Icy translucent breaths of frost danced across window panes in intricate patterns as nimble pale bare feet danced, balancing gracefully on the electrical wires in an invisible but very well practiced tight rope act.
As long as he could remember he'd been alone.
Invisible to the naked eye, quite literally too mind you.
Several lone stragglers bundled up in various different degrees of hats, scarves, mittens, and earmuffs darted as fast as they could toward their homes, cars, or different shops on the main street below.
He watched them silently from above his eyes wary with an aged sort of longing with a touch of bitterness that given different circumstances should never appear on a face of someone so youthful looking.
After all this time, after three hundred long years of being by himself it was a little more than hard to remember that he wasn't so alone anymore.
Long slender well callused fingers gripped tightly around the very middle of the long wooden ice coated crook in his hand as he twirled it around instantly kicking up the northern winds and dozens of flurries of snow.
I mean he'd always had the north wind by his side, a comforting cool icy breeze that kept him a float and feeling safe on the inside, but...
The remaining travelers on the street let out yelps of surprise and discomfort as many tugged at their scarves and coats to protect themselves from the brute force of the unpleasant gusts of wind beginning to wail around them.
Letting out a forlorn sigh, cerulean blue eyes darted around cautiously then upwards out of pure habit to the dark white storm cloud covered sky; where the glistening glittering silhouette of the moon's half crescent body poked through the trees into view as a smattering of clouds half covered it's beauty.
Not much had changed at first after saving a major holiday.
But it soon took it's toll on him.
Having fought against nightmare shadows, facing off with Pitch, and becoming a Guardian of childhood; well it was all pretty much overwhelming for him, and that was putting it lightly!
Biting his lip some he hugged the staff to his chest like a life line in a comforting manner before letting out a deep breath as he took a flying leap of a nose dive off the wires.
Closing his eyes tightly he shuddered.
He heard the springing bounce of the wires above and behind him, and waited a moment as his body kept dropping downward, before the he suddenly felt the northern wind whistle worriedly at him.
Wisps of wind wrapped and cradled around him like a parent's embrace, it held him gently as it carried him safely into the very core of the storm.
Shards of ice and flurries of snow whirled around him in the millions pelting his body but leaving no harm behind.
Chuckling weakly he finally opened his eyes slowly, "It's alright old friend...I'm just tired I guess. Nothing to worry about, thanks though, I think you're just about the only one who worries about me anymore..."
The wind whined in a sort of affectionate crooning but reprimanding whistle.
His chapped lips twitched into the ghost of a wary but small smile, "Alright, alright! I should get going anyway, I'll never hear the end of it from Bunny if I show up late to the meeting again anyways."
Darting through the clouds leaving wispy trails behind as he went his body rose above the storm effortlessly as he made his way toward the North Pole.
The comforting warm scents of cinnamon, chocolate, and peppermint blanketed the four mythical infamous fabled four with their delicious aromas which hung heavy in the air of Santoff Claussen.
Snow and ice rattled and pelted at the near by window making chink noises against the glass.
They all sat at a round beautifully carved wooden table in four out of five equally lovely matching chairs.
One chair having been left very empty.
Red and green clad elves jingled about crazily back and forth where ever you wished to step; in a great mighty tug of war over half a dozen half eaten colorfully frosted holiday sugar cookies, snicker doodles, and gingerbread men.
Half of the baked goods which if not all of had mysteriously found their way off the main plate that was seated at the very center of the table in the globe room.
Hundreds of thousands of little gold glowing dots lit up the sphere of the miniature world showing off with pride all of the little believers of earth, alive and very much safe from harm.
Sniffing the air with a show of extreme distaste at all of the sugary sweetness mingling the air, the gray and white pooka agitatedly thumped his right furry foot against the floor absently from where he was sitting.
"So when is frostbite gracin' us with his almighty presence anyways? We've been here fer over a ruddy hour and the lazy drongo still hasn't shown up."
