God, I am such a liar!
I know, I know. Pool party was supposed to come next. But honestly, how could I NOT do a Christmas special?! For ROTG of all things! So here we go! The Christmas special! Next chapter I'll try and give an individual message to each and every one of my reviewers! YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!
And just to give you an idea of some of this, it is NOT based off of any of my other fics. Because there are some things that, if you try to make them linear, will NOT make sense! These are oneshots, people! That's just how it works!
Anyway, hope you like this! It's one of my longest ones yet. Almost 8,500 words! IT'S A LONG ONE, PEEPS! And as usual, a lot of Bunny and Jack family fluff! I love the slashes people, but I can never write them for this particular ship! I don't know, whenever I saw them, I saw two people who were really close as in a family kind of thing. Like a big brother, little brother kind of relationship! Too cute! But shippers keep on shipping! Just not something that you'll see in this fic!
And an extra thanks towards mjbaerman! Thanks for your awesome Beta skills! Everyone, check out her new fic! It's an amazing ROTG fic with tons of fluffy stuffs! I read it and loved it! It's called Shadowed Victory! READ IT!
Thanks again! And if you've got suggestions, leave 'em!
So far I've got Pool Party done, a fic about Jack and his aversion to touching people, and another one in the process about Jack getting hurt, as well as the end of Jumper in the process! So I'll have lots of room for more requests!
THINK PEOPLE! THINK!
Thanks so much and enjoy!
And Merry Christmas from a Jew/athiest! And possible deities' bless us, everyone!
o0o
Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.
-Andre Maurois
o0o
For as long as Jack could remember, and that was roughly three hundred years -his new memories were bits and pieces of seventeen years, and that was something he was still registering- he'd been on the naughty list. Not that he cared. Oh no. Not at all. Well... maybe a little. Wait! No! No, he couldn't have cared less...
Jack told himself all these things every year. "You're alone," he'd say, "just do what alone people do. Buy yourself a gift and move on." But he really couldn't move on. And he couldn't really buy anything for himself since he wasn't really visible and had no money. But it was the idea that counted. So every year, during Christmas, he would make snowmen. He always made three in total. He figured that four was an acceptable number of people for a family, a decent sized on at least. So he made three people and let them include him. It was always better, he decided, to be included rather than to include.
And so every Christmas he would sit around with his three snowpeople and just talk. He'd tell them everything, whisper it to the snow that he had made and then formed into shapes. They were never gender specific, snowpeople never were, but he sometimes, for some unknown reason, gave the smallest of the three long hair and a big smile.
"I'm on the naughty list," he'd tell them, almost proudly, "so I don't really get presents. Or friends. But that's ok." They would be silent. "I've been on the naughty list for three hundred years! Because a long time ago I tried to break into the big man's workshop. The big man is Santa, but his name is really North. Did you know that? That his name was North?" The never answered the question, so he just assumed that they didn't. "Well, it is. North, he's got this workshop that's filled with toys for all the kids of the world. Well... not all the kids. Hanukkah Harry works eight night shifts for some of the other kids. But a lot of the kids at least. But not me. Because I'm on the naughty list."
They neither scolded nor sympathized, just stared blankly with their acorn eyes.
"He's got friends. North, I mean. A lot of them. Or, at least I think that they're friends. See, he's a Guardian. That's someone who works all the time and does grownup stuff. Which I hate, by the way. And there are only four Guardians. But we don't really get along. Well... that's not true. Sandy's nice to me, but he's not around much. And Tooth is sometimes nice when she shows up, but it's mostly her little fairies that come around and they're okay, I guess." He'd always frown at the next part. "But the Easter Bunny doesn't like me much. His name is Bunny, I think. I mean, I guess he's got a longer name. They all do. But I just call him Bunny."
His frown would be set. "Did you know that he used to be my favorite? I mean, the guys' not scared of anything. At all. And I looked up to him for a while. But then... I dunno. I met him about fifty years after I first became... this," he gestured to himself, "and he just didn't really like me. And every time we meet... he just kinda hates me. He told me that I deserve to be on the naughty list."
The snowpeople never commented on that, either.
"And North, I tried to get him to like me too. But it never worked out. So now, I'm on the naughty list." His scowl would turn into a fake grin, though who he was faking he was never sure. "But that's okay. I'm okay with being on that list. I mean, I'm sure that I hold some sort of record for it by now. No kid can be a kid for three hundred years. And they have parents to straighten them out. I'm... alone. So that's better. That's a lot better." He'd always look at them at that point and give them a nod, "I'm not alone though. Because I have you! Right? And... I'm sure that I can give you gifts, but you don't have to give me anything. Okay?"
It was always around that point in the evening, the moon shining down on the four -three of them made of frozen water and various stones, sticks and sundry- when he'd look at what he was doing and finally realize what was going on.
He was alone.
He was alone and considered to be a nuisance. So much so that he was on a list for it. No one stopped to look at him and say, "why are you so bad?" and let him say, "because I have no one. Because I'm all alone. Because I crave attention. Because I need a friend."
