𝓝𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓷 𝓝𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓼

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 8 {𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓜𝓮}🥚

𝓨/𝓷 𝓟𝓞𝓥

"It's true, I don't really see myself fitting into your lifestyles either. I like to be free, feel serenity and not be tied down by worry." I speak up and attempt my to genuinely share that they just haven't picked the right spirits for the job.

"Hah! That's exactly what I said!" Bunny sarcastically piped up while bumping North with a smug 'I knew it look' as the remaining elves and yetis drag their props and instruments away.

"Look, I don't think you two understand what it is we do." Tooth flutters over to us and indicates the Globe while Jack shoots a very unappreciative look at her. "Each of those lights is a child-" she begins before North steps in to extend her sentence.

"A child who believes. And good or bad, Naughty or Nice, we protect them." I carefully watch as North speaks so passionately about his purpose of protecting the children. It seemed to come so easily to him to accept that this is what he's here for, it just fit right. The jolly and kind hearted Father Christmas is here to protect the children of the world. Something about that sits really right with me. As I turn my gaze to look at each glowing light I try to imagine the faces of the many children I run through the rain with, played in the grass with, jumped into piles of leaves with, spend time in the sunshine with. Yet for some reason I just can't imagine myself as someone who can protect them. I mean, I'm just little old me.

"Ah- ah-"

"Tooth, fingers out of mouth." North sighs and I snap from my trance to look over at the fairy taking her fingers out of Jack mouth. That's kind of a little gross.

"Oh, sorry! Heh, they're beautiful!" Tooth compliments Jack who's not seemly taken to kindly to the interaction before she zips off.

"Okay no more wishy washy, Pitch is out there doing who knows what!" North speaks up, ready to end this commotion that's is going no where anymore. But North's words took me a moment to process.

"Pitch? Do ou mean th-the Boogey Man?" I kind of laugh off the idea that that is who North is talking about. But to my surprise his confirms my suspicions, and judging by the look Jack shoots me this surprised him too.

"Yes! When Pitch threatens us, he threatens them as well!" North explains frantically while motioning back to the globe where the millions and millions of lights flicker. As important as this all sound I just don't see how this is possible. Jack and I just don't hold the ability to perform such important work. I mean really if you simplify it right down to how these holiday folk would see us, all that Jack does his sprinkle a snow around and I plant a couple of flowers every year. Why do they suddenly want to pretend to know us? We're doing what we're doing and they busy doing their own thing.

"All the more reason to pick someone more qualified!" Jack completely brushes off everything North expresses to us. I feel like our positions have switched, now Jack is very unsure and uncomfortable while I'm intrigued as to what else they have to say.

"Pick?" North questions the cold boy who's walking away and ushering me along with him. "You think we pick?! No!" I watch the guardians carefully as they slowly wander up to stand by their jolly friend's side, in a strong, powerful stance. "You my friends were chosen! Like we were all chosen! By Man in Moon."

This catches Jack's attention and spikes mine.

"What?"

"Are you serious?" It's almost like their messing with us. I mean, how could they possible have contact with the man in the moon when it's basically impossible to even get him to acknowledge our existence.

"Last night, Y/n, he chose you both." Tooth speaks up seeming to speak genuinely. Maybe this really is happening...

"Maybe." Bunny lowly comments with a glare at Jack who seems to be struggling to process all this information, much like me.

"Man in the Moon, he,... he talks to you?" The way the Jack squints his eyes in disbelief and almost a little disappointed pulls at my heart. Jack was alone my longer than I was and I guess hearing that the moon indeed does respond to others that don't include him would cut real deep.

"You see, you cannot say no. It is Destiny." North speaks softly as we gaze at the moon in the daylight, processing what he wants from us. This all just so sudden. It's so much to process and why is this all coming out now? It just doesn't make sense, why? Why now? What does the moon see in all this that he couldn't communicate with us sooner or I don't know, at all?

"W-Why, why wouldn't he tell us that himself?" He never has bother to speak to either of us!" Jack runs his hand through his tussled hair, groaning and almost chuckling at the feeling of mockery. "After 300 years, this is his answer?" He looks over to me with a look of frustration and irritation in his eyes. "To spend eternity like you guys, cooped up in some- some hideout, thinking of- of new ways to bribe kids? No, no, that's not for me!" Jack growls right at the moon, his temper rising by the second until he double back to shoot the guardians a weak apology "No offense."

This is all making me so overwhelmed, I feel dizzy just trying to comprehend all that is being asked of us. Jack and I have been disregarded and basically neglected for how many years, and suddenly the moon who put us here in the first place is almost demanding that we step up and be something that very much believe we could never achieve.

"How- how- How is that not offensive?" Bunny fumbles over his words slightly in quickly rising frustration as he hops around speaking in a sarcastic manner. "You know what I think, I- I think we just dodged a bullet. I mean look at this little clown, what does he know about bringing joy to children anyway?" The rabbit itches a scratch with his hind leg as Jack gets a mischievous look in his eye.

"Uh, you ever hear of a snow day? I know it's no... hardboiled egg, but kids like what I do." Jack speaks as though it's a matter of fact, quite proudly may I add. "And Y/n over here, yeah she in charge of flourishing all the flowers you like to hide your little poached eggs under." Jack pulls me close and fondly chats away with his arm wrapped around my shoulder which makes me smile.

It's always been like this, him and I against the world. We are all each other have.

"But none of 'em believe in ya." The rabbit steps forward while puffing out his chest out and towering over us. "Do they? Y'see, you're invisible, - it's like you don't even exist." His words leave me speechless, this is more than just being a grumpy rabbit. He spoke in such a quiet manner that felt so deeply malicious, belittling us and using our weakness to humiliate us.

"Bunny-" I utter out in breathless shock feeling quite hurt by his words. This is purely just cruel. We know that we are less fortunate but he doesn't have to rub it in our faces.

"Bunny! Enough." Tooth lets out a disappointed gasps at the sound of his words.

"No, the kangaroo's right."

"Jack, don't." I look to my side to see the face of Jack talking back, challenging the already fuming Bunny.

"The- the what? What'd you call me? I'm not a kangaroo, mate." Bunny storms over closer, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he dares Jack to keep talking.

"Oh! And this whole time I thought you were. If you're not a kangaroo, what are you?" Jack growls at the rabbit as I stand speechlessly beside them, watching Bunny as he gets right into the cold boy's face. I'm ready to either shove Bunny away or pull Jack back, I just can't predict what going to happen and it scares me. How would we ever fit into this place if we simply can't get along.

"I'm a bunny. The Easter Bunny. People believe in me." The room falls into a deeply uncomfortable silence as the hurtful words soak in deep. I can feel Jack's body next to mine tense up severely and see the gloss of tears threat ing to fall down his pale cheek. Bunny has gone too far. Should I stand up for Jack and fight Back against  Bunny's words? Should we declare that we will not be joining them, especially after that little argument? Do I shove the rabbit away? That doesn't make any right in the situation either, but before I can decide on anything North's voice calls out into the awkward silence of the room.

"Right, you two. Walk with me."

Please feel free to vote and comment as it really helps out my book! 📎

Words: 1540