When the Past and Present Collide
This was a kink prompt from ROTG Kink but I can't find the link, will post asap. This will follow the Finding Understanding fics and take place forty or so years after Mating Season. On another note…I'm heading back to work in a few days so updates and new fics will not be happening as quickly as usual. Plus I'm debating about doing a question and answer blog on tumblr for about my present and possible future fics. For those having trouble finding me just search tumblr/jettara because for some reason the link won't post.
The night all hell broke loose in Santoff Claussen was usually a night filled with wonder. The gifts were wrapped and placed in Santa's magical sack and loaded in his sleigh. The reindeer were in their harnesses and tethered to the sleigh and all was in readiness. Santa Claus, better known as North by his friends, was at the helm and his "head elf" better known as Jack Frost was at his side. All seemed perfect as the green light was lit and North cracked the reins. As they had for centuries the reindeer raced down the long corridor, took the loop-to-loop and burst out into the cold early morning air. It was Christmas Eve and children eagerly awaited Santa to deliver their gifts.
It went as smoothly as it had for numerous years. Jack flew off ahead making sure the world had a good dusting of snow for North to land his sleigh on. The boy darted to and fro from town to town and then would return to check on North every hour or so. Jack knew the route like the back of his hand and was always able to find North no matter what part of the world he was in, even in the hottest desert. It had been fifty years since Jack became a Guardian and in the time he had become powerful enough to handle any climate. Sure the heat still made him a little tired but it was not like his first few decades after becoming a Guardians or the years before that when he was alone. He no longer hibernated or passed out from the heat. He was not the little hellion that saved the Guardians and children of the world from certain doom so long ago.
North chuckled as Jack landed on the roof next to the chimney he had just clambered out of. "All well?" North asked the ice elf as they climbed back in the sleigh.
"There's a storm brewing over Mexico," Jack reported as he perched on the banister of the sleigh as took to the air. "I convinced Seraphina to move it over the pacific until you pass through but she's only giving us a window of an hour. Apparently the ground is really dry and needs the water really bad."
"Good job, Jack," North said with a bright smile and squeezing his shoulder with one hand.
The boy beamed up at him as he always did when given praise. "Thanks."
North chuckled as he turned to the globe. He winced slightly as his chest tightened. It had been doing that a lot recently and while North wasn't concerned up it, it was becoming bothersome. "Now, we might have to alter our course a little," he told Jack as he rubbed the ache.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked only for North to brush his concern away.
"Heart burn, no doubt," the older Guardian answered with a shrug. "Now, what would be my best route to avoid Sera's storm?"
Jack watched him for several long moments before saddling up next to North and showing him the route they should take. "If you follow the coastline you'll be fine. I'm going to go ahead and give Japan a nice layer of snow. Are you going to be okay?"
North only smiled at him before shooing him away. "I'll be fine, Jack. Just a little heartburn."
The youth hesitated for a moment longer then tapped one of the gadgets on the dashboard. "Okay, but call me if you need me. I always keep it on." He brushed back his shaggy hair to indicate the ear piece he always wore when out and about. It was like a Bluetooth but without the need of a phone. It kept him connected to both North's sleigh and Santoff Claussen. They had yet to get it connected to the Warren, Tooth Palace or Sandy's island.
The older man rolled his eyes. "Dah, dah, now off with you. Still much work ahead."
Jack laughed as he hugged his staff and leapt into the air. "Don't forget. I'm just a button away." And before North could consider throwing anything at the youth, Jack was gone.
The next few hours went by without incident. Jack continued to check in as North made his rounds. The pain seemed to subside as North flew toward British Columbia but just as he began descending the Rocky Mountains the pain struck with knife like force. He gasped in surprise and sat down in his seat. He clenched the reins tighter the pain expanding and racing through his left arm and then the rest of him. Nonetheless he tried to keep the reindeer under control only to pull too hard as he doubled up in pain. This wasn't good. Something was wrong…horribly wrong. He reached for the button to call Jack but the reindeer reared under his tight grasp and suddenly they were out of control.
"No, no!" he called to the team, his voice raspy and pain filled. "Easy, my lovelies, easy." He winced as the pain grew worse. "Home, head home…home."
His vision darkened and before he knew it the team veered to the East with such force the sleigh tipped dangerously. Fear and panic raced through North and he tried once more to reach the button. He hated calling for help. He never needed it. He was the one to help everyone else, but now…something was terribly wrong with him.
The reindeer landed on a snow embankment, none too gently. North was thrown out of his seat and landed hard next to his seat. The pain was worse now but rather than see white all he saw was a going darkness.
"North? North?" Jack's voice came from the radio.
North struggled to get back up and tell Jack where he was but his knees gave out, his body unnaturally weak and he fell once more.
"Jack…" he murmured as the darkness and pain became all consuming.
"North?" another voice asked, one dark and velvety. Then blackness took him.