Get ready. And thanx again as always for enjoying the ride. ;) (Oh sweet lawd, these chapters are getting longer! Someone save me haha.)
"We're gonna run, nothing can stop us. Even the night that falls all around us."
"Sir, I've got a name."
"Have you now?"
The hacker team cross-matched the picture the assassin took with the camera in his helmet to several espionage databases. When they got a match in the wanted section, Pitch smiled.
"My, my...Jack Frost?"
Black moved away from the computers. He'd never met the man but with a name like that, a sudden chill went pleasantly down his spine.
"Do you know the legend about Jack Frost, boys?" When no one spoke up, Pitch continued.
"Old European folklore, that's all it is really. They tell the tale of a young lad, a winter spirit who stalks each of us. He is the bringer of snow and cold weather, calls on the Northern wind as a friend and, he loves to play, always wishing to join in other's games…But, oh."
He stopped and they turned to look up at him nervously. Pitch smiled liked it was a fond memory.
"Don't make him mad. Provoke him and he'll freeze your extremities or worse…drag you to the bottom of a lake. At least, that's what they used to tell the kids because gentleman, Jack Frost isn't just a thrill-seeker. He's a demon. He's responsible for avalanches, hypothermia, black ice...All the things you fear in the winter.
The tech analysts stopped typing, looking away uncomfortably and creasing their foreheads. No one wanted to speak. Pitch then snapped his fingers and pointed at one of his boys.
"Garrett?"
"Yes sir?"
"See to it that our dear, Jokul Frosti, gets to Russia safely with the princess. Make sure he gets a welcome party."
"As you wish."
And he stared back at the photo of the young man dressed in blue while the princess held him tightly from behind. She wasn't looking up at the picture from the other ledge, but Jack's face was dark and fierce. Even through the image, it sent an icy prick down everyone's spine. Except to the one who it should've mattered.
Pitch smile twisted into a gnarled grin. "A hellion indeed."
...
Moscow, Domodedovo International Airport, 5:55 pm
"извините... спасибо", Jack mumbled in Russian as he excused himself and Tooth through the crowd in the luggage pickup.
Flight #7 landed successfully on schedule and was welcomed by the dark blanket of nightfall.
The sky was bleak and cloudy and the pilot said the city was going through a light winter so there was little snow to be seen in the next days. Eight minutes later, everyone made a mad dash off the plane and into the warm airport ready to start their holiday season. Inside, the festive atmosphere was adrift and people laughed and sang Slavic holiday melodies.
It should've been uplifting, but there was no joy to be had as the two kept thinking about Pitch Black and the time they were stretched for.
Meanwhile, the brunette kept his head low, making sure his steps were slow but fluid. His muscles were tight and whenever he caught another man's gaze, he held it for two seconds then looked calmly away – look away too fast: pins you as weak; stare too long: makes you look suspicious.
He had to keep his eyes open for anyone that looked too calm in the arrival terminal. Pitch's subordinate was around somewhere stalking the crowd like him, and if the industrial terrorist was as good as the world feared him to be, the guy was probably carrying a crap-load of undetectable weapons designed by the mastermind himself.
Jack played with his right fingers, tapping each fingertip and when they passed a bickering family, he expertly reached over and stole one of their son's leather jackets and shoved it into his carryon.
At least the weather in Russia was cold...he wasn't sure how much more heat he could take in a country like Vietnam anymore.
That's when he finally spared Princess Thia a quick look behind him. The princess anxiously stayed on Jack while the new, unforgiving cold ensnared her through the thin dress.
She had tremors all over and was biting her lip as she tried to keep up with his long strides.
He frowned.
"Sorry," he muttered and shortened them instantly.
When she came up beside him, Tooth shot him a small smile, grateful that he picked up on her discomfort – she didn't want to say anything when he looked like he was spy-ready.
Jack saw the smile and instantly tensed. He twisted forward again to avoid seeing it and they both headed for the check-in.
As they did, Jack scanned the crowd nonchalantly but profiled everyone.
He had the ability to see beyond average and was trained to twist reality for any disturbances. It was how he hunted criminals in incognito and stalked other dangerous, disguised men for months. Maybe even years...if he could only remember.
All Jack knew was what watching other people and analyzing them had become almost a natural part of his routine. But so far, no one look out of the ordinary and that pissed him off.
At the check-out, a young, female employee greeted them and Jack presented their passports while Tooth held the carryon beside him.
As the two spoke in Russian mildly chatting about hair and business, Tooth listened, her interest piquing in Jack's sudden change of accent…not to mention her annoyance when the woman behind the desk, with her long platinum locks, kept staring at Jack so suggestively.
After the girl stamped and cleared the fake passports, Jack took them back and Tooth thought that was the best time to peek over beside him and read his. She really wanted to know the rest of his fake name – you know, in case someone asked.
Tooth mouthed it silently.
