Disclaimer: Don't own RoTG. Yada yada. I have to be at work in 3 hours and i haven't slept, but I love you guys so much I wrote this up and posted it instead of sleeping. Enjoy ;D
Jack and Lyra had made a quick stop on their way to the globe room to bother North in the middle of his Christmas preparations. This, in turn, made North slightly irritated at Jack. Jack had complained about how North blamed him yet Lyra got off scotch free, but Lyra proceeded to then remind him he had a tendency to irritate people on purpose so it was a natural reaction. Regardless, Lyra smiled sweetly at North and asked him if there was a way for them to carry multiple snow globes without them being overly heavy and annoying. North had laughed happily before walking over to lift up a small pouch on his desk. He walked over and handed it to Lyra before standing tall and proud.
"This here is pouch full of snow globes. You watched that Pokemon show as child, yes?" Lyra laughed before nodding enthusiastically. People who didn't know what pokemon was…well they weren't people! "These snow globes are itty bitty, and you push button on them like one of those pokeballs and it grows to normal size to use! Absolutely brilliant! Was working on them for Jack, but you will be more responsible with them."
"Wait you gave my gift to her! I never get gifts! Lyra you stole my gift!" Jack started complaining loudly. Lyra just laughed and stuck her tongue out at the winter spirit.
"Maybe if you behave I'll share with you." He huffed in annoyance and leaned against his staff while North laughed happily. "Besides, Christmas is coming up in a week or two, maybe you'll get a gift. If you can figure out how to get off naughty list."
"That depends on if I'm still holding the record or not." Jack smiled but realized something that was more important that Lyra had said.
He needed to find her a gift for Christmas. He should probably find a gift for the others as well, yes even that damn Cupid, but Lyra was the top priority on his list. Never ask him why this was because he himself did not know.
It had been a really long time since he had gotten or even given Christmas gifts.
After speaking to North while Jack was busy daydreaming, Lyra brought him out of his musing by grabbing the hood on his sweater and pulling him along behind her as she proceeded to get lost trying to find the globe room.
"I'm not a dog on a leash, you know! Wouldn't it be a better idea to let me guide us anyway?" He spun and yanked his hood from her grasp before hovering in the air in front of her, leaning in close. "I am better with directions than some people." He chuckled before pulling away. Lyra scowled.
"We were only lost for five minutes that night we drove to the surrounding towns, so don't you dare say I have horrible directional sense!" She took the time of following Jack to the globe room to attach her new pouch to her awesome new belt. One could tell that North and Carol had been together for a long time because even when they worked in separate rooms on different projects they seemed to reflect each others work. Case in point was the fact that Lyra's belt had a specific place for the pouch to clasp on perfectly. She couldn't believe how amazing those two were.
"This is all surreal." She smiled as they finally reached the elevator to the globe room. Jack tilted his head and looked at her.
"What is?"
"The Guardians, this workshop, this adventure! You! I mean, just everything! How many stories are written each year about people who fall into some magical adventure! Sometimes I have a hard time grasping the fact that this is all real." Jack knocked his staff down on top of her head with a loud 'thunk'. She yelped and grabbed the spot before staring at him in shock. "Why do you abuse me like this?" She nearly yelled at the boy. He just laughed and walked off the elevator.
"Consider it a love tap. On that note, if it hurts then that means you're really here. I mean, you yourself did something similar that night I fell through your roof. I'm still surprised that you didn't have a hand print on your face." Lyra frowned and decided she'd let the white haired boy have the argument. This time.
"So where to then, handsome?" Jack leaned against his staff staring at the globe in thought. Where would be a good place to search? A place full of people obviously. Jack's mind de-railed after a moment and he smirked deviously.
"You think I'm handsome?"
"I know where we'll go!" Lyra was grinning evilly. She completely ignored his handsome comment. "Oh Jack I think you'll enjoy this one!" She turned to face him, tapped her foot on the ground three times, before taking on the best attempt of an Australian accent that she could muster. "We're goin' down under, mate!" Jack busted out laughing.
"That was amazing! I totally see what you did there! Down under, cause of his tunnels being under ground. And the whole Australian thing-"
"Jack it's funnier when you don't explain it." Lyra laughed at the boy. A loud huff was heard from the direction of the elevator. Lyra and Jack turned to see Cupid, Bunny, and Sandy all standing there. A chime was coming from Sandy signaling he was laughing. Bunny's arms were crossed over his chest and his eye looked to be twitching, and Cupid's lips were in a thin line from him obviously trying to not laugh himself. Lyra smiled an apologetic smile while Jack just laughed harder at the sight of the rabbit.
"Lyra, before you go." Lance walked over to her and patted her on the shoulder before winking at her. Lyra looked at him confused for a moment. "Lyra, I just wanted you to know. You shouldn't worry about constantly worrying about watching Mini Aria for a reaction. When you find her host, you'll be the first person to know. You two are connected now, so it will be extremely hard to miss when it happens." Lyra nodded in understanding. She reached up and took Lance's hand, pulling it down in front of her and placing her other hand around it as well. She gave a loving squeeze before smile softly to him.
