Sweet mother of...phew! ^u^; You wanted an update? You got it.
Okay, so this chapter was originally two but I mashed them together (for reasons) so after this, I can see that we'll ALL need time to recuperate (and yeah, so does my hand...and maybe my brain if we're throwing everything around). SORRY! Haha so (hopefully) the rest to come will be shorter and sweeter to the point. *pinky-swear* And guys we reached 200 reviews! Is this the real life or just fantasy? Asjkl thank u for always taking the time to let me kno how u feel :D
*Note: Also, LOVE that it's summer. HATE that I have to shave my legs again :/ If anyone can sympathize that'd be awesome.
"But did you know that when it snows, my eyes become large, and the light that you shine can be seen?"
Tverskaya district, North's warehouse, 12:12 am
The group left the Khamnoviki District and entered Tverskaya Ulitsa, a district more north.
There wasn't a warehouse in sight...but that was the idea.
It looked like a regular empty, rundown structure amongst the fifty others on the avenue, but when North called ahead and ordered the side doors to open, it was a complete lie. The glamour of the tiny warehouse hid the immense underground center from the rest of the Russian citizens – they had no clue that the men who moved in and around it were operatives and not mere businessmen or factory workers.
Inside, there were levels upon levels of iron platforms with stairs and poles dropping to each one. From where they stood, Tooth saw an inventory control system on the main level (their level), another level specifically designed for combat training – and for several levels high, it looked like the warehouse had devoted most of its space to weapon tech and computer control. More still, there were many hallways tucked into each wall, and they heard elevator dings and strange hissing sounds go off in the distance.
So yeah, the warehouse was HUGE...It was just too bad that Jack couldn't appreciate it like the princess.
The second they were rushed in after North, and his men shut the steel doors to block out the winter frost, Jack began to shake violently and stumbled.
"Jack?! I mean...Adrian?!"
Jack's nerves were shot and his core was shaking. His skin was clammy and when the princess tried to steady him, his hand pushed her away. He clawed at the collar of his blue button-down shirt, grinding his teeth.
Neither noticed before but in the light, it looked like Jack got more from the fight than he thought.
There was a small spot of darkening skin on his neck. It looked like a tiny network of spidery dark blue lines outlining his veins beneath his snowy white complexion.
It was searing him from underneath.
Jack growled and banged a fist angrily against a nearby railing, trying to mentally suppress the pain like he'd been trained.
It wasn't working though and he kept writhing where he stood – he wasn't the only one.
"This way, hurry!" North grunted softly as he stumbled slightly then he and his men ushered the two down a long set of iron steps to the lowest level: the infirmary and resting area.
Jack squinted through his slightly blurred vision and saw that Nicolas, his partner, and the other two surviving men were collapsing on themselves. They were gasping for breath and rubbing their necks.
He looked around for Toothiana's coat.
"P...Pr–"
Tooth gripped his arm and helped him down the iron stairs.
"Don't worry, I'm still here. I'm not pulling a gunner."
Jack shot her a suspicious look but she looked ahead.
"T-That'd be cheating," she tried to joke. "And it's more fun when you try to chase me, right?"
He didn't say anything back, but he gripped her hand tighter as they continued down the steps.
Through painful eyes, Jack kept his brown irises trained on the entire warehouse, trying to memorise the floor plan and looking for possible escape routes. There were over hundreds of men scurrying around doing their assigned tasks but he couldn't see them properly through his blurred pain. Several times he saw a shadowy group of them rush off into one of the many hallways or heard a vehicle screech away from an unseen tunnel.
Jack shot the place a cold, mistrusting look.
At least the weaponry seemed to be laid out like an assembly line – that would be good for him in case he needed an extra set of arsenal.
He was still upset that his baton broke in the fight.
Everyone was a mess once they reached the bottom. The infirmary level was a wide, flat area where tens of beds lined the walls and a major healing dock sat in the center.
North desperately clambered over to one of the medical stations and yanked one of its white drawers open – it had a wreath design craved into its handles. He pulled out a set of what Jack saw were hypodermic pushers – needles without the needle, but with a depressor that opened the membrane and injected people with chemicals.
Jack tensed.
He wasn't afraid of injections, but wary of what North's partner was quickly filling them with.
"Wh-What are you doing?" he wheezed as he watched the larger men shuffle around on shaky knees and heavy breaths like him. They looked suddenly sickly and in pain, trying to crawl out of their own skin.
North didn't answer Jack and glared unsteadily at his other two men.
"Иди сюда! (Come here!) скорее! (Hurry!)" he ordered and they moved forward instantly, rolling up their coat sleeves and open their collars.
Jack and Tooth squinted worriedly – it looked like they'd been through this before because they seemed prepared. Even North's furry partner did the same, taking his fur cap off his bald head and rolling down his thick turtleneck.
That's when Jack noticed – all three of their skins had darker, wider veins trickling down their throats and he could see that it was appearing on their hands when they took off their gloves. They looked worse than him!
The brunette widened his eyes and he leaned heavily onto a nearby table. Toothiana kept her arms up slightly as she stood behind him, ready in case he needed support.