Adrian J. Bennett
She also noted that Jack's hair in the photo was black, but he closed it suddenly and put it with the rest in his pocket.
"Spasibo (thank you)," he said with a half smile and the girl winked at him when they finally moved away.
As they did, a sudden surge of people from all exiting the lines joined them too.
Jack huffed and took hold of Tooth's arm as the people excused, shoved, and weaved in and out of each other. Tooth tried to forget about that awkward encounter and spoke up.
"Did you pick the name 'Adrian'?" she asked and Jack looked at her.
"Hue picked it."
"What about Bennett?"
"I did."
"Why?"
Jack paused just the slightest but Tooth caught it before he kept moving again.
"I don't know. It just...seemed right to me. I think I heard it before."
Tooth scrunched her eyebrows and didn't comment.
"And what does the 'J' stand for?"
Jack rolled his eyes and blinked when the fringe of his bangs tickled his eyelashes.
"Hue thinks he's hilarious when he really isn't. The J stands for Jokul."
"Really? It's still 'Jack?'" she smiled (translated).
"You might as well know, in case we need a cover story and someone asks."
Then he fell silent and tightened his grip on his backpack.
Jack started to survey the moving crowd again, his blood pressure rising. He needed to find Pitch's target!
A fedora, a scar, a business suit, a backpack...anything that would help the two of them get back on tr–
"Prastee meenya pozhaluysta," a man stammered in Russian as he pushed around Jack.
Jack paused to let him through but the second he did, his mind went into overdrive.
Something was off.
Jack started to analyze, profiling the solid build of the businessman passing around him.
The man's head was tilted to one side, blinking his slightly blotched eyes slower than normal – lack of sleep, prolonged use of acute sight...most likely staring at a computer screen or a far distance.
His posture was hunched over just a fraction, completely unnoticeable especially from a distance but very noticeable to Jack – indication of meek nature, definitely plays the derogatory role.
The man also kept squeezing his fist on the handle of his backpack. The knuckles were dry and cracked from what anyone could guess was because of the dry humidity of winter. Jack knew better because he'd had similar abrasions – pattern of the skin cracks not environmentally sustained, physical pressure...fist fight or excessive moisture from a glove.
This also explained to Jack why the guy's body was too heavily built under his business suit. Men who worked in commerce or law (the way he chose to dress) were usually lanky or at least didn't look like they belonged in the WWE. That was obvious from a distance – bulky figure, most likely a bodybuilder...
But the biggest indicator was the backpack.
It looked too massive for a regular guy to travel for business with. It was a hiker's heavy-duty pack – the same one Jack saw on the backs of the men who were surrounding Pitch at the warehouse! - weapon carrier obviously, maybe an M40A3 with a bipod...but why carry it if you're only tracking one guy? Damn, he's probably a scout sniper.
It was a still long shot to guess all of this on one guy, but still.
It had to be him. He had to be the tracker that Pitch sent.
Jack was ready to advance on him when his target sneezed and went to zip up his dark coat.
The man looked disheveled as he pushed through the crowd, fiddling with his zipper.
But Jack caught what he was wearing underneath...a dark, red bodysuit with jeans over the bottom.
It was the same uniform top that the dead ELF was wearing!
"Zhdat'!" Jack cried.
He tried to reach for the man's arm but a family cut him off and blocked his path.
"W-What is it?" Tooth asked as she came up beside him, hearing him yell out Wait! She gripped his hand on her arm, afraid that something was maybe coming at them through the crowd or something.
Jack didn't feel it as his eyes grew wide, trying to look over and through the rambunctious people but when they finally all passed, the man had vanished.
He bolted through, slipping out of the princess' hand and going on ahead.
"Ja–A-Adrian!?"
But Jack was already a blue blur vanishing amongst the crowd. Tooth tried to move ahead, but she wasn't as fluid as the spy.
She lost him instantly.
Jack looked around the crowd but he had a hard time tracking people in the busy setting similar to Ho Chi Minh City.
He ran a hand through his hair and turned. He'd try another direction...
Without another thought, Jack dashed away.
...
Airport pickup waiting area, 6:45 pm
Tooth rubbed an eye and curled herself more into the leather jacket around her shoulders.
Her breath was like a smokescreen when she puffed it between her lips and her throat was crisp straight down to her lungs. The cold air was merciless.
Jack had disappeared for well over fifteen minutes and she decided that since he'd have to come back for his police belt and the carryon, she would wait for him in the pickup area outside until he came back. It was better to be outside where there weren't much people.
When she found the jacket in the bag she decided to use it for warmth. She also found his toothpaste and used (and ate) some of it to keep her mouth clean and her anxiety low.
Then she sat (shivering) and waited, fiddling with the hair tie on her wrist that Bao had given her and stroking a yellow feather.
"There you are!"
Tooth snapped her head up at him.
Her mouth was ready to spew an entire slew of English-Thai curse words, but she stopped short and hung slack.
