Just Between Us

Proud

North was never given the chance to be a father. He spent too much of his life as a bandit to ever settle down. He wandered from place to place, meeting new people but never taking the time to get to know them. Then there came Manny who gave him a job that left him with hardly any time for himself. He was too busy planning Christmas, or coming to the bottom of who's been messing with children's childhood, dealing with spirits who had a knack for causing trouble either between other spirits or in the human race, or simply trying to catch up on some much needed sleep. Despite his name, Father Christmas, he never got the chance to be a father, only a far off observer, a silent helper once year by giving toys and joy that he would have made for his own son if things had been different.

Of course, he had the guardians at least. Tooth, Bunny, Sandy - they became like his siblings, maybe kids in a leader kind of way. He grew accustomed to watching out for Tooth, keeping Bunny at bay when his temper got the best of him, and being a listener - err, viewer to Sandy's ranting for those days that he felt neglected by everyone else. He actually had some really good points in his arguments, North noticed.

But alas, they all had their jobs, and none of them truly needed him. They went off all to do their own thing, spending time with their own people, being independent, having no true need for him. It was okay. At least that meant the children had good protectors, but it still left a bit of an ache in his heart. Besides, they were all grown up. It just wasn't the same.

But then came Jack.


A crisp wind swept through the Pole on New Years Eve with cheer and radiance hidden in the ballroom. Who even knew a factory could handle an elegant ballroom? Of course, it was tradition for the guardians to open up the doors of the workshop on this night, giving spirits across the globe a glance at the home of one of the major spirits as well as base of operation for the great and powerful guardians.

This year was unique however, for there would be an additional member to the guardians joining this year's celebration that came with the name bearing a second title as the child of mischief. He could even outdo Hallows Eve's tricks and treats (he didn't really like the idea of having to choose one). Jack Frost was his name, and he, though was know for his friendly attitude, didn't like parties. They were overcrowded, too loud. So many things were happening at once that it gave him horrific headaches from the sound, burning cheeks from the heat of too many bodies in such a small, enclosed space, and a fit in his stomach thanks stale food that was threatened to come back up every time someone jabbed their elbow into his gut.

And that's why the young frost boy procrastinated for as long as possible, taking a shower for the third time that day, switching between a black suit to blue or white (since it's the only colors anyone ever thinks he'll wear. Honestly, just because he's a winter spirit, that didn't mean he hated red or the sun occasionally).

But that only lasted for so long until North realized someone was missing. It was too quiet between the guardians if one of the members were missing, especially if that person happened to be either Bunny or Jack.

They were all supposed to go up as a team and greet their guest on stage to give their end of the year speech and as well introduce their official new member, but they couldn't do that if the particular member was not present. So, after taking a tray of cookies from an elf in a tux, he headed up to Jack's room and opening the door after giving it a quick knock.

"Jack?" Though the boy wasn't in sight, it was obvious he'd been there due to the clothes littering the floor and new sculpture sitting on desk. Oh Jack, distracted as ever.

Before North could call his name again, the bathroom door, with a smack against the back wall, dropped a winter spirit to the floor that wrapped his hands around his throat. No, not on his throat, but on the thing that was around it, something maroon in color and oddly familiar.

But that didn't matter to him. He was choking. On his watch. Frantically, tripping on his own shoes, North knelt beside the boy. Before he could let the boy choke, he too pulled at the fabric around the pale throat to realize, after Jack caught his breath, that it was a tie. A simple tie.

"Oh boy," Said North. You have got to be kidding. "You alright?"

"Yah..." The boy slowly tried to catch his breath. "Damn thing is worse than a snake."

"What were you even doing, boy?"

"Oh, you know," he started, picking himself off the floor, "just... ya know."

A thought hit the old man like a freight train. Of course. Jack didn't have anyone there to teach him this over these three hundred years, probably not either when he was human because of the poverty his family had been a part of. "Jack, do you know how to tie... a tie?"

Never did North expect the spirit of winter to go red. "Of course I do! I'm not an idiot." Folding his arms, he pushed out his bottom lip in a pout, turning away from North to hid the blush in his cheeks.

Laughing, Father Christmas picked himself up from the floor with the maroon tie in hand. Luckily, it hadn't been torn. He glanced at the childish three hundred old - more like three year old. The black suit Tooth sized for him was perfect, especially with the frost lacing the cuffs of his sleeves and the lapel. Even the buttons seemed to hold a blizzard in each one.

Before Jack realized it, the silk tie went around his vulnerable neck, sending a shiver down his spine. But North was there in front of him, taking the two ends of the tie and taking one around the other and in the loop, then tightened closer to his throat but stopped before it could become to tight. "Is that good? Not too tight?" North asked.

"Err... Yah, thanks." Though Jack, feeling awkward, didn't look at the older man, North smiled.

"C'mon. The others are waiting to show you off." He started to pull the boy behind until he heard the quiet reply from the boy.

