You know, Jack, when you volunteered to help clean up the snow." Rapunzel paused from sweeping the said snow on her end with a broom and cast the spirit an exasperated amused look. "That was really not what I had in mind."
Jack grinned, folding his arms. "It makes things easier, Punzie: just pile it all up and then get rid of it all with one wave of my magic hands." He replied humorously, glancing behind at the massive heap of the frozen liquid he had gathered up. He noticed Rapunzel quirk a smile, and shrugged. They were just cleaning up after the great snowball fight they just had. And it never failed to entertain Jack. It was much more fun when there is someone purposely throws one at you; as usually children always aimed at each other and never at the one responsible for the winter spread across their homes. The spirit was more than ecstatic to actually be in a snowball fight and feel truly a part of one. The revelation that Jack can have fun with someone who can see, and have fun with, him back made him feel more alive than casting winter everywhere. "Besides; I always prefer the quick and easy solution to everything. You missed a spot by the way."
Rapunzel followed his pointing finger and hastily added the small pile of snow to her other growing one, sweeping it all to Jack's side for him to get rid of. "Well," She said jokingly, lifting some part of her long trail of hair up to get the dirt, "I hope your 'magic' hands are capable of making hot chocolate as well. It would be a shame to have them ruined by something like that."
"Just you wait." Jack countered arrogantly, stepping out of the way for his friend and placing a fist on his chest with a straightened posture. "I'll make the best hot chocolate anywhere." Rapunzel giggled.
Living here over the two weeks since he'd been invited to had been an... interesting experience for Jack to, to say the least. Of course he had spent six days conjuring winter in a far off country and returned immediately after; to an embracing, and at the same time, angry Rapunzel for the gift he left behind. While he was rubbing his head, smirking and apologizing in the end, Jack had the slightest fear that he already screwed up and his friend will kick him out already. But that was not the case: as it seems Rapunzel was an easily forgivable person, and the spirit was grateful for that.
They had spent hours and hours learning about one another, after Punzie had set the ground rules for his staying here (which he'll probably ignore even to this day). And during his first stay at night in the tower, Rapunzel had insisted for Jack to sleep on the couch, and he appreciated the gesture that his friend wanted to make him feel comfortable, which he said out loud that being around her made him comfortable, tapping her nose once for emphasis, and Rapunzel just gave him a deadpan 'ha ha' look in exchange. In the end, Jack chose to sleep on the rafters above, since having slept on a tree for so long made it natural for him to sleep while leaning his back against something.
The next morning had the spirit wake up to a sizzling sound and smell, which he looked downwards and watched his friend preparing breakfast, humming to herself cheerfully and smiling for no apparent reason. Guess she must be like this everyday. Oh well, Jack enjoyed that enthusiasm of hers. He stretched and flied downwards, not startling Rapunzel until she jumped in surprise at Jack sitting at the table with an innocent smile and a "Morning Punzie." After the breakfast, which Rapunzel was thoughtful enough to make some for the spirit, Jack observed as his friend proceeded with her morning chores; which mostly consisted of sweeping the floor, making everything neat, washing up and drying, and twenty minutes brushing her entire hair. Wow. Jack had remarked on the exhaustion she must feel for that one, which was returned with a tired smile and a shrug. Then free time came; which Jack, Rapunzel and Pascal used to their full advantage. Fun will always be there when the spirit of winter was around, eventually even the chameleon warmed up to the new addition to the tower, but Jack suspected the small lizard still kept a close eye on him whenever around Rapunzel.
Eight days had passed since then, and the friendship between them strengthened. The spirit of winter was still figuring out how friendship works, and he guessed Rapunzel wasn't all that an expert in that department; seeing how most of her life her friend was, well, a chameleon. Still, they had a great amount of fun together, playing to their hearts content when neither were busy. Though Jack, despite his efforts, could not get any answers for his friend's long hair and evasive actions whenever leaving the tower was mentioned. That did not stop him, however, from repeatedly trying.
Still, Jack wouldn't push it. He was trying to sort out his own thoughts and feelings here. Being near Rapunzel was very similar, and yet different, than the joy and amusement he feels when spreading winter over the world. Around her, Jack feels an un-explainable need to comfort Punzie whenever she gets upset, pat her head or tap her nose to see her positive reactions, cause snow to fall from the roof to watch her wondrous joy. Around her, Jack felt happy, more than he's ever been before. The loneliness within him dying down whenever he arrives to the tower and sees his friend smiling at him in a warm welcome and embracing look. The impish spirit wonders if Rapunzel feels the same things he's going through. Was this what friendship was like? He didn't dare ask; knowing the limits to making his friend feel awkward.
