Night fell quickly and after checking on the boy at his house, Jack was in a quiet mood. When they reached the rooftops, Jack turned his eyes to the Moon as it rose big and bright, just as it had on that night so many years ago. Wind sat on the tiles by Jack's feet, looking at the Moon before turning to survey the quiet streets below, listening stone-faced as Jack gave in to his loneliness and tried talking to the Moon, quietly enough that she knew it was more half-hearted than anything.
"If there's something I'm doing wrong, can you just tell me what it is? Because I've tried everything and no one ever sees me."
Wind hunched in on herself. She'd given up on the Old Man long ago.
"You put me here," Jack pleaded, " The least you can do is tell me- tell me why."
Wind rubbed her face with her hands and sighed tiredly, letting herself be tugged along as Jack gave up into frustration and floated off, wishing he could feel her arms around him so he wouldn't have to fight back the tears she knew he was.
He'd used to rant at the sky, yell and whisper, beg and shout, long-winded demands dwindling into half-hearted pleas until Wind could tell he was starting to give up too. He was turning into her, she could see it. And it worried her. She didn't want him to become like her. Didn't want him to make the same mistakes as her. She was a lost cause and it killed her to see the boy hurtling down the same path.
There was anger in him. A lot of it. She just hoped he learnt to let go before it was too late and it broke him.
Like it did us? Nota suggested and Wind pushed the suggestion away.
Both feeling morose, Wind and Jack had found themselves aimlessly wandering the quiet rooftops lit by golden dream dust as the Sandman's work filled the night sky. It was always a comforting sight to see and the two watched the spectacle with a smile.
Something disturbed the peace and Wind snapped to attention, body moving on autopilot as she desperately scanned the sky. That couldn't have been...could it?
A shadow flitting across their path startled the silver-eyed girl out of her search. Jack immediately leapt to follow and Wind carried him worriedly as they darted after the shape down through the streets, swinging on telephone wires and jumping off of cars.
Careful, Nota warned.
Now, the peaceful silence felt sinister as they struggled to see what the shadows hid and the rustling of trees was as loud as a gunshot to Wind. After being on guard all day, it immediately sent the worst case scenarios flitting through her mind and none of them held much promise. She couldn't match Jack's curious excitement as they gave themselves up to the chase.
The two found themselves in an empty parking area behind a large building, a large truck and industrial equipment casting long shadows. Wind pressed her back against Jacks as they slowly circled, watching their surroundings warily and trying to pinpoint the shadow.
"Hello, mate."
Wind tensed immediately at the voice and they whirled around to see the silhouette of a familiar guardian resting casually in the shadows of a building.
"Been a long time," he continued, his distinct accent clear in his lowered voice. " Blizzard of '68, I believe. Easter Sunday, wasn't it?"
Well look who it is. Bunnyboy himself, Eurie crowed.
The Easter Bunny stepped out of the shadows, gesturing with his trusty boomerang. Despite the situation, Wind couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips at the memory. Bunny was no doubt still pissed. He had never been good at letting go of grudges.
"Bunny!" Jack greeted cheekily, easily schooling his face into one of faux innocence that would no doubt annoy the guardian even more. "You're not still mad about that, are you?"
"Yes," Bunny growled, anger flashing in his narrowed green eyes and Wind coughed in her hand to control her amusement from behind Jack. She was all too relieved when her suspicions were confirmed and Bunnymund's ears didn't so much as flicker in her direction. That was good, that was… well, she'd already known but it was always good to be reassured. Wind tried to ignore how terrible it felt, knowing.
Bunny raised the boomerang threateningly, pausing in a curious way like he was holding himself back. That had Wind's eyebrows raising and she could sense Jack's interest instantly rise.
"But this is about something else." Bunny smirked as he examined his boomerang for nonexistent scratches and Wind's warning senses tingled. "Fellas?"
Two yetis stepped out of the shadow, large and menacing as they grabbed Jack by the scruff of his clothes, hauling him protesting into a waiting sack before neither him nor Wind could even react. Wind only watched helplessly, not entirely sure what she should do. There was no way she could blow the yetis away without questions raised and she was sure that the Guardians of Childhood were too high off their morals to consider harming any one without justifiable cause. Bunny had already said it had nothing to do with the last huge mess Jack had caused for them so it couldn't have been about revenge.
