Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D This chapter has some good ol' brotherly fluff between Jack and Bunny, so I hope you guys enjoy it. ^u^
~ XIV ~
Chocolate in the Rain
There's nothing better
Than a sticky confection
To chase away the fear
That comes with a storm
...
Raindrops as thick as stones pelted against the ground. Windows shuddered at the wind's fierce howls. The sky was dark—full of cumulonimbus clouds that refused when it came to moving. Outside was grey and muddy. Dirt and mud as thick as tar rolled like mini rivers down the paths and roads that weaved through Santoff Claussen.
The wind pushed trees and sticks to the ground. Their branches jerked and swayed in the violent winds like lost dancers, struggling to keep up. Flashes of lightning, bright and blinding, lit up the sky when one least expected it. And thunder—oh, the thunder. Rolled and boomed like an enraged man. It was low. Powerful. Foreboding.
Outside, it was cold and chilly. And far too dangerous for any child to play. The small puddles that had pooled on the ground called to them. Beckoned for them to come and play. The children of Santoff Claussen wanted to put on their boots and splash around, but the thunder and lightning—as well as their parents—told them that it was best to stay indoors.
Due to the storm, no one was able to head outside of their homes. So it was a rather slow day in the usually bustling village of Santoff Claussen, though its people still found ways to be productive. Tooth was reorganizing letters with the assistance of her mini fairies. Letters and mail had been pouring in, and Toothiana wanted to systematize before they became overwhelming.
Sandy was at Lunslurna Captial, where the thunderstorm was only a drizzle. He was currently in a meeting with Tsar Lunar himself, the leader of the newly formed Guardians of Childhood. Pitch's impending threats had been increasing, and the Tsar had been growing increasingly concerned. Even though he had sent more men to secure Darksualth's borders, he knew that Pitch was rising again. The Boogeyman was dangerous, perhaps even lethal. It had been a pressing, bloody battle sending Pitch back into the shadows. The Lunarian troops almost lost against him. Thankfully, they were able to defeat the Nightmare King and lock him away in Darksualth. But deep down, Tsar Lunar always knew that he would soon make his return. He didn't think, however, that soon would be only ten years.
Sandy patrolled Santoff Claussen and its neighboring areas at night. Since he was the one Tsar Lunar knew well, he often called him to the palace to send reports back to the other Guardians of Childhood. They trusted that Sandy would provide them with the information that Tsar Lunar had given to him, which he did.
North was out making deliveries. Granted, this came as a surprise acknowledging the ferocious storm pushing through. But North had dealt with much worse in the past, so he was most likely staying at an inn to wait out the rain.
Since North was away, Jack was staying with Aster for the evening. The inside of the cottage was bright with candles, and the rain pelted at the roof. The pit, pat, patter of raindrops were incessant, making Jack and Aster's ears twitch at the sound.
The two occupied the living room with Aster sitting on the couch, sketching, while Jack played on the floor with Wawa and his blocks. The winter child had constructed an immaculate castle out of the colored cubes. Jack nestled Wawa inside of it, smiling at his build. The stuffed arctic fox seemed quite comfortable in her new dwelling.
Thunder rumbled outside, and lightning flashed. The wind pounded against the window, and the cottage shuddered and shook. Jack stopped playing and looked outside, a fretful look on his face. Aster looked down at the young snow sprite, sensing his anxiousness.
"It's okay, mate. The thunder and lightnin' won't hurt ya," he reassured the boy. "The storm's outside; it can't get ya in here."
Jack pulled Wawa out of her castle and hugged her close as another roll of thunder shook the house.
"Storms are scary," he said with a small whimper. Aster's heart went out to the young snow sprite. Jack never liked thunderstorms. From what North had told him, the winter child was terrified of them. North worried that Jack would be uncomfortable since he wouldn't be there to solace him, but Aster told the ex-Cossack that he'd look after Jack. He'd make sure the winter child was safe and comfortable regardless of the harsh weather.
Aster assumed that it'd rain for the rest of the day, as Mother Nature didn't seem like she'd raise the storm any time soon. And as the storm drew on, Jack grew more and more uneasy. Aster couldn't stop the storm, so he couldn't wash away Jack's fear as quickly as he wanted to.
Suddenly, thunder boomed outside, like a thousand war drums being banged at once. The living room window flew open and the wind swept through the room, screaming like a phantom. Papers and sketches flew off the tables. Wawa's castle tumbled to the ground. Jack screamed as the candlelight blew out. Lightning flashed again and again like a flickering light that just wouldn't stop.
