The Night Before Christmas
Lol, I know over used title but it's the one that best suits this fic. Requested by KitsuneMagic48 and 50ShadesofPitchBlack. Just some cute fluff that I originally thought should be a one shot then decided to make it a chapter fic.
Santoff Claussen was a buzz of activity as yetis rushed about finishing last minute details and wrapping gifts for the big night only one day away. Elves ran about underfoot trying to help but causing more havoc as per usual. North ignored it all as he went over the Naughty and Nice list for the umpteenth time, and frowning when he kept finding the same name circled in red at the top of the Naughty list. It shouldn't be there, he had personally been monitoring the boy since he became a Guardian and why in Earth did it keep reappearing after he erased it?
"Phil!" he called as the chief of security rushed past with a clipboard and yelling at his underlings.
The large grey and brown yeti stopped and glanced at him. His face suddenly became sheepish at the sight of the large leather bond book.
"What did boy do this time?" North asked as he handed the book to his friend.
The yeti grumbled and motioned to the huge Christmas tree in the center of the grand hall. North's brows rose in questioning. The tree looked as it always did, perfect. Then he noticed it. It was such a small thing and barely noticeable but it made North small even as Phil frowned. Small ice sculptures sat on the green branches like ornaments and a delicate layer of frost coated the entire tree, so thin that it made the pine of the pine glimmer like crystal. It was really very beautiful. Even the star on top reflected the light of the workshop.
"Magnificent," he said with a whistle before pulling out a pencil and erasing Jack's name from the Naughty list yet again. "That is no reason to put him on the Naughty list, Phil. This is his own as much as ours and you must accept the fact that he's going to want to put his own mark on some of our traditions. He does not go on list unless truly naughty, understand?"
The yeti only rolled his eyes and grumbled something about North being wrapped around the boy's pinky before yelling at some elves to leave the decorations alone. North chuckled and shook his head. Phil adored Jack but was not put up with the boy's pranks and games, especially so close to Christmas. Satisfied there were no more mistakes on both lists, the Father of Christmas set the books on his desk knowing full well Phil would try to slip Jack's name in once more. He checked over the production line and gift wrapping tables, signed his approval to numerous documents before finally heading to the entertainment room to get a little rest before the big night.
Jack was exactly where he had left him hours earlier, laying on his belly watching Christmas movies with a large bowl of popcorn and half drank smoothie at his side. This particular one was a favorite of North's, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It was the actual movie version and not the rather annoying cartoon. Jack was so into the film he didn't even hear North come in. It made North grin. The child rarely stayed still and would normally be out spreading winter fun but the weather was colder than normal and Jack had spread so much snow the last few weeks that a fresh dusting was not needed. At least not that night. So rather than playing with his small army of new Believers, many of whom were away to warmer climate for the holidays, Jack opted to spend that day at home and doing what many kids did a few nights before Christmas – watch as many holiday movies as possible. The boy couldn't understand what the big fuss as all about, he had not seen one since the age of drive-in theatres, and was curious. Judging by his large eyes and slightly open mouth he was enjoying himself.
North fetched himself a bowl of popcorn before settling on the floor next to Jack and leaned against the sofa as the boy grabbed a handful of his own popcorn and shoveled it into his mouth. The elder Guardian said nothing as he watched the film as well. He never really watched movies often but from time to time he would sit back and enjoy one. The entertainment room was primarily used by the yetis and elves and every so often the Guardians when they got together for a movie night or just wanted to tease each other over the latest holiday flick based around one of them. Not so long ago Toothiana and Bunny were teased endlessly for their portrayals in films such as The Tooth Fairy and Hop which had North and sandy rolling around in stitches. He made a mental to show them to Jack. If anyone could appreciate a good film that was sure to embarrass their friends it would be Jack.
The scene where the Grinch's heart suddenly swelled as the people of Whoseville sung came up and an image of Pitch Black doing his little dance number came to mind. North burst into laughter. That would never happen with the boogeyman but it was a funny thought. He could just see Pitch's heart swelling with love for humanity and his face pinching as he smiled and jumped on his sleigh and…yeah, too weird.
His laughter made Jack jump in surprise and he knocked over his bowl, spilling popcorn on the large area rug. His head whipped around to look at North with wide eyes. Then he smiled and relaxed. "Hey, North, how long have you been sitting there?"
North chuckled as he lifted his mug of cocoa to his lips. "No long, my boy. How are you enjoying the movies?"
Jack's smile widened. "They're great! I can't believe some of these movies depict you the way they do. I mean you're not fat by any means just big and muscular and yeah you're jolly but not in a demented way. I mean what are some of these guys smoking? I think the closest is The Santa Claus but even then…and the elves are nothing like they actually are they're more like…"
"You?"
The boy blushed, frost dusting his cheeks. "Well…yeah."
"You know there are Jack Frost films. We could always watch those together," North offered, grinning mischievously at the youth.
Groaning, Jack flopped on his side. "No…Jamie got his hands on a bunch and made me watch them with him. They were horrible! That's why I choose The Grinch after the last Santa film. It's weird and twisted but it's better than watching a little version me prancing around in blue tights and jingle shoes."
North gave a full belly laugh at that. Yes, that was a rather adorable version of Jack but he kept that to himself. "I could always make you that outfit," he offered with a teasing grin.
"No!" Jack gasped in horror. "If you do that I'll have to burn it."
"Dah, dah, I won't be so cruel…although it would mark you as my head elf. Jack!"
The youth threw a handful of popcorn at him with a laugh. "Don't you dare!"
North only laughed and returned fire. "Keep making mess and you'll be left to clean up on your own."
That made Jack pause and drop his popcorn back in the bowl. "Okay, fine but…whatever you do don't do that. Please?"
"Alright, alright, no blue tights or jingle shoes," North promised. "So you like this movie?"
Jack shrugged but he was no longer watching the film. He sat up and folded his legs under him. "Yeah, but…I was wondering, did anything like that ever happen?"
North's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean 'happened'?"
The boy rubbed the back as his head and looked rather shy. "I mean, did anyone try to still or ruin Christmas. I mean there are a lot of movies with the theme. The Grinch, The Nightmare Before Christmas, even the third The Santa Claus, which, by the way had a Jack Frost that sounded more like Pitch Black for his whining. Like seriously, if any of those film writers knew me they would know I don't sound or act like that."
"Ahh…I see," said North as he thought back. "Well there was the time Pitch…"
"No, no, not Pitch. He's always messing with the holidays. Was there anyone else, another enemy of the Guardians or just you?"
North had to sit back and think about it. Most of his Christmases were rather easy going – other than the times Jack had been angry or upset before becoming a Guardian and would lash out, but that was usually nothing more than a blizzard or freezing rain. Those were tough times but nothing he couldn't handle. There were few spirits who would even consider causing North trouble mainly due to the fact he rarely turned anyone away and tried to help the other spirits if he could. But there had been a time long ago when he wasn't so popular and the spirit world did not appreciate what he did for the children of the world. One in particular who thought North was trying to steal his thunder.
"Old Man Winter," he suddenly said with a whimsical smile. "It was very, very long ago and I was but a young man. Would you like to hear that tale?"
Jack beamed and shifted closer. "Please?"
Chuckling, North picked up the television's remote and shut it off. "Alright, where to begin…"