North sighed as he took a large gulp of eggnog before breaking out into a beaming grin at his grumpy companion, "Jack is chock full of free spirit Bunny! Is surprise he shows up at all for meetings! Da?
We should be being grateful for any interactions with him; poor boy is skittish like newborn reindeer on first legs!"
"It's getting late, I wonder where Jack is..." Murmured Tooth as her beautiful dragon fly like wings fluttered nervously behind her as she hovered by one of the workshop windows frowning and biting her lip anxiously.
"Jack is very fragile Toothie in mind, he just puts up mask of smiles to make us forget that." North inputs after a moment of silence.
She sadly as some of her fairies twittered excitedly at the mere mention of Jack's name before swooning, "I had hoped Jack would have warmed up to us a bit more by now..."
Sandy was half asleep in his chair his hand holding a mug of hot chocolate that was precariously tipping closer and closer to being poured all over the floor with each nod of his slumber.
North tapped the little star shaped haired man's shoulder, "Sandy! Hot chocolate is best enjoyed while awake, Da? You will be dropping it all over floor soon if you keep falling asleep my friend."
Blinking owlishly the sandman looked around curiously as he then spotted the still empty chair across the table with a frown on his face.
Shimmery gold sleep sand formed into a snowflake and then a question mark over his head.
Frowning the pooka huffed in aggravated annoyance, "Exactly mate! He ain't here that's fer bloody sure. I dun have the time tah be wastin' just sittin' waitin' fer an ungrateful lil bludger that ain't ever gonna show."
"Now, now Bunny see here! There is no need to be so cranky. Here have more eggnog, Da?" North said as he wagged a finger at his furry friend while pouring him more of the cool beverage.
Bunny snorted and rubbed his face, "I dun wan' anymore eggnog! I wan' tah actually do somethin' productive insteada' waitin' fer frostbite tah get his pasty pale arse here from who knows ruddy where!"
Before North could open his mouth to say anything in response, a cold chill of wind suddenly blew open one of the many workshop windows sending shivers throughout the whole room's company.
"So I suppose that means that you're mad then huh long ears?" Came the cheeky tell tale voice that could only ever belong to the winter sprite known as Jack Frost.
Gliding through the window with ease Jack landed on the floor, his bare feet skirting the smooth stone flooring as if he were merely floating over it instead of actually touching it completely.
A shit eating grin quirked his pale pink lips upwards, as he leaned with a cat like laziness against his hooked staff, "Did you really miss me that much that you had to throw a tantrum about it?" He winked and blew Bunny a kiss, "I'm absolutely touched, I knew you liked me!"
If the pooka could fluster he'd be a nice red color in either anger or embarrassment right now, or perhaps a lovely mixture of both.
Quickly getting onto his feet the Easter Bunny sputtered wildly as he got right in Jack's face their lips only a breath apart, he glared down at the grinning sprite, "Now you see here yah ruddy lil-"
North cleared his throat and clapped his large hands together, "Friends! Fighting is for bad guys like Pitch! Not comrades!"
With that the bearded man walked over and lifted both Bunnymund and Jack into a huge bone crushing hug causing both the pooka and undead teen to be uncomfortably pressed together chest to chest.
Which consequentially caused both of their faces to smack into one another, making their mouths clumsily slot together like the wrong odd ends of puzzle pieces being smashed together by a frustrated toddler.
Tooth gasped and then flushed crimson before covering her eyes all the while poking her violet gaze around one or two of her fingers.
The fairies around them squealed happily, save for one which was Babytooth who looked purely outraged.
The cossack not seeing the situation properly continued to embrace both of his friends until the pooka slammed his knee right between the poor Russian's legs.
A choked groan issued from North's mouth as he suddenly let go of them both and sank to the floor moaning and cursing in his native tongue.
Jack fell backward onto his butt with a dazed shocked expression, his cheeks frosting over in a light blue colored blush as he simply just sat there and blinked dumbly.
Bunny on the other hand darted away in leaps and bounds as if he'd been burned instead of kissed, "What in the bloody hell was that?! Are yah cracked in the head North?"
