Disclaimer: I do not own Jack Frost or Rapunzel. If I did I'd get my Christmas wish of a canon interaction!
Jack's head popped in through the tower window as he let the wind hover him in place about the open door.
"Punz?" With an easy turn in mid-air Jack glided into the entryway backwards, his gaze drawn upward toward the decorated ceiling. The mass of golden strands he'd familiarized himself with careened about that open space of the tower and his eyes darted about for the sight of his interesting new friend.
Friend. The very words seemed so foreign all laced with a bizarre sense of joy he'd never considered viable until now. Oddly enough there was no sign of his companion in the rafters.
"Can't be too difficult to find her. Just follow one end and-"
"Jack!" The youth's mumbling was interrupted by the spirited voice of the girl behind him. The winter spirit threw his head back half turning his body through the air until his feet hit the ground. The harsh crunch of ice welded into the floorboards on impact. He let the wind draw away from his form content, at the moment, to rest his feet on the ground below.
"It's good to see you again." The golden haired girl commented with an inviting friendliness, the back of her heels bouncing in excitement.
Jack couldn't help but feel drawn into her cheer, the sudden feeling of anticipation unknowingly began making the blood in his icy veins rush just a little bit faster.
"Hey Punz." His eyes darted downward for a moment before his lips curled into a sly half grin. The coy greeting escaped him with an unexpected trace of nervousness.
He felt as if he was somewhat reluctant to believe in this reality. So long he'd been trying to be seen, he worried that this new companionship was a mere cruel dream he'd surely wake up from.
"So what Christmas songs do you know Jack?" Rapunzel inquired snapping him out of his foolish thoughts.
Rapunzel's own thinking was somewhere else, her mind half focused on pulling loose a collection of hair stuck on a high plank of wood.
Jack rolled his shoulders lightly kicking his staff from one foot to another from his resting place on the wall.
"Winter Wonderland." He stated plainly with a slice of ego. "And your song of course.
"My song? You mean The Christmas Song?"
"Yeah your song." He replied evenly planting his staff in between a crack in the flooring and holding it there with a strong burst of ice. He leaned forward resting his elbows upon the instrument of winter as he cocked his head to the side.
"You sang it for me remember. Hope you haven't forgotten that so easily?" He teased. His tone regarded her with an edge of suppressed suspicion that Rapunzel slightly picked up on.
"Something like that is a little hard to forget don't you think?" She suggested back at him, wondering how long exactly they would be playing this odd game of cat and mouse.
"After all you're quite memorable even if some of the things you say and do are..." The blond blinked nervously stumbling for the correct words to describe Jack's intimate antics.
"If you like it so much Rapunzel why don't you just say so?" He added in confidently leaning in closer on the staff.
Rapunzel inched back her eyes once again seeking out her frying pan. At this rate she'd be using it more to defend herself from Jack's...personality...than to actually cook!
"Because I...it makes me feel funny." She stated sharply shaking her head at Jack and turning the other direction.
Laying down Rapunzel began to unpack a box in front of her, taking out the various decorations.
"Maybe if your hands are busy your mouth will be less active." She commented gesturing for him to come over to where she was sitting.
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief at her words. Funny? Did she think his words were just something amusing? That was really different. He was noticing that Rapunzel was innocent, he was growing to like that part of her very much lately. It made every teasing action an utter thrill.
Of course, she obviously didn't know what his teasing implied. ...What did it imply? Jack didn't even know himself what kind of signals he might be giving out, given that his own mind was a jumbled mess that twisted and crashed into his heart whenever he was close to her.
"You wanna bet? I'm very multi-talented." Jack jested back. He rocked on the balls of his heels before leaping a little ways into the air. The atmosphere halted his brisk decent as he curled his toes around the hook of his cane. He balanced there with ease, eyeing her with a careful expression.
"Really now? I wouldn't suggest you betting me on that. I've got more talents than I can count." Rapunzel chided folding her arms over her chest. If Jack thought he could beat her in that department then he was in for a rude awakening.
"Alright then let's make a bet." Jack hopped down from his curious position atop the elemental staff, a lone toe pushing the object just enough to dislodge it from its stagnant wedge in the floor.
"What do you want if you win?" He asked lifting an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Hmm...alright I can think of something. You have to promise that you'll spend Christmas with me?"
Jack's eyebrow rose in surprise at the words. All the things she could have chosen. Why did she decide on spending time with him? She could have made him promise to bring her things, or to make it snow outside the tower. No matter what he did she kept puzzling him with her actions drawing him from his cautious delay is into the pit he knew from which there was no escape.
"Alright. And when I win, you make me another batch of cookies. Sugar this time." He requested. He was sure that no human would come close to the plethora of activities he'd immersed himself in throughout the rolling years.
Rapunzel's cheeks flushed at the mention of the baked goods and she let out a slight embarrassed puff of air gripping the edges of her dress.
"Fine. Deal." She stated offering her hand to shake on it. Jack easily reached out for her hand, pushing back the fragile hesitance that assaulted him. The flesh of her palm pressed against his own in her steady grip, sending another quaint shock of lightening through his chest.
