It's been a long time, hasn't it? I hope this would be worth the wait to those who use this website. For those who wanted the uncut version, please head over to Archive of Our Own.

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The youngest guardian fidget a bit, now feeling self-conscious at the fact that he practically went out in his birthday suit with only a blanket as a means of modesty. He could see his clothing and staff by Sandy's feet as well as Tooth holding up a sword against Bunny's nose. After a moment of silence, he finally found the words to speak.

"…It's…not what you think?"

And now…

Jack experienced awkward moments every now and then, before the time he met the Guardians until his eventual "recruitment". Also known as kidnapping.

Like this one time that he was bringing frost somewhere in Eastern Europe, he was just minding his own business when Jack decided to bring a bit of a shake up as an out of season kind of thing…until a summer sprite suddenly came barreling out of nowhere and literally tackled him down to the ground with "hit the deck, bro!" Just before he could even ask what was going on-even thought he might have pissed him off for some stupid reason- his answer came in the answer as the appearance of a beautiful woman dressed in a simple white dress. She seemed nice at first…at least until he spied what seemed to be a ridiculously huge pair of shears on her person.

He remembered how the Summer Sprite managed to hold her off by saying, "We're just two dudes chilling. No pun intended!" All with a relaxed manner while Jack flat on his back. Completely at this…woman's…mercy.

It would seem to appease the woman until she somehow walked off and faded from sight. Back then, Jack would have snapped at the Summer Sprite until the latter revealed that he just saved him from a gruesome death by Lady Midday, heatstroke personified that CLEARLY looks out for those who overwork themselves. Human or otherwise.

It was the most unorthodox meeting of unknown spirits before his eventual join up with the Guardians, but it was nice to know that there are those that are willing to stick their neck out for him during their busy schedule. Or lack there of…it was mostly out of habit for the majority but had done their job nonetheless.

There was also the time in Africa when he come across what seemed to be a tortoise gang were conning a frog out of its money. The aftermath was…interesting.

But nothing….nothing compared to THIS moment right now.

There he was.

Still dressed in the makeshift robe of the blanket that he found in Bunny's burrow, kneeling right next to Bunny who was still on edge by the fact that he just had a sword to his nose by Tooth not too long ago. And said Tooth Fairy was rather fiddling with her blade rather…dangerously…

MiM help him now…

"So…um," Jack spoke as he fidget a bit. "I honestly don't know where to start."

"How about at the beginning?" Pitch spoke up, looking rather relaxed despite the tense atmosphere. That earned him a brief glare from the Guardians, to which Pitch and Onyx both simultaneously looked back at them blankly.

"…Well, none of you are gonna say it." He pointed out. "Might as well be me."

Jack took a deep breath and exhaled before clearing his throat to get their attention. As much as he hated to admit, but Pitch is right. Might as well get it over with and start at the beginning. It was like the Monty Snake film have said: get on with it.

"Well…it all started when I had to break out of the room that North locked me in…"

From that point on, he explained everything. From sneaking out of the room and "borrowing" a few snow globes to the very event of Jack leading Bunny to the Warren…and to the point that he was up creek without a paddle.

"…And that was it." He finished.

Pitch rose an eyebrow less brow at this.

"Really?" He snarked.

He gazed at Jack's appearance as well as the respective reactions of both the boy and the rabbit.

Well, Jack is not a boy anymore, per say.

To this, the youngest guardian fidget a bit.

"Yeah." He simply answered, clearly didn't want to talk about this anymore.

And also find some way to placate Tooth from flaying Bunny alive by the time his back was turned. Maybe he should somehow stash her swords somewhere in North's workshop when this whole Flicker fiasco was over.

Pitch stared at him for what seemed to be along time, making Jack fidget a bit. Bunny sees this and going by his instinct to protect his mate, he immediately went by his side and placed an arm around Jack's pale shoulders. He didn't care if it brought him closer to the chopper block with Tooth gladly taking up the role of the executioner. All that matters is that his mate was distressed and he had to protect him. He shot the boogeyman a glare as he softly let out a rough grunt.

The latter could only raised a brow as he coolly stared back before finally speaking. "Very interesting…" Pitch then made his way back to Onyx's side who nuzzled her muzzle against his hand.

"You've been saying that a lot lately." Jack spoke up dryly.

"Forgive me for my lack of vocabulary to describe this situation." He responded dryly. "What do you want me to say? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?"

"…" Jack could only blink at this.

"What? I was there when the film was in production." Pitch pointed out, shrugging a bit. "There were a lot of creative differences between the writer and the mouse creator. I rather enjoy it."