They watched as North handed out all his pushers and tossed two to Jack, for him and the princess. He caught it easily despite the immense ache he was going through and looked up at the Russian. North gritted his teeth and pulled down his red turtleneck to show the same dark patchwork on his neck.
Like Jack, his wasn't as bad as the ones on his partner or his men – it was fairly small but still painful.
He eyed Jack quickly before lifting his white device to his neck.
"Press here, like so!"
The Slav pushed the apparatus against his darkened veins and a loud piiiiii-ciss! was heard before he pulled it away. The others did the same, although their pushers built up a longer charge because they had been infected more.
Jack didn't waste time.
Moving it up to his neck and trusting Tooth when she said he placed it correctly, he pushed the silver ball of the pusher against his skin. The same short (but loud) piiiiii emitted, then ciss! ...something warm flushed across his neck and a tingling sensation plunged itself deep into his bloodstream.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut as the antibodies immediately worked to reverse the virus in his veins.
Tooth watched closely as Jack's neck began to return to its beautiful, snowy complexion almost instantly.
Her pink eyes widened.
'How did that work so quickly?' she thought.
She looked at North and his crew. North was airing out his neck and she saw the dark patch on his neck quickly vanish as well. The other three were still leaning heavily, trying to recover at a slower pace–
Jack suddenly grabbed her shoulder.
He unwound her purple scarf from around her and she squeaked when she felt his large palm cup her neck from behind – he was holding the other pusher in his gloved hand.
"Jack?!"
Jack narrowed his brown eyes down at her as he turned her head slightly back to expose her throat.
"You don't have any..." he started to say but faded out as he continued to twist her in his grip.
Toothiana's skin was still a warm, healthy glow of golden brown and flawless as ever. She was smooth and soft in his touch and the chain from her royal necklace twinkled up at him under the warehouse lights before it disappeared under her coat.
Tooth gulped and when she couldn't take the awkwardness, she tried slapping his hand away from her neck.
"What did I say about treating me like a little girl?!" she snapped with red cheeks.
"Take off your coat," he said as he let go of her.
Tooth stumbled back a bit, still shaky from his lack of understanding personal boundaries. Even if there was danger, that did not give him an excuse to grab her in front of strangers.
"But I–"
"Just hurry!"
Tooth huffed. She quickly unbuttoned the turquoise trenchcoat, put it on the medical dock and stood there self-consciously. As she stood timidly, Tooth rubbed her arms for warmth, shivering in her wet flats.
Jack swept his eyes across her immediately like a hawk on a mouse...but it was weird.
The princess didn't have any dark skin patches or eerie veins like the rest of them – she didn't even look like she was hurting anywhere.
"Do you feel any pain?" Jack asked cautiously as he gripped her hypodermal pusher in his glove. The other men looked up at the two as they continued to recuperate. Tooth shook her head and furrowed her eyebrows.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Jack took a step forward. Tooth eyed the white injector in his hand and frowned. She looked up at him again, lifting her hands and doing a quick spin to showcase her health.
"Honestly, Jack. I'm okay," she answered softly. "But are you?"
Jack bit the inside of his cheek and gave her another scrutinizing glare. His body still had slight tremors.
"I will be," he muttered and touched his neck. "But that still doesn't explain why you're fine."
Tooth was about to answer when North's heavy footfalls broke their conversation. He came over with a semi-relieved look on his face and looked down at the two. He didn't look as bad as he did before – almost back to normal.
"Are you two all right?" he asked calmly. Tooth nodded and spoke up first before Jack went off his handle again and started snapping at the man rudely.
"W-What happened to all of you?"
North looked down at her more heavily as a dark look etched onto his older features. His forehead became a valley of wrinkles as he spoke in his broken English.
"New invention of Pitch," he explained. "His airborne pathogens weaken substrates, enter bloodstream. Designed to send body into shock then later infection...Luckily my agent discovered his invention before went on market."
Then he pointed to the pusher in Jack's hand and the brunette handed it back to him. "My scientists created antibiotic in just nick of time, and I create this little toy for it."
Jack stood beside her still glaring at the older man but North tried to ignore him as he focused back on Toothiana again.
"But you, princess. Are you all right, child?"
Tooth blinked and bit her lip.
"Yes, Mr. St. North," she spoke politely and eyed his other three men who were still trying to catch their breath but getting better. "I feel fine."
Jack wanted to argue and check her skin again but North took the opportunity to beckon her to him with a gentle gesture.
He wanted to see for himself.
Tooth took a step forward and Jack tightened his fists in case the Russian tried anything. Nicolas gently grasped Tooth's chin and turned her neck up and around as he assessed her skin briefly. Like Jack, he found nothing but a perfect tan and smooth features.
He frowned and pulled away.
"Is truly remarkable," he mumbled to himself and he fingered his white moustache in deep thought. As he did, Tooth looked up at him and got a good look at him.
Nicolas St. North was big and tall, probably close to seven feet but not there yet. He was also very buff and stocky under his aviator jacket, with a width that could take up two seats on a city bus – it complimented his brute strength. She also thought that maybe North was probably in his fifties or early sixties by the white of his hair and wrinkled forehead. But his crisp, clear eyes were an electric blue that looked young and wiry and eyebrows that were still dark brown – a reminder of who he'd once been in past years.