Jack jogged up to her wide-eyed and looking almost...worried. Not pissed, and Jack was usually murderous when she vanished.
He was holding a turquoise-colored trenchcoat.
"Here," he said quickly and pushed a purple scarf into her hands.
"W-Where did y–"
"Come on! We need to leave!"
Tooth flinched at his anxiety and jumped off from her seat.
Jack gestured at her to take off the leather jacket before opened the coat for her. Tooth was still on 'bewildered autopilot' as she moved herself in front of him. He put it on her.
The trench coat was a snug fit around her form but she tensed when she realized...it was still warm.
He stole her clothes...again.
She blushed and turned back to face him, watching as he took the leather jacket and shrugged it on.
It was one size too small for him but it was still comfortable. Jack never had a leather jacket before (he was more of a trench coat person) but it felt nice and decided that it was maybe better.
And from the look on the princess' fond gaze...it probably looked good too.
But how the hell would he know?
As he checked the pockets for stuff, he pushed up the long sleeves, enjoying the feeling of the wind on his forearms.
"I ran up and down that terminal twice but I didn't–" he stopped. His glare came back on his blanched features. "And it's cold out here, why are y–"
"Y-You ditched m-me remember?" Tooth snapped as her teeth chattered as she plopped back down on the seat. "Besides isn't th-that what a sp-spy chase is all ab...about? I had to h-hide from people."
Jack continued to glare at her for a few more minutes before the sight of her trembling form and red nose was too much.
After he sighed, a thick cloud of warm air passing over his lips, Jack looked at her seriously again.
"We gotta go. Now!"
"Why? Di-did you end up catc-hing him?" she guessed, thinking he saw Pitch's hired tracker.
It was the only explanation she came up with in the last fifteen minutes to explain why Jack left in such a hurry.
Jack shook his head rigidly and tightened a fist.
"No," he bit out, "but I heard him mention the Khamovniki District. So that's where we're headed."
"W-We're seriously still following him?"
Jack shot her an impatient look and nudged his head at the subway sign.
"Yes, but we're already five minutes behind because I had to look for you! He left on the train and next one's coming in two minutes!"
He held out a hand for her Tooth took it, standing on her shaky knees. When she was standing, he spoke again.
"Not only that…I saw this."
And he lifted a newspaper he snagged. It was all in Cyrillic and Tooth was about to translate the small section with his name on it but he explained it to her instead.
His face split with anger.
"Someone ratted my name out to the Vietnamese police, probably one of the damn squealers over at Hue's place after I killed that guy...and the Tổng cục 2 Intelligence Agency found out!"
Jack threw a punch at the wall next to him, impatient and furious.
"So the search radius around Vietnam just extended and they've already warned Russian Interpol about my possible landing…so I need to hide. And soon."
A large lump grew in the back of her throat and she felt like her heart just fell into her stomach.
Tooth nodded numbly, feeling on high alert now that Jack could (potentially) be arrested. It seemed impossible when she thought about how long he'd been on the run already and the skills she'd seen with her own eyes. But there were cameras everywhere at this airport so they really did need to disappear.
Tooth sent a trembling glance at the stairs to the subway. "B-But the guy–"
"I know, princess."
Jack pulled her hand with him towards the downstairs train platform.
"So come on, I need to find this guy first before anyone else shows up. Then I'll hide you somewhere so I can–"
She pulled back and glared at him.
"No. We."
Jack stopped tugging her and turned his head. The wind rustled his hair and the collar of his blue shirt.
He frowned.
"Wh–"
"We need to f-figure out where he's headed," she said serious and firm. "This isn't just your m-mission anymore. It's mine too, r-remember? So stop thinking like you n-need to do it all yourself. We're finding this guy, and then w-we need to hide."
Jack was ready to argue against her small and positively ruffled form in the cold, winter breeze. But when he saw her stance and tight jaw, he stopped himself.
As much as he hated the idea, Toothiana was right. And besides, he'd feel much better knowing she at his side than alone – he kept trying to tell her so every time she bolted.
He sighed edgily and rubbed his eye.
"Fine, we. But you don't know Russian so I don't know how in the hell you're gonna be helpf–"
"I do!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
Tooth felt provoked again.
"Why is that so hard to believe? You just assume I can't!? Or is that why you went and flirted with that girl at the check-out desk?"
Jack blinked.
Really? This is what they were talking about? They were on the run for Christ's sake but argh, the princess couldn't help it!
A nasty twinge had crept into her stomach as she listened to the two speak. How come Jack was able to smile at the other girl so easy? They'd been together for two days straight and he never once cracked a smile at her! Then suddenly Little-Miss-Anastasia back there flips her hair at him and he acts like every guy she'd been with before? Pathetic.
Jack wanted to argue and say it was nothing like that. He hadn't even entertained the idea since newsflash! they were waist-deep in terrorist shit. Plus to defend himself, he saw right through that Russian girl's facade so he didn't buy her ac–
Jack squeezed the bridge of his nose.
