Child of Cold and Dark
Ch 8: First Christmas
[Pitch is going to kill me!]
Jack threw open the next door and groaned. Empty. Down the hall, the frost spirit could hear the regular hustle and bustle of the yetis cleaning up the workshop. North was still out making his rounds and the others hadn't arrived yet. Without thinking, Jack took a sharp left and crashed into a wall of fur.
Caught off balance, the pooka landed on the ground, his arms instinctively holding the younger Guardian close to keep him from getting hurt.
'Bunny! Thank goodness, you're here!' the white-haired youth leaped up and pulled the rabbit to his feet.
'What's wrong, mate? Did something happen?' Bunny immediately ran his eyes over the young man for injuries.
'I lost Severus,' Jack blurted out.
'He's here already?' the pooka's head cocked to the side curiously as the smaller Guardian began to pace back and forth in front of him.
'Pitch dropped him off a little while ago. I was giving him the tour and he just vanished!' Jack gestured wildly.
'Where did you last see him?' Bunny asked, grabbing the younger man by the shoulders to stop his erratic movements.
'I don't remember,' the winter spirit admitted aloud, shoulders slumping.
'Don't worry, mate. We'll find the little ankle-biter,' Bunny tapped his friend under the chin and gave him a wide, reassuring smile once their eyes met. The pooka could see the worry giving way to trust as the younger man smiled back at him.
Bunny forced himself not to flinch in shock as Jack suddenly wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. 'Thanks, Bunny. You're the best.' The rabbit wanted the moment to last forever... but they had a little boy to find.
North stared wide-eyed at the chaos spreading through his workshop. Yetis, elves, Guardians... all racing around in a panic.
'Sandy, what is happening?'
The golden man paused, hovering in the air an arms-length away. Magical sand formed into a human-like shape, then a question mark, before he flew off. Thankfully, Tooth spotted him next and swooped down to attempt to explain... once he calmed her down.
'Severus is missing. This is not good,' North stroked his beard, heading up the stairs to the globe room.
It took at least half an hour to get the yetis, elves, and other Guardians settled to plan a proper search party. North had just finished dividing everyone into groups, when black sand swept into the room and formed into the tall, foreboding form of Pitch Black.
Bunny quickly pushed Jack behind him, a movement that did not escape the Nightmare King's gaze.
'One last thing, Jack. Severus is very quiet, so if he manages to wander off, you might want to check the library,' Pitch smirked, clearly amused.
'And you didn't think to tell him this sooner?' Bunny snapped, ears drawing back as he glared at the dark spirit.
'My apologies. It must have slipped my mind,' Pitch bowed mockingly, sharp teeth flashing.
'No harm done. Come, I have idea of where boy could be hiding,' North laughed, gesturing for the Guardians and Pitch to follow him.
Bookshelves lined the large study, easily hiding the presence of the small boy who had made himself at home on the window-ledge at the far end of the room. A giant book sat in his lap, holding his complete attention.
Pitch slipped past the group, gently touching the young spirit's shoulder. Dark eyes rose to look up at him.
'Father?'
'Severus... Jack has been looking for you,' the nightmare bringer commented, gesturing toward the group that was now crowded into the room.
'Hey, Severus. I... um... Next time, don't run off like that. Alright?' Jack was unsure of what to say, but he made an attempt to reconcile with the boy.
'I didn't run, I walked,' the boy answered.
'Severus, Jack is your other parent. You will treat him with the same respect you give to me. Tell him when you are going off on your own, so that he does not need to search for you,' Pitch commanded, giving his son's shoulder a squeeze.
'I will,' the boy promised, closing the book and setting it to the side.
'Good boy. I will return in a few days to pick you up. Behave yourself,' Pitch swept out of the room without another word.
The group stood silently, waiting for someone to make a move. Jack held out his hand and waited for Severus to take it. Smiling down at the smaller boy, he led him out of the study.
After that point, Christmas day seemed to pass in a blur. Naturally, North had to show off his sleight, which led to visiting the Tooth Palace. Jack found himself rescuing his son from being swarmed by excited little fairies who were eager to greet their new arrival.
Then back through the portal to the North Pole. Pulling the boy to his feet, Jack soon found that Severus was a much smoother flier than he could ever be. He was a natural at flowing with the wind, despite needing a nudge when it came to actually doing tricks in the air.
Later, an attempted snowball fight ended quickly, as Severus seemed disinclined to join in the fun. Making a snowman was easier, as the boy informed them that he'd made one with his friend Lily once.
