Disclaimer: No I don't own Jackunzel (Jack Frost from Dreamworks and Rapunzel from Tangled) but I am going to fandom them until the day I can't type!
Jack's fingers reluctantly loosened from Rapunzel's gently skimming the smooth skin under her palm before falling to his side. He realized once his hands were free that it was the first time in a long while he'd been without his staff.
Usually letting the instrument of weather go struck him with a sense of unease and anxiety but he'd unknowingly left that all behind in favor of encircling her hand in his. It was peculiar that now as he reached to pick up the wooden tool of magic, that he found himself nursing a slight aversion for it, and a desire to instead feel that parade of heat clasped within his frozen hold.
"That was...a New Year's kiss right?" Rapunzel questioned brushing back a fallen collection of gold that attempted to aid her desire for a shy retreat. Wasn't that something that...people who liked each other did?
"Oh, did you want something a little more interesting?" He teased freely capturing the blonde strands she held between his fore and middle finger. All of his thoughts abruptly departed from retrieving his cherished staff. He let his fingers fluently slide toward him, indulging in the silken texture that drifted along his chilled skin, before merrily twirling the lengthy selection around his finger .
"No, I um I liked that just fine." She replied back with a gentle yet bashful smile. Her eyes trailed to his fingers carelessly playing with her lock of hair and she couldn't help but force away that abrupt flutter in her belly.
"I'm glad." Jack replied back with a delighted smirk trying to ignore that flicker of embarrassment that assaulted his previous unguarded action. He'd never opened himself before in such a way. After all, there wasn't anyone to open up to. However, Rapunzel brought a certain vulnerability to him that he found a sort of contentment in. He wanted to stay here by her side chancing weakness even if it meant he might feel as torn apart as in those frail moments when she'd forgotten him. That memory was minuscule compared to the fragrant happiness she granted him whenever she'd glance his way.
"You know, I spent most of my new years alone. This is one of the few times I've ever had anyone to count down with. Mother never bothers you know, she says it's just a foolish tradition."
"Well luckily I'm not your Mother." Jack couldn't help the burst of selfish excitement that rushed through him at her words. He'd always longed to create memories of his own yet he'd been sure that even if he did he'd never be anyone's first memory. People had lives and experiences but he only had seen those things through the eyes of others.
Oh he'd watched the celebrations in every country picking a new one each year to experience his winter creations. The fireworks would always be aglow in the night sky no matter where he was. The languages and behavior of the humans was so distinct and different that he often could hardly tell if they were celebrating or simply lost in a haze of gluttonous indulgence in that foul beverage.
He wrinkled his nose at the thought before shaking his head in frustration. The deep black ice that he'd so carelessly imprinted in the pavement would unfortunately be the friend of many who turned up their bottle before settling behind the wheel. He regretted now the foolish scattering of his frozen assortment hoping that perhaps few would venture out into the mess he'd made.
Even with all those dangers and unpleasant actions of many he knew that he still found the world to be a marvel of wonder. The colors in the previously void atmosphere were a testament to that fact. They shined like the numerous collection of kind souls reflecting upon everything like twinkling rays off a diamond. He wondered if the glittering being that stood before him might someday display her glow to the outside world, even though some trivial part of him secretly wanted to keep that light all to himself.
Jack leaned back on the ledge to the balcony window taking her length of hair with him.
"Come on Rapunzel it's a new year. Why don't you come outside with me just this once?"
"Jack I can't. Mother's sleeping in the next room over. What happens if she wakes up and sees that I'm gone?" Rapunzel answered crossing her arms over her chest in mild protest.
Jack lifted an eyebrow pleasantly surprised at her response. The winter spirit hummed to himself in a good-humored fashion as he carefully looked over his abducted golden prize. He'd recently been wondering how Rapunzel managed to keep the gargantuan length so well-kept.
"Oh was that a consideration?" He inquired the pads of his fingers performing a skillful glissade on her taken tresses. His thumb gently brushed the underside of the confiscated section hoping perhaps his actions might distract her from her hardened resolve.
"It was stating a fact." She chimed back feeling her heart gain a little ease when Jack finally let the lock of hair slip from his fingers. He regretted the action almost immediately yet put off the uncomfortable nagging on the edges of his heart to seek some form of closeness to her once again.
