AND THIS IS IT? I CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH MY FEELS RIGHT NOW! I'M SHAKINGGG and also really emotional. :D And okay, I could say thank you to all you wonderful readers/friends and give you the huge pre-written AN blurb right NOW but I won't. You deserve Project Guardian's love first so just GO!
Edited by myself and fic dedicate Crisbel. :) And first time at the top, Crisbel and mincoco's song suggestion:
Chapter's soundtrack: "At The Beginning" – Richard Marx and Donna Lewis
Just so you have the whole feel package.
Enjoy. :)
"I'll be there when the story's through."
Private sit-in, Hypunjam Palace, 7:29pm
Aster's ears twitched and Sanderson perked up. They both turned their heads.
So did North.
Then Baby Tooth, Prince Tanvir, Phil, Dean, Tiana, the rest of the girls and the several handfuls of highest-ranked ELFS who were all resting in the same common room followed. It felt good to wind down and relax.
The party was long done as the castle workers were cleaning the halls up but Jack and Tooth both finally walked in to join everyone. And as Tooth's hair was all wrapped up again into a large, messy bun, Jack looked more relaxed than the rest had ever seen – and for good reason.
Tiana gasped out loud.
"His hair!"
Everyone felt literally blinded by the sight of Jack's white head. Sure, it bounced normally as he took his strides and the wisp in each lock was still flying up in their usual how-are-you-even-doing-that style. But no one had really appreciated Jack's true hair color the night of Pitch's final takedown or during Tooth's suffering. Now that he was walking in all calm, cool and collected they couldn't really take their eyes off it.
It shone almost silver under Tooth's golden chandeliers and Aster, Sandy and North's ELF teams gawked at the fact that everything about gene mutation was true.
Even Tanvir's eyebrows shot up appreciatively.
So the hushed gossip moving across his royal guards was true...Jack Frost really was a winter spy, who'da thunk?
North merely lowered his cup of tea, and smiled broadly.
"Wow..." one ELF mumbled and the others nodded in response but Jack rolled his eyes.
His fingers twitched slightly.
"Alright, alright," he commented tightly still trying to grasp his confidence in being exposed again. "It's gonna take some getting used to."
Someone immediately chucked under their breath.
Without even a second thought to consider who, Tanvir's eyes already traveled to his little niece – a small smile came on his face.
Tooth rubbed her neck and looked at the floor almost afraid to look in Jack's direction but wanting to so much. Just his presence, as he blew the cool breeze through the room, made her insides melt like liquid gold. She blushed warmly as she walked alongside him and no one was the wiser.
But a faint smile was on her lips as she looked away.
With it, Tanvir's smile grew warm too.
"You are just like your father," he mumbled to himself. "Toothie!"
Perking up, Toothiana lifted her head again and looked across the room to where the Prince was sitting comfortably with North and Sandy. Seeing her glowing expression, he stood up instantly and moved around the coffee table holding all their mugs and post-party alcohol. No one was getting drunk that night but the celebratory high still carried strong and the castle guests were more than welcome to come again. To the right in another set of couches and armchairs, her sisters were still chatting and whispering amongst themselves.
Tanvir spread his arms out for her as BT threw them a discreet smile over her shoulder.
"You are going to love this," he grinned and Tooth moved away from Jack to smile up at him.
"What? Did you find another lost phraratchathan yet?"
"Lost phra–Wait, are you the reason I'm losing robes this year?" he gawked. "Sooner or later I'm going to be naked."
"Naked?!"
Baby Tooth and the other girls lifted their head from their sister circle of chitchat and Jack-squeals-because-he-entered-the-room-again.
Their eyes bugged out of their sockets.
"Uncle!"
"No, not na–" Tanvir waved a hand at them. "Not now naked!"
"What naked!"
An ELF across the room looked both excited and perturbed.
"There are little girls in the–"
"No! NO naked!" he blushed but immediately tried to brush it off with a chuckle.
"Crazy pe...Sorry, Thi."
"Tch, it's okay," Tooth laughed and hugged him quickly. "So what's the big news, Aa Ta?"
In response, Tanvir pulled away and opened a hand for North.
To Tooth's happiness, the Russian GUARDIAN grinned and stood up with Sandy to join him around the table. In their heights, Tooth felt timid and tiny all over again...at least until Sanderson hobbled over and held her hand. She leaned into him easily and grinned back at all the men.