"-ello? Anyone in there?" Jack blinked in surprise, taken out of his contemplation as Rapunzel was waving her hand too close to his face. Speak of the angel. "You look like you were in the middle of day-dreaming." She remarked with a warm smile.
Ruffling his own white hair, Jack smiled slightly back. "I was having inner dialogue." Both knew that was out of character for him to say.
Rapunzel raised a brow, not bothering to contain her incredulous look. "Inner dialogue."
The winter spirit shrugged sheepishly and looked at the massive pile of snow they had gathered, glancing around the area. "Looks like we're ready to get rid of it. And fun can only last so long." The false sorrowful tone incited a giggle from his friend, and Jack waved his staff. Rapunzel watched in wonder and awe, something she did every time Jack did his tricks, as the snow dissolved; water turning into air. Just the look of pure innocence and childness on his friend's face brought some warmth in Jack's insides. Children loved seeing snow and all the capabilities of its beauty all the time, but Rapunzel was a special case; even if she wasn't a kid. She was a full-grown teenager, seventeen years old; Jack learned this during one of their many conversations. Speaking of which: the following talk brought up the subject of age.
"I'm sure you can do all this again later, Jack. It must be fun: being the spirit of winter, having a long life to spread joy across the outside world." Rapunzel said in wonder, a snowflake landing on her welcoming palm.
"Yeah..." The impish spirit shrugged, turning away, "It gets easier each passing decade." He suddenly realized and, immediately removing after, the image that Rapunzel, regardless of her unique personality and radiant beauty, was still mortal, and as such will eventually grow older, forgetting about Jack and passing away of inevitable old age. No. He didn't want that thought, not now. He won't allow that depression of being alone to ruin the mood.
He heard his friend following him. "Which reminds me..." She began... but silence dropped after that sentence. Jack faced Rapunzel and raised a brow, waiting for her to continue, anything to get him out of his saddening thoughts. Rapunzel was, to his surprise, twiddling her fingers and fidgeting nervously. What's that all about? "Well, I don't want to offend you or anything, Jack. This question is one I forgot to ask you a while back. And I don't wish to be rude or anything; it might not be something you want to answer-" In the midst of her mumbling, replaying the topic in his head, Jack had an idea what she wanted to ask was.
"...If it's something you want to ask, go ahead." He gave a reassuring smile, "Not much offends me anyway Punzie." His friend gave an appreciative smile.
Rapunzel rubbed her arm nervously, before taking a deep breath and being blunt, something Jack admired. "How old, exactly... are you?"
Her eyes avoiding were avoiding his straight at the last word, looking guilty at having ask a question. Quite the opposite of her thoughts; Jack wasn't offended. He was more entertained than anything. And as much as it was amusing to see Rapunzel be embarrassed, the impish spirit didn't want her to feel regret. Punzie continued expressing unnecessary guilt, shaking her head: "You know what? Forget I even asked about it. Sorry, I knew it was stupid to ask-"
"Over a hundred."
Jack watched with amusement and a smile as Punzie blinked in surprise at the interruption and revelation. It took half a moment for her reply. "Umm... excuse me?"
His eyes danced with mirth, his tone remained honest. "I'm over a century old, Punzie." Then the spirit of winter tilted his head with a thoughtful look. Admittedly struggling, his brain processed the specific time since his birth. "I think... about over... one-hundred and fourteen." He clarified both to Rapunzel and to himself. "Yep: that's old I am." The spirit said confidently. Wow, saying it out loud, it was quite impossible for to believe it himself. He never took track on how long he had been living on the Earth; Jack had been too preoccupied with spreading winter around the world and contemplating how to get people to see him that his age never brought up in his mind. It actually feels impressive to him. If he could: Jack would laugh at the sneering faces of those who sought eternal life themselves. People have tried, but never succeeded.
Rapunzel's jaw was hilariously dropped. The disbelief in her tone made him smirk. "You can't be serious."
The staff leaned on Jack's shoulder, he acted casual. "Oh I'm very serious Punzie... and that's saying a lot." He winked.
Suddenly, though Jack had grown use to this, Rapunzel was right up in his face, grinning like she got a present. "That's amazing!" She said enthusiastically, already circling around the spirit as though checking every detail. Amazing... she called him amazing. Can his day get any better? Jack enjoyed every minute of this. Punzie continued; asking already questions, some of which he didn't know the answers to himself. "And you stay young like this? How do you do it? Did the moon give you the ability to stay like this? Do the spirits have do this as well, or does it only apply to you? Does it stay like this forever? Do you stay young because as the embodiment of winter it causes your insides and aging process to freeze? I read in a book ice can do that, but never to a person before. Then again, you're Jack Frost, so being young is probably a necessity to your job. Is that true? Will it-?"
