Okay, so I wasn't expecting the reception I got. I didn't even think I'd get a single comment. Lo an behold, I get two comments, two follows, as well as two favorites. One of these comments said that I should wrote more. Now, while I'm not turning it into a full story, I thought it wouldn't be too hard to turn it into a series of one-shots. Many thanks to trapid for the suggestion. Anyway, enough rambling!
I only own Cal. The other two characters are property of their original creators.
Valentine C. Upide sat on the edge of his chaise longue, ignoring the purpose of the chair as he watched the events unfold. His small little pavilion was nestled away in the clouds, permanently following the sun setting around the earth, giving the soft fluffy things a vibrant pink tone. Greek pillars surrounded the small pool of water that he gazed into so fervently. Vines holding the finest grapes descended from from one of these pillars as he offered up a flagon and squeezed the grapes into a rich wine in his cup.
He spent most of his days watching the magical waters of his small pavilion, every romance of the world playing out before him. The term 'couch potato' was so fitting, he bragged that he invented the term to any and all visitors. Which, he rarely got. Most people assumed he didn't exist. Even his fellow spirits didn't think he was real. It was the downside of being so reclusive. But in his defense, most had treated him like a god the first time around. All that power was too much for him. So, when the original Greek civilization fell, he disappeared. Valentine did his work from home nowadays. And what kind of work it was. His vines told him when the fate of two people crossed and he gave their heart that little kick start to set off a beautiful relationship. Occasionally, he had to wait a while for the circumstances to optimize. And, every once in a while, he wasn't needed to begin a romance. The lovers did it on their own. Shaking his head of the jumbled memories and thoughts, Upide turned back to his work.
Cal (Valentine preferred his middle name) was probably the biggest gossip among all the spirits, but could you blame him? He was the spirit of love. Anything involving the heart was his business. So, right now, the plight of the Guardian of Fun was fair game to him.
Ever since he had discovered the winter teen some centuries ago, he had made it his life's work to find him someone. Yet, every time he put something in motion, it was a disaster. Valentine was the best matchmaker ever and Jack Frost was the enigma that haunted him. He had tried everything. Cal had even sent some men his way just in case his powers of telling someone's preference got it wrong.
Then, fate surprised him. Chuckling at the memory, he brushed his pristine white suit absentmindedly. For a while, Jack had found the love of his afterlife. Days spent pining for her, watching her from pine trees, following her around in her castle, playing little pranks on her that were never solved, and even going as far as kissing her forehead each time she slept. She may not have felt his lips, but she always felt something cold brush against her skin and it comforted her. It was all so romantic! Unfortunately, she was a human. A human with magical powers, yes, but a human all the same. To fall for a human was almost a mortal sin. Another chuckle at the mental pun. Oh, back then, he could barely function without knowing how Jack was pursuing her. It was almost like an addiction to watching the story play out. It was such an odd pairing, so wrong, so taboo, and just so impossible. But by the gods, oh how he shipped it. And when he shipped something, Valentine made sure every spirit knew it.
So, of course, most avoided Jack like the plague after that. He didn't really care either way. He was still too busy trying to get her to believe. It didn't work. No one had ever believed in Jack Frost before. This woman was no different. Soon, his attempts to make her see him dropped in numbers. She was a Queen and she was too occupied with running her kingdom to notice his small gestures. After a year, he gave up. Jack Frost moved on. In Valentine's valued opinion, however, he never forgot. Frost was not able to keep himself away and returned the following winter.
He came back to tragedy. His beloved human did what all mortals eventually do: she took her final breath. If it was possible to break a spirit more, Valentine had not yet seen it. He shared in Jack's tears that day. He was never supposed to get this attached to a couple, but perhaps it was because it was Jack Frost. Out of all the spirits, Jack probably deserved a happy ending the most.
So, was he surprised when he found out that Manny had a plan? Not really. If anything, he was just surprised at what the plan entailed. After two hundred years, Jack became a Guardian. No big surprise there. Kid had potential in Valentine's opinion. Whoever doubted him probably didn't know the real Jack Frost. Then again, most spirits didn't spend every moment of their immortality spying on others through a magical puddle. A few minutes ago, when Cal tuned in on one of his favorite people to watch, Jack was fulfilling his duties of bringing fun to the children of the world. His small flurries calmly fell from the mighty sky to the ground. The excited shouts of Swedish pointed to the location being somewhere in the Netherlands. Cal had watched it with a small smile before replacing it with a frown. Now, Jack's storm was getting stronger. Winds picking up, flurries growing larger by the second. Confused, he watched as Frost flew around in panicked circles, trying to reign it back in. Jack was as scared as the screams below. That's when Valentine realized something: the cold was no longer in Jack's control.
Jack scowled and took off. Obviously, Jack didn't exactly enjoy having someone screw with his powers. Especially if it endangers kids. He flew, the Wind guiding him to the only place where he could find answers. He headed for the eye of the storm. Furious clouds swirling overhead, they brought him a little more north. And both Jack and his audience of one blinked in surprise at the sight. A castle made of ice. Captivated, Valentine held his breath as Jack alighted on the threshold and pushed the door open. Air rushed by him as it gained access to the palace, sighing in satisfaction at its victory. Jack took a tentative step onward, his clutch on the staff tightening. Something about this place was familiar, yet different. When nothing happened, he shrugged and continued. Exploring the place didn't take long and he was soon at the final room to be inspected. Jack opened the door.