And it was around that time that he destroyed the snowpeople, because he realized how sad his situation was. And after that he'd either run away, apologize to the useless piles or just cry. Some years he did all three. Destroying the only friends he had and then realizing they were nothing but snow made from his own hands -snow that couldn't talk or feel or move or smile- was depressing, and it always hit him hardest after that point.
He did care. He really, really did. And if someone could have gone down at that moment, anyone, even Bunny, and given him a hug, told him to change his ways and think, then he would. He'd change everything. Would the tricks stop? No. Would the mischief stop? Never. Would he ever change? Maybe. But he'd try. Give him one person to talk to and he'd try.
Or maybe just one present at Christmas to say that someone out there was thinking about him. Thinking about someone was better than not thinking about them at all. He wasn't even thought about.
But no present came and his name stayed glued to the top of the naughty list. So much so that after a while, North didn't even bother to check it. The kid couldn't change. Ever. So what did it matter? The others forgot about the winter sprite until he caused them some sort of distress. And when 1968 rolled around, the blizzard hitting Bunny hard, Jack's name had been circled in red pen, marking its permanent placement as number one on the naughty list.
No one stopped to look at it, or its owner.
"He got what e' d'served." Bunny waved a paw, absentmindedly. "Bloody ruined my 'oliday."
And everyone else, whether they agreed or not (and three out of four agreed) went along with it and said nothing. No one wondered what the teen was doing at that moment. If they had bothered to look they might have seen the boy sitting around with three snowpeople, offering them each a present made of ice, all he could offer, and smiling as if he truly wished for them to accept it. They would have seen the loneliness in his face, the slouch of his stance and the way that he acted as though he were lost in the middle of an endless nothing. And in some ways, he was. Even if there were others there, they never responded.
Who cared about an invisible boy whose name was a fixture on Santa's naughty list?
So year after year Jack continued his tradition. And year after year even the snowpeople seemed to realize how sad and lonely it was. And after a few more years, even they drifted away, until finally all Jack had was himself and himself alone. A few crumbled gifts in his hand laid out for someone, anyone, to take. Offering whatever he had to the world.
And even those, by morning, melted into the snow.
"Jack!" North's voice echoed through the hallways. "Jack, vhere are you!" He'd only been searching for a short while, but it was unlike the youngest of their clan to not respond. By now he would have been floating around North's face, giant smile flashing brightly.
"E's not here." Bunny didn't stray from the fire, but turned his head to look at North. Tooth and Sandy, both trying to catch elves who had stolen the cookie platter, paused for a moment to address Father Christmas.
"He said that he had work tonight!" Tooth flitted up and down, wings invisible by speed. "Going to be out for a while by the sound of it!"
Sandy nodded, displaying pictures above his head. First Jack, then his staff and then a few snowflakes falling down.
"Work? On Christmas Eve? Vhy?"
Bunny shrugged, "E's a winter spirit! Can't expect him ta' stay in by the fire, can ya'?" It was tradition, as long as they had all been Guardians, that the four of them got together on Christmas Eve. The other three would wait in Santoff Claussen until North returned on Christmas morning and then, if they were lucky and the elves hadn't done anything, they held a feast. They all exchanged presents, Bunny and North would bicker for a while and in the end everyone went home happy.
They had tried to explain this tradition to Jack, all of them (even Bunny) excited about a new member becoming part of their traditions. They had been equally disappointed when Jack hadn't jumped at the prospect of it all. In fact, he hadn't been at all as excited as they had expected. In some ways he had seemed almost... angry...
The anger was quickly covered when Jack perked up -an act, and they all knew it- and flashed his brightest (and fakest) smile. "That sounds great," he'd said. "I'll... see if I can make it."
"See if you can make it?" North had given him a look, one a father gives to his son after the sons says, fishing trip... well... if I'm not out partying and stuff... "Vhy not just make it!"
"Cause," and Jack had shrugged, "I have Christmas traditions too." He did.
And it had been left at that.
"Do you suppose 'e ees going to come?" North had seen the Spirit a few hours before, flitting in to tease Bunny momentarily and pat Baby Tooth on the head, and then he'd been gone. "E 'as to be here!"
"I dunno, mate?" Bunny shrugged, "I don't see why he wouldn't!"
"It is tradition!" Tooth yelled from her lunge at one of the little helpers.
"I mean, sure, he may not be receiving present but-"
"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Bunny, surprisingly, was the one to hold up his hands and approach the elderly man. "What d'ya mean, he might not be gettin' no present?"
North made a weeeelll kind of gesture, "'E ees on naughty list! I check eet this year! Twice!" He held up two beefy fingers for emphasis. "Still circled in red! Just like the year before. And year before dat!"
"You ain't serious!?"
"I am alvays serious, Bunny! I may be jolly, but always serious!"
"Oh that'd be right!" the Pooka threw his hands in the air, "He saved our lives!" Bunny was furious now, fast approaching the man who only stepped back twice, but it was enough for Bunny to see that he was intimidating him. "'E saved all our lives! And yer gonna act like a dill an' still keep 'im on the bloody naughty list!"
"... E ees seventeen..." now North was just searching for excuses.
