Requested by PrincessRakka
The Indian summer finally came to embrace the small town of Burgess with it's warn heat, becoming the most unlikely place for a winter spirit to be dwelling.
Jack Frost lay sprawled out on a sturdy tree branch, moaning in every attempt to move. His arms were limp on his sides; one hand still had a strong grip on his staff. He screwed his eyes shut, trying to block out the bright rays of the sun. Everything was just so hot, even the ground was seething, which did a greater effect of blistering the winter spirit's feet to the point where he started to have second thoughts about shoes. Even the wind, which was his usual welcoming and cool companion felt hot against his skin.
The frost on his hoodie has melted away; his head pounded like his heart was sitting on top of his skull. His throat was dry and his stomach felt like a bottomless pit.
He gathered the strength to roll over his side to get rid of the horrible feeling in his stomach, which was when he noticed his head felt heavier than a dumbbell. His heart thrashed against his ribcage from the sudden movement. More sweat beaded down his forehead (he didn't even know he could sweat)
It was Summer again, normally a winter spirit like him would evacuate to the North or South pole to avoid the heat, but Jack couldn't move, he was sick with a terrible case of fever, which was pretty normal every summer. However he never felt this bad before, normally he could get up and move, his head was never this heavy and he never sweats. Now he couldn't even focus, his vision wavering every time he tried to focus on something. He shouldn't be staying here even if he couldn't move, but the problem was he recently promised his first believer an indoor snow day and there was no way he was going to break that promise, but first he needed to get better, maybe head to the pole and bury himself in a heap of snow, it always works whenever he has a fever.
He sat up, ignoring the protests of his heavy head and aching body. He swung his staff lightly, summoning the warm zephyr encircling him. "Take me home" he said, voice hoarse from his dry throat.
The wind scooped hi m up lightly from the tree and gently brought him high up the sky, breaking through the flurry clouds that were nice and cool. The wind suddenly felt arctic again on their way to the North Pole which was very soothing, Jack started to feel better.
The wind set him down on by the doors of Santoff Claussen. His heavy head caused him to topple over into a pile of snow, perfect. He laid there and started burying his body in snow. Strangely he didn't feel himself getting better. The sweat stopped pouring but the snow felt hot on his skin. He began to feel tired, white dotted his vision and everything began to spin before his eyes roll shut on his own.
North doesn't know where he stands. He's called Jack 'son' and 'my boy' countless of times but he has never heard Jack call him his 'father' it just felt very one sided. He knew Jack respected him, maybe he just didn't see him as a father. Perhaps he still lacks trust, or the winter spirit probably didn't want to replace his previous father from when he was human, maybe he saw his father in his memories? He never mentioned it before, but maybe it is the explanation. He was thinking too much, it's driving him insane.
Phil suddenly busted open the two doors of his workshop, causing a loud bash to echo the room. North turned to him with a sullen look, "I told you yetis to knock, do I have to paint a sign and post it on ze door?" it was a good thing he wasn't working on any flying toy trains. Phil garbled nonsense, flailing his arms up and down in panic.
"What?"
"Mugwashalaga!" The yeti clarified in his own language, telling North that Jack was passed out in the front doors of the North Pole.
"What?" North suddenly yelled in alarm, "What happened?"
Phil shrugged, saying another sentence in yetish explaining he just found Jack in a pile of snow when he opened the door.
The bearded man stood up, grabbing his swords and rushing out the door. He found Jack laying in a heap of snow, he placed a hand on his shoulder shaking him slightly.
Jack's face contorted into a pained expression, moaning as he tried to roll over.
North scooped him up, checking his frail body for any bruises or broken bones. Jack couldn't seem to get himself out of danger, even for just one day. Luckily there weren't any broken bones; North is suddenly confused of what was wrong with him, until he felt his forehead. "Prepare a basin of cold water in Jack's room now." He ordered Phil, who nodded and marched inside.
He gathered Jack into his arms and carried him inside. He heard the winter spirit moan again, shifting slightly in his arms. His eyes flutter open, revealing his dull blue irises glazed with pain, "North?"
"Yes," North whispered, bringing him closer. "You will feel better soon."
It brought a smile to Jack's lips as he snuggled deeper into North's warm fur coat.
North brought him back to his room, laying him down on his bed. "Now where were you zis time Jack?" he asked the winter spirit.
Jack yawned, enjoying the comfort of his pillow. "I was in Burgess as usual by my lake."
"But it's summer you shouldn't be there." Said the old Cossack dipping a cloth in the basin of cold water Phil left on the nightshade.
"I know," Jack responded rubbing his eyes. "But I promised Jamie I would play with him later, besides I couldn't really move, my body felt heavy."
"Well looks like you have to stay here all day," North placed a hand on his forehead. "Your temperature is increasing," he replaced his hand with the cold cloth.
"But I promised," Jack protested, using his elbows to prop himself upright.
North pushed him back down, "then you have to get better soon." He slogged to the dresser and brought out more bundles of blankets.
"I will get better later,, I always do."
"What do you mean always?" North turned to him puzzled.
"Well I get fever during summer every year." Jack said nonchalantly. "I bury myself in snow, then I get better."
