Hypnotic touch - Chapter 3

It has been nearly a week since North had forced Bunny into the immobilizing trance and Jack, for once, had been wrong about Bunny getting over their little prank.

He had started to notice some strange and unusual behavior from the rabbit.

Bunny had become more skittish than usual, always peering over his shoulder and twitching at the slightest sounds. At first, Jack thought he was worried that North was planning to ambush him again and try to hypnosis him once more for their amusement. This was not the case however as the days went on and it became perfectly clear that North would not be tracing him anytime soon. However, he still did not relax. He looked almost fearful, as if he expected something to attack him at any moment.

While the fretting had gone unnoticed for the most part, the excessive grooming had not. Anyone could plainly see that the rabbit’s normally private grooming routine had been kicked into overdrive. Jack recalled watching him for a whole hour as he raked his claws through the mass of thick fur on his chest, trying to remove knots that weren’t there and keeping his fur down despite its neatness. He was starting to become a little too obsessed with keeping his fur neat. By that time Jack would have normally dropped about a dozen jokes and jibes at Bunny’s grooming but decided it was better to hold onto all his ammo for another time and continue to observe from a distance.

The last change he had observed in Bunny had not been noticed until only a day or two ago. He had popped by the warren to check up on worrying rabbit, you know, just to make sure the guy was alright. When he had got there he found him camping out in the safety of a large hollow tree next to one of the warrens many dye pools.

Now, to be fair, Bunny liked to curl up in secret hidden places from time to time, much in the same way he liked to hide in deep snow banks or how Tooth occasionally liked to hideout in the mountains or how on the rare occasion Sandy would just vanish off the face of the earth for a day or two. Even North, who was perhaps the most sociable guardian to have ever existed liked to be on his own every now and then. In short, they all liked to keep to themselves occasionally but Bunny was doing more than just having a little alone time. When Jack had offer to keep him company and paint some eggs (a very rare offer indeed) the rabbit had quickly made his excuse to stay right where he was in his hallow. He did not want to leave his little hidey-hole. That much was clear. Initially he found it strange but then he remembered him acting in a similar way back at North’s home.

Yes he had actually returned to that ’frozen hellhole’ (Bunny’s words, not his) despite vowing to never set foot in the fortress again. That wasn‘t very surprising, threats like that were usually empty and impractical seeing as the monthly meetings were almost always held at North‘s place. What was surprising however was that Bunny wasn‘t angry with them (well at least not all of them. Every now and then, he would muster up the energy to glare darkly at North but that was as far as it went) There were no insults, no threats and no sight nor sound of any kind of payback what so ever.

Absolutely nothing.

He hadn’t forgotten about the incident, oh no, but from what he could see he was not attempting to broadcast his unhappiness and that was not like Bunny. When Bunny was unhappy or displeased about something, you heard about it. You heard about it even if you were not in the same country.

Another thing that Jack had noticed that nobody else had was that he did not like to move around the place too much and had been making small excuses to stay in whatever room he had settled himself in when he visited. North had not paid much attention to him during these times. He had probably put the rabbit’s behavior down to a bad mood but Jack knew better.

Finding Bunny unwilling to leave his hollow had been the last piece of the puzzle he needed to figure out what was troubling his friend.

And to be honest, he was surprised it took him so long.

Bunny was showing all the signs of stress (well, stress according to rabbits) and all the strange behavior he had witnessed over the last few days was a pitiful attempt at self-comfort. Putting Bunny into a trance, a state normally induced at times of great fear and danger, had awoken a deep primal fear factor in the Pooka. He was after all still technically classified as a ‘prey’ animal despite his size and intelligences and the instincts of such prey animals were dominantly ruled by fear.

Poor Bunny must have felt under such a threat that now everything put him on edge. Of course there was not a predator big enough or fast enough to take down a warrior rabbit (that he knew of) but that did not mean he did not feel the same fear as a normal sized bunny. He just hid his fears and anxieties better.

He should have known something like this would happen and now it was his responsibly to fix it and like always, the best plan was often the simplest.

Bunny was feeling nervous and in need of some comfort. So therefore, he would comfort him the best way he knew how. He just prayed it would not lead to an ass kicking like so many of his wonderful plans usually did.