"I'll take good care of her Lance. I promise. I can tell you were important to her as well." Lance looked briefly shocked for a moment before a sad smile graced his lips.
"I like to hope so." About that time Jack had regained his senses from picking on the rabbit and reached over to take Lyra's hands from Lance's. Jack gave Lance a pointed look before grinning at Lyra. Lyra rolled her eyes at the mischievous glint is his eyes.
"Since you are absolutely brilliant I say Australia sounds like a fine idea indeed." Jack started talking in a British accent. Lyra raised an eyebrow at the boy before snorting.
"Jack, you're Australian accent is much worse than mine is."
"Nah, I just felt like being different."
"Trust me Frostbite, we're all aware of how special you are." Bunny fought back earning a glare from the winter spirit.
"On that note we'll be back for dinner!" Lyra quickly interjected before reaching in her new pouch and pulling out a tiny orb. She pressed the button North had mentioned, grinning when it expanded in size, before handing it to Jack. "Told you I'd share." She winked and he laughed before whispering to the orb, busting it, and pulling Lyra through the warp with him.
"Think we should be worried about Australia?" Cupid calmly asked. Sandy formed a question mark of his head wondering why they should worry. Bunny just smirked and shook his head.
"Think we should mark this in Jack's baby book as the first date?"
All three men laughed at poor Jack's expense.
Australia was a little on the warmer side than what Lyra had gotten used to being in with Jack around. She was a bit concerned about how the winter spirit would react to the temperature but upon getting her bearings together and getting a good look at him she noticed he was perfectly fine. Jack felt her questioning gaze before returning one of his own.
"What's wrong?"
"Doesn't the heat bother you? I mean, you're winter right?" Jack laughed at her before shaking his head. He spun his staff in a circle before leaning it against his shoulder. He looked around the creepy alley behind a building they had landed in before walking backwards and watching her.
"I'm the spirit of winter. Meaning I control winter. I am winter, yes, but I'm also a human just like you. Immortal human. Has a nice ring to it don't you think?" He chuckled before patting his chest. "I mean, I still have a heart beat so I can't be that different, right?" Lyra considered it for a moment before nodding in understanding.
"You'll tell me if you get too warm, promise?" He rolled his eyes and smirked.
"You keep worrying so much Lyra your hair will be the same color as mine." This got the scowl he was looking for to appear. "If it makes you feel better, I can keep my powers under a tight reign so the only cool air is produced along my body. No one will even noticed I'm with you today. That way I don't heat up too much. Deal?" She smiled and nodded, thankful the boy could watch his temperature in such a way.
"Oh that reminds me." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small Bluetooth earpiece. She placed it on her ear and tucked her hair back so it was out in the open.
"What is that and why are you wearing it?" Jack was about to ask if the heat had gone to her head instead before she gave a proud grin.
"It's a Bluetooth for a phone. When you were daydreaming I asked North if he had anything like them. Figures that Santa would. Anyway! This way you and I can talk like normal while we walk around and it'll just look like I'm on the phone with someone instead!" Jack's blue eyes widen in disbelief before he laughed and put his arm around her shoulders.
"That, my dear, is why I think you are the best friend a guy could ever have! Pure genius you are." Lyra grinned happily at being called his best friend while ignoring the slight ache her chest felt at the title.
"Shall we go explore then? Where are we anyway?" Lyra looked around at the creepy, empty alley before thinking about how many people probably got attacked in this very alley.
"We're in Sydney, Australia, my lady." Jack took her hand, bent down and kiss the back of it before lacing their fingers together and walking beside her out of the alley. Lyra blushed but couldn't help thinking that he was competing with Lance again.
The problem? Lyra had no clue what the boys were currently trying to prove.
They had walked around for hours enjoying the sights of Australia in all it's beauty. Lyra had cursed herself for not having a camera so she could get pictures, but then she realized that she wouldn't have been able to get any pictures of Jack anyway. She knew then what to ask for Christmas, at least.
Jack had been having as much fun as her. Normally when he visited different parts of the world it was for the sole purpose of bringing winter. This time, however, he was just being normal Jack. He was being like a normal human tourist enjoying the sights and the attractions with his best friend. Though every time Jack thought or said the term best friend it felt weird on his tongue. He couldn't quite figure out how to describe his and Lyra's friendship so he left such thoughts for a different time.
They were currently sitting at a small shop while Lyra ate a small bowl of ice cream as a mid-travel snack. Tooth was really familiar with the different currencies of the world so she had given Lyra a little bit of spending money for each place they would most likely go. Lyra was extremely thankful.
"I overheard someone mention there's going to be fireworks somewhere around here later tonight. Want to go see it?" Jack asked as he shoved his finger into her ice cream before scooping up some and licking it off. She felt her eye twitch at the action.
"You better have washed your hands." He shrugged before looking at his hand.
"They're mostly clean. Germs won't kill you!" He said as he shoved his finger into her ice cream once more.