"Quit leaving me in the dark here. You know what I can do now when that happens!"
Aster chuckled from his post nearby, still hunched over a laptop and typing furiously at the keyboard. She briefly wondered if he ever really stopped to relax with that ferociously intelligent brain of his.
Her baby hair ruffled gently in anticipation and fanned upwards.
"Well?" she tried again.
"Princess, your uncle has just strike best deal with us," North said proudly. "From now on, we are not only guardians, but partners."
Tooth blinked.
"In what sense?"
"In business Thi," Tanvir smiled and a nearby ELF medic who'd been in charge of her cell harvest came over to nod and smile. Tooth quickly took her hand in respect and nodded gratefully.
"Elaborate," she questioned.
"I mean only that we are providing our agricultural industries to the ELF Organization for a new means of exportation."
Tooth blinked in wonder.
"Is this a movement? Like are we talking about...selling?"
"Selling, allocation," North nodded. "We start agrarian project once new year ushers in but Sandy and I will establish the new land plots. Special designation for agents and protection for farming villages."
Sandy felt Tooth's energy flare up slightly with surprise.
"Really?!"
"Da, Thia," North assured. "Think of this new channel as area of commerce self-insured, substantive! We will always need what Punjam Hy Loo can give to ELFs and with my contribution to your agricultural sector, we can get this started right away!"
"That's great!" Tooth gasped with an open smile. She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that North really was packed and loaded because, while she knew he founded his ELF organization mostly on his own, she kind of forgot how much of an investment that would have to be. Still, it was something she couldn't stop her skin from tingling over.
Nicolas St. North would bring an economic boost to her country! Tooth was only starting to imagine what kinds of benefits that would mean to her people if the partnership stayed strong – and she had no doubt in her mind that a bond with North was likely to be permanent.
"We still have to reinstate a new political party, you realise?" Tanvir reminded Toothiana. BT heard the name in the background and turned back slightly.
She watched as her Princess sister nodded humbly while the men bent their heads in quick salute.
"Don't worry, Aa," Tooth reassured. "I haven't forgotten about Uncle Ty. I'll be home in time for the election campaign once you've set the date with the parties."
North and Sandy watched as the Prince took Toothiana's other hand, reminding her that he was always her third chain of support all her life.
"Nonsense, Thi. You have your schooling. And we must count our blessings that all the parties are kind and compassionate. We will decide whether it is necessary and which face is worth my political representation."
"Well with that, at least I can leave in two weeks knowing I'll get some peace at night but...you still haven't told me what it is we're talking about here?" she chuckled weakly. "What new product are we producing for the ELFs?"
Tanvir smiled down at her then reached into his robes pocket.
"I am talking about this."
And under the room's chandelier light, Tooth saw a tube of rubefacient cream, antiphlogistine – her first (and last) ointment of cells extracted for the advanced healing.
Tooth's magenta eyes grew wide.
"S-Seriously? You're going to mass produce our heat cream with my healing biotic in it for the ELFs?! Is that...is that safe?"
She then took it gingerly and rolled the medium-sized tube in her fingers, admiring the new design and opening the cap before smelling the mint hungrily. It was still strong and potent and she wasn't slow to miss the English-Thai mixed in with the Cyrillic.
"A diluted version will be created for my men," North said calmly. "We cannot risk your DNA exposure, but few strands are enough to conceal and will work wonders on injury. Cell regeneration is your pride, Thia, but there is also regular mix. It will be made only for Guardians, for us with Center Gene."
Tooth furrowed her eyebrows thoughtfully. "...For us?"
The Russian smiled. "Just because we heal quicker than everybody else means little in major situations. Look how we all heal with your gift."
Sandy nodded as Tanvir explained warmly. "And you wouldn't want anything to happen to your close ones, right Thi?"
Tooth squeezed the tube gently. As she thought about it, her eyes pulled away from the older men and turned back around with the biggest grin on her face... but Jack wasn't even looking her way. He'd kept walking away from her.
It caused Aster to throw a lazy set-to-default glare at the ex-spy from across the room.
The hacker was still preoccupied at the large table with North's lieutenants, Phil included – the bald man was grunting comments gently under his thick moustache and the rest were moving around with sheets and TI ELFs in-between. The others cast Jack in admiral light as they each gave a nod to the winter operative, but Aster liked to lie and say that he was only feeling half of that.
