* By the way, I read a head-canon rumor that Jack made sure his lake was frozen all year round; this was an odd bit of magic used in other, multiple fanfictions. I hope you guys don't mind if I use this bit of information. If you do, I'll have no problems immediately changing it (it takes on a very minor role in the chapter).
Requested by: LillithDemon (I highly doubt this is exactly what you were looking for, though.)
Haust (Part 1)
"And so I hope all of you will give him a warm welcome," the teacher said, patting the new kid's shoulder. A murmured agreement swept around the classroom. Aside from the bullies, and Jamie Bennett's doodling, all the children gave the newcomer inviting smiles.
Jamie stole a glance in the new student's direction. The boy was just above his height – everybody in Jamie's grade was taller than he was, now – and had thin, red hair that lightly shadowed his amber eyes. The kid seemed to stand straight with a certain pride, but rubbed the back of his head with an easy-going manner. Jamie cocked his head, scrutinized the other boy, and shrugged, resuming to his notebook.
"…That's hard to explain," Jamie heard the new kid say. He was only catching snippets of his introduction.
"You see," the new kid continued, hands drifting calmly to his sides. "My…family moves around a lot."
"Is it because of your parents' jobs?" Monty asked after raising his hand.
"Kind of," the new boy muttered. "But we also move around just because we can. We're always travelling."
"Wow," a tall girl in the back row breathed. "You must be rich if you can go wherever and whenever you want like that."
"No way," the boy said coolly, hand returning to his neck. "If we were rich we wouldn't have to go all over the place." Then, his dark blond eyebrows came together, as if rethinking those words.
"What's the most awesome place you've been to?" Claude asked.
"Aspen, Colorado," he said without pause, voice peaking slightly at the nostalgia. A few kids groaned; they were hoping the boy would mention a place outside the U.S. "It may not be Iceland or Russia," the boy smiled, noticing their disappointment. "But our lodge in Aspen is my most favorite place. You should see the trees over there during autumn!"
"You're favorite season's autumn?" The teacher asked.
"You bet!" Though briefly, Jamie did look up long enough to see the shy smile widen on the kid's face.
"Well," the teacher said, grabbing a piece of chalk to start jotting notes on the board. "Thank you so much for your generous answers. You'll have no problem fitting in in this classroom." She looked to the rest of her students. "Does anyone else have any questions for Nicky?" Her green eyes fell on a certain brown-haired boy. "How about you, Jamie?"
The child jumped in his seat, colored pencil clattering to the floor. "Huh, what?" His wide, confused eyes earned quiet snickers from the other kids, all except from the new kid. "Um, no, ma'am," he mumbled with a tinge of embarrassment.
"Excellent! As a matter of fact, Nicky," the teacher used the chalk to point. "Why don't you take the empty seat next to Jamie?" With a casual shrug, Nicky shoved his hands into the pockets of his brown jacket and sat quietly next to his fellow student.
"Hi, I'm Jamie Bennett," he extended his hand, which his new friend happily took.
"And I'm Nicky," he said. "Nicky Haust." Nicky then smiled as if someone said a rather funny joke.
Nicky flicked some leftover fallen leaves across the dirt trail. A chill flashed over him and he tucked his jacket closer. With autumn coming to an end, everyone in Burgess was now preparing for winter.
"What do you guys do for fun around here?" Nicky asked as he and Jamie trekked through the woods.
"There's hiking, for one," Jamie said, wiping some sweat on the sleeve of his tee shirt. It was now his turn to smile jokingly. Jamie rarely got too chilly, not until the very peak of winter. At that time, he would end up switching from a heavy sweater to a light coat.
"But with the snow coming," Jamie continued. "There's a lot more to do. Snowball fights and forts, ice skating, sledding, hot choc-"
"Winter's okay, I guess," Nicky admitted, but stopped in the midst of his wide stretch. "Oh, wow!"
The duo came to a stop at the tree line, looking down over the hill onto a lake. Jamie pursed his lips. Jack froze the pond early this year, he noted. Jamie blinked when Nicky suddenly took off to run at full speed to the shoreline.
