...There are no words to express how sorry I am about this. I just got really really busy. But I swear I'll try to get back on top of it, and it won't be discontinued. So sorry you guys.
Now all they had to do was wait...
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Tensions were high at the Workshop. Tooth had been gone a long time, and the storm had only gotten worse.
North was finding it difficult to sit still. Bunnymund was wound tight as a spring, the slightest sounds making him jump and look towards the door. The
Sandman sat by Jamie, monitoring his dreams and making sure they stayed pleasant.
Jamie was on holiday, with a long weekend out of school, so it wasn't as important that he not be kept up late, but all three of the Guardians had agreed that it would be better if he was rested when he got home.
Bunnymund was the first to snap.
"I can't take this anymore, Nick!" He exclaimed, making North jump, and Sandy look up, "There's gotta be something we can do!"
North shook his head, solemnly.
"The sleigh would not fare well in this weather," He sighed, "And we do not know where to look."
Sandy posed a silent question.
"Yeah...yeah, Sandy's right!" Bunny said, "If this is what the weather is like where Pitch is, too, they couldn't have gotten far! Use one of your snow globe portals, Nick! We can go and get them!"
"Why are you so eager to be off all of sudden?" North asked, an amused smile playing at his lips.
"N-no reason, I just...I wanna make sure Tooth and the kid...made it out alright...y'know?" He stammered.
North laughed, deep and joyful and clapped Bunny on the shoulder.
"We will do what we can, Aster. Not now, of course. Storm would cause portals to be dangerous at best..." He mused.
"And at worst?" Bunny asked, not certain he truly wanted to know.
"Deadly." North said, seriously before his warm grin returned, "But when right time comes we will take sleigh."
Bunny shuddered, but he would follow North, anyway. No matter how much he'd rather die than admit it, he really did care about Jack. The little nuisance had grown on him in the past several months. He truly did hope that Jack and Tooth were okay. He didn't think he'd be able to handle losing both of them.
"No…no, that…this can't wait," he said quietly, "If we can't take the sleigh, I'll use my tunnels. I'll bring 'em to the Warren. You can come meet us there when you're able to leave."
North seemed like he wanted to protest, but in the end he just nodded, solemnly.
"Good luck, Aster," he said, "Be safe."
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For a long time, Tooth and Jack just sat together by the fire. Tooth stroked Jack's arm, absently, reassuring him that she was still there. As Jack was starting to nod off, however, Tooth's hand drifted over a sore muscle, and he groaned.
"Oh...sorry..." Tooth made to move her hand but Jack shook his head.
"No...s'okay..." He murmered, "Felt kind of nice..."
Tooth smiled, softly, moving her hand back to Jack's sore shoulder, massaging it, gently. Jack gave a low hum, almost a growl, as Tooth's slim hands worked to sooth the knotted muscle. Tooth gave a small grimace of sympathy as she felt how tense his shoulders were. It must have hurt to be cooped up in that corner. Prevented from stretching by that shackle...
"Am I doing okay?" She asked after a while. She wasn't often inclined towards these types of things, and so, had no basis for comparison. Jack nodded.
"Yeah..." He mumbled, "It's nice..."
"I'm glad I could help." She replied, softly.
Jack wouldn't have minded terribly if Tooth had continued, but, not wanting to hurt him by accident, she moved her hand back to his arm, tracing small circles, and avoiding the worst of the bruises. Not much time passed before Tooth felt something sticky and damp against her arm. With a soft gasp, she pulled away to see blood staining Jack's sweatshirt.
"Oh, Jack!" She murmured, pulling the sweatshirt off to reveal a myriad of slowly bleeding welts across his back, thinning near the waist and shoulders. He moaned as the fabric rubbed across the open wounds, sending a wave of burning pain across his back. Tooth bit her lip, brushing her small hand lightly across his back. Even this small friction made Jack whimper and cringe away.
"Oh..." She breathed, "Jack, when did he...?"
"Don' remember..." He said. Concern painted Tooth's features. If he'd gone that long without treatment, the welts could be infected...
He buried his face in her shoulder.
"It hurts..." He whispered.
"I know, Jack," She petted his hair, and the back of his neck, avoiding his back as much as she could; "We can get to help soon. They won't hurt for much longer."
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I know this one's kind of short, but there will be more soon, I promise! T^T again, I'm so so so sorry!