Author's Note: Welcome new and old friends! Before we get to the good stuff, I have a few things that I want to get out of the way...

This is a more adult oriented Rise of the Guardians story, so everyone should put on their Rated M glasses! It is meant to be a lot darker than the movie (and spirits can die in my world, not that I'm planning on that happening). Therefore I want you all to picture the ROTG world, but a lot more badass. If there were a rated R ROTG, this would probably be it.

It also centers on the well-being of adults just as much as children, which is why I created my original characters specifically to take care of the more mature duties.

You'll also notice that unlike my other stories, in this one I use Bunny's other name to refer to him. "Bunny" just seems so cute and fluffy and that's not exactly what I'm going for here. I'm trying to give the impression of a tougher, slightly meaner, and much much sexier Easter Bunny, and when I think of him I just see him as "Aster." The others Guardians will refer to him as "Bunny" depending on the point of view, but most of the time he's "Aster." Also, as I mentioned above, he is absolutely badass, okay? So add a little muscle onto him (not bodybuilder that's just nasty), just enough to make him less cuddly and a little more like the rabbit you'd never let out of your bedroom, okay? Okay! Aaaaand… action!

WARNING: This story contains a lot of adult language, quite a bit of action/violence (not too bad but I want to be careful), and also a lot of adult content (that means naughty implications and eventually lemons). If you are offended by any of this I suggest you do not read this story.

A Fine Line

Chapter 1:

When Pitch had attempted to force the children of the world to believe in him by spreading fear, he had used black sand to bring North's attention to him. There was no warning of his intent, and it didn't have that high of a success rate. This time there was a clear sign that something horrible was happening.

Not only were the lights on the globe dying steadily, but darkness had seemed to settle in the souls of many, further dispensing the evil throughout their lives. People who had never told a lie in their lives were becoming deceitful and corrupt. Friends were turning against each other and significant others were becoming hateful and sometimes even violent. It was one of the worst massive increases of negative energy in history, and it was getting out of control.

North stares up at the globe as the lights of believers disappear seemingly without any reason. He checks the rotation and when it doesn't seem to make a difference, he frowns and strokes his beard nervously.

"This can't be happening again." It had been over a decade since Pitch had been defeated, so it couldn't have been him. But there was no doubt that something was working against the Guardians once again, only this time it was stronger. He turns to Phil, who frowns back at him, and the worry in the yeti's eyes helps him make the decision to call the others. He instantly sends out the Northern lights, and waits impatiently for them to respond, pacing the floor. "Why now? What has changed?" He continues to talk to himself, searching for answers he could never find by himself as the other four arrive. They take one glance at the globe and see the same problem that he did, but this time they had more information to give.

"North, what's going on? All of my children have changed." Tooth says, and she flits closer, her pink eyes full of confusion and concern. "The ones that always believed in me and looked forward to losing their teeth have become so different. They're angry, and have no hope." Aster crosses his arms over his chest as he listens to her describe the children, and he remembers the ones that had teased others for believing, saying that they were acting like babies.

"One of mine stopped believing in me because of bullies. They told him that I wasn't real and that they shouldn't believe in in me anymore. They said that he needed to grow up." He adds. Sandy frowns and wrings his hands together nervously.

"I think I know what it is." Jack speaks up from his position on top of his staff. "When I was creating a snow storm in Minnesota, I heard two parents arguing. They were screaming about lies in their marriage, and their daughter was listening at the door." He frowns at the ground as he remembers what happened next. "They just kept screaming, and suddenly the mother pointed out that lies are dangerous, like the one about Santa Clause that keeps children from understanding the difference between reality and fantasy." The others flinch, knowing what the outcome was before Jack even says it. "I could practically see her light go out. She just deflated. It was horrible."

"Her parents made her stop believing." North echoes all of their thoughts.

"But North, don't you see? It was their anger that made them say it. Something is going on here that doesn't have anything to do with the children."

"Explain, Tooth."

"I've seen a lot lately, how people are behaving. There are more lies being told, more anger being spread. Compassion is dying, and it's taking the children's belief with it. The adults are being targeted by something or someone, and the children are just getting the after effects." There is a long period of silence as the Guardians chew over this bit of information.

"So what does this mean? We can only help the children. But unless we can figure out what's happening to make the adults so… heartless… we can't stop this." Aster says quietly.

Sandy looks up to the skylight with wide eyes, and after a moment the moon shines down a light on them, just as it had all of those years ago. There was only a slight comfort that Manny would know what to do, and with that thought the Guardians move around the circle of light as the crystal begins to rise from the floor. Still, they all held their breath as the crystal began to shine and create not one, but two silhouettes. However, these two made North's brow furrow in confusion.