The whole thing brought to mind a saying he had heard from somewhere. How did it go again? He who gambles wins? Hmm… Yeah that sounded about right.

Walking through the warren Jack headed for the last place he had spotted the rabbit and the one place he knew he would be.

“Bunny it’s me” He called out to the empty air as he neared the standing point of the hollow. The place was pretty quiet this time in the afternoon but soft scratching alerted him to the rabbit’s hidden presence. He stepped up to the giant tree, hopping over roots and scaling the massive trunk until he found the huge rip in the bark. Curiously he poked his head inside. The inside of the tree was nearly completely hollow, leaving enough space for the Pooka to comfortable fit his tall, muscular frame inside. Jack stared down at the partly hidden rabbit who stared right on back.

“Hey Frosty, it’s a bit late for you to be down here ain’t it mate? Is everything alright?” It bugged him the way Bunny asked him if he was all right. It should be him making sure that Bunny was all right, not the other way around.

Sighing inwardly he smiled at the Guardian. “No not really. Do you think you could come out for a sec?” The rabbit looked questionably at him but got up none the less. Jack moved away from the hole to allow Bunny enough room to claw himself out of the trunk. He looked tired and jumpy but with any luck, he would be feeling better by the end of his visit.

He clambered back down the huge truck with Bunny following close behind. They both landed on the soft bank with a gently thud. Jack moved a little ways from the tree and sat down in the longer grass that grew closer to the yellow dye pools. He motioned for Bunny to join him, which he did without complaint.

So far, so good.

Jack studied him as he settled on his haunches and took note of his appearance. His shoulders where hunched and he could see the tension of his shoulder muscles from underneath his fur. His long expressive ears hung limply across his back, pinned down by his tiredness and low esteem. The ears seemed the best place to start as any. Slowly and without a word he tenderly reached out his hand, took the tip of the nearest ear between his fingers, and started to rub it gently.

The cold contact sent the rabbit jumping lightly on his legs but he soon recovered. “Jack what are you doing?”

“I’m making you feel better. Now lay down a bit, I can’t reach from all the way down here.” He stretched his arm up a little further.

The rabbit only looked at him as he continues to stroke him. Jack could tell by the look in his eyes and the confused frown on his face that he did not know what to make of the attention.

“You don’t have to-”

“I want to” He interpreted. “It’s mostly my fault you’re feeling so down right now. I asked North to show me how to hypnotize a rabbit. I did not know it would spook you so much.”

“It didn’t spook me.” the rabbit grumbled and puffed out his chest. “It just… it just…”

“Scared you?”

Bunny fidgeted uncomfortably and turned his head away. His pride would not allow him to admit that it had freaked him out a little. Fortunately for his pride he did not have to admit it. His body langue spoke for itself. Burning with embarrassment his ears flatted as far as they could against his head and his tail drooped against the grass. Jack noticed the shift in body langue and rubbed Bunny’s long ear harder, trying to undo the mistake.

“It’s okay to admit it scared you. It doesn’t make you any less of a kangaroo.” the little joke worked its charm and despite himself Bunny scowled playfully at him before becoming sullen once more. Jack scratched at ear some more, hoping the physical touch would relax him.

“Hey Bunny.” Jack said after a minute or two of silence. “What’s it like being hypnotized? Did you feel anything?”

The rabbit turned his head a little but not far enough so that Jack could not still rub his ear. He took this as a sign that Bunny liked him stroking them.

“It’s hard to describe.” He sighed. “It’s very disorientating. Ya know something is happening but you aren’t sure what and all ya feel is this impending sense of, I don’t know, dread?…Like no matter what it is you’re powerless to stop it. At least that’s how I see it.” Bunny pulled his head away from him, slipping his ear out of his cool grasp and fell flat on his stomach with his arms folded and his head resting on them. “Sounds bloody ridicules don’t it.”

Jack scooted over to the rabbit’s ears and continued to stroke them. Now that he was lying down, he could reach them much better and gently started to stroke them from base to tip as his continued. “That thing that North did, it wasn’t just normal hypnotism for you though was it? It was an instinctive reaction to a threat so I guess it’s only natural you felt powerless. For all you know North could have been a polar bear trying to eat you.”

