chapter word count: 645
noir heart: fifty
"Jack Frost, as I live and breathe. I never thought I'd see you again."
Eleven years has been kind to Robert Callaghan, principal to the once-trickster Jack and grandfather to Arendelle High. Many a time had the younger version of himself been hauled into Callaghan's office to face punishment, and though Jack had to face the consequences every time, the punishment fit the crime. A cherry bomb in the toilets meant that he had to clean up the water with a mop.
Jack partly blamed Callaghan for his antics, though; had the affable principal not tried to suppress a grin and not worn a twinkle in his eye whenever he handed out the discipline, he wouldn't have been so encouraged to continue his work as the reincarnation of Loki.
Okay, maybe not. Jack would've continued his pranks regardless, and he knows it.
"Good to see you too, sir." he responds lightly. The grey-haired man, who looks like he hasn't aged a day, curls a wider smile and offers his hand, which is politely taken.
"It's been awhile, son. Seems only yesterday you and your brother Hans were giving my staff migraines." Callaghan softly enthuses as he pockets his hands, and the boyish twinkle has not been dimmed one bit. Neither has his principal's reserved sense of fashion, it seems; Callaghan still wears the grey sweater-vest, dark grey slacks and brown shirt that contribute to his grandfather-like appearance.
Nodding slowly, Jack agrees. "That was a long time ago, sir. Lot of things have happened since then."
Strangely, though an eternity has passed since he last set foot in the halls of Arendelle High, it hasn't really changed. Green lockers still flank either side of the corridors, a white vinyl floor punctuated by black squares still rests under their feet, and the hustle and bustle of high school students reminds him that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Except the Student of the Year award hanging proudly on the wall behind Callaghan's head. Mulan used to have that honour, now it's some grinning kid with black hair called Marinette, who has an obsession with ladybirds judging by the red-with-black-spots shirt she wears in her photograph.
I feel old.
"Indeed they have," Callaghan sagely concurs, "I've been keeping track of your exploits since you left - I have to say, you're one of the students I'm proud to say studied here."
Jack scoffs dismissively as he averts his eyes to the students entering the classrooms to his right, including Marinette, holding the hand of a student with blond hair as messy as his. "Ancient history, sir. Besides, I'm here about the graffiti incident." he changes the subject, resting his hands on his hips.
"I'm afraid you've wasted your time, Jack. Coach Calhoun found out who it was this morning; Kronk, our quarterback. He said he was drunk, and his friend Kuzco dared him to do it. Calhoun busted him down to refreshments duty for a month as punishment." Callaghan says apologetically.
Half-smirking, Jack doesn't even mind.
"Coach Calhoun always was a drill sergeant." he recalls in mild amusement as he watches the classroom doors close, something that Callaghan wholeheartedly agrees with.
"She still is. Tough, uncompromising, and…" the principal chuckles, but trails off unexpectedly and abruptly. Curious to the change of tone, Jack's head swings over to him. "...is something wrong, Sid?"
Following the principal's frown to Jack's left, he notices how a young boy about sixteen, wearing a black shirt with a white skull, blue denim pants and a shaven brown head is staring wide-eyed at the gold APD badge on his left hip, his body tense and his face whiter than Jack's hair.
confession: I have never seen "Miraculous". I only know of Ladybug and Chat Noir via osmosis.
wonder why Sid's acting shifty...
special thanks to: jpbake, edgarallansnow, hornedgoddess, oninoko, heartonfire, notdoge, scottydog, colormeaya and stefalove for reviewing!