'You have a human friend already?' Jack had asked, remembering how it had taken 300 years for someone to finally see him.
'Mm hmm. She's a special human. She doesn't try to adopt me though, like other special humans do. Father said it's because she's just a kid,' Severus had answered, handing the white-haired youth a carrot from the pile of veggies the elves were making at his feet.
Jack hadn't known quite what to make of it, so he promised himself that he'd ask Pitch about it later.
It was late in the evening when North and Jack were finally able to sneak away from the rest of the group, who were relaxing in front of the fireplace in the main room.
'I'm not sure if this is working out, North. I'm having a hard time bonding with him... He's my son, but I don't think we have anything in common,' Jack huddled on the window-ledge, staring out at the snow for comfort.
'Give it time, Jack. It takes more than day to get to know someone,' North insisted, standing next to the young Guardian who had become like a son to him.
'It's like he doesn't know how to have fun,' Jack whispered, touching a finger to the window. Frost danced up the glass in beautiful curves of white.
'He knows, Jack. Is just not the same fun as you are used to. Now, we should rejoin group,' North insisted, guiding the shorter man to the door. Pausing, the Guardian of Wonder scratched his beard and wondered aloud, 'I feel as though I am forgetting something...'
Sandy and Tooth had said their goodbyes while North and Jack were away, as they needed to return to their regular duties. Severus had allowed a hug from both of them, though he seemed uncertain about returning it.
Bunny found himself with the job of entertaining the little ankle-biter, but Severus seemed content to make himself at home in the chair farthest from the fire, one of North's books propped open in his lap. The silence loomed between them, prompting the pooka to fish out one of his eggs to paint while he waited for Jack and North to return.
'Can I try what you're doing?'
The Guardian of Hope nearly dropped his paintbrush at the sudden question. Looking up, he found the little boy standing next to him, dark eyes focused on the egg in his paws.
'Sure, kiddo. Have you ever painted an Easter egg before?' Bunny asked, pulling out another paintbrush.
'I've read about it,' Severus answered. An uncertain glance at the fire caught the pooka's attention.
'It's a little hot over here. Why don't we move to the couch over there instead,' Bunny suggested, leading the winter spirit across the room.
'How do I make the colors work?' the boy asked, taking a seat next to the rabbit on the couch.
'These are special paintbrushes. Just think of a color and the brush will produce it for you,' Bunny instructed, watching the pale-skinned child sweep the brush over the egg, leaving a reddish-orange stripe on the creamy surface.
'Hmmm... interesting color. A bit Christmasy,' the pooka commented, resisting the urge to ask the boy to choose a lighter, more Eastery, color.
'It's the color of Lily's hair,' Severus explained, painting another slash of color across the egg.
'Like this Lily a lot, do you?' Bunny asked, curious for an answer.
'She's okay. For a human girl. She visits my tree sometimes and we play at the park.' Dark eyes didn't raise from the egg as the boy continued to paint it. The Easter Bunny found himself quite impressed by the amount of focus Severus had while painting. He definitely didn't get it from Jack.
That was how North and Jack found them. Bunny and Severus, sitting side-by-side, on the little couch at the far end of the room. The rabbit was cooing (though he'd never admit it) over the phoenix-colored egg the little boy had painted.
Ignoring the pile of gifts in North's arms, Severus made his way directly to Jack, presenting his egg with a soft smile. 'Look, I painted an Easter egg.'
'It's very nice, Severus,' the frost spirit ruffled his son's hair, resisting the urge to press a kiss to his forehead.
'It's not as good as Bunny's egg though,' the dark-haired boy admitted, looking over his shoulder at the pooka.
'Not to worry, mate. It's a very good egg for your first time,' Bunny assured him, tucking his paintbrushes and eggs away.
'Did you want it back,' Severus strode across the room and held out the egg to the rabbit.
'You keep it,' Bunny insisted fondly.
'Ok...' Severus glanced around the room, clearly looking for a place to set his treasure so that it wouldn't get damaged. The pooka plucked one of the scarlet cushions from the couch and hopped over to the table. Together, they arranged the little egg so that it rested, safe and sound, in the center of the cushion.
The sight made Jack and North exchange a warm smile, before setting the presents down on the ground near the Christmas tree next to the fireplace.
'In excitement, we forgot to exchange gifts,' North announced, laughing loudly.
'Have you ever exchanged gifts at Christmas, Severus?' Jack asked, passing a pink-wrapped box to his son.
'I've read about it,' the boy stated, causing the Guardian of Wonder to frown slightly.
