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Jack has separation anxiety. Well… he didn't know this yet until recent events where it started to show. Jack was just relaxing in the pole, thinking about how he and the others defeated Pitch about a week ago. Jack thought to himself for a moment, he was alone in the pole right now because everyone had returned home. North didn't know Jack lacked a place to stay and sleep, he was just some random winter spirit so Jack didn't really require a home per say. Jack was relaxing at the fireplace until he started to feel a sharp pain in his chest, he didn't really know what this was because it only happened twice, once when the first 10 kids walked through him he got this sharp pain which was followed by slight tears he didn't even understand yet. The second time however happened recently, when pitch tore his staff in half and threw him into the canyon. Jack glanced at his staff which was lying on the floor, unbroken and untouched. The pain continued which it honestly felt like jack was having a heart attack- he didn't know how that felt but he could imagine based on the name. Things started to blur around him- ‘I need to find north’ Jack got up and walked off slightly quickly in a panic looking for north, he left his staff on the floor.
Jack shuffled quickly trying norths bedroom down the hall then the kitchen and finally norths office.
As Jack opened the door he was grasping his chest. “North- my chest- hurts-”
“Jack? What's wrong? Do you need first aid?” North looked up at the troubled boy who just stumbled into his office. He immediately scooped Jack up and sat him down on the desk like he was a patient and north was the doctor.
“My chest hurts a lot” Stuff was a blur in Jack's vision and his breathing increased rapidly.
North removes Jack's hoodie while talking to Jack to narrow down the problem. “Did the Pitch fight leave injuries?” North thought for a second and remembered Jack falling out of the sky and hitting the dumpster; but when the hoodie was off there were no physical injuries north could see.
Jack was huffing a bit “I think- I think im having a heart attack” Jack couldn't move, the uncomfortable pain wouldn't stop.
“Breathe my boy.” North had seen this before “Put your arms up above your head. Breathe slowly and take deep breaths.” Jack Frost, the spirit of fun, was sitting down in his office having a panic attack. North's face softened looking at the poor boy who sat on the desk. North moved to hold Jack's hand after Jack's breath steadied.
“Thank you, the pain went away.” Jack felt awkward but the touch was soothing, just having north there was soothing for Jack, he didn't like to be away from the guardians.
“That was a panic attack, what was making you anxious” North asked
“I- i dont know it just happened, i wasnt even anxious.” Which was a semi lie but jack really wasn't that worked up when it triggered.
“Okay, well if you ever have another one just remember you are in control of your body and you can focus on breathing.” North handed Jack his hoodie back. “You are always welcome here okay? Wherever in the pole- well besides elf and yeti sleeping quarters.”
Jack laughed and took his hoodie out of North's hands “Thank you.” Jack had his signature grin.
“Ofcourse.” North turned and got back to work. “The kitchen has cookies if you want any.”
Jack nodded his head, instead of leaving he spent the rest of his time around north for the day following him around.
—
Toothiana noticed the way Jack would only fall asleep around others, the way he would constantly try to contact north or other guardians to check on them. Which honestly put off the guardians at first because it was completely out of character for Jack. Toothiana also noticed Jack seemed to be very sick stomach wise before he came to see her. He would claim “oh yeah i get random stomach aches but being around you seems to sooth them” Jack said with his charming smile. Tooth found it odd, but Jack didn’t. Jack chalked everything up to “oh i just got believers maybe it that” but She knew it wasn't
that, when she first got believers this never happened before. Jack was relaxing right beside Tooth in her palace while she was working, she didn’t want to appear busy because when she did Jack would leave. Jack was sleeping on the floor after about 20 minutes, she stared at him. She thought to herself ‘Maybe this is the effect of the battle we had with pitch? Is he scared he will come back?’ She must confront Jack about this eventually.
—
Jack sat in bunnymunds warren, the warren was honestly hot and sticky to Jack but better then being alone he thought to himself. Jack ended up prompting himself near the water where it was a tad cooler and had a bit of a breeze.
“Okay- what's up you vermin? Came to freeze my flowers or my eggs-” Bunnymund was staring at Jack, Jack was looking back at him with an innocent face but bunnymund didn’t trust that look. “What are ya planning mate?”
“To- uh?” Jack wasn't sure how to answer that one “Just- nothing honestly?”
“ya asking me that or saying that?” Bunnymund said, pointing at Jack like he was trying to catch a lie.
“Im telling you. I don't plan to do anything, I can leave if you want?” Jack said sincerely, he didn’t understand what was up with himself, he felt the need to constantly check in with north- like he was his father or something, he felt the need to always be near the guardians when sleeping or doing anything really, anytime the guardians were away Jack would feel this feeling rise out of his stomach which made him feel light headed and increase his heart rate.
Bunnymund didn’t know how to feel with the scene in front of him. “You can stay, just don’t mess me up ya bloody showpony.” Bunnymund turned back to his eggs.
Jack laid down on his back near the stream as he slowly drifted to sleep beside the running water. Bunnymund stayed close- not for Jack really, no one knew he had separation anxiety yet but bunnymund instead watched him the whole time for any pranks.
—
Sandy was Jack's closest friend out of the guardians, they shared secrets that no one could tell anyone else- well not like the other party could really tell anyone. Sandy slowly noticed Jack always wanting to be near someone or trying to ask about the others like a concerned child.
On this particular night Jack had fallen asleep on Sandy's cloud, which was normal or typical but Sandy thought Jack could've used a bed better; One effect Sandman's clouds had was the fact that his little dreams could show above others heads and get quick understandings of the others dreams.
As Jack was laying down Sandy decided to take a peak, in Jack's dream he was laying next to what appeared to be the other guardians or even Jamie, Sandy thought about it for a second- was Jack scared to be alone again?
