contemplation. “I think he’s telling the truth…”

“I know what I’ve done to you,” Kozmotis whispered, after catching his breath, but with obvious pain in his voice. “To all of you. I know who I took from you. What I tried to make you. You have no reason to trust me, let alone forgive me. I’ve been a monster…” He finally turned up to look at Katherine. “But I do understand lost love and I know the pain I caused you is unbearable.”

She had tears in her eyes. Her hand trembled with each word he spoke. Jack had no idea what Kozmotis was referring to, but Katherine clearly did.

“What he did for you was immeasurable. But that's how he had always been. Trust me, I knew him well. I sobbed with you at his farewell, even if the creatures who tortured me didn’t. He only ever loved one other that way…”

“You have no right to speak of him!” She snapped, tears now running down her face.
Katharine grabbed him, lunging to get a hold of Kozmotis before Jack could stop her.

“Katherine!” Jack called out trying to stop her as she dragged Kozmotis out of the cell and up to the Grand Hall. “Be reasonable!”

“Reasonable?” She stopped, letting Pitchiner fall to the floor. He winced but did not have the strength to get up himself, he just kept his head down. “I am being reasonable, Jack.”

“I would say otherwise!” He croaked out, nervousness evident in his voice. Once again, Jack couldn’t help but feel unsettled by the rage that came off of Katharine. It was like there was a voice in the back of his head screaming how wrong and bad it was to have her feeling like this. “Let’s think this through! We don’t want a panicked room of Guardians!”

The smile he tacked on at the end, trying to add some levity, didn’t seem to work. All she did was pick up Kozmotis again and turn to look back at him.

“Don’t fucking talk to me right now. You’re not the person I want you to be.”

With that she continued barreling up the stairs, Jack hot on her tail, trying to get her to stop. This definitely caught the attention of the guardians, who are all looking at the entrance expectantly when they walked in. Katharine marched right to the front of the room and placed Kozmotis in front of the guardian’s table.

“Can anybody explain to me why Jack was helping him?”

Everyone turned to look at him, as Jack tried to regain his composure. Everyone but Sandy, who just stared at the prisoner, looking like he had just seen a ghost.

“It’s the man from the crystal!” Jack blurted out, pointing at Kozmotis who was slowly getting himself into a sitting position. “We had all agreed that it was kinda Pitch! This is kinda Pitch!”

“Yes!” Tooth said, clearly moving away from Pitchiner. “But Jack…He is still Pitch…”

“No, he’s not!” Jack shouted, getting more and more frustrated with the situation. That weird pull to defend Kozmotis, especially seeing the weak man in front of him now, only getting stronger. It was really starting to get on his nerves. “Or kinda! Just hear him out!”

“Nope. I’m not hearing anyone out.” Aster said, cracking his neck and making his way towards Katharine and Kozmotis. “And we gotta have a talk about dealing with prisoners, mate.”

“No!”

Jack swooped in, getting between the two. A shaky hand came up to grab the back of his sweater as all the others looked at him. He swallowed and doubled down, bringing his free hand back to hold onto Kozmotis’. All the guardians backed away, anger clearly growing in both Bunnymaud and Katharine.

“Jack. Step away from him. Now.”

He shook his head, looking Bunny right in the eye.

“He needs help.” He said, surprising himself with how strong his voice was. “He might not be a child. But still. We help people.”

“He’s tortured children, Jack!” Tooth yelled, horrified.

That seemed to open the floodgates as an all-out screaming match started. Each guardian dished out Pitch’s crimes, disappointment radiating off of each of them as they berated Jack. All he could do was close his eyes and hold his ground, shielding Kozmotis from most of the insult. He had dealt with their letdown before.

“I guess a tan is all you need for Jack to trust you!”

“Everything he’s done to Jamie! You’re still sticking by him?”

“Where is this even coming from? He’s targeted you specifically before!”

Between all the chaos, no one noticed the Moon creeping into the open skylight and the moonbeam that slowly crept toward Jack.

“We have a way of going about things!”

“You have no idea how much he’s done! Before you ever became a guardian!”

“You don’t know what he’s planning!”

“Jack…” Kozmotis rasped, tugging on the back of the sweater. He didn’t notice though, keeping his head down and squeezing his hand tighter.

“Is that what you want to do to the children?!”

“Trust me when I say, nothing good will come from this!”