"I don't care'f 'ees seventy years old! His name needs ta' get off the bloomin' list!"
"I cannot do, Bunny! I have not had proper time to assess...
"Assess what? Honestly! I'm stonkered! Mad as a bleedin' cut snake! You-" He rounded on North, pointing one finger at his beard, "are an arse! I ain't gonna think that tomorrow! But today, that's what ya' are."
"Bunny!" Tooth had joined in, abandoning the elf for a moment, Sandy close by. Sandy, unlike Tooth, also seemed to share the opinion of the anthropomorphic rabbit, something that looked like "#%^% !#" flashing over his head a few times as he scowled at the Guardian of Wonder.
"Vha! Sandy! You cannot agree!"
A thumbs up brought the man down a few inches off his pedestal.
"Ugh! You all are bratans you know dat? And you!" The look, what he gave Bunny, was an angry one, "You are bratchnie! I too weel not t'ink dat in morning, but until now-" and with that, North stormed off to be left to sulk.
Bunny glared at the spot where he had left for a bit longer, then followed, Tooth and Sandy watching with wary looks. There was no way he was letting the man drop the subject so quickly. No way on earth. "North!" The door swung open under his force.
"Go 'way!"
"No! I ain't goin' anywhere mate!" He hopped into the workshop where North was fiddling with one of his trains. "You know what I mean, and ya know it's right!"
North didn't look up.
"You've gotta give the kid a break! He's three hundred years old! I mean, sure, he can be a brat sometimes! An' the kid gets on my nerves! But he's tryin'. His efforts, they're dinki-di, North! He means it!" The man didn't respond and Bunny exhaled loudly. "D'ya know, last month, he offered ta help me, me, with my eggs. Came right down, 'e did, and said 'Bunny, I'll help ya with anythin' ya need!' 'E said that! And North, that's a bloody oath!" He hopped forward, "Ya want him ta be part'a this family-"
"More den any'ting!" It was the first time that the man had spoken, and when Bunny really looked there was a flush of shame crawling up his neck and out of his beard.
"Well, the kids makin' an effort. But mate, if ya don't take a fair suck of the sav, an just listen ta' him... I think... he's gonna leave North, if ya don't! He's good at leavin'. Next thing ya' know, he'll be flat chat or flat out. Ya know that?"
North nodded, "It's just... tradition..." The man looked at Bunny once more, fingers toying with the brand new train, "I am very bad a breaking, da?"
"Yea', you were always one ta like that stuff."
North sighed. "I vill consider changing list. Not saying yes, but..."
"Ok! That's good 'nuff fer now!" The rabbit raised his hands in surrender.
"And Bunny, I am sorry for-"
Bunny waved him off before he could continue. "It's fine, mate. We both said some stuff." Then he turned, hopping out.
"Vhere are you going?!"
Bunny turned, but opened up a hole in the floor nonetheless, "I'm gonna find that little ankle-biter. He says he has some kinda tradition too. And I figure if 'es anything like you, and he is, then tradition won't be an easy thing ta' break." He shook his head. "I'm just nervous."
"At vhat?"
"Don't wanna see what his tr'dition is, mate. Three hundred years alone," he shook his head, ears flopping, "... I'm just nervous, is all." And then he hopped down the rabbit hole.
Jack had made sure that he'd created a white Christmas. He'd gone as fast as he could and worked harder than he'd ever worked in his life. And by the end, almost every country had a light frosting of snow covering it. If the snow wouldn't stick either from heat or possibly too much water- he'd made sure that the snow didn't stop. At least for a while. And the places where snow was more of a seasonal thing were covered, houses weighed down with white roofs and transparent ornaments decorating the gutters.
He'd done it for the Guardians. Maybe they'd be proud of him this year. His very first Christmas as a Guardian was not something he wanted to mess up.
And then, after all this was over (and the process had taken a few good hours) he'd gone back to his lake. The moon was hovering high in the sky at that point, lunar lace tracing its way down the stars and reflecting off frozen waters. He stared at its image against the ice that covered the lake. And then his gaze drifted to that of his snowpeople. They were standing off of the bank, as silent as ever. His ever-quiet-family. It was strange. They were the ones who knew everything about him -hopes, fears, dreams- and came back every year at Christmas Time just to hear them all again. None of them -hopes, fears, dreams- ever really changed. They'd probably heard it all a hundred times. Three hundred, really. Same difference.
And he'd made them again. Like he did every year. The three of them staring at him with their acorn eyes, waiting for him to make the first move.
"Sorry I was late this year..." Jack moved his eyes back to the frozen lake. "I was busy."
Silence.
"I had to help some people this year. My family, I think." Blue eyes met acorns, "I have people this year. Kind of. They're... they're the Guardians. Do you know them?"
Silence.
"I guess you've heard of them. Everyone has... even if they don't know who they really are. Anyway, last year... I kinda helped them out. And now I'm with them. Except... I'm not. Does that make sense?"
Silence.
