Chapter Text
Chapter 1
It was a deep rumble, a rich heart-stopping chuckle that rang in Jack’s ears, even as he turned around, blue eyes wide to look at the source of sound.
He almost drops the frozen elf in his hand, not even minding the fact that he was dripping in hot pink paint, glitters spread around him like a design. He didn’t think it was possible for him to care less about his appearance right now. Not now when his ice blue eyes met stunned green ones.
It looks like he isn’t the only one who was shocked by the sudden bout of laughter.
“Ah-” Bunny started as he opened his mouth and then closed it. He looked annoyed for one moment as he lifted his feet and thumped on the ground instead. A hole opened up as expected and he looked away from Jack, grumbling. “Stop making a mess.” He says before he disappeared from view, leaving a stunned winter sprite.
A loud, rumbling laugh made Jack jump, having momentarily forgotten that he was not alone. North was holding his belly as it rumbled from his loud voice. “That Bunny! So hard to please he is, yes?”
Tooth fluttered about excitedly. “But I can’t believe he laughed though! A good to honest laugh-or chuckle! But he actually chuckled!” She said squealing before turning to Jack and just suddenly realizing he was covered in paint. “Oh my gosh Jack! Are your teeth alright? They’re still white right?”
Sandy makes a couple of symbols, a soft smile on his face. It’s been awhile since I heard Bunny chuckle, it’s a nice sound to hear. Right?
But Jack didn’t answer. He was still standing there, still stunned, unmindful of the thawing elf in his hand as he thinks-
-he’d pretty much like to hear that laughter again.
--
The next time he hears Bunny laugh, Jack wasn’t aware that the other was even watching him.
For the last few days, the winter sprite had been nagging the old Spring spirit, following him around, performing various pranks and pulling sudden appearances to get the other to laugh. But his attempts were not successful, only met with annoyed mumbling and scolding by the older guardian that made him feel downhearted.
He had to leave Bunny’s side eventually and instead went around to find unfortunate victims for his bitter pranks. Weeks had already passed since he was able to make the Easter Kangaroo laugh, and Jack was losing confidence on his reputation as a prankster. He had to redeem himself by making other people and/or yetis and/or elves laugh this time.
So, his plan was simple. Nothing big. A mistletoe and an unfortunate pair, easy. It’ll be funny and embarrassing.
The best combination.
So with that in thought, and pushing a certain guardian of Hope out of his mind for awhile, Jack flew around, cackling evilly until he spotted a few yetis close together or a pair of elves fooling around.
So far, Jack had managed to get twenty-three pairs to kiss under the little plant. An eager yeti who needed some loving participated in more than half of this. Even North, who had been lounging by the kitchen, was also a victim, forced to kiss the cook yeti, who smiled too widely for his comfort. Jack took a picture of the momentous occasion with a camera Phil graciously gave him as he tried to fight down bouts of laughter.
So, here was Jack, trying to find a new pair to mortify before calling it a day. He was going to try on Bunny again tomorrow but he wasn’t going to think about that right now- because, oh look! It’s Tooth and North how pleasantly convenient!
However just as Jack was about to sneak behind the two, an arm suddenly reached out and grabbed him by the waist and turned him around.
Blue eyes widened when Jack turned and saw that ‘eager’ yeti that had been eagerly kissing other yetis and elves under the mistletoe. A wide toothy green was directed at him as the yeti spoke garbish and pointed at the plant Jack was holding up over the two of them.
“Oh no. No, no, no, no…” Jack said as he pushed at the yeti, trying to get away. “You’ve kissed the others plenty of times already! Haven’t you had enough?”
They yeti didn’t listen and made kissy faces as Jack panicked and struggled in its hold.
“Look, I’m honored and everything.” Jack said in a breathless, nervous voice. “But I don’t kiss under mistletoes. I hold them above people and make said people feel embarrassed. I don’t get caught under them!” Jack said mortified.
“Oho! But Jack, did you not say that tradition must always be followed?” Damn! North heard him. The winter sprite gave the old Santa an apologetic look.