"Whoa whoa, slow down Punzie." Jack waved his hand at her calmly, the bombardment of queries getting to him. "As much as I like hearing you talk, think you can lower the inquiries a little?"
She took a step back from him, smiling apologetically and folding her hands behind her. "Sorry." Rapunzel said. "Guess I got carried away. That's the fourth time this week. Mother always said I keep rambling when I'm not suppose to."
"Mothers aren't always right." He shrugged. "Besides, rambling's a good thing Punzie; shows you have energy." Jack smiled.
"I guess so." Rapunzel replied in agreement, then tilted her head, "And you said you like hearing me talk, right?" She asked curiously.
Jack tensed, realizing his mistake.
"That's nice of you to say, thanks." Rapunzel continued, smiling appreciatively. Then she giggled for a small moment. "Are you sure you're Jack Frost? Because a spirit of winter can't be so nice."
Inwardly sighing in relief, Jack smirked. The naivety Rapunzel has was beyond comprehension, and that was one thing Jack liked about her. "Maybe you're just special." Rapunzel flushed. Ah, it was a joy and entertaining with teasing Punzie like that. Despite her lack of knowledge to how the outside world works, she still understood some forms of whenever the winter spirit has his playful advances. His friend's oblivious nature knows no bounds, but unlike the way he sees how Punzie's mother treats her, Jack finds her personality endearing and interesting. She was smart, probably smarter than himself, with all the books she has and he never reads.
Rapunzel glanced over Jack's shoulder. "So," She began earnestly. "Ready to start that hot chocolate, Jackie?"
"You know it." Jack replied confidently, making way as Rapunzel passed him into the small area kitchen. "I want to see how this 'hot chocolate' you keep getting excited about is made and its taste. I'll probably do better than you, you know,"
Over her shoulder, his shorter friend smirked playfully. "Maybe you will. Or maybe I'll beat you to it in five seconds flat." The tone and implication of a challenge intrigued him, and incited his childlike eagerness.
Then Jack almost sputtered in disbelief when Rapunzel adorned a pink apron and offered a spare one in similiar colour to him. "Wear this."
And it begun from there. The spirit of winter had reluctantly placed on the feminine apron after Rapunzel's insistence to do so, saying her mother said clothes are important and stains were not to be tolerated. Then a glare was cast his way when Jack commented on the mother's paranoia. Yeah: Rapunzel was by no means use to Jack's criticisms of how his friend lives. And in his eyes; for good reason. The mother treated her daughter like she was a child, which is fair enough, in retrospect. But she acts like Punzie will never mature in her life, and like she was a disobedient rebel who wanted to do things her own way. Which was not true, the opposite in fact. HE was the disobedient rebel here, thought the woman could not see that or him. During his stay here Jack can see the mother cares deeply for her daughter, but the way it's given was different than the way he sees other parents do. Maybe it's becoming a recent thing these times, he doesn't know. The spirit knew Rapunzel was tolerating his disbelief against her lifestyle, but he wasn't sure for how long. Jack saw both parent and daughter loved each other deeply. What was the most curious thing about them, however, was how fascinated the woman was with Punzie's hair. If he didn't know any better: Jack would say the woman treated the long fabric as though it were the holy grail. And when Rapunzel tried to send Jack away into another room through hand gestures whenever the mother requested her daughter to sing for her. He asked abut it once, which Punzie replied with a trace of nervousness that she is fearful of singing with anyone around but her mother and Pascal. Well, he respected her privacy just as she did his, of course he obliged. That didn't stop the unintentional game of prying into one another secrets, though.
Anyway, the hot chocolate. It took Jack longer than expected. For starters, he never learned or bothered trying out making of any kind in a kitchen in his life. Through hilarious, to Rapunzel at least, attempts and countless failures, Jack had grown increasingly frustrated as his tries were irritating him. He would rather just pour snow into the mug and move on. The spirit of winter inwardly admitted he was not cut out for this, but refused the offered friendly cooperation of his human friend through his annoyance. Speaking of which, Rapunzel's drink was almost ready while he was still at the start. In the end, Jack sighed in failure and asked the teenage girl to help him, which she replied with an amused "Is the great Jack Frost asking for help from a girl?" She was giggling at his frustration, knowing it wasn't aimed at her, and proceeded to help him. He was grateful, in any case. As soon as the work was finished Jack asked if he could take the apron off, which he did so immediately at his friend's amused confirmation.