Rain poured into the room, and Aster hurried to shut the window. He fought against the wind; he grunted as he pushed the open window doors until they finally slammed shut. Aster picked up a match and relit the lights that had gone out. Once he was done, he turned to Jack, who was shaking like a leaf on the floor. He gripped Wawa tightly, eyes wide and glittering with tears.
"I don't like storms!" cried Jack. Aster picked up the little boy and Jack clung to him tightly, still trembling. Aster softened, and he gently rubbed Jack's back, hoping that the action would bring some form of comfort to the winter child. As he did so, the Pooka wondered what he could do to ease Jack's fear. The boy was scared, and it pained Aster to see him so fearful.
Then, an idea came to mind. One that Aster was certain would work. He shifted Jack in his arms and began to make his way to the kitchen.
"C'mon, mate. I got somethin' ta show ya," Aster said. He set Jack down in a chair and shuffled through the cabinets. Jack watched, thumb in his mouth, as Aster sifted through the cupboard until he found what he was searching for. Aster pulled out a small tray of chocolates that he had whipped up some time ago. When he wasn't painting or tending to the foliage in his Warren, Aster made chocolate during his free time. He found the hobby quite odd considering that he couldn't consume the treat since it had some rather…interesting effects on Pookas. But Aster enjoyed the baking process nonetheless. It helped him put his thoughts together, and in the end, he could always share his chocolate with others.
Aster picked up a piece and unwrapped it. He broke off a square and handed it to Jack, who was still rattled after the thunderous cacophony. Jack looked at the chocolate piece, hesitant. Aster nodded at the chocolate.
"Go on, mate. Take it," he said.
Jack blinked slowly, and he took the chocolate out of Aster's paw. He examined it for a moment before popping it into his mouth. The child's eyes widened and slipped closed in bliss. A pleasure-filled hum came from the snow sprite as he swayed in his chair as if entranced by a melodious tune.
Aster smiled. "How was it?"
Jack opened his eyes and grinned. "Yummy!"
Aster chuckled. "Just as I hoped." He watched as Jack licked the chocolate remains off his fingers. "Ya know…I'm working on a new batch, and I wouldn't mind the extra help."
"I dunno how to cook," Jack said.
"I'll show ya how," said Aster. He began pulling out a bowl, tray, and spoons. "Best way ta learn is from an expert. And luckily, ya got one right here."
Jack smiled, and he and Aster began to make a new batch of chocolate. Jack helped Aster take out the ingredients, but when it came to the heavier or more precarious utensils, he let Aster handle them. Aster laid everything out, and Jack placed Wawa on a counter that was far enough from the ingredients so she wouldn't get dirty. He positioned the stuffed fox to look as if she were watching the baking process too. Jack toddled back to the table and climbed into a chair, standing on it so he could watch as Aster worked and guided him.
"I was planning on makin' some chocolate today anyway, so I already have the cocoa beans prepared," Aster explained, pouring the roasted cocoa beans into the mortar. He pointed inside the bowl, and Jack peeked inside. "All ya gotta do is crush them into nibs, and then we can get ta the fun stuff."
Jack hummed. "How do we mush them?"
Aster handed Jack a pestle. "Just press down on 'em with this." The Pooka watched as Jack examined the wooden object. "And don't be afraid ta be firm. We want these ta be as crushed up as possible."
Jack grinned, and he got right to crushing the beans. As he did so, Aster turned to pull out the chocolate molds and metate. He hoped that as Jack worked with him, he would be distracted from the storm raging outside. The plan seemed to be working, as Jack was so focused on smashing the cocoa beans, he didn't even flinch at the low rumbles of thunder coming from outside.
After the beans were ground into nibs, Aster poured them onto the metate. He pushed the grinding stone over the cocoa nibs, squashing out the creamy cocoa butter that would soon be made into chocolate. Jack wanted to try too, so Aster allowed him. He guided the boy's hands as pushed the rectangular object over the nibs, flattening them out until they were liquid chocolate. When there were no more nib pieces present, Aster poured the rich chocolate into the molds. Most of them were egg-shaped.
Aster added some sugar and a little bit of milk to make the chocolate creamier. Once all the molds were filled, Aster set the tray on the counter. Now all he and Jack had to do was wait until the chocolate hardened. Then, it'd be ready to eat.