(Russian) "Give me the strength not to push her into the Moskva River," he muttered darkly at the floor.
She yanked herself out of his hand and moved down the subways step. Her cheeks were hot with embarrassment and frustration.
"I can understand you," she sang spitefully, "and don't you dare try because I'll just ditch you again."
"You tried that twice and it was still pointless," Jack taunted and pointed at her. "And this time around, I know Russia's streets like the back of my hand."
He glared at her.
"So trust me kitten, you won't make it out of my hold for five minutes."
Tooth glared back.
"What did you call me?"
"You heard me. Hue had the right idea about you. Feisty, little–"
And Tooth growled.
"Don't call me 'kitten'."
"Then stop wasting time and let's go."
After the two had a brief stare off, they both spun bitterly and ran down the stairs, adrenaline pumping through their veins.
...
Khamovniki District, 7:41 pm
About an hour later, Jack had his arm around Tooth's shoulder and was guiding the two of them out of the train at their stop.
"Keep your head down," he mumbled and bent his as all the people were screaming and shoving themselves around them.
A pair of Russian federal agents had gotten on the train a stop earlier and Jack recognized them under their covers instantly. He knew they were on surveillance and thinking fast, he set one of his smoke bombs on fire and told Tooth to separate. After he handed her a newspaper, he gave her the lit bag and told her to drop both in a corner then move away.
Tooth did flawlessly and while the two agents helped to calm down the rest of the passengers, he pulled her out with him at the next stop and they vanished before the other two could do a head count.
When they were safely back on the icy sidewalks, they both ran two blocks south before the coast looked clear.
Tooth wiped her mouth and finally looked around while Jack kept silent, brooding as he madly worked calculations and tactics in his head. When he left briefly to go into a dimly lit store, she waited outside.
But she didn't mind the cold once because her eyes grew wide.
She had never been to Russia and now, here she was during the middle of Christmas.
Moscow was probably amazing during the day, but at night, it was absolutely stunning. With its rich culture and gleaming lights coated in a holiday glow, everything seemed to sing and shine back at her.
Tooth made an 'aww' under her breath. She walked off the curb to a nearby overpass and looked at a roundabout in the distance.
It had magnificent statues and iconic buildings in the distance, in names she could barely pronounce and histories she had yet to read up on. She also wanted to know if they passed the Kremlin but didn't want to ask. She just wanted to drink it all in, even the signs, trying to memorize each place so she could safely tuck it away for future trip planning. The girls would love it here, especially Tulia who was the major bookworm of the seven handmaidens.
Tooth squeezed her eyes shut briefly thinking about how worried they all must feel being away from each other.
"Where am I...W-Where am I?"
"Don't worry, pet...You're safe."
Toothiana frowned and tried not blink back the burn in her eyes. She had a hunch that wherever they were, they were still terrified and confused.
"Princess!"
Tooth turned.
Jack exited the currency exchange shop with the money he'd had from Vietnam. Now instead of đồng, Jack was carrying rubles.
As he joined her on the dark street, a light snow began to fall.
Jack looked down at her, watching her eyes blink rapidly as she tried to open them again.
"You all right?" he asked cautiously and watched her tighten the scarf around her neck.
She nodded.
"A-Are you?"
Jack didn't answer and squinted his gaze out over the bridge.
"I got enough cash for a couple of days," he said instead. Tooth watched a cloud of hot breath billow over his thin lips before she nodded numbly.
"S-Sounds good," she said and a wind blew her hair back and pulled at her feathered earrings.
The nightmare on the plane earlier seared behind her eyelids.
Jack nodded and ran a hand roughly through his brown-white hair.
"Stay close, okay? Everyone's looking for me so we need to be in discretion."
…
The two hurriedly walked two blocks past a long bridge and small church, into a more commercial district lined with small shops, whilst talking about how to search for the guy in the red uniform.
Each time they passed a group of people or several men, Jack held her hand and pretended like they were a couple just out enjoying the holiday air. He wanted to scale the roofs too but was afraid to leave her alone so decided that pretending to be two tourists walking the streets would suffice. Tooth had no problems with it, inwardly jumping with butterflies in her chest whenever his cold hand clutched hers tightly. She didn't think she'd ever get used to the electric jolt she felt whenever their skin touched.
As he did, Jack explained that he didn't know where Pitch Black had his hideout and the best chance at finding it was by following his men. So he told her to keep an eye out for a man in a brown over coat with matching bags, jeans and a red shirt.
And if it failed and they didn't find him, Jack promised to let her rest at a hotel and do a midnight scout. He would go to the last known spot where one of Pitch's men was seen on the Russian spy database (he hacked).
Tooth thought it was a good idea as any and for once, was more willing to listen. She also promised not to run off as long as he returned by 1 a.m. and they'd call it a night.