Turns out, Wind wasn't given a choice. As Jack was tossed into a portal, the yetis ducking in after him and Bunnymund disappearing down one of his holes, the portal began to shrink and Wind found herself being sucked in, wisps of herself catching in the force of the portal and she was dragged through after them.
Icicles, Eurie cursed as Zeph sighed.
The journey was less-than-pleasant and as soon as it was over, Wind had resolved to never let it happen again. Struggling to regain her senses, Wind blinked blearily around at her new surroundings. Her heart settled in her stomach as she processed - and really, she should have guessed as soon as she'd seen the damn yetis.
They were in the North freaking Pole. Santa's workshop, to be exact. North's workshop.
As soon as she'd caught sight of the gaudy decorations, chaotic bustle, roaring fireplaces and cheery faces, she immediately gave up trying to keep her eyes open and groaned. She had sworn she'd never be back here.
Yet here she was.
"Hey, there he is. Jack Frost!"
The rumbling voice that filled the space sent mixed feelings dancing in Wind's chest and when she finally felt able to open her eyes without the dizziness, couldn't help but stare at the faces of the legendary guardians in all their smiling, bright and powerful glory. As Wind floated into the air, all too happy to leave the ground, she was desperately glad they couldn't see her.
Still on the floor, Jack fought out of the sack and stared just as dazedly around at what waited for him.
Wind was close enough to hear his small "wow, you gotta be kidding me" before he was being hauled roughly to his feet by more yetis and he struggled out of their grip.
"Hope the yetis treated you well," North commented cheerfully
"Oh yeah, I love being shoved in a sack and tossed through a magic portal," Jack snapped as he righted himself, swinging his staff to rest on a shoulder, Wind naturally gravitating to his side even though she wanted nothing more than to hide behind the nearest pillar.
"Good. That was my idea. You know Bunny, obviously…"
Bunny grunted from where he had taken his position leaning against a pillar to North's left, Jack echoing the "obviously" in vague bemusement at the whole bizarre situation. Here they were, being introduced to the Guardians of Childhood after being tossed through a portal with little explanation or warning, having never properly spoken in the entirety of Jack Frost's life. It was just so random Wind was certain it was the Old Man's doing.
"The Tooth Fairy," North continued and the Tooth Fairy herself flitted forward at her cue, wings buzzing and little hummingbird fairies not far behind her.
"Hello Jack. I've heard a lot about you. And your teeth!"
"My-my what?"
Wind twitched at their proximity but couldn't help but laugh at Jack's confusion.
Well Toothie's just as weird as ever, I see, Eurie remarked.
"Open up! Are they really as white as they say?"
Before they knew it, Tooth was up in Jack's face, prodding his mouth open and ducking to examine his teeth with wide eyes.
"Oh they really do sparkle like freshly fallen snow," she remarked to her fairies who sighed dreamily and with an annoyed huff, Wind sent a subtle gust of air that pushed the fairies back to a reasonable distance as Tooth reprimanded her girls half-heartedly.
For a second, Wind could have sworn Tooth was looking right at her but then North was sweeping in to continue introductions and she escaped the focus of those sharp purple eyes. She couldn't be sure if she had been seen, which should not have been possible, but Tooth didn't seem to have anything to say, just briefly thoughtful before she went back to muttering to her fairies.
"And Sandman… Sandy. Sandy?"
All attention switched to the dozing man as he hovered mid-air and Wind hid a fond smile as North woke him up insistently, blinking sleepily at everyone when he was finally awake.
"Hey, yo! Anyone wanna tell me why I'm here?" Jack interrupted impatiently.
Sandy perked up but at his attempt at signing the no doubt complicated answer, Jack was only left more confused and he stopped the sandman in his eager efforts.
Wind squinted, picking up a few key symbols that chilled her as she pieced together their significance. The moon symbol and a familiar silhouette showed up often enough that she was unsettled, hovering watchfully above Jack as he meandered around the room and addressed the guardians.