It showed as he got up and left the boys wordlessly.
"What?" Jack asked but he'd already sensed the hacker's gaze on the...close distance he and Tooth were standing in. Jack turned and waved at Tooth's sisters instead, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up his neck.
"I don't even want to ask," Aster shot across the space and he caused Jack to blink and flit his eyes at him – Jack shrugged instead.
"Go ahead," he said nonchalantly with a brief rise of his eyebrows.
But when the tilt of his smile turned a thread sly, the Australian hacker picked on it instantly. Without warning, he threw his carrot stick in Jack's face.
"Cottontail! What the–"
"Ey, what d'ya mean go ahead?!" he snapped and resisted the urge to lean down from his taller post and poke the prick. "W-What did you do with–"
"Nothing," Jack lightly chuckled and it was a sound Aster thought he would never hear for a very long time. Even Sanderson glanced the GUARDIAN's way because no one anticipated a Jack who appeared genuinely...brighter. Even just the look on his face...
Jack snickered. "And get your food away from me! You might infect me."
"With what?!"
Somehow his disposition was shining through and regardless of whether Toothiana was his influence, the older men always knew that beneath his exterior was a person not meant for pain. The person Burgess remembered.
"Fine no fighting. At least not now," Aster gawked and lowered his vegetable weapon. "But I'm lookin' at you, kid."
Jack quirked a brow.
"Why?"
"Because," and the tech analyst finally smiled under his breath. "Well, look at ya. You're changin'. Back into something you used to be."
Jack stopped for a moment to think on it before he glanced at the floor.
"Well I think it's time for everyone to go through a little change, don't you think?" he questioned and the 27-year-old nodded firmly.
"You bet your ass it's time," he agreed.
"I alsothink it's time for a little tactical change up. Don`t you?" Jack suddenly proposed as he and Aster moved coolly away from the chatter of the couches and the crowded circles to have a more private chat.. The other men gave them a warm glance before they went back to their own respective arguments. Aster's mind was already wrapped around the ten possible conclusions that the 24-yr-old could have been up to.
He looked at Jack expectantly.
"Elaborate," he requested. Jack shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged.
"Maybe a little more foreplay on the battlefield? Less assault? Care to chime in at any point," he offered and the technical analyst chuckled under his deep breath.
"What, you're not givin' up the korean mantle are ya, mate?" Aster finally cracked a smirk. "That's your specialty."
"Exactly," Jack smiled. "Which is why I need to–"
"–hide my signature."
"Hide your signature."
Jack and Aster laughed as the latter shook his head.
"Righ'. So what is the elusive Jack Frost thinkin'?"
Jack didn't fail to notice how Aster'a voice turned up an octave or how his attention seemed to shift with more interest. It made him content to have someone, to have a friend, to confide in like it was an ordinary thing – well not so ordinary, more like almost within 'Normal People Standards' obviously, but at least the Aussie would always understand him.
Jack snapped his fingers and flexed his digits thoughtfully.
"Judo? MMA?"
"That's not a real style."
"Oh stop, anything's useful, idiot," Jack snickered.
"Well you've got that stick now – (to which Jack shot him a glare) – so why not think about more kendo?"
"Perhaps. And...Jiujutsu maybe?"
"Oi, the Brazilian crack?" Aster blinked and Jack smirked.
"Afraid of a little submission?"
"Pfft never!"
"Well then put your money where your mouth is."
Aster laughed. "Y'know ya bugger, I'm the one who instantly turned you into a millionaire and I can just as EASILY wipe those funds away."
Jack's smirk grew wider. "Empty threats coming from a man afraid of a little fun."
"I ain't afraid of you, Frostbite."
"I'm not hearing a yes."
"I've got six feet over ya, y'little shit. Plus I am nerves of steel, master of Tai Chi–"
"Heeee! Look he's still wearing it!"
"He likes it! He likes it!"
"Yaay!"
Meanwhile, Tooth's sisters were climbing on top of each other from their couch trying to listen to Jack and Aster's argument. Their eyes were glued to Jack's necklace, his smirk, and how his hands kept flying up ready to start a fight.
They were also much more shameless than their big sister.
"I am so happy he likes my idea!" Tuhina grinned just before Tina squashed her big head under her arms, trying to get a better view.
"Excuse yourself!" she snapped. "Pfft, I was the one who gave you the idea!"