All in all: both mugs of hot chocolate were ready.
Both sitting next to one another by the table, Rapunzel was drinking from her mug in pure satisfaction. Jack, meanwhile, was staring at the brown sustenance with steam emitting from it in suspicion. Rapunzel didn't do all the work, she guided him into making the drink. They had to wait for a short while for the drinks to be finished boiling up. And despite Punzie's warning, Jack almost dropped his mug immediately after picking it up. It was clear to them both Jack was not use to touching anything hot.
"If you don't drink, it'll cool down." Rapunzel observed, glancing sideways at him. "Which is the complete opposite of hot chocolate, you know."
Jack snorted. "Maybe that'll be better for me."
Rapunzel smiled. "If you say so Jack." She took a sip from her drink like a mature lady and and looked at him in interest. The winter spirit immediately new she was going to start a new topic. "So... over a hundred years old, huh?"
"Yep." Was the single reply.
"All by yourself."
"Just me and the snow, Punzie."
"No parents."
"Nope," He smirked. "And good thing too."
"Why's that?"
"Never really saw parents as anything but adults to raise and nurture their children... and to place rules on them, which I wouldn't follow even if I had them." The spirit chuckled. "It's a free life for me, Punzie."
"Oh..." Was Rapunzel's reply, staring at her drink thoughtfully and frowning. "That must sometimes be a bother though," Jack gave her a confused glance. "To not have anyone to talk to, to not have someone raise you, to not get advice from, to have no one teach you what is right and wrong, to help you in your time of need." She lowered her voice softly. "I can't imagine a life without mother, Pascal and you after all..." The blunt truth in her tone, the full honesty, had Jack's eyes widened to the same height they were during the time Rapunzel first saw him.
Did... did Rapunzel admit she couldn't imagine a life without him? Jack Frost? He quickly switched his astonished gaze to his drink, the steam coming from it almost disappearing completely now. The idea of him being so important to someone was ludicrous. Could it be that she...? No, he shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe she meant as a friend he was that important to her, that could be it. It would be no surprise from Punzie's childlike nature. The back of his mind wished otherwise, but he got rid of that thought. Jack had no idea how to reply to such an honest innocent confession.
"Huh..." That pathetic beginning of a sentence did nothing to get her attention. "Well... I'm glad I'm here then, for your entertainment and sake then." He chuckled and Rapunzel looked at him curiously. "I just... never considered myself to be important to anyone before." Punzie's mouth formed an 'O' shape, "If I'm something you can't live without then, Punzie, then let me tell you that may be the first mistake you made since we first met." Jack winked jokingly.
Rapunzel giggled. "I'll be sure to learn from my mistakes then."
"Good." Jack smirked. Deciding to bring up a topic he's been meaning to ask about himself, his eyes searched around the covered walls of different shapes and colors. "So, all these paintings are yours, huh? You must be a professional then."
His friend blushed at the praise, looking at the paintings herself. "Well," She said nervously. "They're just a hobby of mine for my spare time, that's all."
"Looks like the work of a genius." Jack replied honestly.
Rapunzel's red cheeks deepened in colour, tucking a stray of hair behind her and taking another sip of her drink. "They're not that good."
"You're kidding me, right?" Jack said, watching with enjoyment as his friend was turning red from embarrassment and from the praise with every word. "These are fantastic pieces of work, Punzie! If I were you, I would ask your mother to go out and sell some of these, the ones you painted on paper, and get rich from them. They would become famous, maybe even become a part of history." He smirked and now teased his friend, wagging a finger at her red-as-a-tomato face playfully. "I think you're just being modest."
"And I think you're just messing with me." Was Rapunzel's quick reply, though her eyes were avoiding his. "But... thank you for liking them." She took a deep gulp of her drink when Jack smiled at her.
"Just speaking the truth, Rapunzel." The spirit of winter, pleased that his job of speaking the truth of his friend's paintings were done, looked at the walls again. "So... I can guess what they are, but would you mind telling me?"
She glanced at him in confusion, before following his gaze. "Oh!" Her eyes twinkled in excitement, for the prospect o taking about her paintings like this. "Well, that one over there is of the forest outside the valley mother tells me about. This one just expresses my assumptions what the path she takes while/leaving the tower takes. The one there details what I think is beyond the forest. You can see the meadow around the tower right there."
