A/N: I'm actually somewhat pleased with this chapter? Like, it actually seemed to flow and shiz.
And before someone reviews and is like "but why is Jack so serious? He's supposed to be smiles and sunshine all the time!"
Bullshit. I call bullshit. Winter gets ugly and serious and therefore Jack Frost probably does too. He's been alive for three hundred years and never gotten angry? Right. How many times do you get angry in a day? Because I get angry a lot.
But yeah, I'm done with that rant. Enjoy the chapter!
(shameless self-promo, I'm writing a Darcy Lewis/Loki fic, so go check it out!)
The scene was one of chaos. As such, it wasn't all that surprising to find Loki in the center of it, manic grin on his face as each of the men in the Hydra base promptly met a violent, brutal death. He'd been holding back for far too long while fighting the Avengers. This was the type of hero he could be, at least. The one that took care of the messy bits, the stuff that the actual heroes couldn't do without losing something of themselves in the process.
And Jack, well he wore an expression that Loki had never seen before. Perhaps the Guardian's center was fun, but there must have been another, much more violent layer. Loki had lost track of the spirit, but there had been murder in his blue eyes when he flew into the base. Loki knew he was one of, if not the, most powerful men in the Nine Realms. He could rule them, if he wished, but he was content with the knowledge that he could. But he still wouldn't want to face Jack at the moment, and he genuinely felt sorry for anyone who did. Because he might be giving the men a violent death, but it was at least quick.
Jack jammed his staff tighter against the man's throat. "Where is it?" He hissed. His body quivered with hardly suppressed anger, leashed only enough so that he didn't freeze the shaking man on the spot, merely gave him an uncomfortable chill.
"I-I-I d-d-don't-" Jack cut the man off, nearly choking him as he pressed harder.
"The memory wipe machine. Where is it." His voice was low, angry. Deadly. He had been angry enough to kill before. He'd put those times out of his mind, relegating them to instances that would never happen again. And someday, maybe he'd feel guilty. But not right now. The man didn't speak, just pointed a trembling finger at a machine that was shoved into the corner. A chair with restraints, and other attachments that Jack could make no sense of.
"Thank you for your help." Jack said, taking a page from Loki's book and giving a smile that was far too pleasant to mean well. He turned his back, then tapped his staff against the floor. There was a choking noise that quickly cut off when the man was instantly encased in ice. He would melt, eventually. But by the time he did, he'd likely have either suffocated or have a very, very bad case of frostbite. And Jack couldn't quite bring himself to care.
He walked over to the chair, inspecting it briefly before taking a deep breath. This was going to take some energy, but it would also be oh so worth it. He raised his staff, bringing it down directly on the chair. It instantly froze and shattered under the force of the blow, and he gasped, standing still for a moment before smiling grimly and nodding. Then his icy gaze turned to the computer. The plans for the chair might be on it, and that just wouldn't do.
"Loki!" He yelled. Instantly the god was there.
"What?" He asked, obviously irritated. Jack pointed at the computer.
"Can you destroy any plans for any sort of machines they've got? On other computers as well?" He questioned. There was only a moment's hesitation before Loki nodded and reached out a hand, concentration showing in the lines of his face. It took only an instant before he finished.
"Gone." He stated, "now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to kicking ass." Loki didn't wait for permission, just disappeared and Jack surveyed the place with a look that promised more destruction. That would do for now, but he had one more errand to run. Loki could wait for him until he got back, it wasn't like the Asgardian wasn't enjoying himself.
Tooth didn't know what to make of Jack. His pale eyes (such pretty eyes, almost as pretty as his teeth, it was distracting) were lit with a fire she'd never seen in the normally easy-going Guardian.
"Jack, what's wrong?" She asked, wings fluttering as she hovered near the boy, wringing her hands. Jack didn't smile at her like he usually did, just looked at her with too-serious eyes.
"I need someone's teeth." He said without preamble. Tooth blinked, then shook her head automatically.
"I can't, Jack, only a fairy can have them." She told him. His face turned desperate, eyes getting bigger as he looked at her, if that was even possible.
"Please Tooth. I need them. I need to fix something." He was practically begging, and she couldn't bring herself to say no.
"Who is it?"
It was hours later before Jack managed to get back to the Avengers Tower. Loki was certainly the calmer, more rational of the two brothers. But as it turned out, battle fever could strike anyone, and that was how he'd been raised. So it had taken a little while to drag him away, but Jack eventually managed it. At that point his own temper had cooled to the point that he felt a little better about himself. Just felt like sleeping for a week, despite the fact that he technically didn't even need sleep. He slipped into the Tower, avoiding everyone except the one that he wanted to see. The dark-haired man was sitting on his bed doing...something. Jack wasn't really sure what, and he just put on a not-quite-fake grin, tossing the container of teeth at him.
"Think fast." He called, and Bucky's left hand shot up to catch it, dark eyes regarding it with curiosity before looking at Jack, asking a silent question.
"Your baby teeth." Jack explained. "They'll help your memories return. Just...let me know when you're doing. Tooth'll kill me if I lose them." He turned to go, not run away, no, just go.
"Jack." He turned at the quiet voice.
"Thank you." Bucky's dark eyes were sincere and Jack gave a smile that was far more sincere.
"You're welcome."