Title: Growing
Summary: Jamie Bennett never calculated his life without Jack Frost. Jack/Jamie
Disclaimer: I am not Dreamworks therefore I do not own the characters or anything ROTG.
Unbeta'd: Apologies for mistakes in the lore, grammar, and everything else. There are references to the movie so I hope you've all seen it.
Chapter 1
Wait
Sometimes, the ticking of the clock can get insistent as it echoes over the teacher's lessons. Especially, if it is the only thing you're focusing on in the middle of the day. Some of the children were growing restless in their seats as they waited on the bell to signal the end of the school day.
In these last moments was when you could make out the bratty children of the class. One boy was noticeably ready to spring from his seat as soon as he was allowed to.
Just then the buzzer rang out and the teacher was stopped mid-sentence. The shuffling of students drowned out any remaining attempt the teacher had to continue his lesson. The teacher raised his voice an octave higher to wish the students goodbye and remind them of their assignments for the day.
Amidst the shuffling, a mop of brunette locks darted out of the class room as he gently pushed others out of his way. The boy with the brunette hair yelled out an apology to his classmates as he passed them.
The boy reached the front of the school and stepped out onto the steps, breathing in deeply. His small arms wrapped around his waist and tightened the blue vest that clung to his torso. He glanced up, to the side, left-right-left; all around his surroundings. Far from any usual ritual, the days were calling for a keen sense of awareness. To take note of the sky, wind, trees, and even the grass. There were visual clues that the boy had to look out for. The amount of children emerging from the entrance increased until the boy became unsteady from the mob of students, himself lost in thought. He tumbled from the low steps to the ground, his hat coming off in the process and wincing slightly at the impact. Unexpectedly, a look of glee came on his face. Dusting his jeans as rose, he grabbed his cap and placed it back atop his head. There was a slight chill in the air.
A few children had stopped in front of him "Jamie, why would you run out so fast for to just end up in the dirt?" A boy in glasses stepped to his side, mild concern on his face.
"Today's the day, I know it," Jamie proudly stated. Gloved hands splayed in front of him as he looked into the faces around him.
A group of five kids had gathered around Jamie, each with shared looks of confusion. "Day for what? What are going on about, Jamie Bennett," a taller girl inquired. She had been growing quite a bit, Jamie noted before answering.
Backing away slightly from the group, he opened his arms to the sky. "Jack Frost is coming!" His smile growing wider as his friends processed the news.
Sounds of excitement came from different directions. "Ooo~ooh!"
"Jack Frost!"
"Finally!"
"I can't wait!"
The group walked away together, filled with anticipation for the promise of a snow day.
Homework was done, dinner was eaten, and Jamie was washed up for the night. He sat in his room, dark and quiet, listening to nothing. And that was the problem. Next to the only source of light, the moon shining through his window, he repeatedly rolled his fingers into his palm and then loosened them.
It had only been a year since Jack Frost had given the children of Burgess a fighting chance at believing and fighting off Pitch. There had only been that one meeting but Jamie still felt a tight connection with the ice spirit. He thought he would try to predict as to when Jack would make his appearance again in this town. For sure, he thought, for sure he'll see me again.
This night wasn't panning out to be a reunion. "He didn't come." Jamie sat at the ledge of window staring into the sky, looking for his friend. They were friends, right? The window open just a smidgen to feel if there was a distinct drop in temperature. With no change for hours, Jamie decided to close it.
Sullen-faced and defeated, he glanced at the clock on the table: 11:47. His mother would nag him if she knew, nevermind if he woke Soph up! (It'd be his life!) Jamie was feeling desperate though, hoping for more playtime with one of his favorite heroes. Jack probably is his favorite. Jamie would rather see him sooner than later.
A disapproving look came on his face. I mustn't be selfish! But-
"I haven't seen you in so long..."
Sighing, the brunette quickly retreated to his bed and nestled into the sheets. The ice spirit provided him with so much fun even when he hadn't realized Jack Frost – the being – had been there all along. Now, however, he would never stop believing in him; he wanted to play with him. Jamie wanted to give him all that well-deserved attention now that he had the chance.
He delicately bit his ring finger. Pleas left his mouth in a murmur, barely audible even in the silence that filled his room. They were about Jack and hoping he'd arrive tomorrow. If not then, then the day after that, or the day after that or...
"Jack Frost is definitely the best," Jamie mumbled as he drifted into a sleep, fingers interlaced between his head and pillow. Shimmering gold flakes collected above him, forming the imagery of a journey taken through snow-capped mountains with a mystical companion.