"It's Christmas. I know it's cheesy and commercial... but I always thought that when you had a family, you spent Christmas with them. And wore cheesy sweaters with little reindeer and snowflakes on them and then took a picture and sent it to a ton of people who threw it out anyway. Unless they keep it and hold it against you forever. I dunno..." He shrugged and wiped at his stinging eyes. "I checked the list again... North doesn't know that I did. But I did. Is that bad?"
Silence.
"Of course it is. You're right... but I guess that's why..." Again, another swipe at the eyes. "I was on the top of the list still. The naughty list. And I was... circled. In red. He just... he doesn't think..." He turned to the snowpeople and stared at them, trying to see if after three hundred years of listening, one of them would finally answer. "Can I change? Do you think he'd let me? Honestly. I want you to tell me right now. Can I change?"
"..."
Silence.
Jack sunk down further into the snow and held his staff harder in his hands. He felt something run down his face and he stubbornly scrubbed at it, forcing it to go away and leave him alone. He didn't need anyone. That was the point. He didn't care. He had never cared and he wouldn't care now. He'd treat that like any other Christmas and go along with it all. And then maybe after that, he'd go and spread more snow over the world. He'd avoid them all and in the end he'd say that he'd been doing his job. That was the excuse he'd use. And it was a perfect one to use over and over again. For the next three hundred years if he had to.
Looking next to him he saw the gifts he'd brought for the snowpeople. This year, though, they'd been joined with four other gifts. Ones that he'd had plans of giving to real people, who could take and accept gifts. People that he cared about. Tracing the lines on North's gift Jack wondered whether or not to just leave it out in the open. Like he did every year. Someone would find it.
Jack stood, three gifts in hand and faced the snowpeople, another one of his strained smiles on his face. "Merry Christmas..." voice hushed.
"Don't look very Merry ta' me."
Jack dropped the gifts in surprise, the three ice sculptures shattering at his feet and into the snow. He was on his knees in seconds, examining the shards numbly. "Shoot..." Behind him he could hear Bunny shift from foot to foot, but make no move to come forward. So instead he tried to connect the pieces of present together, ignoring the twisting in his stomach.
"Frostbite..." Bunny was hesitating. "What were those... and who are they?"
Jack didn't answer for a few seconds, still trying to fix the broken presents. Finally he gave up, wiping at his eyes and standing up, his hand curling around one of the broken presents. It had been a penguin. The smallest snowperson liked penguins. He focused on it instead of the Pooka.
"They're presents..." voice small, flat.
"Them?" A paw gestured to the three snowpeople and Jack glanced behind him, then back at the present, which he lifted in his hand for emphasis.
"No. These. But now they're broken..."
"So then who'r they?"
"They're..." how was he going to say it? What was he supposed to say? There really was no way of making anything he was about to tell Bunny sound good. So instead he stayed quiet, curling in on himself.
"Frosty?"
"They're my... family."
Bunny must have choked or something, judging by the sound that followed. Jack's head whipped up to look at the wide eyed Rabbit.
"Oh god..." he rubbed his temples with his paws, "I told North I'd hate to hear it. But... I really hate it now."
"What are you talking about?"
"Them!" Once more looking towards the three snowpeople. "They ain't family, Frosty!"
"Well... they're my Christmas family then."
"What's that even mean?"
Jack could feel the blush as his face heated itself up. Against his pale skin he was sure that it was evident. "I mean... I just..." he was stuttering, tongue tying itself up. "I dunno. They're tradition!" As if that would make sense. "You have traditions, right? Big sweaters? Food? Family? Bad pictures and stuff like that? Well... these guys are mine! Except they don't have big sweaters because they'd melt. And I can't knit. But if I could, they'd wear big sweaters too." He was rambling now, almost scared of the look that he'd get. "Do you wear big sweaters?"
Bunny stared at him for a good minute, a look of... something... on his features. Disbelief, sadness and maybe a little pity. Whatever it was, Jack didn't like it. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could he was interupted. "Sweaters? What's'ya... nevermin'! Doesn' matter! What matters is..." the rabbit was pushing past him in order to bend down and look the tallest snowperson in the eye. "You did this fer three hundred years!?"
"Yes! Can you- stop looking at them like that!"
"They don't got feelings, Jack. I'm gonna stare at 'em anyway I damn please."
"No!" He dropped the present, the penguin finally breaking into too many small shards to even see a penguin. He tugged at Bunny's elbow, dragging him away. "I don't want you near them!"
"Jack! What'r ya-"
"Just get away from em!"
Bunny finally was forced backwards, stumbling over his large feet, and his place was replaced by Jack. The young man brushed off the snowpeople, each one carefully. Smoothing out features and making sure they kept their original shape. The largest one was a little tilted, probably from the ground shaking when Bunny had hopped forward. But the other two had suffered no real damage, and he smiled, almost relieved.
"Snowflake?" He got no answer, so he tried again, "Frostbite!"
"What?"
"Who are they?"
"I told you. They're my-"
"No. I mean, who are they... really?"