He got a laugh this time from the rabbit and was feeling pleased with himself when he felt Bunny’s head pressing into his hand affectionately. “Yeah, a bloody big ugly polar bear.”

Jack smiled to himself and moved his hand to scratch Bunny on the back of his neck. The moment his cold hands touched that warm, feather soft fur, Bunny breathed in sharply and tensed. Jack frowned at his reaction. His hands weren’t that cold.

Maybe he should just stick to the ears.  

He moved his hand away to work on his ears again but before he could get there Bunny breathed out deeply and melted against him with the tiniest whine of contentment. Taking the noise as a positive sign he tentatively returned his hand to the back of Bunny’s neck and scratched him experimentally. Bunny tensed again but did not show any sign he disliked it. Feeling a little more confident and a little daring he scratched him a little harder, this time moving slightly to the left of his neck. This seemed to agree with him much better and instantly his furry head butted against his leg and a small purr-like sound vibrated through his jaw.

It took even ounce of Jack’s willpower not to coo at the cuteness of the display. He loved the way the older Guardian responded positively to his touch and felt a real sense of achievement that he was making his friend and rival relax. It defiantly made a surprising change. Normally he was the bane of the rabbit’s existence and he was not ashamed to admit he was proud of that title. But today he was more than happy to give the poor guy a break and Bunny in return seemed to be enjoying his company for once. That alone was a miracle in itself.

He put more pressure onto the rabbit’s neck and Bunny eagerly leaned into the touch until he quite literally had his head resting snugly on his lap. Jack laughed at the mess of fur on his knees and scratched harder, delighted when the rabbit nuzzled his stomach lovingly.

“Are you enjoying this?” He teased playfully, knowing that once the Pooka’s senses returned he would be mortified at his cuddly behavior.

Bunny mumbled between the folds in his jacket and almost got away with his reply but Jack only just caught it. “…No”

“You so are!” The winter teen laughed. He could practically feel Bunny’s burning blush through his jacket warming up his skin.

“No I’m not.” Bunny grumbled, not taking his head away from the boy’s body and nuzzling against him softly.

“Oh I think you are.” he stopped scratching the rabbits neck and moved back to his long silky ears, stroking the sensitive appendages gently from base to tip. Bunny melted into his touch and cuddled closer to him like a big puppy, obviously enjoying the closeness and attention much more then he would ever admit to. An idea suddenly came to him

“What if I were to promise not to mention this to another living soul for as long as I live? You know, keep it are little secret?”

Bunny turned his head to the side so that one green eye was looking up at him. There was defiantly temptation there.

“You promise this stays between us?

“I give you my word as a Guardian and scouts honor” He made a weird salute (one he had seen many young scouts make) and smiled at the elder Guardian with honestly. Usually when someone had sworn him to secrecy he would instantly break down and spill the beans to the nearest living thing (which was usually North) but today he was more them willing to keep his trap shut if only for this one time. It would be hard no doubt but just hearing Bunny say what he really wanted to hear from him would be worth the torture.

Bunny smiled back tiredly and turned to bury his nose within his hoodie. Possibly to hide the embarrassment of what he was about to say. “In that case… yeah… I’m enjoying this… enjoying it a lot.” Okay, it hadn’t been that hard to say.

Jack threw his arms around the rabbit’s neck before he could come to his senses. Hearing Bunny admit such a thing made him feel all giddy inside like a little child getting a new toy. Bunny stiffened for a moment, unused to just affections and a little shocked by the boys cold embrace but almost immediately he found himself giving into it and cuddling close to the young soul. Despite all his completes about the winter brat even he had to admit that this was pretty nice. Darn he even say, comforting.

“Who would have thought the big bad Easter Bunny is a secret softie” Jack mused, cuddling him closely and giggly like a fool.

Bunny grunted at him and instead of denying the accusation only muttered. “You better not tell anyone.”

Oh Man Bunny had actually admitted he was soft! Sort of… man, why oh why did he have to go and promise not to tell anyone! Tooth would have gone bananas if she knew!

Actually now he thought about it he should be finding this whole situations very astonishing himself. Bunny was never one for affection or emotional display. Even when he reduced to his smallest and weakest form, he had not attempted to seek comfort from anyone. Yet a little induced trance had turned him all mellow and needy like a lost puppy. This reaction, while adorable, was a little concerning to him.