Nicky kneeled and rapped his knuckles against the frozen surface. With a delighted laugh, the little kid stepped out onto the ice. "I heard a rumor that this lake's frozen all year round, but I thought it was just a story. This is so cool! You coming, Jamie?"
The child chewed his lip, shoulders sagging. Oh, he wasn't worried for his friend's safety! During the cold months, Jack Frost frequently checked to be sure his lake was solid as rock for anyone, young or old, wishing to skate. But…
"I'm not allowed to." Jamie shrugged.
Nicky stalled his sliding. "But you suggested ice skating. I just assumed you-"
"I do ice skate," Jamie explained in haste. "But-"
"Your parents won't let you?"
Jamie huffed, trying to find the words that didn't make him sound like a wuss. "My parents let me, but the, uh…" Sighing embarrassedly, Jamie hung his head a little. "It's just… the, uh, nanny won't let me unless h-she watches me."
"You have a nanny?" Nicky raised a comical eyebrow. "Dude, you – we're almost in middle school."
"I've known him, I mean, her for a while now. We're like family."
"But she won't even let you ice skate," Nicky scoffed, crouching on the ice and peeling away his shoes to use his socks for better traction.
"Overprotective," Jamie summed it up.
"Who's overprotective?"
Jamie nearly jumped a foot in the air before twisting around, and he had to stifle a shocked gasp. The man towering over him had shaggy, pale hair that fell lifelessly to his shoulders. He was almost as gaunt as Pitch Black, and wore a tanned cloak that reached down passed his knees.
The man's gaze was sharp, and his lips twitched humorously at Jamie's wary form. Jamie had every right to be suspicious. Always standing on the metaphorical line that divided the human and the magical world, the child soon learned that suspicion – and wonder – was a perfectly valid basis.
"Nicholas, off the ice," the man said with a gruffly aged voice after tearing attention away from Jamie. "There's been a change of plans."
"What?" Nicky exclaimed. "But we just-" He was cut off by the raising of the man's finger. "Fine," he said with an annoyed grumble. "I'm coming. Sorry Jamie."
"I'll see you at school tomorrow." Jamie smiled in understanding as Nicky walked over to the man.
Nicky blinked and looked up, not the least bit intimidated by the guy's looming figure. "Am I going to school tomorrow, Silas?"
The man shook his head. "We've other places to go."
Nicky shot Jamie a glance. "But-"
"This isn't for debate," Silas growled. "I am thrilled you've made friends, but there's a problem." The man cast a sharp gaze at Jamie. "I'm sorry to be taking your fun away, but we have a schedule to keep."
"We're not that far into the season, though," Nicky tried to reason.
But Silas hushed him, staring intently at Jamie.
With a thoughtful hum, Silas took hardly a stride in making his way to the boy. A frosty, chilling breeze whipped Jamie's hair as the man kneeled to his level and grabbed his shoulder. The wind seemed to pick up in anger, and the child gulped. However, Jamie wasn't concerned for his own life. As Silas stared fixedly into his chocolate eyes his grip suddenly tightened, making Jamie squirm in an attempt to free his arm.
Silas squinted. "I-"
"Can I help you with something?" A voice called from the branch of a nearby tree, causing Silas to automatically release the boy and step back.
Jamie craned his gaze towards the voice. A mildly irritated Jack Frost leaned casually against the trunk. Stepping onto a low-hanging branch, the spirit gracefully and silently jumped to the ground, taking his place next to Jamie. Jack's eyes narrowed at Nicky and Silas' blindsided expressions.
"You can see each other?" Jamie gasped with a growing grin.
"And this is why we're leaving," Silas muttered to Nicky before turning a respectful eye to Jack. "I hope you forgive our intrusion," he said as Jack loosened up some. "I knew too late that this was your territory."
Jack pointed to Jamie. "He comes with it." The child winced at Jack's emotions. The winter spirit was hardly pleased that someone was intimidating his little brother.
"I see that now," Silas nodded. "Again, I apologize. I know better than to mess with someone else's bond."
"Who are you?" Jack steadily asked, but remained guarded.