“I told all of you this was a horrible idea!”

“Jack.” Kozmotis repeated, this time firmer and more alarmed, trying to get him to notice the beam slowly creeping toward him.

“You have no idea what you're doing!”

“You have to listen to us!”

“Where’s Sandy?!”

“Jack!” Kozmotis called.

That was the last thing Jack heard as the feeling of the moonbeam surrounded him and he dropped his staff, vision fading to black.

Chapter Text

This was the most lively Nightlight had ever seen the kingdom. Music spilled in from every corner, cheers and chants mixed into the noise. The smell of food and drink traveled on the soft wing. A small giggle caught his attention.

Nightlight looked down at the bassinet beside him. In it laid the reason for all of this, the newborn prince Tsar Lunar X. He brought his finger down to play with the curl atop the baby’s head. It was quickly trapped by two tiny hands and his gaze was met with a gummy smile.

There was no place he would rather be. He was the prince's bodyguard, in charge of his safety, happiness, and well-being. He was honored to be the child’s own personal Guardian.

A whistle drew his attention across the ballroom where the King and Queen were talking to another couple. They motioned for him to join them, so he bid farewell to Tsar and floated over, looking behind him to make sure one of the other guards had taken his place by the bassinet. He landed softly next to the Queen, raising an eyebrow in questioning.

“Nightlight, we just wanted you to meet our new General.” She said, with the ever present softness that gave her all the grace and poise that Nightlight admired. “This is Kozmotis and Lady Pitchiner.”

Nightlight turned to the young couple. The woman was regal with brown hair in a half-updo and a long golden gown stretching down to the floor. She gave him a small, polite nod when their gazes met. He then looked towards the man.

He was tan, with raven hair, and newly gifted gold armor. His eyes met Nightlights and it was taken aback by the intensity in them. There was kindness and passion in them, that came together in a swirl of green.

Nightlight exaggerated a bow, letting his head dip all the way to the floor. A rush of pride came over him when he looked back up to see that the young couple had laughed at his little performance. It straightened himself back up with a shy smile, cheeks dusted lightly blue.

“It’s a pleasure,” said Lady, eyes crinkling as she smiled.

“Indeed.” Kozmotis extended his hand towards him. “I believe we’ll do well together in keeping the family safe.”

Nightlight took his hand and gave it a small squeeze. It was warm, and between that and the lovely smile Lady was giving him, he was sure the stars all shone a little brighter that night.

~

It was the prince’s bedtime. His room should be cleared of all staff and the lights should be low.

There should not be a little girl, curved over the bassinet, looking over the young prince.

Nightlight looked over her, trying to sense any danger. He listened as the girl softly spoke to the prince.

“It must be boring being paraded around all day. I should take you on a trip one day.” She whispered. “We can surf the stars and I can show you my favorite parts of the constellation. We’ll need to get you out of this ridiculous get-up though.”

“Toot!” Tsar giggled in response.

“You said it.” She retorted. “I’ll work on the escape plan but you better keep your mouth shut, little man.”

Nightlight couldn’t help but smile. He did agree that it was a little isolating for Tsar, as he was not usually allowed to interact with other children. It was particularly for safety, so he couldn’t bring himself to break up the scene in front of him. She clearly meant no harm.

Luckily he didn’t have to, as a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Emily Jane!” Lady called, rushing into the room. “What do you think you’re doing, young lady?!”

The girl (Emily Jane, Nightlight made a mental note) turned up from the crib and looked back at her mother, caught red-handed.

It could see her fully now and she was the spitting image of her father. Her slender nose, raven hair, and striking green eyes all gave away that she was a Pitchiner.

Lady quickly picked her up, embarrassment and worry painting her face.

“I apologize greatly, Nightlight. I have no idea what came over her.”

“Everyone else got to see him but me!” Emily Jane whined, trying to wiggle out of her mother's grasp.

Nightlight simply let out a laugh, waving off the whole ordeal, much to Lady’s relief. It gestured to the young girl, asking if she was a handful.

“Yes…” Lady sighed, moving herself and her daughter towards the door. “And, to be honest, I think Koz just encourages her.”

Nightlight nodded and moved aside, letting Lady walk out the door and down the hall.

“Remember the plan!” Emily Jane called out, over her mother's shoulder, still kicking her feet in protest.