North's heart sunk again. Jack was left alone for 300 years he has learned different ways to take care of himself, he doesn't know what the comfort of a parent felt like, constantly being sent away whenever he just wanted attention. No one deserved that kind of life and he blamed himself for leaving a child alone like Jack. He was a guardian of childhood yet he couldn't simply provide happiness to a lonely child.
But now he's supposed to be suffocating Jack with love and affection. "I'm sorry Jack."
Jack looked up from his sheets, "For what?"
"For not being there when you needed someone." North answered, "We all are sorry."
"And how many times do I have to tell you guys, it's okay?" Jack smiled bemusedly, "maybe I should write it down and post it on your doors, just like how you plan to tell the yetis to knock."
North smiled, patting the boy in the head and began wrapping him with blankets.
"Uh North…" The winter spirit squirmed a little. "I think I should cool down, not head up."
"No, you should start sweating before you cool down." The older guardian replied.
"Yeah but I was just sweating a while ago."
"And now you're not, your temperature is increasing and you stopped sweating, so we need to make you sweat." North sat on the chair by his bed. "How long have you stayed under ze sun?"
"I don't know, half a day… I guess"
Half a day? Are you crazy?" North scolded. "You shouldn't be under the summer heat for half a day!"
"Well i don't know it'll get this worse." He drawled eyes closing. "It's never happened before."
"Well now is different from before, now get some sleep."
"Okay…" Jack shifted awkwardly with the pile of blankets and shut his eyes. "Seriously, you guys should forget about what happened in the past."
"But it's never too late to be sorry." North smiled again. "We just wanted to let you know we are here for you." He ruffled the teen's white hair, "Have a nice sleep son, you'll get better in no time."
"Thanks North." The sprite mumbled keeping his eyes shut.
North just leaned back, there it was again, Jack calling him by his name. He didn't know why he was getting upset over a little word, but he just wondered what it was like to be called a father. Maybe Jack just didn't see him as a dad the way he sees him as his son.
Sunset gathered in the hollows, shadows slowly lengthening the night sky which is tinged with purple and speckled red. Jack has been fast asleep ever since, still wrapped up in the bundle of blankets. His temperature was never changing. North sat beside him the whole time, changing the damp cloth on his forehead.
He briefly left the room to ask Phil to whip up some herbal medicine that would help Jack's healing process. Jack was far from okay, technically his temperature is supposed to be dropping by now but it's not, which had North worrying to the point he started to have a nervous breakdown, yelling at any yeti who passes by. He was one step closer to ripping strands of his hair out piece by piece.
Once the door closed the winter spirit's eyes cracked open, but he wasn't feeling any better. His head still pounded, although he was feeling kind of heated. He wrestled himself out of the pile of blankets, having someone take care of him felt nice; it's just that all the attention makes him feel a little uncomfortable. North is supposed to be making toy models at this point but he was wasting his time staying by his side all day long.
The door opened once again revealing North holding a bowl of medicine which such strong aroma even Jack could smell it all the way from his bed. "Jack, what are you doing out of bed?"
"Um…it just feels a little too hot, and I'm uncomfortable with heat." Jack sat back down on his bed, wincing as he tilted his head a little. "But what's that stuff?"
"Medicine to help you feel better," North inched closer, careful not to spill any drops on the floor. Jack grimaced, "looks gross"
He was afraid of that answer "Come on, you have to drink this, it will help you feel better."
Jack back pedaled until he was on the edge of his bed, "No thanks North I….I feel a lot better than before but thanks."
"No you are not, now drink," he pushed the bowl to him causing Jack to jump away.
"No I'm fine see?" the sprite jumped a few times, looking as silly as ever.
North sighed, so this is how all parents feel like when a parent takes care of their sick child. "Jack," he got off the bed drawing closer to the winter spirit. "Don't make this any harder."
"That thing is making it harder…"
"Jack"
"Can't you get rid of that smell?"
"It's herbs, what do you expect?"
Hesitantly, Jack reached for the bowl, just to make it easier for North, the toymaker did clear out a whole day of work just for him. He guzzled it hastily to block out the scent, almost spitting it out in the first sip.
"That wasn't so bad wasn't it?" North chortled, patting the young guardian in the back.
"Why does it taste like fur?"
"Phil made it"
Jack gagged, causing North to laugh again, "Come on Jack, get to bed and rest."
"So I guess I won't be able to visit Jamie tonight huh?"
"Go to bed first maybe you will be able to make it up to him tomorrow." North said picking up the youth and placing him back in his bed tucking him in.
Jack grabbed his coat as North turned assuming he was leaving "Can you stay, I can't really sleep."
"Of course I am staying." He said, sitting on his bed side. "Good night son"
"Good night dad…" Jack mumbled, rolling his eyes shut
Nicholas St. North was too busy having a panic attack to care about anything that was happening around him; did Jack just call him dad? Or was he just hallucinating? No! Jack really called him dad! And wow it felt as good as he expected it to be!
A smile was plastered on his face throughout the night as stroked the child's hair, silently vowing he would never abandon him for the rest of his life.
I think I'm still asleep -_- sorry, it's early in the morning before school and I'm not in the mood already *sigh*
What do you guys think of me adding more plot to this story that involves Ombric Nightlight and the relics? I just thought of an idea and I was just too tired to make yet another in progress story, so what do you guys think? Please leave a review, I would love to read your comments.
And feel free to send requests :D