"I am Silas Fer," the man said, dipping his head in a proper greeting. He swung a hand in the other kid's direction. "And this Nicky Haust, my apprentice." He suddenly cast a piercing gaze into Jack's blue eyes. "That pond of yours is completely solid, yes?"
"Of course," Jack scoffed, as if insulted.
"It'd better be," Silas growled. "If Nicky ever falls through that ice, this world will be short one less winter spirit."
Jack's mouth twisted in a mischievous grin. "Game on," he said, relaxing and leaning forward to shake Silas' calloused hand. "But I am a Guardian. What do you take me for?"
"I congratulate you on your status," Silas managed a smile. "I consider you lucky to be working alongside North. He's a dear friend of mine."
At the gentle shift in conversation, Nicky and Jamie found themselves standing side by side, watching the older spirits talk as if they were long lost friends. Though Jamie did find their conversation rather interesting, he even had to agree with Nicky's vague expression as they listened.
"Hey, Silas," Nicky piped up after a while. "Aren't we leaving, or can Jamie and I go exploring?"
"Hmm. You know, I wouldn't mind hearing how North and the others are doing…" Silas scratched his chin. "We'll meet back here in an hour, and stay with each other."
"Don't worry," Nicky swiveled his head nonchalantly, all too ready to take off down the throng of unmarked trails. "We've been going here for decades. I know this place like the back of my hand." Jamie's mouth dropped at the word 'decades', and Nicky tried to drag him out of his stupor.
"Be careful," Jack smiled after Jamie shook out of his daze. "And don't lose your hat again, either," he chuckled as he knelt to ruffle the kid's hair through his hat. "It blew halfway across the state when the wind took it off your head last week." Jack smiled jokingly and thoughtfully. "You have a snack on you, too, right? In case you get hungry?"
Jamie rolled his eyes. "We'll be fine, Jack."
"Well," Jack's smirk widened impishly. "I am the nanny; I have to do my job right." He suddenly pulled Jamie into an inescapable hug, and proceeded to press a cold, loud, sloppy kiss to the little kid's cheek.
"Yuuugh!" Jamie shrieked, furiously wiping at his face and wriggling out of the Guardian's hysterically laughing frame. Jamie tossed Jack a lighthearted glare. "You'll pay for that later," the boy grumbled irritably, before making a promising nod. "We'll be careful."
Jack laughed and stood, watching the two kids take off for the denser parts of the woods.
"Nicky," Silas called as his apprentice obediently spun at the voice. "No going near the wolves. Their food is becoming scarce and they're acting more aggressive."
"But the wolves like me," Nicky protested. Silas raised an eyebrow, causing the little boy to sigh compliantly. "Yes, sir…"
Silas nodded. "No wolves," he repeated for emphasis.
Jack wagged an eyebrow. "And make sure to look both ways before crossing the street," he said above his chuckling, wagging a finger in Jamie's direction. "And don't talk to strangers."
"Shut up, Jack," the winter spirit heard Jamie mumble, and his grin broadened. Jamie also muttered something about revenge, but his words drifted out of earshot.
Jamie could only nod owlishly.
Apparently, Nicky and Silas had been to many parts of the world. Their job was simply to spread autumn. As senior and junior fall spirits, it was their job to look after the season, making sure the leaves were crisp and sharp, possessing luscious shades of red and gold. It was interesting for the fact that Silas and Nicky took care of autumn in their own ways.
With the help of the wind, Nicky made sure that every patch of backyard got leaves just perfect for making piles to jump in. However, from the tiring effects of this process, Nicky would accidentally make the leaves prematurely brown and once they changed, the color couldn't be reversed until next year.
Aside from joining in the changing of the season, Silas' job was initially to be the peacemaker. Silas made it his duty to soothe summer. The summer spirits were an irritable bunch and absolutely despised the intrusions of colder weather. Year after year, Silas always found himself calmly subduing the summer spirits, convincing them that balance and change were expected, and simply follows natural order. Though reluctant, the spirits would eventually give in and allow their fellow seasons to drop the temperature.