Tooth didn't expect him to smile at her once he was done stroking his stern face. All the stress seemed to peel away and he looked younger. He dropped his hands.
"Da. I am happy then."
Toothiana wanted to ask why but Nicolas then sighed and threw a hand to his two men that survived the fight.
"Rest comrades, you fight proud," he said and they nodded tiredly. When they both took off their coats, Jack's eyebrows flew up into his bangs.
He hadn't seen during the fight and in all the darkness but as they were removing their outerwear and shuffling out of their second pair of pants...he couldn't believe it.
They were wearing the red uniforms.
"Y-You're ELFs!" he cried and everyone jumped at his outburst. North's crazy eyebrows shot up on his wrinkling forehead.
"How did you know?"
Jack immediately walked up to him and reached into his pocket. His hand was almost shaking...for weeks he'd been searching for another agent! All his questions, what the dying man had said...
The brown-eyed hellion took out his passport and after he turned to a page, he handed the Russian head a small white card.
North took it sparingly and read it. He frowned and looked down at Jack with a somber look.
"Where did you find this?"
"I was following him for a while," Jack admitted sternly, his forehead creased with questions. "But he got ambushed. Not by me."
Nicolas' eyes narrowed.
"Was it Pitch?" he asked.
Jack nodded and after a moment, the Slav sighed. He squeezed the card in his large fist.
"He was good comrade," he nodded. "A old friend I knew for long time."
North shut eyes briefly before he opened them and turned to dismiss the two agents again. Jack said nothing, but he couldn't help but notice that the other ELF workers were considerably younger than the ELF he'd watch die in Belarus. Maybe the two really had been friends for long time – but Jack had bigger questions he cared more about at the moment.
Once the two left to finish their progress reports, Jack gritted his teeth and finally snapped his head up at North.
"Okay, start talking," Jack bit out. "Who the hell are you, and why'd you save us? Twice?"
The Russian's eyes widened, completely thrown off but the younger man's snap in attitude and authority.
He glared down at Jack disapprovingly but answered anyway.
"Foot patrol necessary to find Pitch's men. He was trying to stop my operation."
Jack scowled. "What operation?"
As he asked, loud pants and heavy feet pounded onto the infirmary level from a nearby hall.
When they all turned, another red-clad agent carrying a brown trenchcoat and jeans appeared with a heavy backpack on his back.
(Russian)"г-главный! (C-Chief!)" he coughed out. "The delivery was a succe–"
He stopped when he spotted Jack. The two gawked at each other.
"It's you!" Jack said and he pointed at the man. "You're the one I tried to chase in the airport."
"He was the guy?!" Tooth sputtered and widened her eyes. "B-But I thought you said he was Pitch's–"
Jack whirled back on Nicolas and balled his fist.
"What is all this? What's going on here?!"
"Do not be afraid," he said firmly and raised his hands defensively. With a quick glance at his man, North furrowed his brows.
(Russian) "And did you find ELF 206?" he asked but the agent frowned sadly.
"Pitch had already gotten to him. Am certain was why group of Nightmares appeared in Moscow hours ago."
"But did you manage to lose the one following you?"
"Da, sir."
Jack couldn't believe it – he had known he was being tracked!
North then told him to go talk to his partner still standing behind them. When the three were alone again, he swept his hand out to the entire warehouse above him.
"This is underground, secret intelligence agency, one of many 'workshops' in Russia. Is biggest organization of sleeper agents worldwide."
Tooth's mouth fell open.
"Y-You're spies?" she asked and North nodded. He took a moment to cross his arms and admire his men, hard at work way above him on the iron-grated platforms.
"My team," he confirmed. "I have agents all over world, working hard on operations."
"What are sleeper agents?" Tooth asked and Jack looked at her.
"It means spies who go undercover for a prolonged period of time," he explained. "They don't have an immediate mission, and only act when their handlers give them the green light to."
And North nodded. "My men work all year round, but do not take action until winter season starts. Hence why 'ELF' name is appropriate."
Tooth was still amazed but Jack wasn't buying it yet.
"But why is that?" he asked. "What's your mission?"
"My mission?" he repeated and Jack flexed his gloved fingers again, on edge and still in the dark. North glared softly.
"Not my, our. Our mission is to stop global crime and terrorism," he said. "Has always been."
When Jack didn't let up, North lifted a finger at the brunette.
"Like you, young man...Jack, Adrian, or whoever you are, we also go by many names, and take many forms," he tried to reassure. "Believe me or not, but I hope you will. We have made it our job to protect people without government funding – is private organization, secret."
"But y–"
"North!" someone grunted and all three turned. North's partner, the furry giant of man, came sauntering over with his personal team of lookalikes.
North's partner was as big and stocky as him but a little less intimidating than the Slav. His deep set brow made him look grumpy and he had a thick mustache with the tails falling long past his chin and a large button rose. He still wore his long, brown fur coat over his red uniform. Jack guessed that if North was the Chief, and his buddy was like the second-in-command, then they were the lieutenants or third-rank officers of the agency. They almost looked alike, being big and wearing fur coats, and several were bald or had their hair pulled back in ponytails.
Tooth suddenly grew unsettled by all the testosterone in room and tried to avert her eyes.