"Yeah but I MADE it!"
"No you didn't! Mr. Sandy did!"
"Well I brought it to Jack! He likes me that's why he took it."
Tulia came out nowhere suddenly and slapped her hand over Tuhi's jabbering mouth.
"No! He thinks Tiati is cute and that's why he took it!" She huffed and shot the youngest clone a jealous glare. "No one can say no to Tiati."
Tiana rolled her eyes.
"You're just makin' that up!"
"Well, it's true! I'm being what Mr. Sandy calls logical!"
"No, you're being a pain so top sucking the FUN out of EVERYTHING, Tools! You're so annoying!"
"And YOU'RE a butt head!"
"Girls, shut up!" BT whined.
"Either way, I was there. Me! That's right! So I'm special!" Tuhina smirked.
"And hellooo? So is Toothie to Jack," Tia sighed.
"Yeah, that's why he took it too, because he loves her and he wants to make her happy!" Tina squeaked.
"No duh!" BT finally piped.
"Yo, you're right!"
"Hey yeah!"
"Hey princess!"
Tooth didn't expect six hands to grab her five seconds later.
"WHAT!" she screamed as her Uncle Tanvir and North's gigantic belly suddenly disappeared with speed. She felt like she was back in the passenger seat of Jack's car.
"Whoa, where's the fire?!"
"With you two, obviously!" Tiana hissed and Theena grabbed her arm. "Toothie, Toothie, Toothie, Toothie!"
It felt like an eagle wanted to carry her limb away to its nest.
"It's all about you two, we can't stop!"
"Yeah! Especially when he's–ahhHhTOOOTHIE!"
"No no no, NO!" Tooth cried and blushed heavily, still shy as shit and trying to hide her face. "Girls STOP IT! Not agaaaain!"
"Thi!" Prince Tanvir cried from where he stood. "Stop yelling! It is rude!"
"But you're–"
North went into hysterics.
"This is crazy family. I am proud!"
Tooth whipped her head at him. "Oh ho you want a piece of me, Santa?! It's not Christmas any–"
"Thi!"
He laughed even louder – and so did the room in decibels as everyone's voices continued to shout and squeal and laugh across the room. Jack eventually had to back away from North and the royal men as they started to get into pretty loud and he couldn't keep up.
The GUARDIANs, the ELFs, and all the royal family were each getting their fill of social interaction and comfort. He knew the laugh he lost would return after a bit more time but until then, Jack still couldn't help his reclusive nature. With a light chuckle, he went moved his shoes across the room.
In a few long strides, he wound up next to Tooth again for no real apparent reason but to stand comfortably next to her.
Jack watched her sassy mouth run a mile a minute about–
"Okay hit the brakes! Did you just call your princess–"
"Well, you'd have to be to think like that!"
"Do you really wanna get down and dirty?!" Tooth piped. "'Cause I can play DIRTY!"
"Yeah, big talk for a midget! You wanna take this outside?!" BT raised and moved away as Tooth stepped backwards, blindly to stand closer to Jack.
"Who's a midget?!" Linae shouted across the room.
Tia burst out laughing and the other sisters laughed too.
"You get saved twice and now you think you're all tough, you, you...arghhh," and Tooth raised her hands and pretended like she wanted to crush Tatiana's head between her fingers.
"Come on!" BT encouraged. "Come on, where's all that gene stuff, glitter gums!"
"Ask me again, Tatiana! Go on ask me!" But then after a while of pretending to commit Baby Tooth homicide, Tooth let out a little laugh and dropped her hands from exhaustion. "Humph, you're not even worth my time, peasant."
She pushed her hair behind her left ear as she continued to listen (and melt) to her sisters' laughter. Even with their purples skin and tiny bodies, they never changed – and for that, she was grateful.
Jack stood there with the most perplexed yet amused face.
"Forget her, Tooth," Tia said with a tiny chuckle in the back of her throat still. As her soft voice carried, Tooth gently made a fist in her dress. Her heart was doing flips of happiness.
"Alright, alright girls," she chuckled.
"And you're gonna love the sanctuary now too."
"Is that true!"
"Mmhmm. They opened up the emergency tunnels for restoration and now the girls and I are memorizing each path in case we need them again. There's even talk about getting an ELF jet in there for getaway, if one of the tunnels can be blown out wider. I think for a "sleigh" or something Chief St. North says and he wants us to help..."