…
Two hours later, 9:37 pm
After spying on about thirteen men in dark suits, Tooth's hopes began to fall and Jack's frustration continued to rise. She grew cold and hungry but didn't say a word as they walked past opened stores and the warm encircled her ankles. She wanted to prove to herself that when the going got tough, she could handle anything – as well as for Jack, for her sisters, and for the rest of the missing princesses everywhere.
When they hit a park with nice lanterns and benches, they decided to rest for a minute to review their results. A small band of carolers and a violinist were playing softly in the distance.
The snow was starting to fall more prominently.
Tooth smiled, trying to lighten Jack's darkened mood, and pointed at a tree as they passed.
"I see you've been here earlier and did your work," she commented on the frost-covered wood.
He rolled his eyes jarringly. "I'm not that Jack Frost."
He then looked around the park. The guy had to be somewhere because Khamovniki wasn't that large of a section in Moscow.
They needed to keep moving.
When a harsh wind blew through the park and sent both their hair into frenzy, Jack beckoned her with his ungloved finger and pointed down another street.
"Come on princess," Jack urged.
That's when Tooth blinked, realizing something, as he sauntered away.
Jack didn't zip up his jacket. As she stood there bundled up in her coat and tightly-wound scarf, she couldn't help but feel cold just by looking at him.
"Why didn't you get anything for yourself?"
He looked at her curiously before she pointed to her scarf.
"D…Do you want my scarf?" she offered. Tooth thought Jack was an asshole most of the time, but she wasn't heartless.
"Oh, no I'm fine," he mumbled with a dismissive hand. "I don't get cold."
Tooth sputtered and shook her head.
"B-But it's like below freezing here!"
Jack shrugged, trying to get her to lay off him.
"I'm fine."
"How can you be fine, Jack? Everyone gets cold especially in weather like this." She began to unwind her scarf angrily. "Take this then!"
"Princess, no. I'm serious."
He felt a scowl creep onto his face. She was doing it again.
Being sweet.
"Princess!"
"Jack here, please!" She moved to hand it to him but he stopped her by catching her wrists.
Jack glared down at her.
"Princess, I said I'm okay! I don't feel it. I don't feel the cold, alright? So can you just drop it?"
"But I don't understand what you–" Tooth wanted to keep asking but then a powerful wind blew through again.
Tooth pulled away from him and squealed, visibly cringing against it while Jack just stood there, eyeing her worriedly.
When she looked up at him, she frowned.
The wind was icy and the snow and bitter, and it crept all through her body, into her chest and lungs and threatened to make her shake violently. Yet Jack didn't seem to react. He didn't seem to feel it.
He just kept letting the wind play with his brown locks and the air caress his smooth and exposed throat.
I don't feel it. I don't feel the cold, alright?
Tooth's mouth opened a fraction, sort of disbelieved by how disturbing yet…amazing Jack was. Was his body really immune to it?
'His cheeks…' she thought, 'his ears...even his nose isn't red. A-And his teeth aren't chattering. But how is that possible?'
When the wind died down and she stood back up, Tooth creased her forehead. She slowly redid her scarf around her.
"So is...is that why your hands are always so cold? And why you liked the air-conditioning so much?"
He rubbed his forehead stressfully.
"Yeah I guess..."
"Have you…" she was afraid to ask but swallowed her dry mouth anyway. "Have you always been that way?"
But he looked away and didn't answer.
So Tooth did instead.
"Wow, you really are like the real Jack Frost."
And Jack again, said nothing before he walked away.
…
As they kept walking, crunching through ice and salt pellets, they eventually passed an open convenience store.
Jack completely ignored it but Tooth eyed the concession stand longingly through the frost covered glass. Her gums watered and her fingers tingled at the sight of all the spearmint gum.
She pushed down her craving with a shaky, icy breath.
"Ohh," she desperately mumbled to herself. "What I wouldn't do for a Trident pack right now..."
Jack's acute ears heard.
"How can you think about gum at a time like t–"
Tooth bumped into him.
She was about to apologize before she looked around him to see what had made him stop. It was something on the brick building across from the curb.
"Oh no..." she whispered and watched as Jack quickly ran toward it and ripped the poster taped on the wall. When she came up beside him, she looked down and read the sign with his face on it.
His hair in the photo was black but it was still him.
It was a wanted poster for the local police. Jack's eyes widened.
"No," Jack mumbled under his breath. "Dammit!"
Tooth didn't get his newfound anxiety.
"B-But I thought you said you were already wanted in Russia!"
"Yeah but just by their Interpol. Not publicly, not by the local police!" Jack growled and crumpled the sheet and threw it on the ground. "This makes things harder."
"Why?" Tooth asked but Jack was already skulking down the alley that the curb of the street turned into, away from the convenience store.
"Why, Jack?"