Jack glided easily through the air sweeping past her to collect his staff and back in front of her in a flash of a second. He wrapped both hands around the wintery wood, inclining his head slightly as he started to speak.
"So if your Mother isn't around then you'll come outside with me?" He persisted wondering what her answer might be.
Rubbing her fingers upon her brow Rapunzel shook her head once again. When would he learn that she wasn't going to leave. Nothing was going to change her mind or her loyalty to her Mother, not even the impossible longing to feel the grass underneath her toes.
"That won't change anything at all. If I disobey her I'll be breaking my promise and when I make a promise I always keep it no matter what." She stated firmly maintaining her determined stance before him.
"Ever heard of a loophole?" Jack asked merrily chuckling at her words. He linked the crook of his staff on the hanging hook above him pulling the fixture upward and back down again in a bored fashion.
"N-no. What's that supposed to be?"
"It means a hole in the contract, a way out, something like that." In an action of his own wayward design his fingers turned the timber staff downward, care-freely wrapping the hooked curve around Rapunzel's waist. He drew her closer with a smooth motion enjoying her tiny utterance of surprise as her hand fell lightly upon his chest.
Reaching forward with his free hand his finger gently flicked toward Rapunzel and she wrinkled her nose, letting an easy laugh escape her lips from the azure design of frost that nipped at her nose. The gentle pressure of his staff around her waist sent a thrilling rush through her veins. Electricity again…she was beginning to realize that Jack could easily produce it .
"I find you a loophole and then we can have some real fun."
Rapunzel's eyes widened at his words as that stab of uncertainty nudged her heart. She should have known someone like Jack Frost might consider her tower boring. Did that mean he thought the same thing about her? Here she was a stringent follower of the rules and solely obedient to her Mother. Maybe Jack was put off somehow by that.
Rapunzel began absently fiddling with the strings of Jack's hoodie as the cruel thoughts continued to whirl about in her head. She wasn't one to give up her resolve for anyone yet at the same time the idea that Jack might think poorly of her still managed to harvest a tense uncomfortable feeling that stung a little.
"Oh, so you um...don't like being here in the tower with me?" The words left her lips with a slight reluctance as her eyes turned away to analyze a particular crack in the wall.
"Huh? What would make you think something like that?" Jack responded throughly confused at her words.
"Well you said..?" Rapunzel sniffed a bit hoping the feeling of inadequacy would leave her soon, yet it lingered stiffly there sinking her insides with an unpleasant weight.
"Hey." Jack's voice escaped his lips lightly concern evident in his whole form. He reached out to brush back the hanging strand he'd once confiscated that hid her face from him. His fingers glided down her cheek as he evenly turned it upward so she would face him. He wanted his message to be delivered as he looked into her eyes.
"I want you to leave the tower for yourself. You're crazy if you think I don't like being with you." The curve of a smile upon his lips reflected his adoration and a laugh followed at the absurd thought.
"We're gonna know each other for a really long time so you better just get used to me okay?" He couldn't help but utter the words of reassurance to her. How could she possibly cultivate such ludacris ideas?
"Really?" She asked lightly pulling the strings she held between her fingers as he nodded in response.
"Your garment is really interesting. I've never seen something like this before."
Jack swallowed his next breath trying to recover from the fervent ache in his chest that rushed his heart rate all the more as she fiddled with the hanging articles.
'Could she stop being cute for two seconds and let him catch his breath already.' He thought to himself relieved when she finally stopped the simple action.
"Well I took it from a big box store so there's plenty more where this came from. Don't worry I left money." He replied with a mild shrug of his shoulders. After all when you were an invisible spirit it was easy to guide the wind to toss a drug cartel's cash out a ten story window. Perhaps the money he received was all from thieves and scourges of society but it was still money none the less. After all it was better off in his hoodie pockets than being traded for who knows what on the streets.
Rapunzel glanced down for a second at the position of Jack's hook still locked around her waist. With a small giggle she pressed her hand to his chest before twirling to the left nimbly escaping out of his hold and darting behind him.
"Tag!" She cried out her words in childish glee as she tossed a lock of hair high in the rafters, hurriedly drawing herself up and away from his reach.
