Story Title: Bennefrost Week

Chapter Title: Light

Author: Mathais

Rating: T

Fandom: Rise of the Guardians

Warnings: Slash

Pairings: Jamie/Jack

Summary: Jamie would never let this light go out.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters/elements of Rise of the Guardians.

Notes: Done for Bennefrost Week's first prompt, found at the end of the chapter. Prompt list here: nose-nippin-nightmare. tumblr post/ 53177936877/happy-bennefrost-week-everybody

OoOoO

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

"Let it shine, let it shine, let it—"

Jamie coughed, a deep, rough, wet hacking that caused his whole body to shudder. It went on for a spell before he was able to regain control of himself, breaths coming short and thin. When he felt like he could focus again, Jamie turned back to his little flame and continued.

"Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

His voice was barely above a whisper by now, but Jamie would continue to sing as long as he could. He huddled closer to the only source of heat, almost willing it to stay alight through prayer alone.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

Everything was cold. The chill seeped past his gloves, past the piles of clothes he put on, and past even his normally winter-loving self. It settled deep in his bones, drawing away every bit of heat and warmth until all he felt was numb.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

Jamie didn't know how long he'd been here in his cave. All he could do was huddle into the side, thanking serendipity that there'd been firewood—usable firewood—within. As long as he had fire on the outside to match the heat within, he would be fine.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

All he had to do was believe. Believe with everything he had. It was nothing special—he did that with every step he took, with every breath he had.

"Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

He'd done it in the face of worse. Belief had been his bastion in the darkness—had been the world's last defense. Jamie had never fallen into the slow degeneration of faith that claimed so many others. His belief shined like a beacon in the fog.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

This, though, this—it wasn't quite the same. He'd never had to hold it against the relentless cold. He never had to hold it against this type of onslaught, which leeched his strength slowly as opposed to drowning him in one go.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

Jamie threw the last of his supplies into fire. It would have to be enough.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

Jamie hoped and prayed, even as the fire in front of his sputtered. He wanted... He wanted Jack so much. He wanted Jack to surround him, to wrap him up and make him safe again. He wanted Jack by his side.

He had no doubt that Jack would come.

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

By now, his voice was gone, but his lips still formed the lyrics. Jack would come. He would burst through this prison and whisk him away to safety and everything would be well.

"Let it shine."

There was no other option.

"Let it shine."

Even as Jamie's eyes closed, even as the last of his strength faded, he continued to mouth the words.

"Let it shine."

His head rolled forward, and—

"Jamie!"

That voice was beautiful.

It would always be beautiful.

Jamie barely, just barely managed to open his eyes again. His blue lips spread into a small smile at Jack's face, beautiful even in its fear, panic, and anger. Jamie wished he could kiss him right now.

"Hey, Jack," he said softly.

"Jamie, Jamie, Jamie," Jack repeated frantically as he bundled Jamie up as carefully as he could. "I found you, I found you! It'll be all right, okay? Everything'll be all right, and then I'll freeze Pitch in a glacier so thick that it'll reverse global warming."

"It didn't go out," Jamie said with a voice light and distant. "I didn't let it."

"Of course not. We're going to get you to the Kangaroo's place, all right? We'll get you all warm and toasty and everything'll be fine."

"I didn't let it go out."

Jamie didn't feel anything as Jack took to the air.

All he knew was that the light still shined within him.

He didn't let it go out.

OoOoO

Prompt: This Little Light of Mine