Still not understanding what had truly occurred North groaned and stood up, "Was just hug! Honestly Bunny, I was not deserving of such harsh treatment!"
Rubbing his face with his paw Bunny let out a calming breath, "Yah crazy son of a..."
"Bunnymund!" Tooth chastised as she shook her head disapprovingly at him.
Quickly flying over to Jack she helped him up, "Are you alright Jack? You seem a bit paler than usual..." She tutted over him worriedly as she cupped his face in a motherly fashion with her tiny hands.
Chuckling weakly Jack rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Um...yeah it's nothing to be concerned about Tooth, it was just a silly accident that's all!"
He smiled reassuringly at her completely avoiding the heated emerald gaze of the pooka across the room that he felt on his person.
Jack cleared his throat some, "Heh anyways I just remembered I promised Jamie I would stop by his house so I should probably be goi-"
A growl hit the air in a deep rumble, "We've been waitin' here fer an hour and a half frostbite, least yah could do is sit yer skinny arse down and stay fer a bit." Spoke the pooka gruffly as he stalked forward toward the winter sprite.
Hurriedly getting to his feet he picked up his fallen staff and leaned against it for comfort as he rubbed the back of his neck again nervously.
"D'awww bun bun did you really wanna spend that much time with me? I could always stop by the Warren later if you're so jealous!" The winter sprite grinned slyly.
The pooka simply sputtered again caught off guard by the new flirtatious teasing.
He growled low in his throat making the toy maker to their right swiftly step in to defuse yet another fight, "I am agreeing with Bunnymund on this, you have only just arrived Jack. Here have some cookies and milk and stay for a while, Da?"
Tooth hovered next to Jack and smiled hopefully at him, "Please Jack? We hardly ever get to see you lately, what with our jobs and all."
North nudged Sandy again who had nodded off and was snoring off to the side.
He blinked awake and began forming his golden sleep sand into fast un-followable shapes and messages, flashing between a snowflake, a heart, a rabbit, a toy, and then a tooth.
North let out a booming laugh and nodded excitedly, "That is correct Sandy my dear friend! We all care about you Jack! I am being very much worried about you, especially in warmer months." North said as he thumped the slender winter sprite on the back a tad too roughly because Jack nearly lost his balance and fell forward.
Regaining his nimble footing quite easily and plastered on his usual mischievous grin, "Aww guys I'm fine, besides when it's warm back home I simply just go to a colder climate."
Tooth frowned and fluttered next to him touching his shoulder hesitantly.
After feeling him stiffen at the gesture she put her hand at her side her eyes saddening slightly, "Yes Jack we know that, but we also know that you get tired when your lake is unfrozen during the spring and summer months. We just don't want you getting hurt is all."
Bunny shifted where he leaned against the wall a frown marring his face, "Wait a tic, I've heard of winter sprites gettin' a bit weak in the knees around summer but never around spring time."
Jack grinned a bit, "Guess I'm just special that way."
"But that would mean you helped us fight Pitch in yer weaker months?" The pooka asked trying to hide the wonder and worry out of his voice.
Laughing softly the winter sprite rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah well at first you didn't really gimme much of a choice, what with the whole Yeti's and the sack incident. Not to mention you kinda threw me for a loop by appointing me a guardian."
Tooth's eyebrows furred worriedly, "No wonder you were so weak by the end of the battle, oh you shouldn't have been fighting at all! If only we'd realized..."
North frowned as well, "That is settling it, Jack be staying with one of us during spring and summer months. I appoint self of course, only makes sense to do!" He grinned with a slap of his hand to his chest.
Tooth pouted, "I suppose the Tooth Palace is a bit too warm..."
"Um guys? Do I get a say in any of this?" Piped up Jack who looked a bit embarrassed and surprised.
"The Warren is the safest." Murmured Bunnymund almost too soft for any of them to hear.
Jack's eyes widen slightly as he looked toward the pooka, who's eyes were staring at the ceiling as if in regret of even speaking out loud.