"Because princess, it means it'll be harder for us to hide in the streets and in the shops! When you're wanted federally, local law enforcements don't know shit about you because you're too high on the list. But locally, how are you and I gonna move through Moscow properly if I keep having to hide...Son of a–" Jack growled, running a hand through his hair and stormed down the dark alley like a demon.
Jack stopped and turned.
The wall didn't have just one poster…the entire expanse was lined with them!
He gritted his teeth.
"Jack?" Tooth called as she looked nervously around the street before flitting back into the alley. Her dress was billowing underneath her. When snow had settled itself in her hair and she shook it away.
"I-I think the poster's are only on this wall!"
His eyes widened. Jack then moved swiftly to look out beyond the street and stared at all the buildings.
She was right. He rubbed his eye rigorously then stalked back to the posters.
They did look freshly placed.
"Pull them off!" he whispered hotly and ripped two down from the brick wall.
Tooth immediately copied him and began tearing each of them down with cold, shaky fingers. Her breath billowed out in front of her as she huffed anxiously.
"Y-You think whoever p-put these here is still around? M-Maybe they're nearby putting up th-the rest?" she mumbled as Jack dropped his backpack and the carryon bag and put on his duty belt.
It would help him blend in more if the cops really were out looking for him. He then shot an angry glare down the other end of the alley. Seeing an empty street at the other end, he narrowed his eyes.
"Only one way to find out," he bit out and tightened his glove. He pointed at the wall as he began to move.
"Keep taking them down! I'm gonna go stop the guy if he's still nearby taping them."
"B-Be careful! I...I-I mean..."
And Jack paused mid-step.
He turned to look at her but Tooth had already snapped her mouth shut. Her cheeks grew pink before she busied herself back to the wall and ripped off the rest of the posters more fervently.
But he saw her still biting her lip in deep worry.
Jack frowned.
A millisecond later, he broke into a silent run and left her behind.
As he moved, his breath was hot and moist against the frigid air. His skin prickled in the wind and before he reached the end of the alley, he tightened his weapon belt.
Jack then turned the corner.
Some things were better left awkward and unsaid.
...
Tooth kept ripping the posters down.
Each time the ebony-haired Jack Frost in the poster looked at her, she shivered and pretended it wasn't the same Jack who had just vanished down the street.
The posters said he was still responsible for multiple homicides, still at large in Russia, and to be killed on site – it didn't have as much information as the French article did, but it was enough for any police officer to go on.
The signs were saying that this guy was bad...and maybe whoever was with him.
She tried not to think about that as she ripped the last poster.
When Tooth bent down to his backpack, she tried to push the last seven sheets in but it wouldn't budge!
"Shit!"
And when the carryon couldn't hold anymore either, she growled anxiously and pulled out a bunch to hold herself.
'We'll find a garbage can and throw them out, no biggie!' she thought desperately and zipped the bags closed again.
After she lifted both bags in her hands, Tooth frantically sprinted the short distance left for the alley and turned the corner.
"You didn't have any room left in your bag so we need to find ga–" she stopped.
Tooth froze.
Heartbeat rapid and cold sweat began to run down her neck...
Jack was in the middle of a fight with eight black-clad men wearing yellow glowing goggles.
This was all a setup, an ambush.
They knew she was here with Jack!
Which meant Pitch–
Two of them heard her and snapped their necks.
Their ghoulish masks pinned her to the cement like a bird to a dartboard.
Tooth didn't feel the posters fall out of her arms as she eyes grew wide with fear.
"N...Ni..."
Jack had just finished a twist-off with one of the men when he caught the turquoise hue in her coat.
Tooth wasn't staring at him as the men advanced on her. His voice turned guttural.
"TOOTHIANA!"
When she snapped her head at her voice, one of the men swooped in and covered her mouth from behind. His glove was like ice and iron, trapping her jaw in place. Her breath fogged up her vision.
"Mhfmmm!"
Jack tried to move forward but he got hit in the torso and instead had to block hits from the ambush of men.
They were fast but at least he had assessed one positive to the fight.
None of them were carrying any guns.
Pitch's mission report said that Jack Frost was deadly with a weapon. And not only that, Pitch wanted him captured alive.
But Jack knew they were arch-level Nightmares – faster to avoid and harder to hit.
As he jerked left from a straight punch to his eye, he suddenly had to parry a set of kicks from two other men.
Worse still, he found his focus was lacking.
Gritting his teeth, Jack barely weaved around a crescent kick and tried to control his increased heartbeat.
"Mmfmhmm!"
Tooth kept screaming and tried to struggle as the two men tried to hold her steady. They were pulling out binds from concealed pockets inside their jackets and another had a cloth laced with chloroform ready.
Her pink-purple eyes widened.
'Think Tooth! OH GOD, THINK!' Tooth frantically screamed in her head as she stared at the men.
She vowed never to end up Pitch's dark and cramped clutches again!
Every time they tried to move toward her, Tooth twisted left and right, kicking her legs out. She tried smacking the bags to hit them but they ripped them away from her hands and left her defenseless.
