It was midwinter before Aggie saw Jack Frost again, and it was not under anything resembling 'normal' circumstances.
Aggie was doing her rounds through a large hospital in New York City when a particularly harsh blizzard hit the area.
She sat in the windowsill of the children's play area, thoroughly entertained by the laughter of children while she waited for the storm to pass.
It was then that a scent hit her. A scent she had not met since her first few days of existence…
"Hello, Agony."
She spun, her startled breath a puff of mist in front of her. "Who are you?"
The tall man tilted his head. "Agony… it is I."
"I am not Agony." She challenged.
The man snorted. "Sure. Come then. Tell me what adventures you have been on since I last saw you."
"I have never seen you before."
The man frowned. "Agony, are you well? You do not normally joke."
"I am not joking." She spat. "And don't call me that."
"Call you what? Agony? It is your name - what else would I call you?"
She didn't know. But that wasn't right. "Aggie." She decided.
The man shrugged. "If you wish. Tell me then… Aggie… what exactly is going on? Is something wrong?"
"Yes." Aggie said. "Everything. I do not understand."
"Medicus didn't show back up, did she?" The man rolled his eyes and puffed an annoyed sigh. "Dear gods, she was so hard to get rid of the last time."
"Who is Medicus?" Aggie asked.
He blinked. "You… you really are not playing games."
Aggie shook her head.
He frowned, something close to concern, which looked strange and out of place on his pointed, slightly menacing features. "Do… do you know who I am?"
Again, Aggie shook her head. "I have never seen you in my life. Not that my life has been very long."
He stood a moment, his mouth slightly open, his hands slightly quivering, as if he wanted to move them but couldn't think where to. "I am Pitch Black." He said finally. "And I am your best friend."
Aggie turned as the black mist curled up through the vent and swirled to form the achingly familiar man about a meter from her windowsill.
The children did not look up from their game of Chutes-and-Ladders. They did not believe in the boogey-man. Lucky kids.
Aggie climbed slowly to her feet, her eyes unwavering as they held Pitch's gaze.
"What do you want?" She said after a tense silence.
Pitch spread his hands innocently. "Can I not simply wish to check up on an old friend?"
"You are no friend of mine." Aggie half-said, half-growled.
Pitch dropped his eyes. "Perhaps not." He sighed. "But whatever the Man in Moon may have done to your mind, he cannot take what is in your soul."
"My mind is perfectly functional." Aggie said stiffly. "And my soul is in its place."
"Its place?" Pitch scoffed. "And by that you mean under lock and key deep inside that little invisible body of yours! You have so much power at your grasp, Aggie, and you box it away!"
"Power does not exist to be used." Aggie said.
"Of course it does! Aggie, you could do so much! And you just sit here-" Pitch waved around the room. "Watching sick children play board games!"
Aggie glared at him. "These children are worth more than you will ever be, Pitch." She thrust an angry finger towards the vent he had come from. "Get out of my hospital."
"Aggie, can't you see I'm trying to help you?" Pitch cried.
"I see you planning something." Aggie said. "Do not think I am blind to your thoughts because I do not share them. You go and carry out your evil deeds away from me and my children."
"Your children!" Pitch snorted. "Aggie, they can't even see you!"
"I have accepted my fate." Aggie said. "It is time you accepted yours." She shook her finger. "Out."
