For the second time in as many days Jack found himself on the Wind heading for the North Pole.
It was a strange feeling, to know that (for now, at least) he'd be welcomed inside the shielded precincts of the North Pole.
He swooped in and through the open skylight, noting in passing the group of yeti doing something to the side of the main building. He floated over the globe, watching the flurry of activity on all the layers of the Pole's hub in fascination.
There was a call from the top floor, and Jack glanced over to see Phil waving at him. A little hesitantly he dropped down to the floor in front of Phil.
Phil had been welcoming before, but as much of a game over the years keeping Jack out of the Pole had turned into, it had still been Phil's job to keep Jack out.
Instead of the scolding Jack still half expected, Phil beamed as Jack landed. He grunted out something in yeti, clapping Jack on the shoulder and gesturing for him to follow.
Jack was fairly sure it had been another welcome and being told North was waiting to talk to him, so he followed along, accepting with surprise and a thrill when Phil snatched up a cup of cocoa on the way through the Pole as they traveled down corridors Jack had never seen before, passing the cup back to Jack.
Jack hid his grin in the cup, sipping cautiously. Just like with Bunny's salad, the taste was much more intense than it had been the last time he'd tasted food at the Pole, and even if it did threaten to scald his tongue it was worth it.
He wondered, more than a bit, what it meant that he suddenly wanted – and tasted, properly tasted – food, so much more than before, like his mouth and stomach had suddenly woken.
The thought was driven from his head as Phil ushered Jack into a room deep inside the Pole, one like the workshop he and North had spoken in (had it really only been a few days ago? It felt more like months...) only even more crowded with projects.
Scrolls and books covered nearly every flat surface that wasn't already covered with bits and bobs of projects, things that sparked and glowed, floated in midair or were in a million tiny, tiny pieces.
North, who'd been bent over a large book at the other end of the room (and Jack had a suspicion it was the same book he'd read the Guardian oath from), looked up and grinned when the pair entered and he saw Jack's wonder at the new room.
"You like?" he asked, even as he strode towards them with that grin firmly in place, arms wide. "Phil, my thanks."
Phil grunted something incomprehensible at North before giving Jack's hair a quick ruffle and leaving.
Jack was shocked still for a few moments after the brief contact, too shocked to even lean into it before it was gone.
He cleared his throat and blinked rapidly, hoping North hadn't seen his reaction to that careless pat. North was still beaming at him, hands now planted firmly on hips, waiting for Jack's reaction.
"I thought you showed me your workshop earlier," Jack said, starting to walk through the cluttered room.
North waved an expressive hand. "Is other workshop. First workshop, is for ice models, new toys and ideas. This, this is magic. You would like to learn more, someday, perhaps? Is helpful."
Jack's hand slipped into the pocket of his hoodie, feeling some of the things he kept there for emergencies, and he smiled, still turned away from North and looking at a delicate looking creation of wire and crystal. "Maybe," he answered. "Could be fun."
North's smile grew softer at those words, and he laid a huge hand on Jack's shoulder, noting but ignoring, for now, the way Jack went stiff for a split second before almost leaning into the touch. "Come, wished to speak with you. Is much to tell you, now that you are Guardian!"
With that, he steered Jack out of the second workroom, down the hall farther into the living area of the Pole, to one of the sitting rooms that had been built for the many informal gatherings they'd used to have at the spur of the moment.
North dropped into his armchair, already mentally sketching out designs for Jack's chair. It would probably be easier than Tooth's or Bunny's...the thought promptly derailed as Jack perched on the back of a chair instead of sitting in it properly.
Now whether that was because Jack hadn't had a proper chair to sit in for centuries or just because he could, and it might irritate North, he wasn't sure. But North was amused by it, even as he debated if he should make a proper chair or one that was easy to sit in unconventionally.
Firmly setting his thoughts back on their original track, North leaned back in his chair, watching Jack settle himself on top of the chair. Really, it was amazing how the young man did that, balancing on the balls of his feet with toes gripping for stability.
Jack shifted, glancing at North out of the corner of his eye, a little shy now. "So...what was it you wanted to talk about? I thought you guys only got together when there was trouble..."
"Was not always so," North said sadly. "Got too caught up in jobs, drifted apart. Now we have second chance," he finished, beaming again. "But yes, wanted to talk. About everything. We all know so little about you, and you us. So. You know your center now, but what is it you do, Jack Frost?"
A few days ago Jack would have brushed his question off with something flippant, but North was leaning forward, arms resting on his legs, eyes intent on Jack and honestly interested, waiting eagerly for his answer. Having that much attention directed at him was...intimidating, but a nice change.