She rubbed an eye stressfully and looked up at an ELF agent on the second floor. He was the only one on the floor wearing his full-bodied red uniform – a dark-red vest over a bright-red long-sleeved thermo-shirt and light black combat boots. He wore a dark belt which she guessed was a weapons belt like Jack's but way more slim and high tech. As he was pulling up his red-pointed hood with his gloves, he was talking to another agent, getting some last-minute mission report statuses before he headed out.
Tooth blinked.
'The dreams!' she thought as it finally clicked in her head. 'I can't believe it! These were the men I dreamt about with the other girls!'
Tooth's mouth grew possibly drier and her fingers began to shake. Rolling on the balls of her feet, she tried to calm her heartbeat as she kept looking around warehouse – she was trying to look for anyone that wasn't a guy, was shorter than 5'3, and who could pass for her younger sister.
She grew heartbroken when she couldn't see anything, or anyone. North moved around them to his partner.
After the two big men shook hands on a job well done and said a quick prayer for their fallen comrades, North finally introduced them to the quiet giant.
"Friends," he said with a small smile. "This is Philip Yaloo. Phil is better though. Is old friend of mine, as long as Sandy and other fallen comrade." He was referring to the ELF that Jack couldn't save in Belarus. North then pointed to back to the two.
"Phil, everyone," he said softly to the others. "You must bow...Is Princess Toothiana."
Tooth and Jack were surprised to see all the big, intimidating officers shot their furry eyebrows up their foreheads. As they instantly moved into a line and bowed, Tooth smiled warmly and politely curtsied back, trying to get over the loneliness of not seeing her handmaidens and BT.
She also wanted to go to bed.
'Wow I suck,' she lamented.
Tooth missed Jack's dark expression as she looked at the men who could basically pass for yetis or a group of Big Foot.
He had a keener eye than her and noticed how their skin paled at the mere mention of her name and how stiff their backs were...almost like they weren't prepared or nervous to meet the short woman.
Then North pointed at Jack.
"And this is...uh...what is name again, boy?"
"Jack," he said not bothering to hide it. "Jack Frost."
North blinked for a second then gave a deep laugh.
Tooth and Jack looked at each other before frowning slightly – the guy was weird but when he stopped holding his gut to compose himself, his smile was still warmly etched onto his face.
(Russian) "What luck!" he cheered before switching back to English. "Jack Frost, just in time for holiday season!"
And Jack scowled, tired of the same shit again.
"I'm not that Ja–"
"But there will be more time for that later!" North waved a hand dismissively and turned back to his partner seriously. He narrowed his eyes.
"Get men to collect bodies," he mumbled so as to not spook Tooth who was within earshot. "Make sure no trace left behind, da?"
Phil nodded and left with his burly troop after they agreed to meet once he returned. When he was gone, North walked back to Jack and Tooth quickly. He suddenly produced a huge amount of money from some secret pocket neither of them had seen. When he handed the rubles to Jack, North pointed at Toothiana's dress.
"Who give you that?" he asked and Tooth looked at Jack. North shot the brunette an almost exhaustive look before his eyes turned hard and serious again.
"You know first rule of spy book, Jack," he said. "Be prepared! So go buy her new clothes."
Jack glared at him.
"W-We have to go back out there?" Tooth asked nervously thinking about the Nightmares that could be still crawling around. The two ignored her.
"And have you track us while we're out there? No thanks."
"Boy, I am serious. This is no joke."
"Do I look like I have time for that?" Jack growled and marched forward. "Give me a reason, or I'm taking her whether you like it or not."
North's eyebrows narrowed worriedly.
"You cannot!" he snapped. "She is in danger!"
"Buddy, I've been protecting her for two days...and you saw how fast I can move in that alley." Jack narrowed his eyes to slits. "I can pin your agents down no s–"
"Jack!"
He stopped when Tooth came up beside him. She had a stern look on her face but the sad glint in her eyes told him to calm down.
She looked up at North gently.
"Can we talk when we come back?" she said politely and North nodded.
"We must. There is much to discuss...and I will call for Sandy."
And the weight in Tooth's heart instantly lessened. She smiled gratefully before she turned a frown on Jack.
"Jack..."
Jack looked at her with wide eyes. How could she be so forgiving? When he tried to get her to trust him, he practically had to tell her everything about him! And even then, it required a lot of screaming and pushing and a little threatening. But with this guy...just because the older, bearded man had a team of skilled fighters and seemed to know her nanny, she was willing to let it go?
Jack didn't understand Tooth – he didn't understand women in general!
He gritted his teeth.
"Princess–"
"No, Jack!" she stopped him and scrunched her eyebrows worriedly. "Please...Listen to him, come on."
"Yes boy," North butt in. "And buy princess regular clothes. No dress this time."
"It was the only thing I could grab for her," Jack argued back tensely, not at all liking that weird accusatory tone in his voice – like Jack wanted her to wear it. North crossed his arms.
"Is very beautiful yes, but not good in this winter. You will find twenty-four hour shop two blocks south of exit street."
"But I..." Jack ran a hand through his hair and sighed angrily. He looked up desperately at the Russian. "Why are you doing all this?"
