Rise of the Guardians One-Shots pt.2

Cold and Dark

So I am very pissed off. The wifi went out right as I edited the last bit of this and was just about to post it which means all the last minute touches I did is lost. This is the only bit of the chapter I could save in that second of almost losing everything. I only meant for this to be three chapters long but I know that yall are itching to get something so I'm going to post this bit and then tomorrow work on restoring the last bit of the series I wanted to happen. 

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Archie leaned against the window of the infirmary. He ignored the presence of Death standing next to him. They were both allowed only one hour to stand and stare at their lovers laying in the coma's of nightmare sand. He swallowed as he focused in on Jack's hair. The beautiful white hair that always held the perfect softness he could run his fingers through was solid black. He could see a shine of nightmare sand coating his hair. 

"He'd rather be dead than this." Archie flinched before rounding on Death. He was about to snap before he saw the sight infront of him. Death was crying, tears falling in rapid rivers. His eyes were bloodshot as his head leaned against the window. 

"The last time Jack was taken over by nightmares he came to me, looked me in the eyes, and told me he'd rather be dead than be under the control of fearlings. He told me he had accepted the end of his life before he became the one thing he fought so hard for Pitch to leave behind." 

Archie's tears now ran with Death's. They were both crying now. He looked back to this lover while Death kept talking. 

"The story of your nightmare? The fact that Jack accepts the end of his life before being changed? It's terrifying how well it fits." He shook his head. 

"No. There were two parts to my dream. The second part was him being ali-" 

"He was alive after you killed him. In order for our Jack to come back, we're gonna have to hurt him if the fearlings take over. We are going to have to shut down our emotions and do what needs to be done. The reason I am allowing myself to cry, to scream, to punch and fight now, is because I know if either of them wake up and need to be taken down-" 

Archie watched Death finally meet his eyes, determination but devastation looking back at him. 

"I want it to be me. We made the beautiful mistake of falling in love with two of the most selfless people I have ever met. They both would rather die than hurt anyone else. So if they need to be taken down, the only one I trust to make sure Seraphina's wish of no one being hurt from her is me. Her father won't be able to." 

Archie looked to Jack who laid in the bed. He copied Death's position of leaning against the window. He closed his eyes, remembering all the moments Jack showed just how selfless he could be. The amount of times he had shoved people out the way of danger. The amount of times he had saved others. Death was right. 

Jack would rather die than hurt anyone. He looked at his lover's body, wondering what was going on in his head. Was he fighting? Was he nearly broken? He closed his eyes. 

"Please, to whatever God is out there, don't make me half to stop him. Don't let him change." He heard a light sob come from Death at the end of his prayer. A sentence that Jack once said in his sleep haunted his brain in this moment, one Jack explained was said by Pitch.

"what goes better than cold and dark?"

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