Jack awoke in a quick panic. “Sandy!?” His heart beat was fast, until his eyes landed right upon the tiny golden man. “Oh- hi sandy” Jack rubbed his eyes.
Sandy waved to Jack then flashed a question mark above his head.
“Oh what?” Jack asked as Sandy flashed a bed symbol “Oh- Why don't I sleep in a bed?” Sandy nodded yes. Jack thought for a second before answering “I just- im not scared to sleep alone but it doesn't feel right, I get paranoid and end up just worrying” Jack answered rather honestly.
Sandman took mental note of that nodding and smiling at Jack ‘So i was right.’
The rest of the Night Jack had stayed with Sandy and made small talk about their lives as spirits, Jack has also happened to mention the panic attack he had at the pole awhile ago.
Before Sandy could ask further Jack was off to go find Bunnymund and then visit North.
—
It was nighttime, not a sound from anyone in the streets of the small town. Jack didn’t know it until now but the guardians had faced other threats besides pitch; maybe not the most powerful or strongest threats but still threats. This was one of them, across the clearing in the forest sat 5 timber wolves covered in minimal fearlings left over from the battle with pitch. It was the guardians fighting side by side again but this time Jack was nervous, more nervous then when they had fought pitch, Jack didn't understand why though, this should be a piece of cake according to the others- that was before they all decided to split up. Bunnymund who had previously stood beside Jack now had made a tunnel to catch one of the wolves in the middle, but Bunnymund hopped through.
‘Okay this is fine’ Jack thought to himself, loosening his muscles getting ready to follow someone else's lead. North started doing some odd war cry before he charged at the timber wolves, soon after Sandy floated over getting ready to pull out his whip and then finally toothiana fluttered over extremely quickly. Now the battle had started but unfortunately for Jack he was alone, the guardians had taken the wolves to fight one on one and left the smallest of the pack to Jack, how er- thoughtful right? There was a bunch of yelling and roaring. Jack had lost sight of everyone, his thoughts started to blur together sporadically ‘what if- is someone in pain? Is someone going to get hurt? Is someone going to die-’ The wolf started charging at Jack. With the rumble of the ground Jack was thrown out of his thoughts, chest hurting. This was bad, Jack was now having a panic attack in the middle of the battle with a big beast charging at him. Jack was trying to dodge and shoot or even fly away but he couldn’t, the Timber Wolf was overwhelming him; because of Jack's dismay he couldn't shoot straight and couldn't think straight, the pain in his chest was killing him. For a brief second there was more in Jack's mind besides worry, it was frustration and annoyance. He was annoyed by the feeling, he was frustrated with the fact that when he solved a 300 year long problem of being lonely now other problems began to show. He couldn’t stand MIM, he basically made his immortal life hell- and now he was having to deal with some stupid chest pain.
Frost erupted from Jack's feet which was now planted on the floor about three feet from the timber wolf, the frost shot up in jagged spikes quick and fast until it reached the nightmare and froze him solid. Jack really didn’t care though, that wasn't the source of his pain right now, his heart rate increasing the longer the guardians weren't near him; he didn't want to lose friends he just gained, even though the thought was a little far fetched doesn't mean it hurt any less. He couldn’t be alone again. The pain kept getting worse as Jack put his arms above his head and tried to breathe so what he did next, he sat there, he sat there and he cried.
The guardians finished up pretty quickly with the timber wolves slowly coming back to see the mess of the ice and frost. Sandy spotted it first, Jack curled up into a ball, shaking.
Sandy hurried over to Jack shaking him lightly making Jack look up and see he wasn't alone anymore. Sandy understood what was wrong.
Soon the rest of the guardians ended up running over in a quick pace asking Jack if he was okay.
“Sweet tooth! What happened?” Toothiana asked, huddling over Jack worryingly.
“Sorry mate we didn’t realize you never fought these things before” Bunnymund said assuming that was the problem.
North understood though, he had noticed Jack's behavior and how he had gotten a panic attack back at the pole. “This is panic attack.” North stated bluntly
“Panic- why would he be panicking over this?” Bunnymund asked in disbelief.
Jack looked around hugging his knees with his staff dropped right beside him as North put his hand on his shoulder. “Jack, please tell us what's wrong? Is it because we didn't teach you how to fight timber wolves?” North was going to ask if Jack had gotten physically hurt but looked back at the frozen block of wolf and decided that it probably wasn't that.
Jack took a deep breath trying to steady himself. “I didn't like being alone” Jack felt embarrassed for acting like this “Im sorry-” He tried to apologize not knowing what else to say or do in this moment but he continued on with his previous statement. “I couldn't see anyone, I-” Jack started tearing up again “I didn't know if you were hurt or if I was going to be alone again” Jack finished speaking and sniffled a bit.
This statement hit the guardians like a truck, Jack frost had been alone for so long with no believers or other spirits really beside him, he was alone.
While this thought crossed Bunnymund's mind he also had a word for what Jack was going through. “Mate, I think you might have a case of separation anxiety. That could explain why you have been so clingy and having panic attacks. I guess it never showed up before because you really didn't have anything to lose.”
“We are really sorry for leaving you alone Jack” Toothiana said in a sweet voice reaching for Jack's hand to somehow lean it into a hug, attempting to comfort him.
“It's okay, I didn't even know.” Jack now had back his playful grin trying to dissolve the tension in the area. “We should honestly wrap this up now” Jack taps his staff to the ice, breaking the surrounding ice making the wolf fall apart as well in response.
As the guardians board the sleigh north throws a globe down taking them to the pole.
The rest of the day is spent with hot coco and a lot of deep and interesting talks about each other.
--END