And nearly died a second time out of shock. It was a simple bedroom, but it was the person asleep under the covers that was the anomaly. It was her. Cal nearly fell off his seat as he gasped with indignant, yet joyful surprise. Manny had a plan alright, yet never bothered to inform him of the details.
Valentine scooted forward to get a better view of the unfolding events. Jack was frozen in his tracks, enchanted for the second time in his existence. After all he had went through, he had never imagined seeing her again.
One of Cal's plants prodded him and he ignored it. After a moment of staring, Jack felt his feet taking small steps towards the bed. Something was wrong. She was tossing and turning, mumbling in her sleep. She was having a nightmare. It would certainly explain the storm. Her powers must've been reacting to her comatose distress.
Once more, the grapevine nudged Valentine and he waved it off. Eye glued on the the water, he watched Jack he closer and closer. Finally, the Guardian was at her side. Breath quickening, he brushed a lock of platinum hair out of her face. Old habits die hard and he was no exception. He kneeled beside her, leaned forward, and pressed his lips against her cheek.
Her eyes shot open.
Feeling a vine poke his head yet again, Cal grabbed a grape from the green tendril and threw it off the side of his cloud with an annoyed grunt. With a wave of his hand, the scene in his pool changed. Standing alone in a park, a man was minding his own business before feeling something bounce off his head. Without a second thought, Valentine grabbed his bow and an arrow from the quiver leaning against a pillar. Nocking it, he grinned at the thought of new love before releasing the arrow into the clouds. Turning back to his pool, he watched as the man jolted at the feeling of being stung by a mosquito when he really was struck by an arrow made by Cupide. Seeing the woman walk up next to the man, Cal smiled again. Romance was so beautiful, he decided before loosing the next arrow into her. His work done, he checked to see if the arrow met its mark before changing the channel back to the ice castle.
When the image came through, he laughed outrageously. She had Jack Frost frozen to a wall! Oh, the irony of the situation was only lost on her, who really had no idea who he was.
She inspected his staff, glaring at him occasionally for intruding on her property as well as her personal space. After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "who are you?"
He gave a little half-grin. "Jack Frost."
She tilted an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that?"
He tilted his head and moved his shoulders as much as he could, his free hand twirling to his palms facing up. "Maybe? Considering that's my name and all."
Her eyes narrowed. Not only does this man steal into her home like a bandit, he also refuses to tell the truth! It infuriated her. "So, Jack Frost," she said the name with such distaste Cal noticed, "why are you here?"
He chuckled. "Would you believe me if I told you that I was trying to see the most attractive face in existence?"
Her glare sharpened as did the grip the ice had around his ribs. He inhaled with a small hiss. "Okay! I got it!"
What little room he had grew just a bit. He gave a small sigh of relief. "I came to see what was up with the weird storms in the region. You know, you're really messing with my area."
In an instant, her whole demeanor changed. She backed away and dropped the staff in favor of unconsciously hugging herself, hands gripping her own upper arms tightly. Jack realized the exact thing he just said wrong and morosely grimaced. A small question began to spill from her. "Did... did I hurt anyone?"
He shook his head, correcting her. "It was pretty mild compared to the weather they usually see without our interference."
That earned him a tilted eyebrow. "Did you just say 'our?'"
His hand pointed at himself. "I told you before. I'm Jack Frost."
She scoffed, her hand dropping to her sides, his satisfied smile widening unnoticeably. "And I'm a troll."
He chuckled. "Look more like a spirit to me."
Her jaw dropped, perfect lips parting in shocked realization. This was the first time in centuries since she had an actual discussion with another human being. She had momentarily forgotten her situation. No living thing had seen or touched her for a very long time. At that thought, her hand came up and felt the cheek where he had kissed her. His lips had been cold, a shock to someone who usually never felt it. It was the shock of being touched that awoke her. The touch of some living, breathing boy. And he could see her.
She was interrupted by something he said, she didn't catch it. "Sorry, what did you say?"
He sighed, still smiling that stupid grin. "I said, 'do you want me to prove who I am?' If so, give me my staff."
For a moment, silence reigned as she stared at him with disbelief. What really made her decision for her was his eyes. There was just this spark of joy and a bit of hope there that reminded her a lot of the people she missed. Bending over, she retrieved the staff, stood, and placed it in his palm.
With a smirk, he pointed it at the ice trapping his body and shot a blast of cold blue art it, freezing her ice to the point of cracking. A light tap from his wooden crook and it shattered. Now free, he let the wind pick him up and hovered in front of her before letting loose a small storm of flurries in the room. He looked at her to find her starring in awe at him.
He bowed in midair. "Jack Frost at your service, your highness."
Landing, he took a step forward. "We have much to discuss, Queen Elsa of Arrendelle."
Cal sighed wistfully at the pair, waving his hand and clearing the pool to give their next discussion some privacy. It was going to be a new relationship dynamic for the both of them and it was only going to get more complicated than what it used to be. And they haven't even gotten to the point of needing his arrows yet!
But hey, that's what love is. Love is a complex game with each person playing on the global board. Every move is a long and frustrating dance of playing with hearts. Some lose, some win, and he was the referee who watches it all go down smoothly as possible.
And with these two players, he had a lot of work ahead of him.