Nightlight watched them leave trading a soft, tender smile with Lady. He then made his way to the crib and started the nightly routine, singing softly to the prince.

~

Nightlight used his staff to knock on the door of the General’s office.

He had seen him earlier, when he had briefed the Royal family on pushing back the attacks from Dream Pirates and Fearlings, but had requested to see Nightlight personally whenever possible.

Tsar was busy with his parents enjoying dinner, so now seemed like the perfect time to see what Kozmotis needed.

“Come in.” It heard from the other side of the door.
It walked in to Koz, looking down at his desk, frowning at the latest strategy he had put together. But when he looked up and saw Nightlight in the doorway, his face softened and a smile found its way across his lips.

“Ah, Nightlight.” He put the papers down and sat up, fixing his hair. “Thank you for coming.”

Nightlight smiled back, bowing his head in a greeting.

“I wish this invitation was on more pleasant terms but sadly not.”

Nightlight's mind wandered to one of their last meetings, where Kozmotis had stumbled over his words to extend an invitation for dinner at the Pitchiner household. It had obviously agreed and ended up spending a wonderful evening with the couple and their daughter over one of Lady’s home-cooked meals.

Before a blush could cross his cheeks, it focused back to the task at hand. Kozmotis was serious about something and they both had responsibilities to see to.

“Now, it’s nothing too alarming…” the General continued after Nightlight had motioned him to. “Hence why I decided not to bring it up to our King earlier today.”

It nodded. He trusted Kozmotis’s judgment.

“I have been noticing a pattern in the Pirate’s attacks. They used to be more sporadic in placement but now they seem to be targeting the southeast side of the castle.”

He didn’t need it spelled out for him. That was the prince’s personal wing.

“ It doesn’t seem like their main goal right now,” Kozmotis assured, once he’d seen the recognition on Nightlight's face. “...more like an extra benefit if they managed to get their hands on him. I just thought you should know.”

Nightlight gestured a thank you.

“Would you like more security in that area? I can make the arrangeme-”

It put a hand up to stop him and shook it’s head. Kozmotis watched him as he twirled his staff and brought it down, a flash of powerful light flooding the room.

Kozmotis nodded and smiled.

“Good to know. Though I would be interested in seeing your skills up close if we ever get the chance to spar.”

Nightlight smiled as it’s gaze met his.

~

Nightlight was sitting on the courtyard floor, slowly helping the Tsar as he got the hang of walking on his own.

Lady was sitting on a bench along with Emily Jane, who huffed in protest as her mother braided her hair.

“Tch, stay still, Emily Jane. You keep complaining about it getting in your face.”

She groaned. “Why can’t I just cut it?”
“Because…” Lady said, holding a pin between her teeth. “It’s a symbol of beauty and power. Every strand is as important as every Moonmouse and pebble you see. It all makes up the world that is you, my dear.”

Emily Jane simply rolled her eyes as her mother finished pinning the braids in place.

“There.” Lady leaned back to admire her work. “Plus, knowing you as soon as I said yes you would take a blade to it and end up looking a wreck.”

Emily Jane gawked at her mother in shock, mouth opening and closing like a fish. Lady took one look at her daughter's expression and couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled in her throat.

Nightlight watched the two intently, slowly guiding the prince closer to him with the fingers he had tightly in the baby’s grasp. While Emily Jane pouted, arms crossed in annoyance, Lady laughed freely. Her head was leaned back, her own free hair moving with the shudder of her shoulders, eyes crinkling like he was so used to seeing. It made Nightlight's heart swell with joy.

“You would still look lovely, dear.” Lady finally commented, wiping her eyes from tears. “Just uneven.”

Emily Jane ignored her, jumping off the bench and shooing Nightlight away, demanding it was her turn to play with Tsar.

He acquiesced and took her spot on the bench, sitting next to Lady. He waited a moment, relishing in the sweet smile she had on her face looking down at the two children, before gesturing to inquire where Kozmotis was. It hadn’t seen him in almost two days, which, for them, was rare.
Lady sighed at the questions, a sad air surrounding her.

“He’s been preparing for that attack on the Fearlings in a couple of days.”

She brought her hand to rub her forehead as Nightlight placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t even know when he last slept…” She admitted in a whisper, probably intending to not let the children overhear. “I don’t know what to do…hopefully, after this success, things might calm down.”

