It was several months after the defeat of Pitch and Jack was happy to be a member of Guardians, even if he had been reluctant at first. Summer was just coming in for the northern hemisphere and Jack had been called to the Pole for a meeting with the other Guardians. He was curious about why they had wanted to meet, but happy that they wanted to include him. The Wind seemed to toss him higher into the air at his thoughts of past loneliness.
"I know, you've always been there, but I've missed being able to talk to others." The wind sets him down on the roof of North's workshop and nudges him.
"Well yeah, but you can't talk back. Let's just see what they want and then we can go have fun, alright?"
The Wind seemed almost reluctant as it picked up the lithe body of the teen and ferried him into the globe room of the Pole.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Jack alights on the railing around the globe before carelessly slipping off and letting the Wind settle him onto where he had just been standing. He leans casually on his staff as he watches the others curiously.
"Jack, is good you are here."
"Yes, it is."
Sandy nods in agreement and Bunny seems to just turn away slightly a gruff grunt his only greeting.
"So what's the big problem this time? Pitch isn't back already is he?"
"No, no is not Pitch. Is just, Sandy made mention that you do not have home."
"Huh?" Jack seems confused by this and turns to Sandman for clarification on what North is saying. He makes the image of a house and then 'x's it out while shaking his head and frowning sadly.
"I think he meant no house, cause I have a home. Burgess, well the pond there at least." Jack smiles and rocks forward, his staff the only thing stopping him from tumbling forward onto the floor.
"But Jack, where do you sleep? What about summer, it's too hot in Burgess for you to stay there?"
"Well I usually just sleep in a tree or a snowbank when I get tired, as for summer I just move to where it is cold enough."
"Is not right. You are Guardian now, and as Guardian you should have proper home."
Jack seems confused and stands with his brow scrunching up as he studies the floor. Finally he looks up at the others. "But where would I get one?"
"Is no problem, you can have room here."
Jack takes a moment for North's offer to register before he is letting a bright wide grin break out across his face.
"Really? I can stay here? I can have a room here to call my own?"
North just nods and suddenly they are all caught off guard by the Wind whipping up and lifting Jack away, almost possessively as it pushes the other guardians away from Jack.
They are all caught off guard, but none more so than Jack himself.
"Wind!"
His exclamation has the Wind setting him down, but it continues to writhe around Jack, pushing the others away from him when they attempt to move closer to the teen sprite.
"What is problem?"
"Frostbite, what was that for?"
"I thought, you seemed to like the idea."
Sandman just hovers a '?' over his head.
"I don't know, I do like the idea, I want the room. I don't know why Wind is acting like this."
"Well get your bloody powers under control then, ya gumby. Hmph, losing control just 'cause you get a bit excited."
"Its not that Bunny. Its not my powers, Wind is my friend. It's always been there for me."
At the confused looks from the others Jack tries to explain.
"I can't fly."
"Really, then what do you call it when you go zipping around from place to place."
"The Wind is carrying me. It only looks like I'm flying but I'm just riding the Wind."
A series of symbols forms over Sandman's head and North seems to nod in understanding. "Ah, Sandman says he understands. Apparently Wind is a spirit like ourselves, though perhaps a bit different."
"Wait you mean this Wind is actually a separate being from Jack."
"That's what I just said." Jack seems to pout and the Wind pulls at his hair lightly to cheer him up.
"Yeah, but how does that work? I thought you controlled the Wind like you do your ice and snow."
"No, I guess it's hard to explain."
"But then Jack... Why did it not like the idea of you getting a room here at the Pole?"
"I don't know... Maybe it thinks if I accept and stay inside I'll forget about it."
"Ah, is no problem then. Room I want to give you has many large windows you can open. Come, I show you."
North motions for Jack and the others to follow. Jack slowly steps forward, and upon finding that the Wind will let him, hurries after North ahead of the others. They travel through the workshop and up several flights of stairs until they are at a room high within the building. The construction all seemed fairly new, the wood having a lighter color to it than that just on the floor below and it even still had a fresh woody smell that seems to only come from fresh lumber.
"Is this all new?"
"Yes. Yetis and I built after battle with Pitch."
"Wait, so, you built this, for me?" Jack looks around the small hallway outside the room North was standing by.
"Yes!" North then opens the door beside him and motions inside.
The room Jack steps into is not overly large. There is a soft looking bed with blue sheets and a pillow decorated with snowflakes that matches a blanket folded at the foot of the bed. on either side of the bed are tables and sharing the wall with the door from the hall is another door. Opening it reveals a small closet. A rattling at the windows draws Jacks attention to the large, almost floor to ceiling, windows that take up the other three walls of the room. He can see that each one opens out and he goes over to open one to find that there are latches on both the inside and outside of the windows so Jack could come and go even that way.
With the window open, Wind hurries in and wraps around Jack before exploring the room. It twirls Jack as it explores before spinning around him once more and settling around him in a light breeze, content for now that the teen would not leave him.
"I love it, and I think Wind approves as well. Thank you North."
"Is no problem."
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review even if it is just to tell me your favorite part.