"I must have done something really bad to get you guys together. Wait - am I on the naughty list?"
North let out a loud laugh. "On naughty list? You hold record. But no matter, we overlook. Now we are wiping clean the slates."
That got Wind's attention and she stared at the toymaker suspiciously, wondering what he was planning. What reason could he have for disregarding his precious lists?
"How come?" Obviously, Jack was thinking something along the same lines.
"Ha, good question," Bunny snorted.
"How come?" North continued, eyes bright with something. "I'll tell you how come! Because now, you are guardian!"
Wind felt her jaw drop as the yetis held up flaming torches and elves burst into a celebratory march with brass instruments. Jack was left stumbling in bewilderment as the tinkling elves marched around him, North laughed and the yetis twirled their torches.
Wind couldn't believe what she was seeing, even her anemoi were speechless.
Then, well. Then Wind laughed. She laughed because it was so random, so far from what she'd feared and so damn ironic. Oh the irony.
Are they serious? That Old Man's lost his mind, Nota chuckled, nearly drowned out by Eurie's own uncontrollable laughter.
Wind laughed so hard that when Jack decided he'd had enough of whatever the hell was going on and slammed his staff down, she all to easily went along and sent a shockwave of powerful gusts disrupting the march and blowing out the torches, the echoes of her laughter reverberating against the walls as frost spread across the floor and the music died awkwardly.
She just couldn't escape it could she? Everything always came back to that.
"What makes you think I want to be a guardian?" Jack demanded as the guardians peered at him warily. Wind couldn't help the dark satisfaction that welled up in her, her laughter fading into a smirk.
This boy really is too much like us, Zeph sighed and Wind swore she heard Eurie still cackling in the background somewhere.
A loud laugh filled the room once more and the guardians looked to North uncertainly as his laughter died down and he stared at Jack seriously.
"Of course you do. Music!"
Oh they just don't learn, Reas grumbled.
The elves started playing their instruments again.
"No music," Jack snapped, to which the elves sighed and threw down their instruments in frustration. "This is all very flattering but, uh, you don't want me. You're all hard work and deadlines, and I'm more snowballs and fun times. I'm not a guardian."
Jack hopped around the room, Wind at his side as he floated down to sit at the foot of the great globe.
"Yeah! That's exactly what I said," Bunnymund said and Wind scowled at him.
Tooth stopped North before he could step in and run his mouth again, flying up to Jack with a patient smile a little too in his space for Wind to be comfortable.
"I don't think you understand what it is we do."
She flew up to the Globe. "Each of those lights is a child-"
"A child who believes," North continued and Wind found herself rolling her eyes. He just couldn't help himself. "And good or bad, naughty or nice, we protect them."
Wind growled when Tooth couldn't help herself but pry open Jack's mouth and look at his teeth again as he tried to speak.
"Tooth. Fingers out of mouth."
Tooth smiled apologetically and backed off. "They're beautiful."
Strange woman, Nota muttered and the others murmured in agreement.
Wind nudged Jack away anyway.
"Okay, no more wishy washy. Pitch is out there doing who-knows-what!"
"You mean the boogeyman?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"Yes," North confirmed, gesturing to the globe glittering with lights. "When Pitch threatens us, he threatens them as well!"
"All the more reason to pick someone more qualified," Jack shrugged, turning his back on them.
"Pick? You think we pick? No, you were chosen, like we were all chosen. By Man in Moon."
Jack froze and turned around to face them. "What?"
"Last night, Jack, the Moon chose you."
Did he now? That's mighty interesting, Reas commented darkly.
"Maybe."
But Jack was only half-listening.
"The Man in the Moon, he talks to you?" Jack asked quietly, staring up through the roof window where the Moon could be seen despite the daylight.
"You see, you cannot say no. It is destiny," North concluded, satisfied that Jack was understanding yet oblivious to Jack's inner turmoil at the revelation. But Wind knew. She could guess exactly what was going through his head.
"Why? Why wouldn't he tell me that himself?" Jack wondered out loud and Wind sighed sadly. "After three hundred years, this is his answer? To spend eternity like you guys, cooped up in some… some hideout thinking of- of ways to bribe kids. No, no. That's not for me. No offense."