Jack meanwhile managed to knock one underling away with a low roundhouse kick and immediately flipped left to catch a guy around the neck before bringing them both down. But when he pulled up he had to throw his whole back behind him and back flipped over a garbage can they chucked his way.
He hated to admit it, but they were near trained to his level so it was more hectic to fight them! While he was quicker than a regular spy, they were faster than regular hitmen. He wished he could do more, move more!
When he landed, one of them was already on him delivering a right hook combo that Jack could barely keep up with. He lost attention for a fraction and got a punch to the stomach and coughed out the air in his lungs.
Tooth heard him. Her eyes widened when she looked over.
"Jmmm!" she screamed his name and watched terrified as the men swarmed him like vile, black wasps – he kept trying to recover but ended up having to block.
He could barely fight his own battles at the moment.
Tooth exhaled a crisp breath painfully through her nose. She couldn't stand being there helpless – she needed to try harder!
"Mmmmm! Wfmhm mfm Jhfmm fmm!?" (Ooooh what would Jack do?!)
And Tooth blinked behind wet eyes.
Improvise!
Tooth shook like a leaf as she placed her feet properly on the ground. The ice was thin around her and she dug her flats into the snowy concrete, biting back the numbing pain in her frozen toes.
Then she listened, feeling every movement as the two Nightmares moved around her.
Tooth shut her eyes and focused, and when the second one finally moved in to put the cloth over her, she sprung forward.
Tooth bashed her head against his chest.
Ignoring the dull throb that erupted after, she watched him stumble back onto a patch of ice before she kicked him between the legs.
He grunted, proving to her that he was still a man underneath that black uniform. At least the chloroform danger was gone.
Tooth then eyed the guy behind her. He was about her height – she could use that to her advantage!
With a deep breath, she slumped her entire body forward like she'd seen in a spy thriller once – she wasn't even sure if it'd actually work but she hoped for the best. Pretending to fall like dead body, she used all her bodyweight as a powerful force of gravity to bring down the man behind her. They hit the ground together.
The second his grip loosened, she kicked and rolled out.
Tooth almost got away…but the second Nightmare recovered and grabbed her around the ankle.
(German) "Not so fast, Princess!" he growled and Toothiana fell down with a painful crunch on the ice, banging her chin against the icy concrete and scraping her palms. She cried out painfully and Jack eyed her again through the dark shadows.
She was in trouble!
With an angry snarl, he sidestepped the guys and snapped out his collapsible baton to its full length.
Like at the warehouse, he only chose to use it in desperate times.
And unfortunately, this was becoming one of them.
Through narrowed eyes, Jack dodged the oncoming hits and gripped the steel tightly. He then used his other ungloved hand to catch a powerful wind that blew by.
When he felt the direction of the current, Jack exhaled.
He then swiped at the wind and guiding it to his baton, he dragged it in a sharp cut in front of him.
The whooshing sound was powerful and the force was enough.
It successfully stopped three of the Nightmares coming at him from the front and when two more tried to kick him from below, he gently maneuvered the long piece of air down with the steel and blew their boots off course until their kicks went off to the side.
When they stumbled, Jack twisted the baton and brought down the weapon hard on their bones.
He shattered the knee cap of the guy on his left then performed a reverse roundhouse to the other, smashing his goggles in.
"Wargh!"
The others stopped, cautious by the sudden change in the man. The wind around them made it hard to communicate and hear through their earpieces.
Jack's teeth were tight in his jaw, his eyes feral. He flexed his pale, white fingers, turning the currents between his digits.
"H-How did I...'lcome to the progr...How am I – T-This can't be...'ter Division, go!...Ok team, punch it!–ARGH!"
Jack steadied his heartbeat. It was wild under his chest now that he had awakened his control over the wind.
He then swooped low again, pulling out a small knife from his belt as he did.
With one hand steady on the concrete and another on the baton, he twisted his legs over him and timed it precisely before he snapped both boots out in opposite ends. He got both Nightmares in the gut and when another rushed forward, Jack pulled up quickly and slashed him across the neck.
Their inhibitions gave him an open window so he twisted back around and pulled up the baton, controlling a sharp thread of wind to knock one of them away.
When they cleared a path, Jack didn't hesitate. He nimbly flipped over the assassin then rushed forward across the pavement.
The man had managed to pull Tooth under him and she kept squirming as he pulled her head back painfully. He almost had the cloth to her face–
But Jack came a second before and cracked his baton hard across the guy's goggles. In the blink of an eye, Jack shoved his blade into the guy's head and shoved him off Tooth. She tried clambering up instantly, chest throbbing and nausea threatening to boil over.
"J-JACK?"
"COME ON!"
He quickly grabbed her raw, burning hand and tried to pull her away.
But the Nightmares were tactful.
They surrounded the two in an instant.
Jack screeched to a halt and cautiously eyed each shadow.