He saw Tooth's face fall. She looked at him like she wanted to comfort him...like she wanted to when North's power had asked for.
He kept his eyes down. No, he couldn't let her...He wouldn't.
North frowned openly at Jack. He still felt pity for the brunette, remembering the wind he controlled and his obvious confusion about...who they both used to work for.
North then began to take off his coat – the two were surprised to see his two impressive, tattoos on each arm. One was inked with 'Nice' and the other 'Naughty'.
"I promise. Will try to explain when you return," he said softly then called over an ELF agent walking past the guardrail on the second floor. The man jumped over the rail and easily landed on the concrete before he jogged up his chief.
"Yes sir?" he answered curtly and Nicolas put a hand on his shoulder.
"Take these two to East exit and let them back in once they return," he ordered gently and the younger man nodded. As he walked past Jack (of whom glared suspiciously at him), he beckoned them with a hand.
"Follow this way please!" he said and Tooth moved forward. Before she took three steps, she paused and spun around – but North was already holding out her coat and scarf for her.
"Please return when you are finished," he said, wary of Jack's suspicions and not wanting them to disappear.
Tooth shot him a tender smile and took it gently.
"Thank you so much," she said timidly, "for everything."
And North smiled as he watched her bundle her small form into the coat. He couldn't believe how much she'd grown from the last pictures Sanderson had sent him.
"It is pleasure of mine. And promise to dear friend," he said simply and waved her off. Tooth grinned before she moved away.
"Come on, princess," Jack mumbled and grabbed her wrist and quickly headed with the ELF to the door.
Jack was still uneasy, especially with Toothiana's eager smile about the whole thing.
He didn't like this new chapter beginning in his life, one he was slowly starting to lose control of. And if anyone liked to be in control, it was him.
Jack gripped Tooth's wrist as they left the warehouse alone and headed for the shopping boulevard again.
He wasn't going to let this bearded spy chief run everything, even if he did know the princess and just saved his life.
...
Tverskaya streets, 12:51 am
The snow was less than it was when they were first out and it was pretty, blanketing the streets like sugar.
When they were alone on the street, Jack rubbed his eye then moved to rub his scalp.
Everything was just getting more stressful and this downtime with the princess wasn't helping. Why were they back on the streets when he was wanted, when more of Pitch's Nightmares were probably still crawling around?! What was that toxin he succumbed to and why didn't the princess? And why couldn't he not help but trust this St. North character and his league of Christmas knockoffs?
And even still, there was the bringing up of his Center gene. It was still wrapped around his head, it and everything to do with the company, Луна, and a company he'd yet to get a name on.
He wanted answers dammit – and Tooth humming 'Let It Snow' wasn't helping him either.
"How can you be so relaxed?!" he spat and she instantly jumped. When she stopped humming, he watched her turn sour and a part of him felt bad for ruining that peace.
"What!? The guy saved us, in case you'd forgotten! Without him we wouldn't have gotten out alive."
"But we shouldn't trust him yet. You shouldn't. And I saw you with that gun," he kept talking. "What if it'd been empty? No one was around, you could've–"
"Hey, you should be proud that I didn't just stand there and I at least tried! And it worked!" she argued back growing more irritated with his griping. "So why can't you just calm down? I managed to get out alive, and so did you!"
"But you almost didn't because I wasn't there," he bit out and remembered how the black clouds swirled around her and a Nightmare came. "...You almost got hurt."
Something heavy instantly fell between them. Jack immediately clenched his jaw and when he rubbed his eye again, he missed how Toothiana stopped in the snow.
When he turned, he found her frowning and crossing her arms for warmth.
"But Jack," she started. "Every hour I spend with you I almost get hurt all the time!"
When he narrowed his eyes, she smirked slightly and kicked up some snow with her flats.
"The barfight, the motorcycle chase, Pitch's guys in that alley...there's always gonna be danger and you've made it perfectly clear that you're good at trying to stop it. But don't forget I handled myself pretty well in those situations too! I can handle myself!"
But Jack didn't say anything and crossed his arms, almost looking upset at her tenacity. She rolled her eyes and looked at everywhere but his face, until she spotted something.
She grinned and rushed to the small enclave in the warehouses and picked up two wooden sticks that used to be one broom. They were well-balanced and fit to her size and she grinned when she gripped them steadily.
"Okay, okay!" she piped as she moved back in front of him and brandished them like swords. "Let me prove to you how capable I am! If I can hit even The Great Spy Jack Frost once then that means I'm quick enough, right?"
Jack blinked and leaned his weight on one foot.
"You're serious," he deadpanned. "She's serious..."
"Yeah, so come on! Let me try!" she exclaimed and glared at him as she tightened her tan hands on the wood. "I've never fought with sticks before but I'll improvise! I mean I kicked you in the shin, and I slapped you and that sorta counts," (Jack scowled) "but I have to do this...even if it's just for me!"
When she smirked and heaved a deep frigid breath, he sighed too.
He raised his gloved hand in a 'whatever-it's-your-funeral' gesture.
"Fine," he dared. "Try to hit me."
Next thing he knew, Jack's senses were telling him to twist right – so he did.