Tooth turned more into Jack's direction, feeling his comfort and presence like warm fire to her core. As she listened to Tia go on about the tunnel renovations, Jack smiled and watched as Tooth twirled an end of her hair in content. She grinned unaware of his scrutiny and without even realizing it, he reached over and grabbed her right hand – it wasn't like it was busy. And Tooth, even still caught up in the middle of talking about flashlights for some odd reason, subconsciously laced her fingers with his. Then on she babbled, and on he cared...until it hit the group like sixteen-wheel truck.
Baby Tooth glanced down.
Tiana's mouth flew open.
Theena gasped.
And Aster sat up straight in an instant, his happy shock blowing the peaceful silence to smithereens.
Jack and Tooth were idiots.
"OY! YOU MEA–"
"HAAAA!" Dean laughed from where he was lounging in his chair across the ELF's table. He slapped his hand on the oakwood top and shot a stupid smirk around the room. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU BOYS. WHAT!"
He jumped over the table and ran to high-five Phil. One ELF smacked his forehead.
"Dammit! But I bet another for week!"
"That's not fair!"
"And I told you chumps they were serious. So you can't back out of this now, idiot! PAY. UP."
Jack and Tooth immediately froze in their walk and looked at the ELFs in horror as all of Jack's men started to get up and move around.
"Wait, what?!" Tooth cried.
North's men grumbled and laughed as they shot their 20 Euros bills into Dean's open palm. His cheeky smile never left his face as all his guessing brought his stupid riches.
"That's right, come to papa!"
Jack opened his mouth.
"Hang on–"
"I WIN! I told you I'd call it! I called it!"
Jack and Tooth snapped their heads back in front of them. BT's screeches filled the room with a cackle and Tooth's sisters jumped in their flats. Tia and the younger siblings started whining and tried to argue.
"But I said tomorrow morninnnng!" Tiana groaned. "Ughhh!"
Tina shot her a death look as she started getting up. "You cheated!"
"Excuse me?!" BT whirled on her as the girls began to stand around her and reach for coins in their gold purses still around their waists. "How did I cheat!? Did I grab their heads and smack them together?! I just know okay!"
"But B–"
Tooth's eyebrows flew up.
"No butts!" Tatiana smirked and jumped up with her hands open like Dean. "I said by nightfall, it is nightfall, so you all owe me my cash!"
"Hey!" someone squeaked.
"...except you, Titi."
"Fine...one coin and the rest of our mango juice for the week," Tia sighed as she flipped her coin into BT's greedy (but well strategic) hand.
Tat started doing a mini happy dance.
"Oh yeah, oh yeah!"
Tooth couldn't believe it.
As her skin grew warm and her knees turned wobbly, Jack shot her a teasing glance. She immediately let go of his hand and covered both eyes.
"What the hellllll," she squealed gently and he chuckled.
Left and right, Jack watched the ELFs and the handmaidens ramble and call shots about him and Toothiana like they were invisible for the moment.
How could he even describe the delicate sensation of everyone around him throwing identities and secrets out the window just to have a bit of fun?
It was the most refreshing thing he'd ever experienced in a long time and Jack was suddenly craving it.
Here were all his friends, his coworkers, (dangerous, lonely, highly vulnerable), and the most important people in his life; yet they reminded him that laughing on the job was an even equally important value. Regardless of their duties, their loyalties, or their sworn-to-secrecy they still embodied the best parts of well-rounded people...the reflection he once had.
Or, no.
They were the reflection he still had.
North's boisterous deep laugh filled the room for a second as Tanvir said something only older men could understand. His belly shook and Sandy let out a breathy laugh like sandpaper too. He shook his head with a smile.
Jack glanced at Tooth again, his fingers twitching – her baby hair ruffled in response to her emotions.
And in that moment he realized that she also...still didn't deny any of the accusations floating around.
"Ooh, I'm so embarrassed!"
Jack smiled down at her.
Moving discreetly behind the princess, Jack said nothing and came up behind her.
He bent slightly to be more to her height and wrapped his arms around her waist. It took a little time (seeing as he avoided getting a nose full of her hair bun) until he settled his chin atop her head and brought her in close.
She jumped at his touch and he smirked anyway.
