Oogie's Muse (Jack Skellington x Reader)

31 - Love of an Un-beating Heart

A little bit of sweetness. Enjoy! - E.W.G

It was too easy for (Y/n) to wave goodbye to Grim when the clock struck six and Jack returned from the Town Hall, bleary-eyed and weary, to relieve Grim of her company. She made a point of striding purposefully to Jack once he declared from the door, as he did everyday, that he was home - she made to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug. Jack stiffened at the contact, looking down at her crumpled face worriedly.

"What's this, then?" Jack questioned, arms at his sides still without returning her hug, "Are you alright?" (Y/n) squeezed him tighter in response, smelling the sweetness of the chocolate and briny wind that combined to make that smell that was just so Jack. It made a pain drive into her chest, where she suspected her heart once beat.

"I just missed you, Jack." (Y/n) said miserably, "Can't a skeleton miss her future groom?"

She buried her cranium in his chest. This time, however, she felt Jack's long arms curl around her waist and draw her even more into him - she felt the energy swirl around her stomach. Her thoughts went ramped in her head : When was the last time that he held me like this? The last time he touched me like I couldn't crumble into dust with too hard a stroke?

"Oh, Spooky." Jack said softly, breathing in the smell of her thinning hair. She relished the sound of her old nickname on his tongue. Gingerly she snaked her arms around his neck like she used to and felt the familiar groove of his sternum through the material of his shirt.

Jack dipped his head forward and rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. 

His lips ghosted hers for just a moment and fireworks exploded in the hollow of her ribs.

"I miss you, too. I truly do." Jack whispered against her cheeks, "No matter what my actions dictate for me. Don't think badly of me, darling. I'm doing what must be done."

With a gulp to ignore the sharp guilt in her throat, she mumbled breathlessly, "Shut up and  kiss me."

Jack grinned and smashed his lips on hers, every kiss a little flurry of warmth that spread to her fiery essence like heart waves. The kiss quickly got more passionate, building to a hot crescendo of heat that lashed at their bodies and tethered them together - bringing them closer until they felt morphed together. It was the sweetest thing for (Y/n), she could almost taste it - a sugary, overpowering taste of burning Halloween candy that she could only vaguely remember from their first kiss atop Spiral Hill. (Y/n) moaned. In longing of her old life, of her old body and its restraints. Oh, how sweet he was! Sweet enough to induce cavities! Sweet enough to give her a headache! Oh, he was too perfect. Feeling an age old instinct, (Y/n) slid her fingers against his skull. Please, (Y/n) cried to the universe, let this moment last forever. . .

The door slammed. She gasped from the kiss, jolting her head back in surprise. A mellow blush painted her cheeks as Jack panted in front of her, his dark eye sockets a'flame with desperate purpose. At the door was Grimm, (Y/n) cursed her bad luck, a sharp look of austerity moulding his face into one of envy. Jack, noticing Grimm for the first time, grinned at the death deity obliviously.

What was it with men and their overlooking of important details?

"Sorry, Master Reaper. I got a little distracted." Jack said lightly, winking at (Y/n), "What was it you said?"

"I forgot my scythe." Grimm replied darkly, his silver-black eyes startling as they avoided (Y/n) at all costs. This bothered her. She couldn't understand why.

"Of course! It's probably still in (Y/n)'s bedroom. Shall I get it for you?" Jack offered politely.

"No, no. That's quite alright." Grim muttered, "I know the way."

With an flourish of his dark capes, the death deity sauntered down the hall and trekked up the staircase.

"I'll go help him." (Y/n) said suddenly with an ease that suprised even herself.

Jack nodded his agreement, "I'll go to the lab - the cure should be any link away now."

Before Jack could disappear for the night, (Y/n) grabbed his sleeve. The fine bones of Jack's face lifted, which made (Y/n) think that his eyebrows would have been puckered had he been alive.

"I love you, Jack." (Y/n) said.

Jack caressed her cheek, "Oh, Spooky." He kissed her on the head and went up the stairs. Dazed, she stumbled up the stairs and opened her door. There she collided with the hard, flat muscle of Grimm's torso. Blushing, thankful to say that she was dead so that he could not see it, she puffed out her cheekbones with dignity. It was to no use : the only thing Grimm was focused on was her lips, now red and stinging from the sweet bites implanted only moments ago by Jack.

"Stop looking like you snogged a lemon, Grimm." (Y/n) hissed, folding her arms over her torso.

With a wry smile sarcastic enough to startle the devil, Grimm said, "I prefer the lemon to you, in some cases. It is bitter to kiss but it leaves a better aftertaste that what your lips would, I imagine."

Not sure whether incensed or challenged, she flared her nostrils. Did he expect her to be angry, to try to prove him wrong? To grab the handsome man by the cloak and peruse his soft, seductive lips with her own? To interlink the lovely, ebony locks that flowed over his pale skin like midnight on the beach with her fingers - to pull him into her embrace with all of her being? (Y/n) decided not to think about it. To ignore the buzzing excitement messing with her stomach.

"Luckily for you, you shan't get the chance, sweetheart." (Y/n) replied, "I have standards that, quite frankly, you do not meet."

"Tut tut, sweetheart." Grimm retorted, a subconscious hand stroking the single lock curled on his forehead, "I know you like me. You have no faith in my romancing abilities. "

"You have those?"

"Bitter, as I said." Grimm repeated whilst smirking, "But that's no matter - we have a date tonight."

(Y/n)'s finger bones wrapped nervously around the hem of her skirt - her mouth suddenly felt very dry. "A date?" (Y/n) uttered, the ghost of a heartbeat fluttering in her chest like a startled crow.

"Oh, yes." Grimm sighed, "Midnight - Spiral Hill, let's say. Wear something black."

Without so much as a nod to say goodbye the dignified deity left her bedroom for the second time that day.

Although there was a difference in her : she found that she missed him.