"Well, um..." he said, scratching at the back of his head. North grinned like a kid on Christmas morning, scooting his chair forward a little. "Well, I don't do that much really. I mean, a lot of it would happen without me, just not as nice I guess. I...I change the leaves on the trees, and frost things – you know, so they get ripe? So I guess I bring autumn? And I do the frost on windows and control storms a bit. I bring snow days and try to get kids to have fun in the snow. Sometimes I can lead them back if they get lost in it. I mean, it's not much compared to what you guys do..." he said awkwardly. No one, in the three hundred years he'd been Jack Frost, had ever asked him just what it was he did.
"Not much?" North exclaimed, sitting back in his chair and clapping huge hands on his thighs. "Always gave impression you didn't have job before. 'Snowballs and fun times' you called it. I think you are leaving out much of what you really do. Already we are learning about each other," he finished joyfully.
Jack shrugged, grinning sheepishly. He just...didn't think of what he did much of the time. It was what he did, when it was time, and he got it done while having fun. Maybe that was why no one believed he actually worked – he was enjoying himself too much.
But why not try and make it fun if he had a choice?
Still...it was nice to hear someone not dismissing him for once.
"What will you do now?" North was asking, and Jack tore himself from his thoughts to try and answer.
"Well...Winter's coming on in the southern hemisphere, but...they really don't need me, like the north does. Usually I try to hang around places that are supposed to get snow year round after spring hits. That or try and hibernate if I can. Everyone's ready to see the back of me by then anyway, it's not like I have anything better to do." He left off how unwanted he usually felt by that point, figuring there was no point in getting pity he didn't want.
There was a few seconds of awkward silence before North smacked his fist into his palm, making Jack jump. "Well! Cannot change past. But Pole is open to you now. Is magic to learn, people to talk to. Would like tour now?"
Part of Jack wanted to leap on it. They'd realize just who they'd invited in soon enough and come to their senses, and he wanted as much of it as he could get before they did. But...
"I'd love to, but I was helping Bunny, and I'm kinda worn out," he said, surprised it was true. He hadn't really felt sleepy in...well, since he was human. He'd go until he passed out, curling up down in his den or somewhere safe if he didn't make it, but today...
He was surprised at how disappointed North looked. "Perhaps next week, after meeting?" the older spirit suggested hopefully. "You will come, yes?"
"If you remember to send that yeti, and no sacks," Jack said, pointing at North, playfully threatening. "Otherwise I'll probably miss it just from not knowing what day it is. Will they be able to find me?" he asked, suddenly worried. He didn't stay in one place long, save when he was tired or the few times he'd given in and hibernated, and he wasn't ready to show the other Guardians his den just yet.
But North was nodding. "You are Guardian now, so can track to a point, if willing to be tracked. Have had...reason to make spells so can track each other," he said, darkness passing over his expression, and Jack decided now wasn't a good time to ask.
"Well, okay then," he said instead, and North smiled, the moment passing. "Send me the heads up and I'll be here. It's a little late in the season for me, I usually get a nap around now," he said, lifting off the back of the chair and giving a stretch. "I was just getting one last go in beforehand. See ya next week, then, North," he finished with a wave, amazed he could say the words.
He had a feeling there was more North wanted to talk about, but as much as he wanted the companionship, it was more than Jack could handle right now. After going so long with only passing conversations with other spirits, a few hours at a time at most, all this interaction was exhausting.
Jack landed on the cliff by his lake and swung down into the well hidden cave on its face, hanging his staff on the hook he'd carved for it before he flopped into his 'bed'.
Without really thinking about it, his eyes traveled over his 'den'. There was the table he'd made with scrap wood, and it made sense now that he'd been able to work the wood so easily now that he remembered his human life and the muscle memory that transcended mental memory.
The chair that was a bit wobbly (it was a first project, and by the time he'd made it he was more used to perching on his staff anyway, so it didn't really matter), the shelf and cupboard with the few material possessions he had (like the yarn from abandoned sweaters, and the knitting needles, the few books and odds and ends that he somehow managed to accumulate), and the bed he was lying in, made up of pillows and soft things and covered with blankets he'd found or made from the yarn he scavenged.
He was used to it, the bare simplicity of it (that was probably because he didn't have enough things to be messy, but it was hard to tell if that was why he kept it so neat without being able to check) but after seeing what the other Guardians had, how they lived...his little hole couldn't even begin to compare.
At least it was clean. No matter what else he did, Jack couldn't stand to have his den dirty. A little messy or cluttered, sure, but the surfaces all gleamed, you could eat your dinner off his floor (carefully laid with stone and scrubbed to a sparkle) if you were so inclined, and he kept them that way.
Did he have to try and make something like the other Guardian's homes now? True, there was the ice castle he'd made in Antarctica, mostly to see if he could, but...it wasn't meant to live in. He couldn't invite someone like Bunny or Tooth to visit there – they'd freeze to death in minutes, if he wasn't lucky enough for their immortality to help them.
Maybe he could ask North for help...if he ever felt ready to show them the castle. If he was able to stick around long enough. Ugh. Something. He was too tired for this. Groaning, he buried his head in the blankets and resolved to think about it later. Too much had happened these last few days to sort it all out at once.