"Jack?" The girl questioned trying to draw the dazed spirit back into reality.
"Hmm?" He mumbled blinking for a moment as his mind trailed back to the here and now.
"Does shaking hands bother you?" Rapunzel commented analyzing the vacant state he displayed.
"Yeah. It bothers me a lot." He uttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"I said, of course not."He spoke shaking his head in a vain attempt to ward off the feeling pecking at his heart strings.
"Well alright." She responded letting the topic drop. She supposed this would be a good way to get to know the impish spirit. After all this was only her second day meeting him and she didn't know much more than his name and his developing lack of personal boundaries.
"What's your favorite hobby?" He questioned, promptly kicking his toes on end of his staff and letting it fall to rest on his shoulder.
"Painting. There's just something about it. When I'm painting even if I'm not in the place I imagine, just a tiny part of me is present. Maybe it's just a wish or a vague want to be somewhere other than here but it's enough for now."
"You know anytime you change your mind I'm perfectly willing to take you outside. It's not like I have anything better to do." He followed with a grin of ease.
The golden haired girl's eyebrows furrowed in mild frustration. She shook her head wondering why Jack was so persistent.
"I won't leave the tower. At least not yet. I turn 18 soon and Mother might consider it then." She said her words ebbing with light traces of excitement.
"Just consider it Punz. At least maybe going outside?"
Rapunzel shook her head in disagreement rolling her fingers together in a bunch.
"Stubborn aren't you." He said with a mild huff of disappointment. He just couldn't seem to convince her. Well there was plenty of time for that after all. A tiny fraction of the corner of his lip lifted from his common personal curl. That and words that followed were just enough to make Rapunzel feel that alarming jolt in her stomach.
"I like that."
Jack's lithe form swept across the bustling city letting flecks of frost trail across the surface of skin of each of the shivering townspeople. Ice blue irises flickered in the golden sunlight, pupils dilating to survey his precise design that surrounded the cluttered streets. He shook his head his fingers curling in the wind to spread a frozen patch of ice upon the sidewalk.
A woman walked forward glancing unsuspectingly into the atmosphere. Her expression became one of awe as her eyes danced with glee at the sudden precipitation.
"Eric look up it's snowinnnig!" She cried out suddenly slipping on the patch of ice. The man in question rushed forward catching his companion in his arms. They tumbled to the ground together in an unflattering pile, giggling at their misfortune without a care.
"You're acting as if you've just got legs." The man commented with a well mannered chuckle helping the redheaded woman rise to her feet. The couple huddled in closer to one another as they brushed the fallen snow from their coats. The woman reached up to wrap half of her long scarf around the man's neck next to her. Eric's lips curled into a pleased smile at the action. The look of awe that developed in his eyes was unique as if it were set apart solely for the woman beside him.
Jack let loose a heaviness within him, as a smile crawled upon his lips. As he leaned upon his staff the edge digging into the shingles leisurely began it's work, tracing the crystal arctic design with simple intricacy across the roof. The brisk magic didn't halt its exploration as it extended downward dashing through dripping gutters and imprinting artistry on chilled glass windows . As the icy magic continued its work the winter spirit paid no mind, content in analyzing the two in front of him. He'd stared long enough at their careful pace gliding from roof to roof to get a better look. Every once in a while they'd stop and the red head would pull the man with coal hair over to some shop or other, pressing against the glass and going on about how wonderful their world was.
There was just something about them. It was an odd kind of feeling that he couldn't fathom through reason or logic. He'd after all given up any logic that humans conjured up. There was more reality in magic than science could ever muster. Jack rose an eyebrow as he leaned in closer from his high perch, his fingers tightened around the hook of his cane.
Suddenly the image before him became gauzy clouding over itself in a dreamlike haze. The crimson curls of the grinning woman began extending down her back in a cascade waterfall of molten gold. The obscure length flowed behind her creating a distinctive trail in the snow like the intricate embroidery of a wedding veil. Gentle peach hands reached upward as they tightened the lavender scarf around the blue hooded garment, her fingers mushing through locks that transformed into a familiar sight of silver hair.
He watched the mirage for a moment feeling a suppressed pull towards it, wondering why he only felt a slight opposition to the unusual phantasm.
As the pseudo-image of the girl pulled closer to the iced hoodie her head leaned comfortably on his shoulder. Jack found himself thrust into a proper kind of awe as he held onto the visage, considering to himself about the curious canvas his mind had painted out before him. Jack could not think on it anymore as the thoughtful image quickly transfigured itself to its proper state with an abrupt flash.
Beryl eyes once again took in the young couple before him and he shook his head pleasantly amused at himself. His fingers tossed through the wind sending his generally silent friend to deliver a chilled breeze their way. He found himself delighted as the two bundled up tighter together and hurried towards their home.
Generally the sight of companionship with others was always a force to reaffirm his loneliness. It wasn't anything dramatic like a force of agony crippling his every step, no it was more like pinpricks on the tendrils of his heart. They were gentle stings here and there but still just enough to hurt a little.