“Oh come on North, traditions are bogus. Tell this furry guy to- let- me- go!” Jack said struggling but North and Tooth, who was behind him, laughed. The old Cossack had a revenge glint in his eyes as Jack gulped.
“Oh no, my boy. Lovie clearly wants to kiss you and tradition says you must kiss! Even if it is ‘bogus’, tradition must be followed.” North said with a smile that showed his teeth. And Jack paled as said ‘Lovie’ the yeti neared his face, lips puckered up for a big smack right on his nose.
Jack froze as the yeti came close and gave him a great big, wet kiss on the face. He pushed away as soon as it was over, spitting out fur as the yeti, ‘Lovie’, sighed dreamily before running away while giggling in a gruff yeti way. A few fairies, who were with Tooth, ran after the yeti, squeaking their protests as Jack tried desperately to wipe his face.
Tooth and North were still laughing, as the old Santa came up and patted the annoyed Jack on the back. “That’s for earlier.” He winked. Tooth giggled as she leaned down and pressed a kiss to Jack’s hair before flying off after North.
Jack sighed grumpily as he threw away the mistletoe and turned, still being able to hear Tooth and North laughing, but then he passed by a corner and paused when he heard a huff of laughter nearby.
Jack turned, the rich, thick-accented laughter familiar, and his eyes widened when he saw Bunny turning away to hop towards the globe room. The youngest guardian stayed on the same spot, stunned before a smile graced his lips as he started to walk away again.
He guessed being kissed by an overly big teddy bear wasn’t so bad after all.
--
Surprisingly, after the second time Jack made Bunny laugh, the next several times he tried, it had been fairly easy to draw out a laugh or a chuckle from the Easter spirit.
He had settled for tackle and tickle strategy which gave him a three-minute laughing Easter Bunny, who gave him a glare when he finally finished. But Jack was too happy at his success to care as he flew about the Warren, creating flurries of snowflake and getting a told off by a pissed Easter Kangaroo.
The scolding didn’t have the same heat as before. Not when Jack could still hear the other’s ringing laughter in his ears.
--
It was easier to make Bunny laugh when Jack somehow failed a prank, gets scolded by someone other than Bunny, or else when his plans backfire.
Jack deliberately tried to fail when he discovered this.
“Ah! You got me there Phil!” Jack said with a long drawn out sigh as the yeti held up a bucket with paint, a disapproving frown on his face. The winter sprite had his arms behind his head, his blue eyes were looking sideways, Bunny was talking with Ed the yeti. They were discussing about the quality of paints North had in the workshop, but the guardian of Fun could see the ears swivel in his direction.
Phil was looking at Jack, his eyebrows raised, “Afuwaga wugawaku?”
“Huh? Oh yeah. I’m admitting it, I was too lazy today to do it properly.” Jack fake yawned. “I was gonna make it a permanent green paint with heart jewelry things inside, so that when you get hit you’d look like a Christmas tree with- AH!” Jack yelled as Phil dumped the paint on him with a blank face. “PHIL!”
Bunny barely bothered to hid his amusement as he finished his talk with Ed and turned to Jack, just as Phil turned to call some elves to clean up the mess. Jack was removing the bucket of paint with a grumble as he turned to the laughing Easter Rabbit.
Jack tried not to let his happiness show as Bunny continued to chuckle.
“He got ya good didn’t he?” Bunny said as he cleared his throat. “So? Did that teach ya to finally stop with all the pranks?”
Jack huffed as he shook his head, causing to paint to splash at Bunny who let out a protest. “I’m the guardian of Fun, Bunny. Telling me not to prank is like telling me to cut off my own arms.” Jack shrugged. “Besides,” He said giving the other a satisfied smirk. “You find it funny.”
Bunny gave him a look, “Yer crazy. I don’t find any of yer pranks amusin’.” The Easter spirit grumbled as he crossed his arms.
“Sure you don’t.” The winter sprite said with a roll of his eyes. He willed the wind to carry him as he ran a hand through his hair, catching some paint in between his fingers. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and roll around the snow for awhile.” He smirked before he threw the handful of paint at Bunny’s muzzle. “BYE BUNNY!” He shouted while laughing as he flew off.
“FROSTBITE!”