The room complemented the mute streets outside with the exception of the dull hum of streetlights. Light occasional blasts of air went through the city and one of them nudged Jamie's window open hours into his sleep. Tiny, glittering pieces of the world drifted in; so light, they remained suspended in the air. Shadows elegantly danced about his room and if Jamie were awake he'd have heard a chuckle. The clock on Jamie's nightstand was stopped by the frozen touch of a pale finger. Didn't want a dog waking up while this silvery intruder set to designing the window of this room.
Oh, how he missed this.
It was bright and early yet a young boy was eagerly getting dressed. Jamie wasn't feeling too well when he begrudgingly woke up but now he was beyond words. No sooner after he awoke his eyes caught sight of the frost on his window in patterns that indicated a certain guardian was waiting for him. He would've ran out in his pajamas if his mother hadn't insisted he put on some suitable clothing.
Jack's here! Jack's here! His mind was on repeat and it was really messing with the ordinary. One backwards shirt later, shoes on wrong feet, and the spoon that missed his mouth while eating breakfast; Jamie was finally on his way out.
It really was a wonder he wasn't jumping with joy proceeding with falling over himself. "Okay! Mom, I'm going outside now!" He was out in a flash but took care to not slam the door behind him. Jamie had only reached the porch he was met with a snowball to the face. "Ah!"
He wouldn't admit it but this is the one time it was welcomed.
"Too slow!" Jack Frost stood opposite the street Jamie's house was on. He was leaning on his crook with a large grin on his face. "Long time no see, Jamie."
Jamie sucked in a breath of air and promptly ran to him, enveloping Jack in a tight hug. "Jack, Jack, Jack!" The boy of Jamie's adoration, still unused to the touch of others, placed his arms up in shock. This lasted only a second though as the arms eventually settled around the brunette's back. Through the thick layers of clothing Jamie wore, Jack could still feel a pleasant warmth radiating from the boy. It was so different but so good.
This boy– Jamie still sees me. A sigh of relief escaped Jack.
"Hey, hey! Tell me what you've been up to this past year! How long will you be in town for? Do you want to stay at my house? Soph' really wants to see you too!" Huge brown eyes were starring up at Jack.
"Woah, slow down, kiddo. We'll have plenty of time for everything, I promise." Jack let go of Jamie and grabbed his wooden staff. "But for now, you're gonna have one of the best snow days of your life!"
Jamie jumped in excitement and nearly slipped but caught his fall. He sure was getting quite clumsy lately. Before straightening himself, he grabbed a handful of snow and chucked it at Jack.
The snowball was skillfully dodged from the aim on his face. The guardian of fun let out a hearty laugh and reached out a hand to Jamie. The younger boy grasped onto it with both hands, enthusiasm in those dark orbs. "Let's go get my friends!"
Jamie's friends were thrilled when they saw Jack Frost again – some for the first time. They greeted him with wonder and questions.
"Where did you go this whole time?"
"Can fly around the world?"
"Does the snow come from you?"
Jack nervously laughed and raised his hands in a surrender. These children really are amazing. Did he even know the answer to the last one? I'm sure my crook can account for some of my magic. "Woah, one at a time!"
An inquisitive voiced chirped from the crowd, "how high can you fly, Jack? To Space?"
"Too high for you, that's for sure. And I never really thought about going to space." He looked up, beyond the clouds, to that tiny, outlined moon, finger on his chin. "He likes his privacy up there, I guess." Jack rubbed the back of his head shyly.
A few kids looked confused by that last statement. One of the younger boys dismissed the answer. "Jack, have you been to Antarctica? It's supposed to be really cold."
If you blinked you would've missed it. If you didn't look at Jack Frost with an examining eye like Jamie did, you probably did miss it. As soon as that question was asked, Jack's brows creased together, the look in his eyes distant, and his mouth in a frown. But the cheery face that looked back at the children a second later made Jamie question if it was ever really there. Jack leaned down with a beaming face, "of course! But it can get dark there."
Surprising even himself, Jamie wanted to take his friends away from Jack Frost. Unconsciously, his hand grabbed a handful of snow and it landed on the kid who asked the question. He didn't mean to aim it at him. "Y-you're it!" But, he couldn't stop feeling angry at him …
The kids ran away screaming and laughing, trying not to get caught in some real freeze tag.
A pair of blue eyes peered through white hair at the boy with the blue vest before meandering stealthly through the children, providing each with the resources to hide and fight.
Jack wasn't kidding; this has to be the BEST snow day ever!