"He keeps trying to drag me to those meetings," Nicky smoothed a hand through his russet hair after they slid down a mossy slope, continuing deeper and deeper into the woods. "But I'm just not interested in summers' opinions. I like calm; I want to avoid fights. If that means flying off somewhere to spread fall, then I'm going to do that."
"You can fly?!" Jamie gaped wondrously, almost tripping over loose gravel.
"Man, are you clumsy," Nicky snorted good-naturedly. He suddenly jumped high and paused, staying above the ground for a few suspended seconds before touching down. "I can only hover. Autumn winds aren't as strong as winter winds, so I can't stay in the air too high or for too long."
He suddenly clapped Jamie over the shoulder. "But I'm jealous of you," he said, grinning wistfully. "I'm bonded with an autumn spirit, but you're bonded with the Jack Frost. Your magic can totally out-do mine."
"M-magic," Jamie stuttered.
"I bet you go flying whenever you want. Wherever you want. Hey! Can you make a blizzard? Like, right now?!"
"Um," Jamie stumbled a little, caught off-guard by his friend's excitement.
Nicky's eyebrows came expectantly together. "You can do magic…right?"
Jamie paused and opened his mouth. "Pfft!" He laughed. "Of course I can do magic! I did bond with Jack Frost, remember?"
"Awesome," Nicky fist-pumped. "Make it snow or something!"
With a scattered mind and a shaky chuckle, Jamie put his hands together as if about to pull off some form of wintry spell. Nicky suddenly gasped in awe before turning and racing a couple feet away around the bend.
Jamie sighed in relief, and unease. Jack had yet to teach him any amount of magic, and the stuff he tried to secretly learn on his own resulted in either doing the exact opposite, or ended in a total backfire. He still had the lingering nudge of a headache long after trying to make icicles grow from the gutters above his window.
"Wow," Nicky gasped as he and Jamie rounded a corner.
The tall face of a small mountain protruded from a hillside. The cliff stood as tall as two wild pine trees, and its jagged edges cracked and crumbled from what looked like centuries of wear and age.
"Let's go!" Nicky said grabbing onto one of the cliff's edges. "I haven't been rock climbing in twenty-five years, I think."
"Rock climbing," Jamie repeated, ignoring Nicky's lack of aging.
"You've rock climbed before right?"
With a shuddering gulp, Jamie found himself stupidly placing his hands against the rocky surface. He was about to make an excuse not to continue, but realized his bluff would've been called. The wide cracks and ledges created perfect footholds for the kids.
"You okay?" Nicky asked when Jamie let out an uneasy breath. "Don't worry," the young spirit said without care. "If you fall, you can just ask the wind to catch you. No, wait!" Nicky suddenly disagreed with excitement. "You can conjure up a huge pile of snow to break your fall. That way we can have a snowball fight afterward! Being a spirit of autumn doesn't allow much time to do that sort of thing."
"Yeah," Jamie mumbled, arms already quivering from clinging onto the cliff for so long. "Why not?"
Nicky smiled, flashing slightly yellow teeth, before beginning to scale up the mountainside. Jamie gave a puff of air and made to move. He almost screamed when his left hand slipped on some moss, almost falling backwards. Jamie instantly flailed and made purchase on another cliff edge. With sweat beading on his neck, the child slowly looked down. And he smacked his forehead when he saw the one-foot gap between his feet and the ground. Even the Boogeyman would be mocking Jamie's needless fear right now.
"Come on, dude!" Nicky, who was almost halfway up, called.
Jamie swallowed again and yelled that he was on his way. "I'm going to get in so much trouble…" Jamie sung in whisper to himself.
If the fall from the cliff didn't kill him, then Jack surely would.
* In homage to the Icelandic Cod from "How to Train Your Dragon', Nicky's last name 'Haust' roughly translates to 'autumn' in Icelandic. Under the same language, Silas' last name 'Fer' roughly translates to 'leaves'.
Whereas, 'Silas' is a Greek name that means 'woods' or 'forest'.
I know it seems like there's a few plotholes in this chapter, but I promise that a lot more will be explained in part two. Hope you guys like it so far! Again, this isn't SLASH. I sincerely hope that the kiss Jack gave Jamie didn't give off that indication. If it did, let me know, please.