The Naughty List
Jack wanders around North's workshop, gripping on his staff as he sees the toys the Yetis have yet to finish. He knows Christmas is only in a few days, and because Pitch had destroyed most of them, they had to start from scratch. He knows how important it is for North to finish all of the toys before the deadline. How important it is for the kids.
"You guys doing all right?" he asks.
The Yetis don't reply. Instead, they continue on what they're doing. Jack shrugs, and continues to wander. He doesn't know what he's doing there. North had said he could come by, but Jack didn't know if it was going to happen. He just did. Perhaps he was a little bit too excited for Christmas and to see the kids all happy, but honestly, he doesn't even know.
He finds himself by the fireplace, leaning by the wall as he watches the entire workshop. Elves walk around, hitting each other like little children. Jack smiles at himself as he watches two elves smacking one another with a toy hammer. Suddenly, his smile turns into a smirk. He grips on his staff in front of him, pointing at the direction of the two elves. He is the Guardian of Fun, isn't he?
With a sudden spark of light, the two elves are frozen in ice and he laughs. He laughs and laughs until he hears a sudden noise from his right.
He turns to find a book sitting at North's desk. He walks over to it, narrowing his crystal eyes at the open book.
There are pictures of kids on each page as he finds himself flipping through it. Most of them are kind of scary-looking bullies he often saw, and some of them are making him chuckle. He knows that this is the famous Naughty List.
He flips and flips until he gets to pages of kids he was quite familiar with. Ericson Daniels, a kid that went to Jamie's school, suddenly appears. Jack isn't surprised. This kid was a bully. A few years before, he remembers seeing him harass another student. Eventually Jack saw himself throw a snowball behind his head.
He continues flipping until he gets to a much familiar face.
"Jackson Overland Frost," it read.
His eyebrows raise as he examines his own face. He thought North was joking about it, because he was certainly kidding when he asked if he was on the Naughty List. Maybe he shouldn't have frozen the two elves. But somehow, he doesn't feel guilty about it.
Okay, maybe he is, but a just little.
He laughs silently at himself.
Suddenly, he hears someone clear a throat from behind him. He turns around quickly to find North standing with his large, tattooed arms crossed over his chest.
"You find something that interests you yet, Jack?" North asks.
Jack smiles and slips his hands in his pockets, his staff on his shoulder. "Yes, in fact, I did."
North narrows his eyes. "Of course, the Naughty List amuses you…"
The winter spirit laughs. "Because a bunch of creepy-looking kids make me smile," he says, his voice full of sarcasm. "But North, there is this one kid that is quite dashing." This time his tone is serious, but he can't wipe the smirk off his face.
North has a knowing look on his face, and Jack still smirks. "You thought I was kidding that you hold the record, hmm?"
Jack sighs and turns to look at the picture of himself again. "Hmm… You know, not really."
North smirks this time and walks over, shutting the book. Jack looks up at the giant man, eyebrows raised in question. "Too bad that record is broken."
Jack laughs dryly. "And who else can beat me?"
North crosses his arms over his chest again, walking away from the winter spirit. "I can't tell. He shall remain a secret."
Jack stands there, mouth hung agape as the man walks away. Who else could possibly hold the record? He grips his staff tighter, and suddenly, he doesn't feel guilt anymore.
Instead he feels that he should beat whoever this 'record holder' is.