Cold Grey Light of Dawn

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Present, few months later...

The Reaper hummed to himself settling in his blanket pile. He hadn't had the best day and wanted to sit and read. He grabbed his book and put one earbud in. He sighed and started to read. It was nice to block out some of the deaths.

It had been a couple months since he and Jack had started dating again. They'd been okay. The Reaper had a few down days and the Guardian was there to comfort him. If he was grumpy, he was easily able to cheer him up. They would actually talk about what Matthew had seen rather than him holding it all in. It did take a while for him to open up, but Jack was patient. It did feel a lot better to get it out and talk about it.

The pair was living in the sanatorium were the Canadian had been staying. Jack was still nervous and scared of all the ghosts, but he had been getting better. He didn't mind them as much anymore. He would sometimes have conversations with them if Matthew wasn't there. The Guardians didn't know they were dating and still hadn't seen the Reaper again.

"Hey, Birdie." Matthew looked up to see Jack climb in through the window. He smiled and rolled his eyes. He'd told him he could use the door, but the winter spirit still used the window. He walked over and sat next to the blond leaning over and giving him a kiss. He smiled setting his book aside. "How was your day?"

"Better now that you're here." The Reaper sighed leaning into his boyfriend's touch. Jack smiled tracing his jaw and pushing his hood down. He picked up the other earbud and put it in his ear. He leaned in kissing him again. "You're so cute Jackie."

"You're cuter." The winter spirit smiled booping his nose. Matthew laughed lightly. Jack smiled hearing him laugh. He loved seeing him laugh and smile. The Reaper wrapped one wing around him bringing him closer. The Guardian hummed and crawled into his lap wrapping his arms around his neck. He wrapped his wings around them like a blanket. "And you're so warm."

"And you're nice and cold." Matthew hummed with a yawn. He always found it easier to sleep when it was cold, even easier with Jack there. He used to only sleep when he was exhausted. He rested his head on top of the winter spirits. His stomach rumbled and Jack laughed.

"Wanna go steal some ice cream or something?" The Guardian asked looking up at him.

Matthew smiled and nodded. He moved his wings and let him up. The winter spirit turned around and offered him a hand. He took it and Jack pulled him up. The Reaper leaned down and kissed his cheek. The Guardian smiled and frost spread across his cheeks. Matthew smiled seeing it. He lead him downstairs saying hello to a few ghosts as they went outside. The winter spirit stuck close to him only seeing one of the ghosts he greeted.

Once they were outside, they flew towards the nearest town. Jack took his hand as soon as they landed and pulled him along into the store. They immediately found the ice cream and picked out what they wanted before going back outside.

"Maple as always." The winter spirit smiled as they ate. They had found a nice tall tree to settle in. The pair let their feet hang over the edge of the branch. "You're obsessed."

"Yeah, obviously." Matthew shrugged with a smile. Jack leaned over and kissed his cheek. He groaned feeling how sticky his lips were. The Guardian laughed at his face and kissed him again. The blond sighed and just let him. "You're sticky."

"You're stuck with me." Jack hummed with a bright smile. The Canadian couldn't help, but smile back. "Love you, Birdie."

"I love you too, Jackie." Matthew said as he put an arm around his waist. The winter spirit shifted closer to him. He hummed happily as they finished their ice cream. He knew he probably shouldn't have eaten the whole thing, but didn't care. The blond yawned quietly. "Ready to go back?"

"Yeah." Jack sighed patting his full belly.

The Reaper smiled and hopped off the branch. The Guardian was at his side right away and the wind carried the pair along. Matthew hopped through a shadow inside while he climbed through the window. The Canadian flopped down onto the blankets and opened his arms for Jack. The winter spirit smiled and crawled into them. He hummed happily wrapping his arms and wings around him. Jack smiled and kissed his neck and collarbone.

"Guardians are looking for you again." The winter spirit sighed and the Reaper groaned. "Pitch is gaining power."

"He's been stealing souls again." Matthew grumbled. "I'll go after him tomorrow."

"I can help you." Jack offered looking worriedly up at him. "I fought him before and won."

"That's alright. I'll be okay." The Reaper said with a reassuring smile. "I don't want Pitch to know and tell the Guardians. I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Maybe I should just tell them?" The winter spirit suggested nervously. "Probably better from me then from Pitch."

"I don't want you to get in trouble with them." Matthew said biting his lip. "And I don't want them bugging you about me, but I do think you telling them is better than Pitch telling them."

"Yeah." The Guardian sighed. He looked into his eyes. "Maybe reconsider being a Guardian?"

"No." The Reaper shook his head. "I don't want to be a Guardian."

"Is that it? You just don't want to?" Jack asked sceptically raising an eyebrow. He knew him too well. "There's something else there."

Matthew sighed. "I just have a lot of negative thoughts around them. Well, not them or you just the idea of 'Guardians.'" He explained. "It doesn't work, I know it doesn't. I see it everyday. I help all the kids the Guardians don't." The Reaper shook his head. "Guardians make the world bright and colourful for children, but they grow up and realize it's nothing like that. I don't want to be part of that illusion."

"Is that it?" The winter spirit asked looking up at him. He sighed biting his lip.

"I don't understand why Manny picked me." Matthew shrugged. "I'm not always happy, I'm not bright and colourful, I don't have a holiday and I really don't want people to see me."

"I can see why he did. You're great with kids, sure you're not 'kid friendly,' but you can act it for a while. And you do already protect kids. You said it yourself, you help all the kids the Guardians don't." Jack said kissing his jaw. The Reaper sighed. "I understand why you don't want to. I'm not going to push you or bug you about it."

"Merci ma raison de vivre." Matthew said with a small smile kissing his forehead. He yawned quietly and the Guardian smiled up at him. He was adorable when he was sleepy. "Je t'aime."

"I love you too." Jack smiled kissing his chin before tucking his head under. The Reaper hummed quietly holding him close as they fell asleep.

AN: Sorry for the late update.