The wood she held made a loud thuu through the cold air and he threw up a hand to deflect her left jab. Jack's eyes widened slightly and he parried her other stick as it snapped back. Tooth's hands were quick and her breath was heavy as she kept pushing forward on her feet but Jack blocked each pathetic hit blow for blow.
When he started to look bored, Tooth growled softly and tried positioning her feet better. She then unlocked her wrists and tried more swipes than cuts.
She was actually giving Jack a hard time to recover as she brought down a quick strike to his leg, but he still always managed to catch her each time. Tooth gritted her teeth, growing more fervent and twisted the one in her left hand to make an uppercut at his shoulder while she bent the other downwards to throw his parry off-balance. Tooth was better at swiping than jabbing and moved more fluidly on the balls of her feet. She listened to the wind around them and felt the rhythm in her sticks.
Then suddenly–"Argh!"
Tooth stopped instantly and pulled back as she watched Jack stumble on his left foot. He was holding his side.
She got him! Her cerise eyes widened gleefully.
"YES!" she cheered and jumped in the snow. "Yes yes yes! Haha I got you, Frost!"
"That was a cheap shot," he grumbled, recovering seconds later and standing poise and almost ready in case she attacked him again. Tooth was too busy doing a happy dance to notice though.
"It doesn't matter!" she quipped. "You lost focus for a second and I got in a hit! So there!"
'Oh yeah, Tooth! Who's the best!' she thought proudly. "I just proved that I CAN take care of myself."
"Stop acting like a kid," Jack said and rolled his eyes again. Tooth flipped him off before she moved giddily back to the enclave and put the wooden sticks back.
When she turned back around, Jack crossed his arms and was eyeing her funny.
She shrugged with a playful smirk. "What?"
"Are you ambidextrous?"
"Ambi-what?" She thought it was an insult.
Jack blinked slowly at first, before he shook his head and beckoned her with a finger.
"Nevermind. Come on, I don't want this North guy sending his Christmas elves to find us. Let's just get your things and head back."
"We're seriously going back?" she asked hopefully before she started walking again. "So you do believe him?"
"I don't know what his game is yet. But if he's fighting against Pitch then I can at least sympathize and get you some protection."
Tooth paused.
"Does that mean you're not gonna hand me over to another criminal?"
Jack stopped.
"What? No, why would I do that?" And he stared at her openly worried by her words – his face was uncreased of frustration and Tooth's eyes widened.
"Remember your moral compass?" she mumbled and scratched her neck. "And not knowing who you worked for – the good guys or the bad guys? I was afraid back there that you'd..."
Jack looked at the snowfall at his feet and sighed.
"Princess, I already told you. Who I was back then, it doesn't matter at the moment. Yeah I want to know, but let's get you taken care of first. Then, it's Pitch turn."
When she smiled and nodded, he sent her a incredulous look.
"And what about you? You still gonna try to gun on me?"
And Tooth actually laughed and shook her head.
"After everything we've been through...wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I want to see him again too. I need to. You...understand, right?"
She was referring to Nicolas St. North and his band of red rascals and quiet giants. Jack nodded and they began to walk again.
As Tooth walked side-by-side with him (and humming more loudly just to get on his nerves), Jack's head was still spinning in circles.
He didn't say it, but he was impressed that the princess could hold the two pieces of wood like actual weapons without even knowing it.
...
Twenty-four hour department store, 1:14 am
The store really was open twenty-four hours.
There was only like one other shopper inside besides the few employees on the graveyard shift but it was still nice and simple. It smelled like capitalism and they played faint Christmas carols on the PA from a radio station.
With Tooth's ability to read every language, she scoured the aisles for the clothes sections and read brand names of things she'd never seen before – Jack followed silently from behind with his head tilted down the entire time. He felt uneasy being seen under the cameras since he knew he was wanted by other spy agencies.
He hoped they wouldn't get a good shot of him.
When they found the women's clothes section, Tooth beamed and cooed at all the latest things but before she dove in, she paused and waited for Jack. He stopped beside her and he lifted his eyebrows questionably.
"What?"
"H-How much did he give you?" she asked timidly and rubbed her neck. "Because I don't want to spend a lot, or any of what we have really, so I want to make sure I budget what I should be lo–"
"Don't worry," he stopped her and crossed his arms. "I had enough for things like this even before he gave me the money...But with what we have now, we honestly have enough for a three-night stay at the Park Hyatt Hotel."
Tooth had never heard of it but by the look on Jack's face as he said it, she guessed it was expensive. She gulped but shot him a small smile and shook her head.
"Don't worry," she tried to assure as she began to scan the racks. "I won't spend anywhere near as much."
"Go ahead. It's not my money," Jack said, lifting his eyebrows briefly and Tooth actually chuckled and touched his arm gently.
She smiled when he didn't flinch like he usually did.
"No thanks, I'd rather not steal like you."
And before he could say anything, she flit into the section and did what she did best.
Minutes later
Tooth went around in circles with a small smile on her face (albeit a little guilty knowing her life and her sisters' were in danger, she was using a stranger's money, and seeing Jack look bored as he leaned against a beam nearby). She grabbed whatever she thought would last the longest, was the warmest, and what looked the cutest – anything to survive but that was still 'Tooth'.