"Manny? You're sure?" He rarely ever questioned the man in the moon, but it just didn't seem right. His only response was when the blue light shined even brighter, and North sighs before nodding. Tooth moves toward the crystal with narrowed eyes, taking in the two figures.

"This is so strange. I would have expected someone… I don't know, tougher."

"Oh, they are plenty tough." North corrects her, and as the crystal begins to lower back into his floor, he moves to the window to stare out at the snow covered glaciers surrounding his home. "But I wonder what they could possibly do in such a devastating case as this."

"Who will get them?" Jack asks, and North shakes his head with a wry smile.

"They're already on their way."

xoXox

Fever's dark, almost black eyes follow the girl's as they linger on her significant other's lips. She is trying so badly to send him a hint. She had fluffed her hair, pushed her breasts together, and even snuggled into his side as they watched the movie in her room. Fever shakes her head as she feels the girl's frustration and moves from her spot at the window into the room. You'd think that a boy in his late twenties would know what to do when a girl had that kind of look on her face. She moves around the bed where the couple is lying, her high heeled boots making a soft clicking noise that they would never hear. Her fingertips move down the girl's shoulder, making her shiver, and Fever watches the boy's eyes dart over her. She smiles slightly and uses her other hand to turn his chin so he's looking into the girl's eyes, and with one last touch to the girl's neck she gasps slightly and her back arches.

In an instant the two are kissing, and Fever watches for one more moment as their arms wrap around each other and the television is forgotten. At the first moan she excuses herself with a smirk, exiting through the window and settling on top of a roof a couple of houses down. Finally, she thinks to herself. She had been working that particular couple for days, trying to get them to take the next step in their relationship. She sits on the edge of the roof and lets her legs hang down the wall, leaning back on her palms. Her red hood falls from her head to rest on her shoulders and she feels the moon shine down onto her as it always seemed to do.

"Moonstruck." She chuckles to herself and closes her eyes, and then they pop open when she feels her other half land next to her.

"Fever." She turns to face Val with a smile, and then it disappears at the concerned look on his face. It's shadowed by his blonde hair, and his lips are twisted into a scowl.

"What's wrong?"

"There's trouble. We're needed at the Pole." Her eyes narrow in confusion. She knew that the big guy only called other spirits in when something was terribly wrong. It had to be big if he needed them both, but she couldn't begin to imagine what. She stands and puts her hand in Val's outstretched one. In an instant they are both landing on snow covered ground. Fever glances around before two yetis confront them, and her fingers release Val's, instinctually moving closer to her sword. The yetis look at them for a moment, and then they grunt at each other and wave the couple forward into the workshop.

"Thank you." Val says politely, but the yetis don't reply. They just lead them further in, and Fever jumps slightly as the large doors to the palace close behind them.

xoXox

Tooth, Jack, Sandy, and Aster watch North silently as he seems to just stare out of the window. No one wanted to say anything. It was as if there was nothing that could be said to lighten the mood. It only took a few minutes until the door to the globe room opened and two yetis spoke quietly to North. He nods and waves his hand, and two people walk into the room cautiously.

Jack's eyes widen at their appearance, and he understands why North had said they were tough. They were both covered in weapons, which was very irregular for most of the spirits. They also looked like twins. Both were tall with slightly curly strawberry blonde hair, the boys' long enough to reach his neck and the girl's brushing her waist as she walked. She turns as her sharp eyes take them in, and he grimaces at the thought of her using the large blade strapped to her back on any of them.

"Val, Fever. Thank you for coming." North says somberly, and he moves toward the couple. Val steps forward to shake his hand formally, the muscles on his arm flexing with the motion. The girl just stands behind him, her eyes still moving around the room.

"No problem. What's going on?"

"Well… we're not entirely sure." North admits with a frown, but he gestures toward the globe where the lights continue to flicker out randomly but with alarming speed.

Aster watches from his spot against a column as the girl, North had called her Fever, moves closer to the globe. His eyes move over her and he tilts his head to the side curiously.

"What are you two the spirits of? Halloween?" He sneers slightly, and her head immediately turns, her large dark brown eyes piercing right through him. She faces him completely, and he stares at her outfit. It was basically a hooded, sleeveless crimson trench coat that had a lace up bodice and fell to her ankles. Her quick turn had allowed him a glance at the black hot pants she wore underneath, and the long slit in the back that allowed her more movement. Her forearms were covered with black fingerless gloves, and she finished off the look with black thigh high boots.

