Feathers and Frost - A Rainbow Snowcone Collection (Tooth x Jack)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters written. All rights respectively belong to their owners.
i. strings
setting: canon verse
"What a strange being you are.
God knows where I would be if you hadn't found me sitting all alone in the dark."
If there was one thing Jack never had the chance to explore when he was human, it would be the possibility of love. Falling in love.
Not that he actually had the time for it, anyways.
He was a kid, barely eighteen years old. He convinced himself that the love he had for Emma and his family was enough during those times. Food was scarce. Happiness found its way around him in different little ways that doesn't involve any romantic connections.
Romantic love was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Maybe give it a few more years, if he lived long enough. He could have joined the military, earned money, pay back his parents, and ensured his sister had the life she deserved. Maybe after that he'll find someone to settle with.
Maybe it could've been that brown haired girl with the hazel eyes that lived a few blocks ahead. Jack would always exchange playful glances with her.
There was also that girl with short dark hair who would always accompany him fishing during the weekends.
Or it could've been that blonde haired beauty that recently moved into town. She barely gives him any attention but Jack was undoubtedly attracted to her.
He knew that in the future he would have to carry on their lineage, considering he was the only son. However, the concept of marriage had been so technical that it was something he would push at the back of his mind.
But apparently, fate had other plans. When the ice cracked and he was set plummeting down the icy water, he was gone almost instantly. The moon shone over him and brought him back, but not in the way he expected.
He was now Jack Frost. A spirit. A soul. He was no longer human. He was reborn into a new spirit with a blank slate of a mind ready to be molded into something much greater.
Loneliness was a familiar feeling and he knew she shared it too. It didn't take long for Jack to find out the difference between humans and non-human entities like him. Not all humans can see him but any other creature can, apparently. Either way, nobody really stuck around much. He was the embodiment of winter and nobody liked feeling cold.
She didn't like the cold.
In the years he felt alone, he finally found one who could see him. She was human for sure but maybe it had something to do with her just being as isolated as he was.
She knew that he wasn't human. Still, she was terrified when she saw him.
"I've read about you in my book. Have you come to.. nip my nose?" She asked coyly. Her bright green eyes were filled with curiosity and her long blonde hair was down to the ground.
Love at first sight, probably?
"No, I don't really do that." He replied.
He spends the next few days visiting her lone tower and they instantly clicked.
She really was lonely. He could tell by the way she wouldn't stop talking... and he found himself melting in her warmth.
That was what she was to him. She melted his heart of ice.
He didn't realize he was also freezing her in the process.
"Oh, Jack. It's getting really chilly now." She would tell him after a few hours of spending time together.
He would feel ashamed. "I'll go. I guess... I'll visit you tomorrow, then?"
He couldn't spend much time with her. He needed to remind himself that wherever he goes, he brings the cold and it's too much for her tower. She wasn't built like him.
He reached for her hand and as soon as it touched her, she pulled it away.
"Sorry." She mumbled.
Maybe he should stop visiting her.
He couldn't stop the guilt building in his chest whenever she'll start rubbing her palms or when she brings out her blanket for her to wrap herself in.
He didn't come back the next day, and even the day after that.
The day when he finally decided to come back, she wasn't in her tower.
The town was filled with festivities. The people were dancing on the streets and the music were everywhere. Every corner of the street was painted in in purple and yellow.
The sun was high up and the place was warm. It was no place for Jack Frost.
He glanced up to one wall where there was a painting of a woman with short brown hair, holding hands with a man. But the bright green eyes stayed the same.
The princess is getting married!
Indeed, it was no place for Jack Frost.
He took comfort where there was snow.
He found himself back to the lonely mountains and the endless lands of snow where he seems to naturally blend in. To be alone was an adventure, honestly. As far as he knew, he was the only one quite of his kind.
Until another day came and he was stood face to face by a woman, with her bright blue eyes looking into his.
"You're… just like me."
She had the power to manipulate ice and snow, too. However, he was certain that she was still indeed human.
She had platinum blonde hair that she would put into a messy braid. She was overly anxious most of the time and her most obvious quirk was how she would never take her gloves off.
"It's because everything I touch turns ice cold. I can't eve-"
"Let me help you, okay?" He cut her off. "I'm here."
She smiled.
He didn't want to admit it, but he missed the feeling of another person to talk to. To be with another being that wasn't another pesky creature that couldn't even communicate with him properly.
He realized that she was almost always locked up but he was certain that she had a choice whether or not to go out. It was her fear. She was unable to control what she had and for that, she was absolutely terrified.
"I have a responsibility, Jack. One day, I'll have to go out there and rule this kingdom and I can't do it, not if I'm like this." She said.
"What's so wrong with it? It's pretty great, if you ask me."
"Exactly my point, Jack. They're not you. They're normal."
Of course, he couldn't possibly grasp that concept. He never had anybody. Jack's heart dropped at the thought.
"Not like me, huh?" He said disappointingly.
"I didn't mean it like that…"
"Yeah, I guess I'll never be like them or you, even."
She was silent for moment.
He continued, "I will never know how it feels. You have people."
He stood up and grabbed his staff. "I need to go."