Everyone stared at him with complete disbelief before one of them finally shook himself out of it before taking a step forward, despite Bunny's silent insistence to stay by his side.

"Anyway, the point of it is that, I gave my consent." Jack pointed out, mostly to the guardians. "I cured Bunny, made sure that he didn't ACTUALLY rape me, and also…" Then he swallowed as he looked down. "…We got hitched. After doing…it…again."

MiM help him now. He wondered if any teenager had to go through with this kind of thing with their own parents.

Jack watched at each face of the Guardians - sans Pitch who was rather indifferent. There was some sort of silent conversation between the three as the took his words to heart. After a moment, Tooth let out a sigh and relaxed her stance as she lowered her swords.

"I guess we have no other choice but…accept it." The last one was forced out through her gritted teeth which said otherwise. Jack just wrote it off as her needing some time to accept the fact that he and Bunny were in a relationship now. "The question is what now? We still have Flicker to worry about."

That lead to silence among the group -sans Sandy, who is always silent. That is the one elephant in the room that they need to tackle, as the look of thoughtfulness came upon each of their faces. Jack felt a shudder coming in and immediately clenched the sheet around him to suppress it. The last thing he remembered was Flicker about to slam his flaming fist into his face before the divine intervention of Pitch. Bunny seemed to notice, probably by instinct, and moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

Jack smiled up to him in appreciation before leaning against his embrace.

So this was it really felt like…

"Well, if you ask for my opinion," Pitch began.

"We don't." Tooth cuts in with a dry tone.

"ANYWAY…" Pitch continued, purposely ignoring her. "I might say, lay low and strategize." Then he looked around. "Perhaps this place will serve as a temporary hideout for the sprite. He has known the location, yes?"

Bunny was about to make a sarcastic retort before closing as he thought it over. So far, the places that Flicker had known was Punjam Hy Loo and North's workshop. But not Sandy's Island of Sleepy Sands and the Warren, for now at least. For once, Pitch was actually on to something.

"No, he hasn't." He confirmed, now with realization. Maybe there is a chance for them to have a comeback against that matchstick of a bloke!

Pitch seemed to be satisfied with this and nodded.

"Now that is settled." Then he let out a small sigh as he turned to Onyx who trotted up next to him and let out a soft neigh. "As much as I enjoy my time with you lot…I should be on my way. And don't worry, I'm not going to cause nightmares on your precious children. I'm still not up at my prime. Yet."

North narrowed his eyes as he pointed his sword at him. "And we will be ready when that time comes."

It came out more as a promise than a declaration.

Pitch merely let out a huff before tuning to the small Nightmare. "Shall we, my dear?"

Onyx let out a soft neigh, which gave Pitch the initiative to find a shadowed part of the Warren. That is until Jack walked over to him and sheepishly stopping him by gripping the fabric of his dark robe.

"Wait…" He spoke up.

Both Pitch and Onyx stopped to look at him, both were surprised at the fact that he approached them. No doubt that the Guardians would be surprised as well at this action but all of them were silent on what Jack has to say.

"I know that you and I don't get along in the past," Then he laughed a little. "Understatement of the year, I know…but I just wanted to thank you, for helping me out back there."

There was a flash of surprise in Pitch's golden eyes at a moment before setting back to a neutral expression.

"It was nothing…" He simply replied. "Good luck against Flicker, you're going to need it." Then he walked to the shadows. He was followed by Onyx, who only took a moment to nuzzle her head against Jack's hand. Jack could only watch as they both melted into the shadows, probably out of the Warren.

Pitch and Onyx both emerged from the shadows, seeing themselves now above ground and during nighttime. Where they are exactly wasn't their concern at the moment. Manny seemed to be out and about lately, probably concerning about Flicker.

Oh well, he had done his part so far…

Now it was up to them to figure out how to stop him once and for all.

A sigh escaped from his lips as he dug through the pocket of his robes, before pulling out what looked like a locket. It was a beautiful golden piece with an intricate design etched upon the cover. The vague sense of nostalgia and what seemed like sorrow filled him as he gently touched the design.

"Have I done the right thing…" He softly spoke, before opening up the locket. Inside was a picture of a young girl with flowing dark hair. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant dress and her eyes were brilliant golden green eyes, eyes that were almost like his. Pitch slowly exhaled out a breath that he didn't know that he was holding through his nose as his face softened into a rare look that no one - sans Onyx- had seen.

"Emily Jane?"

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