Jack tilted his head as he stared at the tray. "When will the chocowate be done?"
Aster had to stifle a laugh at the winter child's mispronunciation of chocolate. Jack was still growing out of his toddler talk, and Aster found it adorable. But of course, he'd never admit that out loud.
"In about half an hour or so, Snowflake," the Pooka replied.
Jack frowned. "Aw, but I want some now!"
"The time will fly by soon enough," said Aster.
Jack hummed. "Well, okay. I guess I can wait." The boy tapped his fingers against the counter. "I've never had anything like chocolate before. It's really, really good."
Stunned, Aster turned around, wondering if he had heard Jack correctly. "Wait…yer tellin' me that North's never introduced ya ta chocolate?'
"Uh-huh," answered Jack nonchalantly. He began to trace frost patterns on the counter, completely unaware of Aster's shocked expression. North hadn't introduced the child to the best confectionary treat in the world? And when had he planned on doing so? Never? Aster couldn't believe what he just heard, and the Pooka made a mental note to confront North about this in the future.
While waiting for the chocolate to harden, Jack and Aster headed to the painting studio and did a bit of coloring. The storm began to lighten at this point of the day; the raindrops poured gentler against the roof and the rumbles of thunder were distant and low. Flashes of lightning weren't as frequent. Jack was glad that the storm seemed to be fading away. And Aster was happy that the young snow sprite wasn't fretful anymore.
Eventually, the half-hour mark came, so Aster and Jack returned to the kitchen to find the chocolate tray still where they left it. Aster popped a piece of chocolate out of one of the molds, pleased to find that it was nicely hardened. He handed it to Jack, who took it gladly. The young snow sprite paused before shoving it in his mouth, and kindly offered Aster half his piece. The Pooka shook his head.
"I can't have chocolate, mate," Aster said. Jack tilted his head, confused.
"Why?" he asked.
"Ah…it's a long story," explained Aster, rubbing the back of his head. Going in-depth about what the brown dessert did to Pookas such as he wasn't a topic that he wanted to delve into at the moment. "It isn't good for Pookas."
"Oh…" said Jack. "Then why do you make it?"
"Because I like making it," said Aster. He poked Jack's stomach, making the winter child giggle. "And at least I get ta share it with people like ya."
So Jack ate his piece of chocolate and reached out for a second. Once the snow sprite had eaten three pieces, Aster stopped him from consuming another. He didn't want the young boy to get full of sugar. Jack was already rambunctious enough as he was.
Although the rain had slowed, it still poured from the skies, and North still hadn't returned. He was probably taking shelter and waiting out the storm. Riding out in this weather wasn't well-advised, so Aster assumed that North wouldn't be back until morning when the rain would perhaps have lessened. Jack seemed worried for the ex-Cossack, but Aster reassured him that he would be alright.
Aster helped Jack get ready for bed, and once the winter child was in his pajamas, Aster allowed him to play in the Warren while he tidied the kitchen. Once it was thoroughly cleaned, he headed downstairs to get Jack, but the young boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Jack? Jack!" Aster called. He received no response from the white-haired boy. A small group of eggs ran up to Aster, and he asked if they had seen Jack pass by. The little eggs nodded, but they didn't catch where Jack had gone.
Aster huffed, knowing that Jack was avoiding bedtime. North had told him of the many techniques that Jack would use to evade going to bed. Hiding was his main propensity. North often found him hidden under his bed or in the closet, thinking that if he concealed himself enough, the ex-Cossack wouldn't carry him to bed. But of course, North caught Jack every time, which only made the young snow sprite even more determined to avoid the dreaded time of slumber.
"Jack! Don't make me come out there and get ya!"
Said snow sprite snickered, and he stayed hidden away in a patch of flowers in the Warren. He knew Aster would try to track him down, but he made sure to bury himself in the flower field, making it more difficult to catch his scent. Jack smirked, priding himself on acting so exquisitely smart.
When Aster called again, Jack stubbornly stayed in place. He by no means wanted to go to bed. The winter child couldn't comprehend why such an awful thing like bedtime even existed! It needed to be avoided, or at least eradicated. A mission that Jack thought was something of the most importance. Perhaps he'd be the one to carry out that feat.