She sighed then she nodded her head. She didn't even spare him a look.
Jack went away.
He realized, that despite how alike they were they were also very different. He tried to help her in any way that he could bust just like a blizzard; he could not even contain her. She was strong and passionate but her fears were holding her back.
He thought he was able to help her, but maybe all he did was just hold her back with the comforting thought that there was someone else out there like her and it was okay for her to live her life alone and afraid.
That was what kept him going, right? The thought of finding something new. Someone new.
Jack flew away and this time, he never went back.
He knew of an old tale that talked about a red string that connects two people together. As time passes the strings get shorter, bringing the two people closer together. When finally the two people meet, they spend the rest of the lifetime together.
What if for those whose lives were cut short? Were there people who were not around to find out who was at the other side of the string? Or were there people who spent their lifetime looking but ends up finding the other end of the string empty?
What if, simply, some strings were not meant for one lifetime?
Those that had been reincarnated into someone or something else brings their strings with them with the other end still trapped a millennial ago.
Who knew, really?
Jack was not ready for the adventure of the lifetime when he met the Guardians. He was specifically not ready when he was reacquainted with his life before being a spirit.
He could thank the Guardian of Memories for that.
Speaking of her, she was another story to tell. She was an aged soul trapped in a petite body. Her iridescent feathers cover her whole physique and her hummingbird-like wings hummed behind her as she buzzed off in a flash.
He had a lot of questions and he found himself coming back to her palace as much as he could.
He grew familiar with her bright purple eyes and the way she talked life like there was no tomorrow. He was pretty much welcomed in her home and that was apparent by her mini fairies that completely adored him.
For once, he appreciated being welcomed.
One night, he took the honour in accompanying Toothiana on her nightly shift collecting teeth in Burgess. Among all the other Guardians, she had the busiest load. Jack always made time to help her out wherever part of the world she would be.
"And that's about the last of it for tonight!" She exclaimed.
"Boy, that was exhausting."
"You'll get used to it, Jack." She giggled. "Come, I want to show you something."
He didn't ask. He tailed along when she flew away quickly. She took to a big old tree in the middle of the town. They settle down on its branches. From where they were, there was an overlooking view of the town. Snow covered the roofs of the houses and the streets as well.
"I guess you also did your job well tonight, hm?" She nudged him playfully.
"It is almost Christmas, after all. I needed to get the Christmas mood going, you know?" He said with a small laugh.
"Indeed you have!"
The more time he spent with her, the more he felt at ease with the world. Tooth was always busy, no doubt but it was a constant reminder that there was always a reason to go out and about in the world.
They shared their quiet moments too. After all the collecting and flying around, the two find time to just sit down and talk.
"Hey, thanks for always being here with me. I appreciate it." Tooth said.
Jack just smiled. "You're a busy bee, Tooth. You need it."
"You do know I have my fairies, right?"
"Oh yeah? Where are they now?"
"Let's just say some time alone with Jack Frost is kind of nice too."
"I enjoy alone time with the Tooth Fairy herself, as well."
Tooth laughed, "BT is going to kill me. She literally has the biggest crush on you."
"And as if you don't?" He teased.
Tooth blushed, "Oh well. The things you get into when you're basically immortal."
"That includes seventeen-year-old winter spirits, true?"
"False. You're basically more than a hundred years old, Jack."
They shared a good laugh. It was these moments that they both looked forward to each time they would meet. It was the small reassuring touches of Tooth that reminded Jack that he was not alone anymore.
"I really like how you don't even try to hide that you like me, Tooth."
She just rolled her eyes and then rested her head on his shoulder.
"Are you still up with helping North and us with his deliveries this Christmas?" Tooth asked, completely changing the subject.
"Of course." He said as he laced his fingers into hers.
"And next year?"
"Sure."
"What about next year?"
"I'll have to check in with my secretary."
Tooth laughed.
She then slowly unlaced her fingers and then stood up. "Rest time is over. I have another round to do in Beijing. Are you coming?"
"Count me in."
As she flew away, Jack found himself tailing behind her again. He felt drawn to the fairy, as if he was being pulled wherever she went.
As if he they were both tied together by an invisible string.
But he wasn't afraid of rushing or losing anything anymore.
He knew she'll be there until the end of time itself.
Song inspiration: Sick of Losing Soulmates - dodie
Note: Yes, that was implied Jackunzel and Jelsa. No tea, no shade. Just love for all these characters. I just wanted to write a story about different relationships. I really loved how this went, though. This was rather difficult because for one, I didn't want to overly romanticize Jack but that can't be helped since I am writing a romance narrative after all (nervous laughter).
Also, how did Jack meet all these girls?
Ah, only the imagination can tell. ;)
Feathers and Frost is a compilation of one-shots. After checking fanfiction guidelines, I found no rules about making a story compilation so I gave it a shot! Some chapters that will be posted would be old one-shots that I have uploaded on a few years back. The updates may come rarely since I only have this up to just satiate my thirst for some RAINBOW SNOWCONE. Honestly, it's been a while and I just hope most of you would enjoy these mini stories as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Thank you for reading and I hope to still see you in the future chapters!