Hellooo again! This is a pretty sweet chapter that doesn't belong to Ponos' arc but the idea kept hopping on my head for all day long so I couldn't ignore it. I'll be back to Ponos' arc in the next chapter or so, and OMG all your sweet reviews made me so happy! Thank you so so much! I was really scared you wouldn't like Winter as a sentient being like Wind, and I'm so happy to see you guys liked it! *hugs you all* He's a good guy I promise you'll like him as much as I do, well at least I hope so ;v;

AyameKitsune: Jack's staff was the thing keeping Winter locked away, and Jack was just too scared and tired to even try to hold him back~

Guest: Thank you! I'm really glad you liked it~

PlaidOtaku: I swear I'd give you lots and lots of North's cookies if I could! You're so sweet ;v; And your idea was just great! Thank you so much for it, it surely helped with the last chapter! Winter as a sentient being just popped on my mind all of sudden but I couldn't let it escape ;v; I'm glad you liked it! And there's an explanation to why the Guardians are taking so long, I promise it's a good one XD Sorry to make you wait for the next chapter though ;v;

If you guys have any requests, let me know!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians.


Summary: In which Jack gets Pitch a Christmas gift.


29. Stubborn

Jack Frost was a stubborn child and he had never given up on an idea of his, no matter how impossible the task seemed to be. And he promised Christmas would be different this time. He didn't care if Pitch simply despised the holiday, this year the Boogeyman would be getting a gift because it was a special year - a hundred years may be nothing for an immortal as old as Pitch Black, but it was really important to Jack and it should be as special and wonderful as possible. He'd make sure of it.

So when he came back from the old, abandoned tunnels covered in scratches, bruises and dust all over his body, he didn't even think about the pain that would bother him later. It'd be worth it, he kept saying to himself, bloody fingers gripping hard and tight at the golden gift. It'd be worth it because it meant something to Pitch, it had been important once and it'd be important again. The pain was the last thing in his mind when he locked himself in his room for hours, working patiently. There were many cracks to be covered, countless imperfections to be fixed but he could fix it. He would fix it, no matter what.

If Pitch Black noticed anything weird about his ward's behavior, he didn't comment on it.
Jack couldn't be more grateful for the Boogeyman's lack of interesting in his doings.

And Christmas finally arrived. The winter child tried to keep his excitement at bay, wandering around the dark lair until Pitch came back from whatever he did during the afternoons. He could feel the cruel anxiety bubbling up on his stomach, making his fingers tremble around the small pack but Jack just took a deep breath, approaching his guardian when he looked distracted enough, reading a book on the giant library he kept. The Boogeyman barely spared him a glance as he usually did whenever they were there, and the child felt his nerves burning nervously under his skin.

"Pitch?" His voice sounded softer, smaller than he had planned but it called Pitch's attention all the same, golden eyes shining in curiosity and mild worry. "I..I have something for you."

The Nightmare King blinked a few times, confusion showering over his elegant features, and then he simply nodded. Jack gulped, pushing his worries and stupid fear aside, and placed the bluish pack on Pitch's hands quickly, expectation growing within him as he watched the older spirit undo the laces and paper oh so gently. And when Pitch finally reached over the real gift inside the little box, something on his expression changed and softened, and for a brief moment he looked exactly the great hero he no longer was.

His fingers caressed the golden sides of the locket that now shone as bright as new, the glass protecting her photo bearing no cracks. The clasps were no longer broken, fixed with mastered perfection so it couldn't get lost anymore. It was as perfect as the day she had given it to him. Something warm and long forgotten stirred within his dark soul, seeking comfort and relief on the old memories of better days, and Pitch allowed himself to get lost in such warmth and good feelings.

"My locket... I thought I had lost it."

"You did. I had to fight a rat for it." Jack said in a tone that could make anyone believe it had been a simply 'fight', but Pitch noticed the broken nails on his hands and healing scratches on his pale cheeks. "I know you don't like Christmas but... this is a special year, you know? I really wanted to give you something special. Besides, you always get me nice presents every year..."

"Thank you, Jack." Pitch's smile was wide and sincere as he placed the locket around his neck, safe behind his shadowy clothes, and Jack felt himself blushing in pride and timidity at the same time. It wasn't too often that the Nightmare King praised him, and it was a really good feeling that he knew he shouldn't get used to.

"It wasn't a very big rat."

"I can see so." Pitch laughed softly, standing up to embrace the winter child for a long moment before letting go, the smile still adorning his face. "Come, let us clean all these wounds, and then you can see your present. It's a surprise."

"A good one?"

"Aren't they all?"


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See ya~