"N-No!" Tooth whimpered softly and he put his him out to protect her. She placed her arms on his shoulders like a shield as he took several steps back.
His other hand tightened on the baton as he twirled it.
Jack gritted his teeth and shot them a lethal glare.
He wouldn't go down and let them take Toothiana without a figh–
–something zinged through the air.
Everyone turned and saw one of the Nightmares catching at his gas mask, trying to claw at something lodged in his vision.
It was a knife with a beautiful wreath design around the steel hilt.
A second later, a gun went off and shot him in the head.
Jack followed the trajectory of the bullet and looked up behind him and the princess.
Up on the roof against the snowfall, were seven shadows. Two stuck out more prominently than the rest in their stocky build.
Then a voice spoke.
(Russian) "IDTI! GO!"
A second later, five of the group dropped over the edge and tore after Pitch's men!
"Back!" Jack shouted at Tooth and pulled her behind him as the new men cleared around him.
Tooth looked more hopeful than him, feeling a little relieved when these new guys – who weren't after them – were going after their enemies.
'And the enemy of my enemy is my friend!' she thought nervously in her head.
Jack looked otherwise pissed.
He didn't know who these new guys were, where they came from or why–
A loud thud was heard at the foot of the building they jumped from.
Jack's brown eyes widened.
The two bulky figures had just landed on the concrete and began to dash forward. Jack eyed them both as they slowed in front of him.
One had a short, white beard, piercing blue eyes, thick dark eyebrows, and a fur cap on his head. He was wearing a thick aviator jacket with classic white trim on the collar and Slavic patches sewed onto each arm. The other was a guy with the thickest mustache Jack had ever seen and eyebrows just as thick that they near covered his eyes. He was covered in a long fur coat that perfectly matched his thick, facial hair. But underneath his coat, Jack saw he was wearing red.
He blinked and his mouth flew open to speak–
"ARGH!"
Jack turned at the scream.
The Nightmares were fighting hard and fighting back. Their combat strategies were more savage and unpredictable. Tooth's hand gripped Jack's collarbone tighter as she watched with him and others when one of Pitch's assassins kicked one of the men down on his knee and snapped his neck.
The large Slav in the aviator jacket turned to Jack briefly with a wild look beneath his brows before he turned to his equally large partner and pointed at the girl.
(Russian) "Protect her!" he ordered and the other bushy-browed man nodded and sauntered over to two of them.
Jack growled and gripped Tooth's hand on his shoulder.
He then dared the hairy giant to get closer as he brandished his baton but the other man – no doubt to either of them that he was in charge – yelled gruffly at Jack.
"BOY!"
Jack snapped his fiery gaze on the bearded stranger but the other was already pointing at Pitch's underlings. His breath was like a fog as he heaved deeply.
"Hurry! We must stop them!"
And Jack blinked after a moment.
He wanted to turn on this guy and drive his knife into him. He wanted to leave the two warring parties, take Tooth and run. He really did!
But he stopped himself.
Somehow, something in Jack's gut told him to listen and to stay.
STAY.
Jack clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes as the bearded man rushed into the fight.
He watched him lift two weapons out of pocket as he moved in sync with his crew.
This was wrong. Jack's rule was to never trust anyone. Trusting people led to trouble, led to a life shattered...Look how he ended up thanks to his trust in the few blurred people in his memories!
Yet, he felt himself move.
He was risking everything...but he couldn't stop his instinct.
Jack slowly lifted his gloved hand and moved Tooth's off his shoulders.
The princess immediately looked up at him.
"Wh...A-Are you sure?" she choked out.
"Just stay close and be ready!" Jack whispered.
She tried to argue but then she saw his fingers twitching anxiously. She felt his energy racing, pulsating, under the skin.
Tooth bit her lip, hating his idea, but finally she nodded.
"Be careful," she mumbled and this time she looked him in the eye, not feeling embarrassed at all for saying it.
Jack looked at her one more time and gave her hand a slight squeeze.
At last, he turned and rushed into the fight.
...
She promised Jack on the plane that she'd try to believe in the good in him even when he didn't himself or no one else did. So she'd have faith in his decision, especially since he looked so...certain.
When the new, hairy guy stood beside her, she gulped but he only nodded and held out his hand for her to take if she wanted.
Toothiana wasn't about to take it but she let him guide to a nearby wall where he stood next to her, alert and prepared.
Tooth rubbed her forehead stressfully and kept her eyes glued on Jack, chest on fire and frigid air dripping itself down to her core.
...
Jack meanwhile was erratic and with new found adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Seeing all these new men and the odds turn in his favor surged his strength, fuelled his fire.
And while he still didn't know who these men were, at least for the moment, they were Toothiana's (and his) saving grace.
Jack then swung his baton and with a quick snarl, dove into the sea of snow and violent shadows.
Chapter's soundtrack: "Not Gonna Get Us" - t.A.t.U. A Russian girl band ;)