Jack didn't look back, just brushed off the tallest one again. There was a sound from behind him, a light thump thump as large paws trudged through snow. And then he was being slowly led away from the three snowpeople, the acorn eyes staring holes into his back. None of them made any move to try and stop him from leaving. They just... let him get taken away. And something inside to Jack broke again. Three hundred years. Those three snowpeople knew more about him than anyone else. They'd known him for three hundred years, and they still didn't help him. They just stared at him. Acorn eyes always staring.
He was led a little ways off, but never away from the lake. Jack assumed it was for the comfort of the moon, making the water glow. It did help, if only a little, to calm his quickly splitting nerves.
Bunny sat him down on a rock facing the snow people, and then kneeled down, his tall form blocking them from sight. When the green eyes came into vision, Jack looked down.
"Frostbite?"
"What?" Stay calm. Stay cool. Snark, if needed. Do not lose cool. The creed continued in his head. He wished he could see his snowpeople.
"D'ya make those three blokes every year?"
"One of them's a girl." It was a stupid correction. But he felt the need to protect their dignity, even if they couldn't protect him.
Bunny sighed. "Fine. D'ya make them every year?" Jack nodded. "And'ya have christmas with them every year?" Another nod. "And I'm guessing that the stuff that broke-"
"Presents." Jack almost wanted Bunny to stop, so said what he had to before it came from the other's mouth. Hearing it all out loud was too much. There was a tickle behind his eye and vision clouded. God his life sucked. He was crying... again. Why was he crying so much? He hadn't cried in three hundred years. Why start now. He swiped at his eyes to try and dry them, but only succeeded in smearing ice over his cheek where it stuck like a speed skating track. "Every year... I give them presents..."
"Why?"
"..." Why did he do it? "Because," he was answering it for the first time, "that's what families do." He looked up at Bunny, "Right?"
Bunny looked taken aback. Motu opening and closing like a fish, trying to think of an answer. His eyes, flickering back and forth, larger than Jack had ever seen them. And guilt was clear in every feature that flashed itself across his face. Slowly, ever so slowly, the rabbit turned on his heel to stare at the snowpeople. Their acorn eyes looked him back in his green ones, forever emotionless. And the more they stared the worse he felt. The tilted snowperson was giving Bunny a lopsided grin.
It looked like some sort of family photo, an image stuck in time.
He turned back around to face Jack, mouth still hanging. "God..." that was all he could think to say. It must have been the wrong thing, because Jack's head flopped down. Shame. He was ashamed.
Unrightfully so.
Bunny should have been that one.
He stared at the snowpeople one last time. They were still staring at him. Somehow, with his deepest of imaginations, he could picture Jack, their Jack, his Frostbite, making those snowpeople every year. Giving them presents. And still, even after that, asking nothing in return. Not even for a real family. Just those same snowpeople, year after year.
The acorns stared.
Bunny sat down next to Jack, snow settling on the back of his legs, but he didn't mind. He just let his form slouch as he stared and stared at the snow beneath his feet. The frozen water that had no emotions or feelings or ability to love another person. Jack's family. He almost felt bad for stepping in it now, but shook that feeling away. It stayed.
Jack was still next to him, surprisingly. The boy was known for his hit and runs. Bolting, it always seemed, was his specialty. And now he sat there like he'd been deflated, head hanging, arms tucked around himself, knees drawn in tight. Sad, alone, taken away from everything he'd had... even those snowpeople who waited obediently for him every year without fail.
"God I'm awful."
Jack's eyes popped open and his head came up next, twisting to stare at the rabbit. Bunny's eyes were firmly fixed on the ground. "God... I'm just bloody awful."
"Wha- No! No you're not!" Jack wiped at his face, clearing all signs of sadness. Sure, Bunny was cranky sometimes. Most of the time, really. But awful? Never.
"Yea... I am." He sighed, his own form slowly deflating. "I left ya'lone. For three hundred years, I left ya'lone."
"You didn't-"
"I did." Jack clamped his mouth shut. Bunny's voice was deadly serious, like he knew exactly what he was saying. "I could've done somethin' and I didn't. Three hundred bloody years. And look where that's left ya'." A weak paw gestured to the acorn eyes, still staring. "With that for a family." Bunny cursed under his breath, his paw running over his ears, now flat against the back of his head. "I'm sorry, Frostbite."
There was more silence. Jack pushed the snow around with his foot, glaring at the snow, determined to find a way to pick up his friend. "Well... I kinda did deserve it."
"No!" Bunny was once again in front of him, faster than Jack could have forseen, "No! Don't ya ever say that!"
"But you-"
"I don't care what I said! Ever! What I said was... wrong. Just... bloody wrong." His eyes shut tightly for a moment, head shaking, "I was aggro with ya'! That's all! All it ever was! But never- i shouldn' 'ave..."
"Bunny... it's okay-"
"No it's not! Jus' belt up, Jack! It ain't okay!" Bunny was up on his feet now, pacing, feet frozen and numb. "Jack! Yer makin' snow families! Ya think that tellin' me it's alright will make it all fine and dandy! Bob's yer uncle an' all that! But it won't! Yer makin' bloody snow families, Jack!"