His childish musings were interrupted, however, when the pollen and smells from the flowers began to grow too much for his nose. A daisy petal tickled Jack's nose, and the inevitable sensation of a calculating sneeze sparked within it. Jack inwardly panicked. Oh no…Not here…Not now!
Jack covered his nose, but the sneeze had already passed the point of no return. "Ah…Ah…"
"Come out of yer hidin' spot, mate! Ya can't stay down here forever!"
Jack squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold in his sneeze. Unfortunately, it was too late. "Achoo!"
A flurry of snowflakes exploded before Jack. The petals of the flowers surrounding him were coated with a thick layer of frost. Jack's eyes widened, and he gulped.
Maybe he didn't notice, the young snow sprite thought. Then, he felt a strong arm pulling him upward. Jack yelped.
"There ya are!" Aster frowned. "Hidin' in the flowers I see. Or…what's left of 'em anyway."
Jack smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Bunny."
Aster sighed, and he carried Jack upstairs. "Don't ya go hidin' on me like that again, ya hear? It's yer bedtime."
"But I don't wanna go to bed!" Jack said, squirming in Aster's arms.
"Why not?" asked Aster, plunking Jack into the guest bed. The winter child sat up and scowled.
"Because I don't need sleep!" ranted Jack. "I can manage just fine without it! You, North, Toothy, and Sandy all get to stay up late. So why can't I?"
"'Cause yer still young, Frostbite," Aster replied, sitting next to Jack. The winter child crossed his arms and huffed. "Yer still growing, and ya need yer rest. And trust me, mate. Half the time we wish we could get as much sleep as ya do."
Jack looked at Aster incredulously. "You do?"
Aster nodded, and he pulled the blankets over Jack. "Now get some rest, and North should be back by mornin'."
Jack snuggled with his Wawa and buried himself under the covers. Aster headed for the door, about to exit the bedroom when Jack called him back.
Aster turned around. "Somethin' wrong, mate?"
Jack sat up and he shifted uncomfortably.
"Um…could you tell me a story?" the winter child asked softly. "It, uh…It helps me sleep better."
Now, Aster didn't consider himself the storytelling type. But Jack wanted to hear a bedtime tale, so the Pooka walked back to Jack's bed and sat beside him. The young snow sprite snuggled against him.
"Well, ah…What story would ya like ta hear?" Aster asked.
Jack shrugged. "A good one."
Not much to go off of, but alright.
Aster thought for a moment and crafted perhaps the hastiest story to be told.
"Once upon a time there was a little ankle-biter who was really picky. He wouldn't eat anything but sweets. He loved them so much that he built a castle out of them, and he lived inside of it all by himself. Eventually, he got sick from all the candies that he ate and learned that he needed to eat other foods too. Especially eggs. The end."
Jack laughed. "That's a weird story."
Aster rolled his eyes but smiled. "I'm not a storyteller." He nuzzled Jack's head. "Now go ta sleep unless ya want ta be a grump in the mornin'."
Jack smiled and nestled himself into his pillow. He yawned. "Night, Bun."
"G'night, Frostbite," Aster said. And he headed back downstairs.
…
A few hours later, Jack found himself awake, and he couldn't fall back asleep. The winter child sat up in bed. Jack turned and looked out the window, where drops of rain slipped down the glass. Thunder rumbled from outside, and the sky was darker than night. It was still raining. The Moon's glow was hidden behind the clouds. Not a sliver of light broke through.
Jack hugged Wawa close, realizing that he wasn't in his room at North's but in the extra bedroom in Aster's cottage. The winter child sniffed, suddenly feeling homesick. He missed North. He was somewhere out in the rain, and Jack didn't know when he'd come back. Or if he would come back.
The little snow sprite shook his head. No….he wasn't going to think that way. North was probably just fine! But that thought didn't do much to quell Jack's worry. He'd never been separated from North for so long, and Jack longed to have him near.
The young snow sprite tried to fall back asleep, but his eyes refused to stay shut. Usually, when he had difficulty in sleeping, North would read him a story or sing him a lullaby. But he wasn't there, which only made Jack miss him even more.
Jack whimpered and sat up again. He knew that he wouldn't fall asleep again any time soon. He looked at the door; it had been left open so only a sliver of light poured through. Aster was still awake, so Jack decided to head downstairs. Perhaps he could help him.
Holding Wawa close, Jack dangled his legs over the side of the bed. The young snow sprite thought that he was close to the ground, but it turned out he was far from it. Jack slipped out of bed and fell flat on his bum, a short yelp slipping from his lips. The winter child frowned, but his irritation was brief.