"It's only been three days." He murmured impatient with himself. Rapunzel had skittered around him since the cookie incident, brandishing her frying pan while watching for any antics he might think up. He saw her evasive actions as a challenge, content to tease her with his earnest questions. He teased that she'd be making another batch soon after he won, telling her he looked forward to eating it with her. She'd only gripped her pan tight and defensively inched back lifting the weapon once again.
"Try it again Jack Frost. I will use this." She'd half-heartedly threatened the mood lighthearted as they both laughed in response. Jack reached out defensively shaking his hands in front of him.
"Thanks for the offer Punz but I prefer sleeping the natural way, not as a result of a concussion." He stretched out on the floor then, chatting away with the girl beside him. She was greater company than he had expected and he found himself delighting in the response of another more than he thought he ever could or would.
But then, she'd barely said two words to him when he told her he had to leave. She just stared at him as if any words she could manage were fleeting, meekly waving goodbye with an empty expression. And here he thought she might have been missing his company. Jack grunted annoyed with himself at the sudden shot to his own self-esteem. He supposed that meant what it looked like, that she'd prefer easier company.
Kicking a stone in front of him Jack grimaced as it turned ice solid, reflecting his own inner chill. So what if she perhaps didn't want him around. He'd consider he was a little rusty at interaction with humans given that it had never been like this before.
Even so, he didn't have to sit here letting the snowflakes cover every clear inch of town and mope about it. After all it wasn't like he couldn't go see her again.
With a spirit of resolve Jack leaped to his feet, letting the wind carry him across the stretches of land and under low valleys. His very essence chilled the atmosphere frosting over fallen leaves and drifting packets of fallen powder along every crevice and bustle of air that he glided through. The winter spirit continued on spreading the chill to the hidden tower in the thicket. With every second he got closer his heart raced, so many thoughts and painful answers attacking his strong resolution.
"Jack..."
His thoughts halted as he heard his name being called in an emptied melancholy tone. Suddenly it didn't matter anymore what Rapunzel thought of him, all that mattered was getting to her. Had she been hurt? The wind rushed behind him propelling him to the balcony window.
"Rapunzel! Rapunzel where are you!" He couldn't stop the rush of panic that assaulted him as he flew into the tower darting in and out of each room with a speed that only the wind could muster. He was suddenly thrown back from his frantic search as that particular flash of acute loneliness traversed through him. It perpetrated his icy skin sending a force as cold of death through his immortal soul. The disembodied magic engraining into his flesh brought reality crystal clear to the surface. The aged dark haired form stomped angrily toward the kitchen unaware of the shock she'd given the winter spirit.
"How many times must I tell Rapunzel to stop filling her head with fairy tales. I swear that girl will be the death of me." Shaking her bouncing curls she urged her hand forward calling the name of the girl in question.
Jack fell the short distance from his hovering state to the ground stunned as he always was by the piercing truth. Fairytales...he hardly even made that list. If this woman here was telling Rapunzel to forget did that mean...? Jack's mind trailed a stabbing pain running through him. Did that mean Rapunzel couldn't see him anymore? No...no that was just too cruel. To finally have companionship and then to rip it away from him. Surely the man in the moon wouldn't stamp him with such immeasurable cruelty. He shook his head in denial as he saw Rapunzel walk out into the main room. Rising his eyes slowly widened hopefully. The edges of numbing pain slowly began receding as she glanced toward him for but a mere flicker of a second.
Her jade eyes followed her mother's form as she walked forward toward his place standing at the doorway to the kitchen. His mouth opened to utter his usual greeting relieved that his antagonistic thoughts were only just that.
"Rapunz-"
And her body went straight through his.
"I'm sorry Mother I really am. Maybe you should go out and just forget this whole thing." She said with an even shrug.
"Well if you say so Rapunzel. Not that I don't delight in your company it's just we all have our moments. I'm glad you understand." Clearing her throat she walked to the balcony pointing to the ground.
"...the hair." She coldly stated with a poignant roll of her eyes.
"Oh I'm sorry Mother!" Rapunzel hurriedly whipped the golden collection over the hook letting her Mother wrap her foot around it and slowly descend to the ground.
"I'll be back soon darling!" She called with a half hearted cheeriness.
"Great I'll just be here. Like always." Rapunzel sighed as she stared out the window wondering why she had such vivid dreams. Mother had said she made it all up. She'd told her that it was simply a hallucination from the medicine she'd taken and to never believe in such foolish things again. And she listened as she always did when her Mother spoke. Even now some small part of her wished the day before last had been real, that the boy she'd met wasn't a figment of her imagination but she supposed that kind of thinking was nothing but a dream.
Mic Mic: I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry Christmas and Jackunzel new year. Feeels I bring to your OTP. Have these feeels for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I apologize heartily for not updating. I've been working on my Christmas Fantasmic videos and have been killer busy. But I took time to stop because this needed to be up for you all before Christmas. Lol I'm like only a day early tears. ;-; I ask your forgiveness.
Now for the anon review replies!
(I will add these in so check back for em!)