The height, the yelling, the use of his name, all too much for today. He'd been here to do one simple thing. Give presents to his family. Tradition. Do what he did every year. Stare at blank eyes and feel like they could, maybe, see him. Inclusion. Acceptance. Something.
"I'm... sorry..." he shifted back, almost frightened.
"Gah! Don't say that! I could just... I will job ya if ya say that again!" And by the way his fists were flying above his head, it almost seemed like he meant it. "You've got a- a... snow fam'ly!"
Jack was glaring at the ground again. "They were all I had..."
"Ya don't think I know that!?"
"... No one else wants me."
Bunny stopped his rant, turning to look down at the winter Guardian. Chest heaving from shouting, ears quivering in anger, paws clenched into fists.. Anger that he could feel towards no one but himself.
"Wanted."
Jack's gaze once again found his way to Bunny. And it followed him as he once more sat beside the Guardian of Fun. "Wanted," Bunny repeated. "But now... want."
"Want..." the word was choked out. A long pause followed. "I had to make them... th-the snowpeople. They... they w-were there for m-me... every y-year... so I... I owed th-them that m-much. I g-guess." Jack stared at the acorn eyes. They stared back. Still emotionless. Still stagnate in form. Unchanging. He was learning to hate that. Unchanging. Look where it got him- still giving presents to snow people. "I didn't f-feel invisible. S-so I g-gave them presents. I didn't g-get any anyway..."
There was another pregnant pause. And then Jack felt a warm arm guide itself around his shoulder, and he was pulled gently onto his friends side. "That wasn' fair." Bunny's paw gently rubbed Jack's arm, a comforting motion, "wasn' fair at'all." Pulled him closer. "I am so sorry, Jack."
Maybe it was the statement, or maybe it was just that Bunny was using his name, for the first time, in something other than endearment, but that was all Jack could hardly. Burying his face into the fur near Bunny's chest, he allowed himself to finally be enveloped in the hug that the snowpeople had never been able to give. Three hundred years, and no one had ever reached out and hugged him. Not once.
And now here was Bunny, pulling Jack close and hugging him.
And it was honestly just what Jack needed.
He apologized a few times, muffling through a stuffy nose, for making Bunny's fur wet or that maybe he was too cold. And that just left him feeling the vibrations as Bunny laughed, ruffling his hair slightly. And they stayed like that for a little while. The two of them. Jack underneath Bunny's arm, paw moving up and down his sleeve.
"I got you a Christmas present..." The words came much later, and were said in the smallest of voices. Bunny almost jumped, but chuckled instead.
"Ya didn' have ta'."
"I did." Face revealed, a pink nose and clear eyes, "I did."
"Well yer nice."
Jack's turn to chuckle, "Can I give it to you?"
"You wanna wait till we get back?" Jack shook his head. More personal if they were alone. "Right then, off ya pop."
He had forgotten his staff near the snowpeople, so opted for running through the mess of slush until he reached the present pile. Three of them shattered already, but they hadn't been made for anyone really. Traditional, he thought. Staring at the pile of translucent figurines he plucked one from the stash, only stopping once more to pick up his staff.
The wind picked him up easily and he landed a few feet in front of Bunny, arm extended. "Here."
"What is it?"
"Ya gotta take it!"
He dropped it into the waiting palm and stepped back a few paces, nervous. "Well?" Silence. Jack shifted, nervous now, "I know it's not much, but-"
"Frostbite?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut yer gob, will ya?" The rabbit waited a moment, and when he heard nothing he examined the present closer. An ice figuring, so intricately carved, it would seem almost impossible to create. But somehow, it had been created. An egg, about the size of his own palm. The designs swirled around it, all of them bits and pieces of his past, present, future. A warren, flowers, butterfly wings -he suspected that was for Sophie- a golem face (one happy, one angry), the number 68 (he chuckled at that one), boomerangs, a silhouette of Australia, a kangaroo (that actually had him snorting), and last but not least, them. Five faces, cutouts of their shapes, decorated the center. North in the center and the rest of them following.
He didn't miss how Jack had placed himself next to him.
"It won't melt!" Jack blurted out. "Phil helped me with that! I asked him last time I was in North's workshop. So... you can take it into the warren an' nothing will happen to it." More silence followed. "Do... do you like it."
He guessed it was a yes when Bunny stood and hugged him again. "I love it, Frostbite." Jack stood for a moment, paralyzed. Then he relaxed and melted, arms responding. "Love it." The hug ended, tall from crouching, "an... I kinda got ya a gift too." Reaching behind him he pulled out an egg. "One'a my best googies, if I do say so m'self. Won't spoil either." He tossed it and Jack caught it easily. Turning it around and around in his hand. Light blue with snow designs, each one different. Patterns etching their way around the smooth surface of the shell.
"Wow..."
"I'm takin' that as a good sign, mate."
Jack bobbed his head. "It is..."
"Good." Bunny retreated a bit, tapping on the ground and opening a tunnel. "Now, c'mon. Back home. We're gonna get you a propper Christmas. No more'a this snowman stuff."Returning to Jack's side for a moment, he gave him a sort of one-armed hug. "It's about time ya' were part'a a real family."