Nightlight brought his hand down from her shoulder and over her own, taking it with the gentleness he knew she needed now more than ever. Lady looked at him, a blush traveling over her cheeks as it took her hand and placed a light kiss over her knuckles.

“It’ll be okay, Lady…” He murmured against her skin, eyes meeting hers as she smiled at his voice.

It would be okay, he believed. It had to.

~

Any form of composure had been thrown out the window the moment he heard the news.

The Pitchiner home had been raided by pirates.

Lady and Emily Jane were dead.

He barreled down the halls, desperately trying to make it to the general’s office. As he barged through the door, the state of the room broke his heart even more.

Anything on the walls had been torn down, the desk was on its side and papers were strewn everywhere. Sobs echoed throughout the room as Nightlight softly approached Kozmotis, who was kneeling on the floor, body shaking with his cries.

Nightlight put a hand on his shoulder and kneeled to meet him.

“Kozmotis…” He whispered out, voice gravely from it’s lack of use.

Tearful green eyes met his. It cupped Kozmotis’ face seeing his pain reflected in the man.

“It’s my fault…I should’ve been there…” He sobbed out, gripping the locket he always wore.

Nightlight pulled him into an embrace, fingers wrapping in raven hair, trying desperately to bring some semblance of peace even though he knew he himself had none to offer.

“No…Koz…No, you couldn’t have known…” He pleaded with the man.

Kozmotis said nothing in response. He just sobbed in it’s arms, unable to control the grief that took over him. Nightlight buried his face in his hair and hummed slowly and softly, sprinkling some Moonsand over Kozmotis.

“Sleep, Koz…” Nightlight choked out, not knowing what else to do. “You’ll feel better once you sleep….”

Soon the sobs died and were replaced with shallow breathing as Kozmotis slept in it’s arms. Tears fell down Nightlight’s face as, for once, his light dimmed.

~
They looked at each other. They knew that arguing was useless. They had already argued dozens of times before.

Nightlight looked away from Kozmotis.

“I know you’re worried…” Kozmotis sighed. “But I think the space will help.”

It didn’t respond. Kozmotis had already heard everything he had to say. The isolation wouldn’t help. He would be even more alone. He’s in a fragile state that could be taken advantage of (that had started a whole other argument on how Nightlight viewed him as weak). But nothing had changed Kozmotis’ mind.

So now they were here, on a pier where a ship was going to take Koz to his new position.

The single guard for the fearlings prison planet.

The silence hurt too much but Nightlight didn’t dare to break it. Because in that sadness was grief and pain and longing and the definition of their relationship (something they had not dared to talk about).

He couldn’t look Kozmotis in the eyes. It knew they were sunken in and red. He couldn’t bear to see how hollow he looked now after being honorably discharged from his prided position. After nights of crying and picking through the wreckage of his home.

Kozmotis turned to board the ship but Nightlight’s arms wrapped around his torso stopped him.

“You better come back,” Nightlight whispered, almost like a prayer.

Kozmotis turned around, hand coming to Nightlight’s chin so their eyes could meet. They said nothing, but this silence was different. There was love in it, the love for each other, the love for Lady, the love for Emily Jane. There was also forgiveness, but for what exactly neither of them could place.

Kozmotis leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Nightlight’s lips.

“You’ll see me again, I promise…” Kozmotis muttered against it’s lips.

All it could do was nod.

Kozmotis pulled away, taking the warmth Nightlight had been enveloped in with him.

They watched each other as Koz boarded the ship and it took off. With one final look at each other, Nightlight bowed, once again goofy and exaggerated. He reveled as Kozmotis laughed, his tears being carried from his face by the gravity of space.

~

Nightlight held onto that promise.

As the kingdom started to crumble. As the King and Queen entrusted him with the precious prince one last time. As he flew head first into the center of the king of darkness.

Nightlight looked him in the face as he did it. The icy blade made from Tsar’s tear stung in his hand and made his eyes burn. There was no raven hair, no tan skin, no crinkled eyes. Just fear. In front of him was a monster pretending to be his dear general.

It’s brow was furrowed in focus as the blade made contact with the vile creature.

He let the explosion take him as he closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. In the distance, he could feel himself falling towards the green and blue planet that was supposed to be their salvation. But in his mind, those colors were just the eyes of the Pitchiner couple.

The prince was safe. His job was done. With a sign he let himself go, hoping to be met with the warmth and laughter he once knew.