But Jack walked over after about five minutes and frowned. Tooth's face instantly fell.
"Oh no, what now?"
He pointed at the colorful pile in her hands.
"Princess, you shouldn't wear those colors," he murmured still in spy mode and knowing he was under cameras at almost two in the morning.
Her arms fell slightly.
"But I...I love colors," she said as she looked down at them. "That's just who I am."
"Yeah but..." Jack ran a hand through his hair, "you need to choose plain clothes that won't give you away. We need to appear as ordinary and unremarkable as possible."
"Oh...yeah, you're right." She really did pick a lot of bright colors.
What the heck was she thinking? They needed to keep to the shadows or Pitch's men could find them again – and what if Jack got spotted by the police because of her? She didn't want that on her conscience.
Toothiana sighed and moved to discard the really rainbow-y clothes. 'Bye bye clothes!' she cried in her head then smiled weakly.
"I forgot," she tried to joke. "I can't be me anymore. I'm Kat now right?"
Jack nodded not picking up on the teasing in her tone, referring to Hue and Jack's reference to her apparent 'kitten-like' behaviour – she didn't want to admit it but when he gave her that hideous nickname it immediately grew on her.
Jack helped her after with choosing darker tones. Tooth never really wore dark clothes so had a hard time liking certain things – it was a good thing Jack had a decisive mind and helped her compromise around what she couldn't decide.
...
Moscow streets, 2:09 am
Jack and Tooth became two dark figures walking down the street, after they left the store.
Tooth couldn't believe that she now actually liked wearing dark clothes. It was mostly because Jack once again knew her style (consciously or subconsciously she was too afraid to ask) and what looked good and worked for her. Her outfit made her feel like a sexy librarian.
As they walked down the street, Tooth was sporting a pair of fitted, dark pants and a dark-colored turtleneck with short sleeves similar to what Jack wore when they first met. Her new boots gave her an extra two inches so she stood to Jack's ear rather than under his chin and that made her immensely happy. As they stomped down the sidewalk softly, she wriggled in her new socks happily from the warmth. They also exchanged her turquoise coat for a shorter, darker trenchcoat and Tooth kept on her feather earrings and the purple scarf Jack stole for her. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat – the store surprisingly didn't have any gloves left to sell and she fiddled with the tube of chapstick she'd just applied. The rest of the minimal items they bought (including her dress) were in her new bag.
Jack bought a black, double-breasted trenchcoat for himself and bent the collars upward to stop the wind from tickling his neck. He walked with his hands in the pockets and the front open (since he was never cold) but he kept the leather jacket in his backpack. He didn't bother to buy hair dye and was still wearing his earlier clothes and his police belt underneath. He looked taller, darker, and more spy-chic – the sight of him almost tore Tooth apart from the inside-out.
'Stop it, Tooth!' she thought to herself but held in a secret smile as she looked away. As she did, Tooth frowned hungrily.
They walked past another open convenience store, and she followed the gum rack inside with her eyes until they were out of sight.
Tooth really wanted the taste of spearmint on her gums...
She wanted the smell of her island, her father's old robes, the things that reminded her of home and calmed her d–
Jack suddenly flashed five 100-ruble bills in her face.
"You want something? Here, this should be enough."
And Tooth plucked the bills innocently.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, just go. I'll wait out here."
Toothiana looked up at him.
'W...Seriously?' she thought and her heart speed up a little as she watched him relax his stance and stare at the snow.
Jack was really willing to wait for her...
So...it was true.
He wasn't plotting to take her away – he actually did want to go back to North, to bring her safety, and stop Pitch.
Tooth couldn't help but gaze at his pale cheekbones and how his bangs blew just above his gorgeous, brown eyes.
When he felt her stare, Jack turned to find her tender expression.
It was at that moment (feeling comfortable with him more than she'd ever felt), that she finally, truly trusted that Jack really was protecting her.
"Well?" he asked without a tinge of malice or frustration.
She grinned softly.
"Thanks Jack," she mumbled and touched his arm again before she went in.
She missed how Jack watched her walk away until she was virtually out of sight.
...
A couple minutes seconds later, she came out happily chewing a stick of peppermint gum. Two extra packs were tucked safely into her coat pocket.
But when Tooth approached Jack, she found him leaning stiffly against the nearby brick wall with a paled expression on his face. She slowed the tack of her boots and scrunched her eyebrows worriedly.
"Jack, what's..." she started to say as she followed his unmoving gaze and looked down the street they just walked.
A pair of late-night officers on foot patrol were heading towards them!
Jack's breath had gone surprisingly shallow.
They were too close for Jack to just bolt into a nearby escape or they'd get suspicious, and they'd also caught his gaze so he couldn't really do much but look down and pretend to be invisible. He couldn't fight them either. Only just hours ago he was in the newspaper and then Pitch's men covered the wall with posters. Who knew where else they'd posted them and how many police men got a look at his fa–
Tooth quickly moved to him and reached up with her hand to grab his neck.
She pulled his head down until his lips were in the crook of her warm neck and her hair covered his face.
Then she pressed her lips to the shell of his right ear.
"Put your arms around me," she breathed and Jack immediately understood her motives. He wound his biceps around her small waist until his large palms were holding her steady against him.