Jack tore away, but only to look behind him at the acorn eyes, waiting for them to do anything. Maybe say something.
"No," the tallest would say, "don't leave! You have us! You're family!"
"Yeah!" The middle one would smile wider, "Three hundred years, we've been with you now. You owe us this much."
"Stay!" The smallest eyes would finally glitter with emotion, "stay with us, Jack! We're your family! All you have!"
But they didn't say that. They just stared at him with their acorn eyes and stayed where they were.
"Give me a minute." Jack strode towards them, eyes fixated on the acorn eyes. Bunnymund didn't try to stop him, just let him do what he had to. Jack continued forward, but stopped a few feet away. Instead he bent down and scooped up his other gifts. Then, with one last look at the snowpeople, Jack turned and hopped down the rabbit hole, saving one last look at Bunny.
"Will I have to wear a big sweater?"
"Wha' is it with you an-?"
"Nevermind."
And both Guardians were gone.
North had reached Santoff Claussen in record time, parking in the garage and toting his empty gift bag behind him.
"Ve are finished!" He was met with hearty applause from the elves and yeti's, the Guardian's assembling by the globe to offer their own happy faces to the lot. "Record time!"
"Congradulations, North!" Tooth flew forward, twittering, "Another successful Christmas?"
"Most definitely! And is Jack-" He looked around and saw the Guardian, standing by Bunny almost timidly. "Jack!" The large man practically skipped forward, enveloping the skinny teen in a spine cracking hug. "So glad you came, kalanchá! Thought we would be celebrating wit'out you!"
"Y-yeah!" he weezed, attempting to pat the mans shoulder, but failing from his position. "S-so did I!"
"A'ight North, but the buy down 'fore ya suffocate 'im." Jack was dropped to the floor, catching his breath.
"Th-thanks!"
"Come, Jack!" He didn't even have time to stand before he was being dragged again, this time down to the library. "Ve continue tradition, da?"
"Yeah, sure…" he looked to his side to see Sandy floating happily next to him. "Whats the tradition?"
The images depicted next were little help at the time. A mug, a present, a sleeping bag, cookies, some sort of turkey… maybe?
"Umm…" It was all Jack could say before he was pushed into the library and left to see what was around him.
The tree was magnificent. That was all he really saw. Not the garlands on the door, or the wreathes, or any other part of the decked out room. Just the tree in the center, staring down at him from the unimaginable height. Tinsel and ornaments and small traditional candles. He hardly even noticed the small pile of presents on the bottom. Just took in the entire room.
"Yet's good decorators, no?"
Jack finally breathed. "It's amazing!"
"Good!" North was at his side, patting him on the back and almost bowling the boy over in the process. "Now! Go find your present under tree! I go get hot chocolate."
"Can you make mine cold chocolate, I cant really drink- wait, what?"
North's finger was pointing towards the tree. "Find present! Tag will say Jack on eet! Ees tradition, no?"
"I- I don't remember." He looked behind North towards the three other three Guardians, all looking at him encouragingly. "I don't know…" His hand reached into the pocket of and touched the Easter egg. "I don't remember…"
"Vell den, go and try to make new tradition!"
Jack nodded, but didn't do anything. He just stared at the pile of presents.
"Mate?"
"I'm going." And he did, tiptoeing forward toward the tree. It was easy to find his own presents, three in total, wrapped in green shiny wrapping. "Can I…"
"Just open them!" Tooth was about to burst with excitement. "Come on!"
Jack nodded, picking up one of them. "This one?"
"That one's mine!" Tooth was at his side, and soon all the others too. Bunny's hands on his shoulders, pushing him down to the floor where he sat. All of them followed suit around him, sitting in a circle and watching expectantly. He stared at them, fingers fiddling with the paper. "Open it!"
Eyes drifted down to the wrapping, fiddling some more. He honestly had no idea of what to do with it. His first Christmas present in three hundred years. What was he supposed to do. Following Tooth's directions he slowly tore at the present, corner by corner, careful not to rip any of the paper itself.
What he revealed was a long box. Gold. His face, brown hair and eyes. "It's for when you're ready," Tooth cautioned, "and only when you're ready!"
Jack's throat was once more constricted, so he just nodded." Another package was once more thrown into his lap, soft. Looking up, Sandy was crossing his arms. "Thanks." Opening it he found himself holding… "shoes?"
Sandy looked angry and pointed protectively at bare feet and Jack laughed.
"Will do, Sandman."
Placing the shoes to the side he reached for the last one, almost afraid. Fingers hesitated, barely grazing the paper.
"Jack!" He jumped, North back behind him. How such a large man was so quiet, he'd never know. But there he was, with a pencil in hand. "Open present now!"
"But… I'm on the-"
"Naughty list? Yes. You are. But open present now! Ess Bunny's idea!"
"Whoa… what was, mate?"
"Just open!"
The package was torn open after that. And a large book sat in his lap. The words List inscribed in the front.
"Is this…?" A large hand was in his vision, and soon the book was flipped open.
His name flashed at him.
1. Jack Frost
Circled in the red mark.
"An' here ees present!" The pencil shoved into his hand. "Go on! Erase name!"