"Warren is for spring things! Is too warm for Jack, is best he stay with me." North boomed out.
Frowning even deeper at the cossak, Bunny stood up straighter and glared at him, "I didn't see him complainin' 'bout the heat the last time he was there."
"Is only smart to let Jack stay where it is cold, Da?" North snorted as if the Pooka wasn't thinking correctly.
"I don't know North, I think I actually agree with Bunnymund on this one. After Pitch's attack he's hiked up security quite a bit, and all you really have here are the Yeti's." Tooth stated calmly, "He's also right, Jack didn't seem the least uncomfortable at the Warren."
Phil who was off to the side pouring more hot chocolate growled at this and stormed off grumbling Yettish.
Tooth looked sheepish, "I'm sorry..."
"See? The sheila knows whats best fer frostbite." Bunny smirked out.
The toy maker's smile crumbled and he sighed, "Fine, but is up to Jack where he be wanting to stay!"
Blinking at finally being allowed into the conversation about himself Jack grinned, "Well...the Pole is really cold and nice, but I'd have to pick the Warren."
"Yes see Pole is perfect place to sta-" North looked startled, "Warren?!"
Looking a bit smug Bunny let a grin pass over his face, "Ha, serves yah right fer earlier."
Bristling North crossed his arms in defeat with an unsatisfied look to him, "If that is what Jack is wanting, I suppose that it cannot be helped."
Tooth giggled, "Ohhh this is going to be wonderful, you two can finally bond properly!"
Bunny looked startled, "Bond? Why would I wanna bond with frostbite?"
The winter sprite's shoulders slumped some at this admission before he forced a smile, "Aww it's okay Tooth, he doesn't have to be my friend. He just has to make sure I don't faint into the color streams."
Tooth looked appalled by this, "Faint?! Bunny you look after him properly do you hear me?! If I find out he's been harmed in anyway I'll be very unhappy and stern with you!"
She had her hands on her hips with what she probably thought was a reprimanding look on her face.
Snorting the spirit of spring sighed, "Yeah, Yeah, I won't let anythin' happen tah poor lil frostbite okay? He'll be safe and sound come fall, I promise."
"Good, now Jack if you need anything you don't hesitate to tell Babytooth and I'll be right over."
Smiling some Jack nodded, "No worries! I'm sure I'll be just fine."
Babytooth took that moment to come over and twitter at him and rub her cheek against his.
Laughing the winter sprite patted her head gently, "I'll be okay Babytooth, I'm just going to Bunny's not a dangerous mission or something!"
Babytooth in turn glared heatedly in the pooka's direction, earning a confused look from said spring spirit.
"Well that settles that! Meeting adjourned." North grinned despite his loss in where Jack would be staying.
"Let's get going then frostbite." Bunnymund motioned for Jack to come closer.
His face frosting over in another blush Jack nodded before coughing into his hand, "Yeah...um sure...so what do I do hold onto your arm or somethi-"
The pooka didn't let him finish his sentence, he just scooped up the undead teen into his arms princess style electing a startled yelp from said sprite.
"O-Oiiii what gives!"
"It'll be easier this way." Bunny tapped the floor and a big hole appears underneath them leading to his many tunnels.
"Waiiiiiiiii! Warn a guy will you?" Jack wailed as he clung desperately to Bunny's fur.
"Yah fly everywhere but this is what scares yah?" The Easter Bunny snorted, "Yer a riot."
"I wasn't scared you just startled me! Now put me down I'm not a damsel in distress geez, if you wanted to hold me Bun Bun all you had to do was ask."
They land below in the tunnels the mossy green floor breaking their fall.
He was dumped to the floor as soon as they were safe on the ground.
"Owwww...what gives?" Jack murmured as he rubbed his backside.
"Yah wanted down so I let yah down." Smirked the pooka as he walked forward.
Sighing Jack clung to his staff and followed.
At least he had somewhere to go now..
It wasn't the home he was hoping but maybe it could be eventually?
Who was he kidding everything good comes to an end...
I guess he'd make the most of it while it lasted.