Jack got to his feet and toddled to the door. He pushed it open, wincing at the light. He walked down the hallway until he reached the staircase. He peered down the stairs, spotting Aster sitting on the couch, reading a book. A mug of what looked to be tea was clasped in his other paw. Green egg-shaped reading glasses were perched on his nose. Jack found this quite peculiar; he had never seen Aster wear glasses before.
Jack quietly walked down the stairs. Aster didn't notice him. The winter child shifted on his feet.
"B-Bunny?"
Aster's ears twitched, and he turned to the stairwell, where Jack was standing. The winter child appeared to be uncomfortable.
"Frostbite? What are ya doin' up this late?" asked Aster, surprised.
Jack opened his mouth to reply, but then he closed it, feeling ashamed of the childish thing that was keeping him awake.
Sensing something was wrong, Aster set aside his book and tea and patted the space next to him. "Come sit with me."
Jack nodded, and he walked over to the couch. He placed Wawa on the seat first, then clawed at the cushioned surface, grunting as he tried to pull himself up. Aster chuckled, and he scooped the boy up from the rug, placing him on the empty spot next to him.
"Now, what's keepin' ya up?" Aster asked. Jack hugged his stuffed fox and looked down.
"Is it the rain?" Aster questioned. Jack shook his head.
"Do ya feel sick?" the Pooka inquired, placing his paw against Jack's head to check for a fever. The last time the young snow sprite had fallen ill was when he was two. And that hadn't been a pleasant time.
Jack pushed Aster's paw away. "No…"
"Then what's wrong, Jack?" asked Aster in concern.
The winter child's grip on Wawa tightened and tears welled in his eyes. Suddenly, he burst into tears. Aster was surprised, but he picked up the little boy and held him close as he cried.
"I…I miss North!" Jack wailed. "I-I wanna go home!"
Aster rocked Jack back and forth as he continued to cry, murmuring words of comfort to the boy. "Shh…it's okay, mate. North will be back soon."
"B-But the s-storm!" Jack hiccuped. "W-What if he g-got lost or—"
Aster hushed the boy. "North will be just fine. He's probably stayin' at a shelter right now. North's a tough ol' bird, and he'll be back. He's been in far worse than this before."
Jack sniffed and wiped his nose. "A-Are you sure?"
Aster nodded. "Sure I'm sure." Jack calmed down. "And if ya ever feel homesick again, jus' come and tell me."
Jack nodded against Aster's chest. He hesitated before asking, "C-Could I have a piece of chocowate?"
"I don't know, mate. It's far past yer bedtime already," said Aster.
"But it'll help me feel better," begged Jack. "Pleaseeeeeee?"
Aster sighed; it was late, but he decided that one piece couldn't hurt. The Pooka gave Jack a small bar of chocolate and poured him a cup of warm milk to go with it. As Jack happily ate his chocolate bar, Aster busied himself by washing the remaining dishes in the sink. When he turned around, he found that Jack had fallen asleep in his chair. The cup of milk was finished and the bar of chocolate was gone.
Aster smiled softly, and he lifted Jack up, carrying him upstairs and placing him into bed. Jack sighed and rolled over, muttering something about chocolate tasting amazing. Aster chuckled and he nuzzled the child's forehead.
"Sleep well, Frostbite," he whispered. Then he left the bedroom and quietly closed the door.
Author's Note: Bunny is a "fantastic" storyteller, and Jack is a chocolate addict. XD And but of course, one of the best brotherly duos in the entire fandom universe. =3
I had to do a bit of research in this chapter since I had no idea how chocolate was made back in the 1800s. OuO Actually, I had no idea how chocolate was made, even in modern time. XD For some strange reason I thought the process involved eggs and an oven, but really, you just need some cocoa beans, smash them into nibs, roll over them until they're creamy, add your milk and such, place the cream into molds, leave them out to harden and et voila! =D You just brought chocolate into existence. X)
I found this incredibly shocking because I didn't realize how simple the chocolate-making process was. X) Of course, it's been sped up and improved on over the years, but I feel kind of silly now thinking that you baked chocolate in an oven...when it'll just melt in there. QwQ *Sighs* Stoopy ol' me. =')
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one! =D
Until the next chapter!
~BeyondTheMoon1203
