Cold Grey Light of Dawn

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Past, few years later...

Jack smiled to himself looking over the city that was covered in snow. Winter was finally coming to an end in the northern hemisphere. He couldn't wait to find Matthew and have a nap.

The pair had been dating for three or four years, they weren't really sure. The Reaper had been a lot happier, but he still had down days. Jack knew that there was no way he would be able to solve all of his problems, but he could try. Matthew hadn't cut in almost two years and the winter spirit was proud. He'd been starting to keep up with the population growth too.

There had been a few times where the Canadian had questioned himself and why Jack would bother with him. He knew that he wasn't easy to be with. Especially when he was in a bad mood. The winter spirit was always there to chase the doubts away and shower him with kisses. He had stuck by Matthew's side through a lot and didn't plan on leaving.

Jack sighed and smiled. He was about to call for the wind, but something landed on his shoulder. He jumped in surprise brushing it off. He looked to see a big black bird landing at his feet and cawing at him. He looked confused at it. The bird jumped at him and his eyes widened.

"What's your problem?" The winter spirit asked as it pecked at his toes. He crouched down and it cried at him wiggling its foot. He spotted a white piece of paper attached to its foot. Jack carefully reached out and took it. "Follow me?"

The bird cawed at him and started to fly. He followed it curiously wondering where he was being led too. He wasn't really sure where they even were when the bird landed on a doorstep. It tapped its beak on the door and Jack copied its actions. A few seconds later the door was opened and there was a man. The black bird flew up and landed on his shoulder.

"Hello, you must be Jack." The man greeted. He looked up at him nervously. He stuck out his hand and the winter spirit hesitantly shook it. "I'm Death, it's nice to meet you."

"Hi." Jack said with a nervous smile. "Wait, is Mattie okay?!" He asked quickly realizing something could have happened.

"Yes, he's fine." Death said reassuringly. He gestured for the white haired spirit to follow. "He just fought another spirit and had a bad cut on his back. He couldn't reach it and came here." He explained. "I didn't want him to be in too much pain while I stitched him up so I gave him some whisky." The man sighed with a small smile. "I might have given him a bit too much."

Death lead him to a door and he pushed it open. They stepped inside and Jack sighed seeing a sleeping Matthew. He smiled seeing how peaceful he looked. His wings twitched slightly in his sleep.

"He was asking for you." The man said quietly. "You're welcome to take him or stay here."

"I guess I'll take him with me." Jack said stepping towards the bed. He knew the Reaper preferred to be outside. He carefully picked him up like a child being very careful of his back.

"Thank you for taking care of him." Death said thankfully. He held the door open for the pair.

The winter spirit smiled as the wind picked them up. The wind carried them north. He spotted a nice patch of moss as they flew over a forest. Wind set them down and he carefully put Matthew down. The Reaper was awake and pulled him down into a kiss.

"Salut Jackie." He slurred wrapping his legs around the winter spirits waist. He swapped their positions and leaned down to kiss him again. Jack didn't mind the kisses, but didn't like the taste or smell of alcohol on him. "Je te veux. S'il te plaît, baise-moi."

"I don't know what you're saying, Birdie." The white haired spirit said. Matthew's eyebrows furrowed and he leaned down kissing his neck. He ground their hips together and Jack realized what he wanted. "I don't think that's the best idea right now." He said catching the blond's hands before they slipped lower. "You're drunk and I don't want you to rip your stitches."

"Je ne suis pas saoul, eh bien peut-être. Je te veux toujours. Je me fiche des points de suture." The Reaper slurred eyes half lidded. Jack was still looking up at him with confusion. He still had his hands and wouldn't let them go. He started to move his hips again and the winter spirit bit his lip.

"Matthew." Jack warned sitting up. The Canadian sat back letting him up. He looked at him with sad eyes. The white haired spirit kissed his cheek reassuringly. "You're not in the right mind right now and you're hurt. Tomorrow, if you're up to it okay?"

"Bien." The Reaper sighed bursting into a yawn. He giggled and Jack smiled. It had been a while since he heard him laugh. "Je t'aime."

"Love you too, Birdie." The winter spirit smiled understanding that. He laid back in the grass and Matthew curled up on his chest. Jack smiled and ran a hand through his soft hair. He hummed leaning into his touch. The Reaper closed his eyes and passed out almost immediately. "Night, Mattie."

-❄️" If a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success?"❄️-

In the morning Matthew woke up with a pounding headache. He gasped jumping up feeling sick. He quickly ran and crouched next to a tree throwing up what he had in his stomach. He groaned wondering what happened yesterday. He couldn't remember much and what he could was fuzzy. He honestly didn't really mind the break.

"Birdie! Are you okay?" Jack asked at his side immediately. He pulled his hair back as he threw up again. The Canadian coughed holding his head. "Mattie?"

"Too loud." The Reaper said quietly trying to calm his breathing and not throw up again. "What happened? What year is it even?"

"It's like nineteen two? Nineteen three?" The winter spirit said quietly. He didn't want to be loud and irritate him. "What do you remember?"

"Fighting a spirit and going to Death. I had a wound I couldn't reach." Matthew said. Jack helped him up and back over to their 'bed.' "I can't remember anything after until now."

"Death gave you some alcohol to numb the pain while he stitched it. He gave you a bit too much." The winter spirit explained.

"That explains the headache." The Reaper groaned. Jack kissed his temple. He didn't particularly want to kiss him on the lips right after that. Matthew grabbed a leaf and wiped his lips off. The white haired spirit gave him a handful of snow to eat. "And the throw up. Sorry."

"It's okay." The winter spirit said with a gentle smile. "Can I check your stitches?"

Matthew nodded and turned. Jack carefully lifted up his shirt seeing the long jagged cut from his hip almost all the way up to the base of his wing. It was a miracle that he hadn't tore them yet. He definitely understood why Death wanted to numb him.

"You probably won't be able to fly with that." The winter spirit said with sad eyes. He hadn't seen him this badly hurt before. He didn't want him to be in physical pain knowing how much mental pain he had.

"I know. I definitely won't be." The Reaper shook his head closing his eyes. He had flown to Death's which had been a stupid idea, it was so painful. "I'll just have to shadow jump around."

"Or I can fly you with the wind?" Jack suggested. Matthew smiled gratefully and the pair laid back in the grass. The winter spirit was on his back as he used his chest as a pillow. "I love you, Birdie."

"I love you too." The Reaper smiled kissing his jaw.