"Juuust enjoy it," Jack chuckled and he swung her the tiniest to the left and right as he forced her to watch until the madness came to an end. Several of Tooth's sisters and the female ELFs "oooh'ed" and Dean's team did a wolf whistle. His heart did a slight flip, when he felt her giggle inside her throat.
Jack closed his eyes with a cheeky grin.
Oh yeah, he could do for a bit of fun again.
North eyed them keenly as Jack caught him. Under tight scrutiny, only the Cossack was able to notice the GUARDIAN's slight freeze.
He gave Jack a gentle smile with a mischievous gleam in his electric blue eye.
"Gret skrakya?" the older man teased.
Jack paused, completely caught off guard – a moment later, he tightened his hold around Tooth (not giving one shit when she squeaked in response) and shrugged one shoulder.
North let out a short laugh but Jack didn't fail to notice the immediate wink in his eye.
"Well congratulations," an ELF cheered. "Another triumph for the mighty Jack eh?"
"Goodness," Tooth huffed. "I'd rather get kidnapped AGAIN than be ANOTHER triumph."
"What?!" Jack looked at her like she'd grown another head. "What makes you think you're gonna get kidnapped a second time? You're not that popular."
"No but you are!" she snapped. "You don't think I know what kind of double record you've got in the criminal world!? For all I know I'm gonna end up on some drug lord's hit list because you decided to play Piss Off The World's Greatest Threats with them!"
Jack scoffed.
"Oh please. You have better things to do."
Tooth then squirmed and shimmied out of his tight hold with a blushing smile. She bounced a way foot away from, but her fingers still reached out to flick his tenderly.
"Damn right I do."
Aster came over. "Okay like maybe what, sheila?"
"Hmm... Like...this. Girls, line up."
Tooth's handmaidens were all up in an instant.
They smiled and raced to line up before Tooth – none of them could stop bouncing in Jack's presence and the princess put her hands on her hips.
"This world is gonna pay for what it did to us by seeing what you do," she said proudly. "From now on, I want you all to remember to never back down and fight for what you want. I'll invest in the best training for you if I must so you can prove that no one's too small to win. Even if you get tired or fall, I will give you the best education knowledge, and you'll know how to defend others."
The girls held hands tightly and nodded in her honour. Tooth wasn't talking to them as handmaidens anymore – she was speaking to them as true sisters...as real guardians.
Tia rubbed her wet eye with smile.
"But, let it be known that tonight, in my power as Her Highness of Punajm Hy Loo, that Princess Toothiana is no longer in need of the assistance of her handmaidens unless they themselves will so. Tatiana, Tia, Tiana, Tina, Theena, Tulia, Tuhina, and even little Tiati...you are, in title now, Ladies of the royal house Hypunjam."
The girls gasped.
Tanvir looked on proudly as he came to stand in front of them with Tooth and traced the symbol of the family crest on their foreheads.
Tiana was instantly in tears, dramatic as she was.
Tooth's shone with unshed tears.
Jack smiled down at her.
"When you sit at our table, you no longer have to serve before sitting," she continued with a slight hiccup. "Your time of service to Mr. Sanderson in the secret of Project GUARDIAN is over. I want you to do whatever you desire, for yourself. And not me."
Tuhina covered her eyes as she started to cry softly. Theena hugged her as Tanvir traced the symbol on her forehead.
"We're not mai...ds an'...a-anymore..." she mumbled to herself.
"We're not?" Tiati whispered and Tooth shook her head.
"No, Titi...You can do whatever you want," Tooth repeated softly and a tear threatened to drip. As she wiped it away, immense relief of something inside her character released and she couldn't describe the feeling.
"Y-You can grow up and you don't even have to stay in the palace anym...and I-I promise I'll give you the jobs you want, the dreams you have–"
In a rush, as Tanvir finished Tiati's tiny little symbol, the eight ran at Toothiana and hugged her tightly.
"We can go wherever we want," BT mumbled.
Tooth nodded.
"Y-Yeah."
"And we can leave?"
She squeezed her eyes shut. "As long as you come home and visit but j-just finish all your schooling with Mr. Sandy and tutors first and I won't stop you–"
"We want to stay close to you," Tulia whispered and Tooth blushed.
"Seriously?"
"She's right, Toothie," Tiana said. "You can't get rid of us that easy."
Her instant guilt was snuffed out and fiery love ignited in her heart for them as she stretched her arm and encircled them close.