When the officers finally approached, he shut his eyes. He tried to relax his stance but the stress and the questions...He–
Jack froze.
Tooth began to nibble gently on his earlobe.
He felt her lips on his ear, pulling it down softly and playfully tugging on it as the cops walked by.
For a moment, he almost didn't remember they were there.
Jack kept his eyes shut and enveloped himself in the strange, electric jolt that rushed down his neck where her skin and warm breath blew. As he did, his muscles instantly relaxed and he unconsciously gripped her tighter. The sharp edges in his face softened as he leaned them back against the brick wall more.
Tooth weaved her fingers into his thick hair, completely ecstatic that she finally had an excuse to touch it...and it was so soft. Jack quickly imitated, moving his left hand into her dark hair to hide his glove. He twisted his face up, pretending to smell her hair while her feather earring tickled his jaw.
After a while, he didn't need to pretend. The wind and snow picked up around them as his fingers twitched anxiously.
It was the perfect move because the officers averted their eyes, not wanting to disturb the two lovers on the street, and walked right past the wanted operative and the missing princess.
Once they were out of earshot, Tooth nervously pulled away from Jack and he did the same.
His brown eyes were wide and bright, and his mouth faltered a bit as the snowflakes settled on his eyelashes. When he blinked them away, his throat was still dry, his mind still numb.
The princess looked up at him, almost fearful. Her lips were full and her breath mixed a peppermint scent up into his.
The rational, left side of Jack's brain was telling him to move away, to regulate his heartbeat, and to focus on the dangers around him but Tooth's magenta eyes and dark skin inhibited his senses. He felt like he could stare at her flushed expression for hours...
"You have big ears," Tooth mumbled.
The tips of Jack's ears suddenly turned red.
Leave it her to make things awkward – especially since he knew they were and that sorta made him self-conscious.
"You didn't seem so bothered by it a couple seconds ago," he tried to sneer but it came out more like he was flustered.
Tooth instantly stiffened in his hold. The blush on her face intensified.
"I-It was so they would get the right idea obviously!" she squeaked. "And you weren't helping, getting all tense on me when they walked by...a-and I heard somewhere once that p-pulling on earlobes releases the same brain chemical that stimulates relaxation so I...just..."
Tooth's words just died on her lips and Jack sighed.
"Well...good call," he mumbled and tried to look away but when he caught her tongue flick out to moisten her lips, he found himself staring briefly.
Jack didn't understand it but there was energy there between them, low and humming like the bass in a song. Suddenly the parts of him that had been buried for so long seemed to shift...he clenched his jaw and shot the princess a frown.
"I can't even ca–...No...not for GUARDIANS...Emotional compromise...understand now?"
Jack pulled away and rubbed his eye. He'd never seen that memory before.
When it subsided, he squinted at the snow to avoid her eyes again.
"Don't do that next time," he muttered unsurely. "I could've snapped your neck if I was less careful."
He quickly tried to move out of her hold but she reached up timidly and touched his ear again.
"Sorry..." she mumbled with a heavy blush. "I-I got a little chapstick on you."
Jack pulled away entirely and jerked a thumb back the way they came, but her touch still lingered on his skin.
"Come on princess," he urged. "Let's just get back to North."
"You know, Jack..."
He paused and looked back at her, waiting for her to continue. Tooth fiddled with the buttons nervously. She was blushing.
"You...You don't have to keep calling me 'princess'," she stated. "Especially not here since people can't know who I am."
Jack frowned. "I'm showing you respect, remember?"
And she resisted the urge to roll her eyes – he was still hung up on that night at the hotel?
"Aw, that's sweet," she said sarcastically then shrugged nervously. "But really, Jack. You can just...call me Tooth."
He would never know how much of an honour that was. She only reserved Tooth for people closest to her and right now, Jack was closer to her than he'd ever know.
But he crossed his arms.
"How 'bout just Thia? Or Katie? Can we just stick to the formalities?"
Tooth paused.
"Uh..yeah, sure. That's...cool," she mumbled and shrugged with a weak smile.
But when Jack caught it, he looked back down, almost guilty – she was offering out her hand again and he'd just...
'Ugh, women.'
After a moment, he sighed and Tooth looked back up.
He looked like something was causing him physical pain again as he eyed the snowflakes on her highlights. Then, Jack finally turned to look at her.
"Fine..." he said slowly then he stuck out his elbow for her. "Come on, Toothiana."
Tooth's heart did a leap. No one ever called her by her full name.
'I can't believe it...Jack, sometimes you're a little shit, but you're good,' she admitted to herself. 'You really are.'
And Jack?
The brunette didn't start walking until Tooth had moved in to hold his arm.
He didn't want to admit it but as he saw her smile to herself, his protectiveness over her transformed. He no longer wanted to just turn and walk away from her, leaving her behind to catch up.
When he was sure she had a good hold, he then moved his arm in to keep the two of them warm and walked. Their boots moved in sync down the icy sidewalk, proceeding quickly back to North's warehouse.
Now, his bodyguard status was changed.
He wouldn't let nothing, especially all this new shit, get between them and their original mission: to find Pitch together.
Chapter's soundtrack: "Kiss from a Rose" – Seal