Bunny stuttered incredulously. "How- how- how was that not offensive?"
Jack started to walk away and Bunny laughed cruelly. "You know what I think? I think we just dodged a bullet. I mean, what's this clown know about bringing joy to children, anyway?"
"Uh, you ever hear of a snow day?" Jack asked, Bunny's taunts stopping him in his tracks. "I know it's no hardboiled egg, but kids like what I do."
"But none of them believe in you, do they? You're invisible, mate, it's like you don't even exist."
Yeah nah, like that's gonna fly, Eurus growled.
Wind was so close to punching the rabbit in the face, cover be damned, he had no right to say that.
"Bunny! Enough," Tooth reprimanded, cutting off Boreas's unheard rant and Wind forced herself to reign in her temper.
"No, no, the kangaroo's right," Jack declared mischievously, revelling in the way Bunnymund twitched.
Oh, yeah, Eurie cheered.
"What did you call me? I am not a kangaroo, mate."
"Oh, and this whole time I thought you were," Jack gasped in mock surprise. "If you're not a kangaroo, what are you?"
Ouch, Nota grinned.
"I'm a bunny. The Easter Bunny. People believe in me."
The air was tense and Wind glared at Bunny from Jack's side.
Guys, that's enough, Zeph spoke up, the others shrinking away at her steely look but Wind wouldn't budge.
"Jack, walk with me," North cut in.
North led them through the workshop, chatting pleasantly as Jack stared around in wonder until they entered his office and he closed the door threateningly.
I knew he was planning something, Reas spat.
"Who are you, Jack Frost? What is your centre?"
"My centre?"
"If Man in Moon chose you to be a guardian, you must have something very special inside."
Only took you 300 years to realise, Nota drawled and Eurie snorted.
North leaned back thoughtfully from where he had backed Jack against the door, trapping him. Wind could tell Jack was itching to escape into open air and she remained on standby in case North proved to be a danger.
She wouldn't break her cover for her own temper but if Jack was in danger, she wouldn't hesitate.
When North brought out the matryoshka doll, Wind deflated and let her attention drift from their conversation. She had heard the same speech many times. 'The center, the center, the center. Tell me, Wind. What is your center?'
'I don't have a center. I am not a guardian. I am a force of nature. A lifeless spirit.'
'Of course you have center. Look inside.'
'Give it a rest, toyman.'
Wind had been browsing the shelves, absently examining the intricate toys on display when she paused at one that brought tears to her eyes. It was a matryoshka doll, just like the one North was showing Jack, but of a girl with auburn hair instead, scowling with fierce silver eyes.
'I see a strong girl, fiery in temper and infuriatingly stubborn to no end.'
Wind picked up the doll and shakily took off the top layer to reveal a soft smile.
'I see a girl of great kindness and empathy, never able to let a person suffer or be forgotten.'
Another layer and a happy face grinned cheekily up at her.
'I see a girl full of light and mischief, whose laughter dances on a breeze.'
Another layer, and solemn eyes shone.
'I see a girl so serious in her loyalty, those who win her trust would be careful never to let it go.'
Wind stifled a shaky breath and removed the last layer, revealing the center.
'Courage. I see a girl with a courage known to no man, who howls mightily in a storm and taunts the darkness.'
The doll gave her a daring smirk and Wind stared at it numbly, putting the doll away when the pain got too much.
She shouldn't have opened it. It… she… she hadn't known he'd made one for her. She's never seen it. She wished she hadn't.
It's beautiful, Zeph whispered.
Turning, she was grateful that in her distraction, no one had seen the floating doll, too absorbed in their own conversation.
North and Jack had wandered out of the office to the balcony overlooking the rest of the workshop as North delivered the end of his speech with grand gestures.
"This wonder is what I put into the world. And what I protect in children. It is what makes me a guardian. It is my center. What is yours?"
Jack looked away. "I don't know."
North smiled kindly and nodded encouragingly. He seemed to pause, eyes drifting as he opened his mouth to day something. Before anyone could say anything more, Bunnymund was bursting in.
"We have a problem, mate. Trouble at the Tooth Palace."