Jamie stood atop the snow castle his friends helped him build thanks to the steady supply of materials. There were slides leading down that would take you through multiple tunnels an into igloos. He took one of these with his sled and heard the cheering of his friends when he passed them.
The sled came to sudden stop due to a recently added obstruction in the path. Jamie's hat flew onto the bare feet that stood before him.
Jack's leaned into his staff while he picked up the thick hat. Brown eyes were staring at him with a look of content and a touch of fatigue the owner wouldn't admit to. Jack's fingers ruffled the brown hair.
"Hey, Jamie, would it be okay if I visited you more often? Would you mind?" Jamie immediately stood up, reverence on his face.
"Yes! Wait- I mean, no! I wouldn't mind at all! I was thinking about this the WHOLE year, wondering when you'd be arriving again." Jamie's eyes were intensely starring at his fists that were held in front of his face. "Every time you're around I get so many ideas about the fun we can have! I wish you didn't have to leave but Mom says it's not good to be selfish." The younger boy's face fell a bit.
He looked up at Jack, face in a pout but eyes undecipherable. Jack returned the hat to its owner's head and placed a hand on the padded shoulder.
"Then it's settled."
The room was quiet and dark. Jack leaned against Jamie's window, eyes closed and hands in his front pocket. He had waited for Jamie to fall asleep which didn't take long. Sandy was at work as soon as Jamie got in his bed.
Sophie and Jamie were up a little too late listening and begging for more of his stories. He told them about Norway and Poland. "And would you believe you can make a fully functional playground out of snow?" Their eyes lit up at that one. How Canada was hearing rumors of someone responsible for snow days, one step closer to believing in him.
He had to say goodnight to Sophie when her mother called and told her he'll make sure Bunny gets the drawing of him she made. He tapped at that folded piece of paper currently in his pocket. A loyal fanbase, huh?
Then Jamie invited Jack to sleep with him and he had to refuse. There were many valid reasons for this.
One: Jack didn't get tired, not like humans did. He may get emotionally drained but he was more worried for Jamie. The poor boy was exhausted and refused to give in to it due to his presence. "Maybe I shouldn't deprive him for so long?" His eyes snapped open and his head turned to look out the window. "Of fun. I'm his best friend, he said."
He turned back to look at Jamie. Reason two: Jack was freezing. He might have created an icicle out of Jamie. Hilarious in theory but not something he was willing to test. He is really warm, though. And he has all those sheets.
Last reason, and most important: he wasn't used to all the attention. To be specific, the attention Jamie was giving. It was different and so much more than belief. All those years alone; of not knowing who he was and why he was doing what he was. Too much time spent invisible yet still wanting to see the smiling faces of children. He certainly didn't have the chance to know friendship. He did not dislike it; he was still getting used to it was all.
That's why he was going to make an effort of seeing Jamie more often. He really did miss the boy this past year. Jamie was the first to see him and he would never forget when those eyes landed on him instead of through him.
When should I explain everything to him? Should I?
Jack slid down the wall and grabbed his crook that lay on the floor. He starred at the bed where Jamie was currently dreaming because he could no longer see the boy. How lucky was he that Jamie saw him first? Would he ever stop believing? Hands tightened on the thin wood clasped in his hands and a tiny circle of ice spread from where the staff met the floor. "I don't want to disappear from Jamie's mind."
It was getting late and Jack had places to turn into winter. Jack rose from the floor to quietly open the window. Before he exited the room he looked to Jamie and whispered, "See you soon, kid. Rest well."
Gold sand played above Jamie's head. A flying figure circling a much smaller one.
Jamie didn't see the ice spirit when he woke the next morning but he wasn't nervous. He was more disappointed that he had to go to school today! Didn't Jack say snow days?
After classes ended, his friends decided to head to the forest and build forts out of snow. Jamie was working on the fort of THE GUARDIANS when he felt snowflakes solely on his nose. He turned behind him and saw the teen resting on a low branch in a tree.
"Jack! Where were you? We thought you'd be around this morning for another snow day." Jack hopped from his present position and gently floated down to the ground, looping his arms around the crook that was parallel to his shoulders.
"Hey, learning is important; growing is important." There was a goofy smile on his face but the tone of his voice held weight.
Why was the spirit telling him this? Jack wasn't his parent. It wasn't that he didn't value what Jack said, it was Jack saying these things that greatly upset him.
Didn't adults not believe in the Guardians? Why would Jack want that?
Jamie turned away to paw at more snow, adding thicker and stronger walls to the safe place he and his friends built.