And so Punzie kept on with her details on each painting around the room, her voice in excitement and eyes shining in hope and wonder. Jack was now, to her obliviousness, staring at the happy teenager now than the walls of paintings. The impish spirit already forgot which painting they were up to. He could close his eyes and enjoy the melody of her soft beautiful voice. He wasn't lying when he said he enjoyed hearing her talk. The winter spirit didn't notice he was smiling at her brightly, eyes lit up at listening to her speak. Rapunzel was usually happy, but she shined whenever something like this happened, and Jack enjoyed every moment of it. Her smiling features were angelic, he wished already it would stay like that forever. Jack failed to notice the chameleon, Pascal, was at the top of the stairs watching them with a smile of his own. A positive atmosphere had made itself a blanket all over the room.
Rapunzel did finally notice he was no longer paying attention to her speaking and instead staring at her like she was some kind of goddess, flushing and staring back at her now-cold drink. Jack realized what he was doing and shook his head out of his stupor, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment and taking a sip of the freezing drink absent-minded. He almost choked immediately, eyes widened in surprise and ready to spit the drink out. At Punzie's sudden look of concern, he swallowed his hot chocolate and shook his head in reassurance. Well, the drink wasn't bad, at least. His first time making one and it didn't end up poisoning him.
Glancing down at the liquid, Jack almost laughed in surprise, presenting his drink to Rapunzel's inquiry stare and her eyes widening, laughing with the winter spirit as Jack failed to realize his grip on the mug caused frost all over the object and the drink to cool very quickly to the point of turning into brown ice.
"Rapunzel! Let down your hair!"
Well, that was one way of ruining the fun.
Both heads turned to the sound, Rapunzel lighting up in recognition and Jacks with amusement. "Coming, mother!" Punzie replied to the large big window, looking at Jack apologetically, who shrugged. Their dinner time must almost be ready then. Her mother usually doesn't visit unless for meals, from what the winter spirit's seen.
Both got up from their seats, Jack stretching his arms. "Well, I'm going out anyway, winter can't wait."
Rapunzel glanced at him as she made her way to the window and was already preparing her hair to pull her mother upwards. How does that not strain her? "Oh? I thought you were done for the day?"
The spirit picked his staff leaning against the table and observed as his friend's hair fell from the window and down to her waiting mother was. "Can't help but to make sure, Punzie."
"Repercussions? You?" Rapunzel smiled teasingly as she pulled her hair back upwards. Jack shrugged with a smirk and watched with folded arms as the older woman entered into the tower. Over the two weeks, Jack had doubted more and more about the mother being a witch. No one usually believed the bogeyman anyway, so perhaps he was wrong about that. He hadn't seen her perform any spells or incantations over the course of his stays. The winter spirit sometimes toyed with the idea that the mother used her witchcraft whenever she was out. Jack didn't know. He never bothered asking Rapunzel about it, not wanting her to get the wrong idea and have him kicked out over a misunderstanding. If the woman was a witch, perhaps the only spell he could see is of Rapunzel's extreme loyalty to the mother. Behind the impish spirit, Pascal observed with usual exasperation and disdain at the older woman entering the tower. If Jack was suspicious of Gothel, then he clearly did not share the high feelings of dislike the chameleon held for the older woman. Both spirit and animal would agree on, however, was they did not like the witch's parenting methods.
"Ah, Rapunzel." The mother said in her typical exaggeration, embracing her daughter in a meaningful hug. "You must have missed me over the course of... what, five hours?" She laughed for no particular reason.
"Almost six, mother." Rapunzel replied with a smile as they disengaged, the older woman making herself at home. "I cleaned up the room today, just like you asked."
"All of it?"
"No dirt around left."
"You are just full of surprises, my dear." The mother patted her cheek in congratulations. Jack knew this would be the good time for him to leave. He wasn't serious about spreading winter again today. The previous conversation he and Punzie had gave him an idea.
I'll see you later, Punzie." Jack said as he walked around them, him and Rapunzel waving when the witch's back was turned. But before he could resist himself, the spirit pulled his tongue out at the mother who couldn't see or hear him, ignoring his friend's disapproving blank look and not seeing the chameleon's smirking features. He saluted at Punzie teasingly and jumped out of the window, the wind taking him into the skies. He heard two more sentences just before he left though, inciting a smirk on his pale features.
"Ah, you decided to make use drinks for my return, how sweet of you... err, Rapunzel, why is this one covered in ice?"
"Uh... Jack Frost did it?"
Just taking it slow, guys. Slow on the interaction between our two beloved characters, and average speed on the exposition by the others. I had suffered from writer's block this time as my excuse, didn't know hot to start off this chapter. Next: Jack and Bunnymund!
Hope you enjoyed it!