There has to be more to this then just stress. He was still missing something.

Somehow during all the soppy fussing Jack had still managed to keep a hand on one of Bunny’s ears and started to absentmindedly pet it once more. “Bunny, are you sure you’re okay?”  

The rabbit did not answer him.

“Bunny?” Looking down at the bunch of fur nestled in his lap he eased stroking Bunny’s ears. The rabbit’s eyes had closed and his breathing was relaxed and calm. His petting must have worked better then he thought it would.

“Pretty tired huh?” He gently brushed at the thin fur along the base of the rabbit’s ears leaving behind a light trail of frost. Bunny’s ear twitched at the coldness but he did not wake. Instead, he breathed out a long contented sigh and snuggled cutely into his side. His long legs stretched out lazily behind him then quickly pulled up under his furry body. Now that his head was no longer resting on his arms he stretched them out in front of him like a cat and kept them there.

Jack smiled fondly at the sight. “You know I’m really am sorry for making you so jumpy like you’ve been the pass few day but I promise I’ll try and make it better.” Gently he lifted Bunny’s head off his lap and moved him so that he was leaning comfortable against his outstretched arms. The rabbit did not stir the whole time or notice the temperature change as his body started to return gradually to its normal temperature. He seemed more relaxed then he had done for the last week and Jack watched him for a few  more seconds to make sure he would not wake before picking up his staff and hopping into the air.

He was only airborne for a few seconds before bushes near the bank rustled and a few of Bunny’s egg assistants peeked out. All of the recent strange behavior from their master must have been worrying them terribly. At least he knew that Bunny wasn’t completely on his own down here.

“Hey guys.” Jack greeted the parade of colorful helpers and floated over the small group. The eggs squeaked anxiously at him as he approached and hopped from foot to foot. Each trying to be overheard and get his attention “Hey, hey quieten down.” He quickly scolded, looking over his shoulder. “You’re going to wake Bunny.”

Immediately the eggs settled themselves as best they could and tried to keep their focus on the frost child. It wasn’t easy for them. All week their master had been acting strange around the warren. He had even stopped talking to them while he worked and it was upsetting them greatly. The master had always talked to them no matter what his mood. The sudden loss of contact between them had left them all nervous and fidgety but they tried their best to keep calm and still.

Once satisfied that g the noise hadn’t woken Bunny Jack moved down towards the ground and cupped one hand to the side of his mouth to whispered quietly to the bunch “I need you guys to do me a favor ‘kay?” the eggs all stopped their worried fidgeting and huddled closer. They squeaked softly, not loud enough to wake their sleeping master but just loud enough for Jack to know they were paying attention. “Alright, I need you to keep an eye on Bunny and make sure he gets at least a couple hours sleep.If anything happens, I will be at the pole. You remember how to get to the pole right?”

Several eggshell bobbed up and down and green colored egg with yellow zigzags and a red painted N on it shell chirped loudly above the rest.

“Great, I’ll be back once I’ve figured out what to do with Bunny. Nell you’re in charge.” The green egg stood up straight and chirped determinedly. He was Bunny’s most prized assistant and Jack knew he could trust the hyperactive egg to watch over the furball and keep the warren safe while he was away. Many attempts to try to sneak into Bunny’s place unnoticed were nearly always been ruined by this watchful, annoying little egg. Rarely anything escaped his attention so he knew he was leaving the lace in capable none existence hands.

Gathering a small breeze, he rose over the cluster of brightly colored assistants and watched them as they all dutifully drifted towards their master and settled down against his warm fluffy. Jack took a moment to laugh at the sight of a six foot rabbit nestling with a cluster of eggs before making his move

Silently he glided towards the seven gateways hidden deeper in the warren, leaving the bunch in peace to keep an eye on things. He really had no idea what he intended to do about Bunny’s situation. Sure he may have looked like he was fine and dandy after that private little cuddle fest but he knew that the Pooka wasn’t quite over it. He felt it in the tight muscles in his neck and the almost invisible tremor beneath his thick fur.

He knew it had been a long shot to expect one short moment of bonding (secret bonding Shhh) to solve everything.

Looks like it’s time for detective Frost to get his thinking cap back on.