The only things that made her seem as if she meant business were the silver armor that covered both of her shoulders and the large sword at her back. There were also knives in a belt around her waist and a dagger strapped to her right thigh. Val wore something similar, but his trench coat was left open so his chest was visible, and he wore long black pants underneath.

"Bunny." North shushes him, and Fever just turns away from him, continuing to look at the globe and folding her arms across her chest.

"We know we're not exactly what you guys were expecting. I'm Saint Valentine, but you can call me Val. This is Fever, my partner." Val says, and Fever snorts. He gives her a warning glance before looking back at North. "We work together." Sandy jumps up and down and when he gets their attention he creates the figure of a heart out of sand. "Yes. I'm cupid." Tooth makes a sound of understanding and smiles, taking in the bow slung across his back and the quiver of arrows. "I create new relationships and Fever keeps them going."

"How?" Tooth asks, glancing over at the girl who seemed preoccupied. Val shrugs and smirks.

"I'm the sweet, she's the spice. Once I get them together she helps them get to the next level."

"I turn them on." Fever suddenly speaks up bluntly, and Val laughs lightly. After over a century of dealing desire, she was no longer embarrassed by it or talking about it to complete strangers.

"Essentially."

"What's so important about that?" Aster asks, but once again she ignores him.

"Without us, the population of children comes to a halt. Without us, you have no believers." Val says, with no small amount of arrogance. It was clear that he was tired of being treated as one of the lesser spirits. She hears Fever grumble something about being a broodmare under her breath and shushes her quietly before turning back to North. "We'll try to help in any way we can, but we need to know what is happening."

"Well as you know, we deal mainly with children." Tooth offers, and Val nods. "They have stopped believing."

"This has happened before." He interrupts politely.

"Yes, but this is different. It's being caused by adults."

"Lies and hatred are being spread quicker than the plague during the Dark Ages. It's poisoning the children and they are losing hope." Jack interjects. "The adults' behavior is affecting the children, and therefore it affects us." He emphasizes the last word as if to stress that it was important for them to understand that all spirits would eventually feel the change.

"Lies." All heads turn to Fever as she echoes Jack, and she is now watching him steadily. He nods slowly and frowns.

"Yeah. Lies and deceit." She nods after a moment and unfolds her arms, walking closer to Val.

"I should check with Truth. This sounds like something she can help with more than us." She says.

"It's worth a shot." Val agrees, but then Jack speaks up again.

"Wait, what?"

"She's my best friend." Is all Fever says and she looks at Val with purpose. "I'll be back." In the blink of an eye she disappears, and the Guardians stare at the spot where she had previously been.

"Wha?" Tooth gasps.

"We travel by finding individual heartbeats. We latch onto the signal and teleport there." He says in explanation, and then leans against the wall to consider what they could do once they got Truth on their side.

xoXox

Fever's heels land on the laminate floor of the church and she immediately looks up into the rafters for her best friend. She bites her lip in confusion when she doesn't see her and checks the rest of the nave, even behind the altar.

"Truth?" She calls out, her voice echoing off of the walls. She hears some homeless birds' wings fluttering against the ceiling and turns to see the figure that had disturbed them. "Oh." She almost smiles, and then she sees that there is something wrong. She had known Truth for over a century, but this girl she was looking at was ragged and disturbed. She moves closer so she is almost underneath her, and hears a sob come from her curled body.

"Go away." The voice wasn't even hers. Fever slowly reaches for her sword, pulling it out of her scabbard as her gut begins to scream at her to get out of the building.

"Come down here." She orders loudly, and there is a silent moment before the girl so near the ceiling moves slightly, peeking over the rafter at her. "Now." At that, the angel leaps from the rafters, her pristine white feathery wings waving so hard that the settled dust moves with the current in the air, burning Fever's eyes. She lifts her two handed sword as the black hair girl swoops over her head to land behind her. She stops as her bare feet touch the ground, and then she turns around, and Fever feels dread coil in her stomach at the dead eyes that meet hers. The pupils are dilated, and the hatred that fills her expression is frightening enough that Fever takes a step back.

This was not her best friend.

Author's Note: Yaay the first chapter! Thanks for reading and I hope I've interested you guys. I'm going to try to add a new chapter every couple of days depending on how many reviews I get (hint hint). But the whole story is already written so don't worry about being left hanging. I know how annoying that is. So if you liked this, review please! I'd love to know what you think.

Also, I tried to describe Fever's outfit as best I could without being too annoying about the details. So if you look up Sweet Pea's outfit from the movie "Sucker Punch," that's essentially what I picture her wearing, only with a red overcoat instead of black. I wanted her in something tough looking, but still sexy and feminine to match her personality.