"R-right."

Something wasn't right. "Is somethin' wrong? Tell me, what's bothering you?"

"It's just - I don't know - it's nothing you need to worry about." He didn't look at North all the way saying it, finding the frost on his sleeves more interesting and tugging them down.

"Don't lie to me, boy. Look at me and tell me it's nothing. Only that way do I know you're not lying."

There was a cold silence that lasted far too long, but North knew that's how Jack worked. You have to be patient if you want to get anything out of Jack Frost, like any child. Finally, the boy moved back and away from North to lean against the wall next to the open window. "It's what they'll say."

"Who?"

"The other spirits."

Waving his hand in front of the boy's glazed eyes, North dryly stated, "I can't read your thoughts, Jack. Why? Why would you worry about what they'll say? What would they say anyways?"

He shook his head. "You don't even know, do you?" whined Jack. "All those spirits out there - Ground Hog, Great Moose, some of the Satyrs, Robin Hood, and Odysseus - they all want to be guardians. That's why they come trying to impress you guys. And with me - me being a guardian..." He trailed off although North understood. He'd heard it too many time in their gossiping over the past three hundred years.

Apparently there's a new trouble maker.

He controls winter.

Did you hear he ruined Easter by drowning towns in snow? They couldn't even get out their doors.

This year holds the record for the most car crashes caused by snowstorms.

An icicle fell on a little kid and set him to the hospital. Luckily it was the shoulder and not his skull.

Jack Frost is a trouble maker.

He should have seen this coming. Of course, Jack would be nervous, and the other spirits would be spiteful. It was so painfully obvious, a blind mole would have been able to see it. They all wanted to be believed in. Jack was proof of that when Pitch managed to manipulate him that Easter Sunday. But that didn't matter now because Jack finally got what he deserved.

"Jack, look at me. You are guardian for reason. Not because Moon chose you, but because of who you are."

North pointed at Jack's chest. "It is what is in here that makes you guardian, my friend. You deserve to stand beside us because you are a good man. Don't let them tell you otherwise."

It was then that a spark, a light, shown in his eyes, the kind that came with his mischievous grin and carefree laughter.

"We will stand by you when you are announce on stage. We have your back." To prove himself, he gave the younger and frailer boy a pat on the back, which actually nearly made the winter spirit fall forward. However, the little incident went unnoticed by North. "Come now. Unless you want Tooth to come in here and mother you, you better get out there."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Yah, just a moment." Taking his time back to the mirror, he took both ends of the tie, he called out over his shoulder, "Go on ahead, and I'll be there in a sec."

"I can wait."

"Right." He looked down at the fabric around his neck, pulling one side over the other. Pulling one around the other and through the loop... it looked like the start of tying one's shoelaces. But as he started to try to stuff on end through the knot again, a hand twisted the boy around. Quickly and swiftly, North undid the monstrosity.

"Just watch. Take larger piece around small." As he said, North took the thicker side over the smaller, then wrapped behind it and over again, making a full loop. Next, North took the wide end behind the loop and through the knot. And finally, keeping a firm grip on the small end, he adjust the tie to the appropriate length and height, not to tight around Jack's neck but still formal. "Done."

He took a step back to admire his work, taking int how well the suit fit Jack with his personal touch of frosted sleeves (of course only because of Jack's natural habit). It struck him then just how much the boy had changed from the hooligan with the longest Naughty list streak to the gentleman preparing for a formal celebration. That day he dropped into the North Pole after the yetis caught him he scoffed and laughed with lips dripping sarcasm. But he'd also been very unsure of himself, not believing in his own capabilities to become a guardian. He'd seen himself as less.

Now look at him with his head held high and shoulders back, a real smile for the others to admire. He's change and for the better, North knew, and he couldn't ask for a better teammate.

Strange, North had changed, too. They all did. Before, any word of Jack Frost ended with a rabid bunny and a day dreaming fairy. All their thoughts on the actually kind-hearted child flipped to the complete opposite. Now, Jack Frost would be a friend, an ally, a brother, a son.

Son. Nicholas St. North has a son, something he thought he'd never get the chance to have.

Jack tugged slightly on the tie, adjusting it. He turned at a 45 degree to admiral himself before turning back to North.

"How do i look?"

He smiled softly, holding back a laugh when he realized something was still missing from the outfit. He chuckled, turned. "Shoes are required." As he fled down the hall, from the room Jack growled.

"Shoes?!"

Jack still needed a bit of help here and there, and North was willing to guide him like any father-figure would.


I was originally going to have them go fishing together... hmm maybe on a different chapter.

So the idea of this drabble was to show how North has become a father figure to Jack. The tie represents maturity caused by North's influence in his life as well as their "ties" together as friends. I know, pretty crappy and cheezy, but hey I do what I want!

Please review. New Chapter on the 12th