"Then stay if you want," she mumbled back as her sisters bent their heads under her gaze – and Tooth hiccupped happily. "But family is family...no matter what."
And after a tiny laugh in the group at how their sappiness got the better of them again, Toot wiped her eyes and stood up as the girl moved back a little to give Tooth the shining admiration they always did.
"Wings up for realsies," Tiati squeaked trying Tooth's slang again and she laughed. "Okay we're gonna have to work on that."
"Right," Aster chuckled in as he finally entered the core. He gave Jack a smirk to which the operative returned." And when you put it like that...how 'bout we start workin' on something else too?"
That's when Jack noticed what Aster was finally holding in his large-gloved hand as he'd joined them. North, Sandy and the rest of Phil's trusted men and the trusted ELFs stood up and stood around a little closer. Aster was holding a tablet with a very prominent list showing on the screen. Jack's eyebrows furrowed together instantly.
"How 'bout one more mission?"
"You have the list," he confirmed. "The list of all the missing..."
Sure enough, as Jack and Tooth leaned in closer to view the contents on the sleek screen, the names and codenames of all the missing GUARDIANs still on Active were glaring back.
Jack lifted a finger and deftly swiped the tabs from the lost to open diagnostics and cases on each of the fifty or so GUARDIANs left that Aster had already spent time running searches on. Blurred photos and statistics of lost ones like them danced across pages and pages of data.
Their eyes grew wide.
"Holy crap," Tooth breathed.
"Remember mate," Aster smirked slightly at their astonishment in his work, cocky son of a gun as ever but still grateful. "Y'promised the Santa and I you'd join in. ELFs, GUARDIANs or not, you've got a job again. And this is one is definitely gonna require your...'intelligence'."
He then flashed Tooth a guilty smirk.
"Sorry, princess. You're gonna have to let 'im go for a while."
And Tooth looked up proudly at Jack with an adoring blush. "He's all yours."
Jack pretended to ignore her smile until she looked back at the tablet with him to stare at the agents found again.
"So what do we have?" Jack asked as Aster then touched the screen and pulled up his recent documents.
"Three right now are red hot," the Aussie muttered. "I've got their old track records completed to about 83%. The rest of the margin is left by their own erase and time spent in personal refuge or asylum. But I know where they are currently hiding, we know how to get to them, and we know what they're capable of."
Quick to show, Aster pulled up three slightly blurred images of three agents belonging to their same company.
One was a thin fellow with wild auburn hair, kneeling beneath the mechanics of a fighter jet with some tools. Another was of a man with dark hair, running against the shadows of a dark alley. He looked like he was running away from something but no further information could be taken making his profile more challenging. Then finally there was a woman, standing alone at the edge of a bus platform. Her head was slightly turned to face the camera without even realizing it.
She looked disgruntled and cold, and her hair was fiery red, down in waves of curls and frizzy locks...familiar and frightening all in one.
Jack and tooth both pulled away slightly and looked at each other.
Tooth's mouth had fallen open in shock and Jack's eyes were wide with serious realization.
"Isn't she–"
"Isn't tha–"
"They're not gonna be easy," Aster reminded him and North looked down at the pair firmly.
"After Christmas operation this is new mission," he spoke up. "And I have old friend to help with aid of the MGs. But yes GUARDIANs are never, as Bunny say, easy."
The mention of the young and fiery strong female ELF division made Tooth's attention fine tune instantly. And after Jack and Toothiana the silent pause they needed, Jack turned back to him firm and almost, excited.
"Are we ever?"
Aster froze for a moment. He then smirked.
"So you're serious then?" And the princess smiled as she passed back his tablet.
"Wow, new GUARDIANs...I guess the troop's are coming home."
As the rest looked on expectantly, North stepped forward and gave Jack a knowing smile.
"So it is official," the Cossack asked soft yet eager. "You will then join us, Jack. You will return?"
"Come on, boys..." Jack looked on with a heartbeat, steadfast and strong-willed. He tilted his head. "I never really left."
Aster crossed his arms with a smile.
"It ain't gonna be easy the second time around." Aster smiled and Sandy fisted his hands readily at his sides, waiting for Jack to say it. "But what d'ya say?"
Jack took a slight step forward and took Tooth's hand again to follow, looking across the circle of faces and the strength in their eyes. Tooth nodded her head. Jack smirked.
"I say, bring it."
And he squeezed her hand in his.
"Bring it on."
The End.