"Wha-"
"You write name into nice list."
Jack stared at the pencil. And then at North, smiling kindly down at them. Bunny shrugging his shoulders,
"Wasn' my idea, mate."
Tooth waiting expectantly. Sandy clapping silently.
Jack's hand traced his name. Vision shaky. Heart pounding. The pencil shivered in his grip. "… Really?"
"Go on!"
The pencil was down on the paper in a second, the red marks and the letters were gone in less time than that, the only trace of them being small shavings of pink. And the book was once more flipped to the nice list.
J-A-C-K
Every letter was almost an adrenaline rush in itself.
F-R-O-S-T
Staring down at his name, messy handwriting varying from North's loopy scrawl.
"Look at that!" Bunny leaned over, smiling almost proudly down at the words. "You made it!" A curt nod. "Y'deserved it."
"You think?"
"Absolutely! Da! Da!" North took the book from his lap, slamming it closed. "But spot can change. Must work on keeping your place."
Jack was on his feet in an instant. "I will! I swear!"
"I know you vill." The look North gave him was a fond one. "Now! You stay here, correct? No tradition that must be kept?"
"Not anymore. Bunny kinda... talked me out of it."
"Good! Now you have new traditions! With family!"
Family.
Jack looked over the room, the four guardians in turn looking back at him. Family. They weren't snowpeople. There was no trace of an acorn eye in sight, and all of their emotions were clear on their faces.
Love, regret, happiness, joy, awe...
Snowpeople had never looked at him like that...
"Yeah... family." His eyes lit up. "I forgot! I got presents for you!" Before any one of them could comment he was off in a flash, zipping to find the small pile he had constructed.
Later that night, after the first real meal Jack had eaten in three centuries, and after the hot cocoa had been drained and the presents Jack had brought were 'oohed' and 'aahed' over, they were all situated in the library, blankets in hand and sitting in a circle. North entertained them with stories of past Christmas adventures, and Jack listened on with wide eyes.
Once in awhile North would look towards Jack and say, "remember dat?". He always did. He'd been there, making the snow fall.
And then, all of them tired, and dream sand heavy in the room, their forms were flopped down in the room. Fire crackling, smell of eggnog and roast turkey still thick in the air. It was the most comforted Jack had ever felt in his life. Sandy and Tooth sitting next to one another on the carpet, North in one of the larger red chairs he'd pulled from his workspace, Jack and Bunny sitting next to each other on the small sofa. Well... Bunny had sat there. Jack had just waited to see where he'd go and then settled next to him.
More stories were shared, more tales swapped, and by the end all five of them decided to turn in. Or at least, Sandy determined when that would happen. Against their pleas for 'five more minutes' he waggled a finger and dusted a fine sprinkle of gold sand over the room. Tooth was out like a light, North quickly following -head leaned back and snores emanating loudly- Bunny beginning to drift off. Jack fought it, though. He was good at that sort of thing, fighting sleep. So instead he just moved closer to his friends side, and was pleased when Bunny -almost instinctively- wrapped an arm around the Winter Guardian and pulled him closer.
Jack made himself comfortable, and leaned into his friends side. For a while he just listened to the sounds around him. Waited for the sand to take effect.
"Hey Bunny?"
"Mmm?" Arm swung over his eyes, and the sound that came out was little more than a mumble.
"Thanks. So much." His hair was promptly ruffled, a smile set on his face.
"Yer my fm'ly now..." Bunny yawned and cracked open one emerald eye, "I'm s'possed to look out fer ya..."
"Well... you're doing a good job."
"I'm trying, Frostbite."
Elves scampering down halls, the sound of bells sweet and melodious next to the whistling of wind that tapped on the windows.
"Hey Bunny?"
"... yeh..."
"I know you don't like Christmas much... But Merry Christmas."
A pause. For a minute, Jack thought his friend asleep. But said friend stirred, pulling Jack even closer and smoothing down the unruly locks. "Ya know what... I think I'm starting ta like Christmas." A smile. "Merry Christmas, Jack. An' next time, don't go spendin' it with no snowpeople. They've got Frosty ta' entertain' 'em. You h'wever, have priorities."
"Got it."
"Now go ta' sleep, ya biter. 'For I get Sandy ta' come over here an' slap ya'."
So Jack settled next to his friend, finally forcing his eyes closed.
Fire crackled.
Eggnog drifted through from the kitchen.
Smells of North's Russian whiskey, herbs from turkey, woodsmoke.
Sound of Bunny's breathing rumbling against his ear, wind whistling to him go to sleep.
Family lying together in a library.
Jack was sure that somewhere out in the world, three snowpeople sat alone by a lake. And for a moment, he felt bad. But one peek at the room around him had that feeling running for the hills. He had family.
Naughty or nice, good or bad, no matter what list his name ended up on, he'd never spend Christmas alone again.
More importantly, he'd never, ever, have to live life alone.
They'd make sure of that. Or at least, Bunny would.
And that's it, people! New updates coming possibly tomorow! I've also got the next two ready for after that! So expect some more stuff coming!