'From now on, you'll get to celebrate Christmas and Easter every year. I promise,' Bunny spoke up, settling next to the boy who half-smiled up at him.
'I'd like that,' Severus whispered, gently unwrapping the box. Opening it slowly, pale fingers pulled out a beautiful egg, painted with the colors of spring. 'Thank you. It's very pretty.'
Many more gifts followed. A book from North, floss and a toothbrush from Tooth, dream sand hardened into the form of a teddy bear from Sandy, and last, but not least, a white bag decorated with black snow-flakes from Jack (North helped him make it).
Looking around at the gifts, including the ones the adults had exchanged between each other, a frown crossed over Severus' pale lips. 'I didn't get you anything...'
'Yes, you did. We got to spend the whole day with you, Severus. That's the best gift you could ever give us,' Jack answered for the group.
By the end of the evening, Severus had fallen asleep against Bunny's arm. Jack was glad that Pitch had at least warned him that he'd gotten the boy in the habit of sleeping one night a week. Something about immortal children not needing to sleep every night, like regular humans, but still needing to rest on occasion.
'So, it looks like Severus is growing on you too,' Jack smiled, helping rearrange the little boy so that Bunny could carry him properly.
'I suppose the little ankle-biter isn't so bad. At least he didn't try to paint my ears, like a certain frost-spirit I know,' the pooka shot a knowing look at the younger Guardian who laughed quietly in response.
North led the way through the workshop toward the bedchambers that he kept neat and tidy for his fellow Guardians, should they ever need to spend the night. Every Guardian had their own room. They strode past the golden door, the green door, the egg door... that one was Bunny's. Then past the red door to the end of the hallway where a larger set of frosted doors waited.
'Jack, if you could press your hand to the pad on the door,' North instructed, gesturing to the snow-flake shaped pad in the middle of the door.
The winter spirit quirked an eyebrow, but did as he asked. The doors slid open quickly, letting out a gust of cool air.
'Nice,' Jack whistled, clearly impressed. The old doors had been a bit difficult to open, given how heavy they had been.
'Yes, is new feature. Just touch with hand and they will open. Is good because elves cannot reach pad and get into trouble,' the Guardian of Wonder assured them.
The revealed hallway was shorter than the last, containing only two doors, side-by-side. One black with a white snow-flake and one white with a black-snow flake. A chill seemed to permanently frost the air in this wing, which made Bunny shiver. To Jack, it was perfect.
'I will leave you two to put boy to bed. He is in good hands,' North waved, striding back toward the strange set of doors that kept winter on one side and warmth on the other.
'Let's get this little tyke to bed before I freeze my ears off,' Bunny insisted, slipping into the room quickly.
Jack pulled back the charcoal covers, marveling at how cool they were to the touch. It always amazed him that North and the yetis could create such warm-looking things, yet adjust them perfectly for the winter spirit. Spirits actually, now that Severus was part of the family.
There was a door between the rooms, which Jack knew hadn't been there the last time. He had no doubt that it opened into his own room, which was decorated in shades of blue and white. Severus' room lacked any real color, besides black, grey, and white, but perhaps that would change.
Looking down at the boy's dark hair spreading across the white pillow, Jack couldn't help but feel like he'd missed out on something very important all these years. 'I barely know him, Bunny. It feels like I've missed so much.'
'Not your fault, Frostbite. But if it helps, I think you'll make a fine daddy.' Bunny's paw rested on Jack's shoulder as they watched the little one sleep.
(Bonus scene)
'It's an Easter egg, Father. I painted it for you.'
Pitch held up the crimson egg curiously, raising an eyebrow at the Guardians standing behind his son.
'It's very nice, Severus. Quite... colorful,' the nightmare bringer managed to comment, receiving a smile from the boy in return.
'Don't forget your presents, Severus,' Jack was quick to remind him. Severus took the snow-flake covered bag from his hands and waved goodbye to his new family. Pale fingers gripped long black robes tightly as darkness swept over the pair. Moments later, they were gone.
'I miss him already,' Jack sighed, fingering his staff dejectedly.
'Easter will be here sooner than you think,' Bunny reassured him with a pat on the shoulder before hopping down the hallway toward the exit. North really didn't approve of holes in the floor... even if they closed afterward. Something about leaving bumps in the wood.
...tbc..
Note: I spent a whole day, off and on, writing this chapter. And I was having such writer's block when trying to figure out what to write too. This fic just seems to be running away with me, getting longer and more detailed with every passing moment.