"Hey!" Jack hadn't expected her to get the drop on him in such a way, usually he was the first to spontaneously start a game.
"Come and get me!" She chided her bare feet curling around a wooden beam high in the ceiling.
"You can count on it." He replied eagerly leaping from his stagnant place on the ground into the widened expanse high in the tower.
The two darted about for hours swinging through the rafters and alternating turns. They couldn't seem to get enough of their fun and games laughing until their sides hurt beyond belief. When they had finished they each collapsed lazily across a sturdy stretch of timber content to lie there without any fear of the heights they rested in.
Rapunzel let her feet dangle into the air wiggling her toes pleasantly at the light breeze Jack sent her way.
"I haven't had fun like that in a long time, at least not with anyone but Pascal." She stated happily her eyes darting about for her little chameleon.
"Pascal?" Jack questioned a brief hint of jealousy began flickering about inside him as he lifted an eyebrow curious to the identity of the unknown guy.
"Yes! I can't wait for you to meet him, he's been my only friend for so long."
"Oh. Do you two play games like this all the time?"
"Not really though he is a master of hide and seek. I can never actually beat him but he always gives me a cuddle anyway for trying. I really love him." Rapunzel's eyes brightened in a way he had never seen before as she talked about Pascal, the very visage brought an uncomfortable
shock of reality.
Jack stubbornly dragged the end of his staff along a beam wondering why that stinging ache assaulted him. So she had someone else already? How could that be? He thought he was the only boy she'd ever met. The desire in that thought itself was ridiculously selfish and he brushed it aside. It wasn't normal to want to be the only one Rapunzel knew. After all, he wanted more than anything for her to see the world. He should have been glad that she...loved this Pascal guy. He knew that the twinge of acute pain was nothing compared to the agony of her unhappiness and he found his lips curling into a genuine smile as he spoke words that both pained him and brought him joy.
"I'm happy for you two Rapunzel. I hope that...everything works out for you."
"Thanks…but um. that's a weird way to put it…I mean I've known Pascal all my life." She commented with an easy shrug not making Jack feel better at her words.
"Well even so, I still want you to be happy and if he makes you feel that way then…I'll try to support you." He replied meeting her gaze once again before settling back comfortably.
"Oh! Well in that case if you want to meet him I'll just call him to come out." She stated excitedly looking about the tower for her companion.
"You mean he's been here all this time?" Jack asked wondering if his mischievous actions had thrown a wrench in her relationship. He chastened himself for the slight wishes that it might be truth forcibly pushing aside his self-serving nature.
"Of course he has, he's probably just sleeping in my room. I left the door cracked so he could come out soon."
Glancing down Rapunzel threw out a whip of golden hair before securely sliding down it to land comfortably on the ground. She gestured upward to Jack who promptly landed after her curious and slightly defensive of the girl beside him. If this so called Pascal loved Rapunzel so much why would he leave her alone with some stranger and not make his presence clear. After all if Rapunzel was his he'd make sure everyone knew that he was willing and able to protect her if they even thought of lifting a hand against her. Wait a second…his? Where did that thought come from?
He shook his head again as be pushed that part of himself back down suddenly realizing he was nurturing…feelings, it seems that's what they were, that were void of any chance for reciprocation. Rapunzel hadn't seemed as if she had anyone else. She'd reacted to his advances in such a shy manner as if she'd never interacted with someone that way before. Maybe Pascal was no different than her Mother and just enjoyed bruising Rapunzel's naïveté with closeted ideals. Even so he'd already given something of a blessing though he was readily prepared to take it back if the reptile of a man stepped out of line.
Leaning over to the open crack in the door Rapunzel scooped up a small item cupping it protectively in her hands before turning towards Jack.
"Jack meet Pascal." She stated eagerly holding out the chameleon that sat in her palm.
"You mean that he? That that's…? He's a lizard?!" Jack was lost in his words stammering in his foolish confusion as the green creature stared him down curiously. Pascal pointed two fingers towards his eye before pointing them directly at Jack clearly indicating he was aware of the activities in the small tower.
"Chameleon, and what do you mean by that?" Rapunzel question wondering why Jack was so surprised at meeting Pascal. Did he have an allergy or something?