"Says the guy who panics every time I get sick." He snorted before acting like he hadn't cared at all she was sick. She raised at eyebrow at him earning a cheesy grin.
"So those fireworks?" Lyra looked down at the jar on her hip in thought. She had been covering as much ground as her human legs, and some taxi vehicles, would allow her to cover and she still hadn't felt anything from Mini Aria.
"Jack, we're supposed to be working. I don't like you being so vulnerable for so long. The sooner we find Aria's host the better." Jack looked at her for a long moment before flexing his right arm and patting where the muscle was.
"Pitch and Leon are no match for this. Able to fly or not." He laughed. "Lyra, you've never seen these places before. I want you to enjoy your stay while we're looking! Pitch and Leon haven't even shown themselves yet. We should enjoy this time while we can." While Jack could understand where Lyra was coming from, and he completely agreed with her, he wanted to hold onto the laid back time he was spending with her as much as possible. He loved the light feeling it gave him inside, and for once in his life he wanted to just hold onto something like this. He was tired of feeling alone, and bored, and overall unconnected with people. Lyra made him want to kick his irresponsibility up to the next level.
She just shook her head before taking a bite of her snack. She watched the pale boy closely; overall glad he wasn't causing trouble like he tended to do. She remembered her conversation with Carol before sighing and looking up at the sky.
"Here's the deal. We cover as much ground as we can today. We'll come back, enjoy the fireworks, and head home for the night. Tomorrow we're not goofing off though." She pointed a finger at him trying to get her point across. He grinned in victory.
"Yes ma'am" He saluted her before reaching in and stealing more of her ice cream. "Man, I think I really like this chocolate stuff." Lyra kicked under the table hitting him the shin causing him to yelp in pain. She laughed and he couldn't help but laugh with her.
A couple more hours passed and Lyra was currently on her way back to the area of town Jack had said there was going to be a firework show. Jack was leading her to an area close to the water but off to a distance from most of society that he had scouted early to watch the fireworks at. She was disappointed that nothing had happened in the hunt for Aria's host. Jack had tried to cheer her up, telling her that the world was a big place and there were a lot of people in it. She, however, couldn't get the sick feeling out of her stomach that was building lately.
She could feel sometime bad was coming, and she wanted nothing more than to make sure Jack and the others were safe.
Jack leaned against the fence that prevented them from falling over into the water before hopping up to walk across it like a tight rope. It was getting dark out and the fireworks should start soon. He wanted to make sure they had the best seat in the house away from other people. Lyra might have had her Bluetooth and was a tourist but she did sometimes still get strange looks from people when she would point out things to no one and what not. Jack wanted to give her some time from prying eyes.
Or perhaps he just wanted some time with her to himself, though he would never actually consider the idea.
Lyra walked up and leaned against the railing looking up at him walk along beside her. He crouched down and held a hand out for her to take. She hesitated but took his hand before nearly screaming out in shock as he pulled her up on top of the railing.
"Jack I can't balance like you can!" She clung to him and looked down the small hill like she was on a tall cliff. He laughed his arms around her waist, pulling her close, and smiling reassuringly at her. She blushed deeply at the contact between them but was thankful it was that instead of her falling.
"Lyra, even if I can't fly I will never let you fall." He spoke lowly, his eyes full of a emotion Lyra couldn't quite place. She stared back at him, her heart beating hard in her chest. She was worried he could hear the beating it was so loud, and she shifted nervously indirectly moving herself closer to him. He leaned in and laid his forehead against her, staring deeply into her eyes. "I will always catch you." He all but whispered. About that time the fireworks shot up into the sky, but neither of their attentions turned to view them.
Jack's chest felt tight, his heart beat going faster than it did when he was having an adrenaline rush. He felt strangely nervous, but he wasn't sure why. Lyra and him had been this close before. He held her like this the day she woke up crying from dreaming of Aria's death, why was this so different?
Jack's eyes widen in shock and he pulled himself away. He turned to watch the fireworks, one of his arms around Lyra's waist to keep her steady as they watched the fireworks. Lyra's face was solid red beside him, but he was too busy trying to figure out his own emotions to notice her. He felt hot. A strange sensation considering he was always able to keep his body temperature at a certain degree no matter where he was.
As he watched the color burst to life in the night sky that night Jack realized something important. The reason he couldn't describe his friendship with Lyra, was because this was something stranger than any friendship he had ever experienced. Thinking back on the conversation with Carol, he briefly wondered if it was possible he might have a crush on the honey blonde girl beside him or if all the teasing and talk of the other guardians was finally getting too him.
Either way, he was going to have to take some time to figure this out.
Author's Note: Yeah, so I need sleep XD Anyway, they're on the hunt now! Jack's starting to realize that he does like Lyra, which I feel by chapter 10 starting the crush factors in them seems reasonable, right? I'm trying to keep it at a steady pace, not to fast but not to slow. Just take into consideration at this point they've been together a little over a month about. So yeah. No major love stuff for those of you who might get mad at it going to fast, but a little fluff for those who are tired of waiting? Anyway, I'm off to sleep!