"I thought Pascal was a…a guy." Jack stammered to himself the floor suddenly seeming quite a welcome friend for his plummeting mental capacity. That meant that she didn't have anyone…what did that really mean to him? He wondered if the spring of joy welling in his heart was a wise option yet he couldn't dry it up no matter how intensely logic and loneliness attacked him.
"No you're the only boy I've ever met. Why, does that matter?" She asked tilting her head to the side at Jack's sudden embarrassed expression.
Rapunzel laughed pleasantly placing Pascal on her shoulder as she leaned in poking Jack's cheek with her forefinger.
"You're blushing. I've never seen you blush before. I didn't know you could." She commented pleasantly rocking backward on her heels.
"Mmm." Jack mumbled to himself glancing away as best he could as her finger playfully poked at his cheek.
"It's cute." She stated letting her finger draw away as he pressed a hand over his cheeks to cover them from her intruding view.
"I thought that you...were in some kind of relationship."
Rapunzel looked upon Jack with a dumbfounded expression before piecing together the puzzle he'd so carelessly taken apart.
"That's silly, after all you and I are in a relationship aren't we-?"
Jack sputtered at her words half unsure how to respond to her question. He was graciously given an outlet when she finished her statement.
"-since you're my first friend that's human or spirit in this case." She sent him an exuberant smile delighting in the way he hid his face from her. It was so curious that Jack always whirled away from her whenever she did the simplest things. She hoped she wasn't bothering him.
"I guess you could say we are, in a way, but the wind is calling. I'll be back in about a week to see you. Got to set a few things in motion after New Years."
He looked her over amused by the careful way in which she began regarding the books she'd been given. The way she focused so deeply on each page in such a studious manner made him almost consider forgetting his winter duties in favor of staying to read along with her.
'She really is cute.' Turning away before he got himself stuck in the gush of thoughts he shouldn't, he hopped to the balcony ledge. Turning back he pinned her with a characteristic half smile.
"Well alright." She uttered the words a bit reluctantly flipping through the pages curiously.
"Jack." She called out her voice strong as she leaped to her feet rushing over to wrap her hands around his arm. She clutched there gently attempting to hold him back before he took off.
"Come back soon. I really do you miss you when you're gone." She said the glow of kindness surrounding her as she lightly patted his sleeve.
"Just remember that if you ever get lonely. I'll be here for you. I promise."
"Hey you don't have to worry about me Punz I've been the spirit of winter for 317 years. I've pretty much gotten the process down pact."
"That doesn't change the fact that it's dangerous out there. Anything could happen and I'd never even know if you were alright or if you'd just...tired of me."
Jack let out a soft exhale of breath as his eyes trailed down to meet Rapunzel's concerned expression. His fingers brushed underneath her chin as he leaned in closer his forehead coming to rest gently upon hers. Tendrils of silver melded with lengthy fallen gold interlacing with one another in a careless disarray.
"You don't have to worry about silly things like that. I won't ever tire of the first light in my darkness." He whispered the quiet words into the wind letting it aid his delivery as he slowly pulled back. Jade eyes trembled as her hands skimmed along his sleeve comforting herself in the texture of the downy blue fabric. She nodded quickly, slowly loosening her soft grip on his arm.
"Just be safe okay. Please." She didn't know what dangers he could have had to face out there and she wanted above all else to see him again. The fear he'd leave forever after whatever she had done wrong had twisted her insides like a knife. It all was building up in a fester of nerves that caused her heart to jump as he turned toward the open sky.
"Never thought safe was any fun." He stated with a roll of shoulders and a proud grin. He hopped on the ledge of the windowsill, his gaze firmly on the clouds in the distance. With only a thoughtful look and a twirl of his staff he called the wind to rush outside the small window billowing around his chilled being preparing to launch him to his desired destination.
"But for you well, that's a fair exchange." With those last words the sky swept him away from her view and she stood there gazing out until the stars of space came to visit her once again.
Mic Mic: Okay so more sweet moments between these two. The plot is progressing I promise I just needed to solidify a few things before we get going. But we are coming along! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you liked so that I can keep improving. Also if you'd like check out my Youtube account MicMic18. I just posted a new Jackunzel MEP video and it has the cookie scene included ^^