When Frost Bites

Hello fellow RotG lovers. As I am sure you've already got a hint from the cover, summary and frankly story title that this is a Rainbow Snowcone (Jack x Toothiana) fanfic. I appreciate all other Jack x (insert here) ships but here it is Rainbow Snowcone's time to shine. I started this because Rainbow Snowcone appreciation week starts on May 19th and I decided to start a bit early. Anyway, I know the following text seems quite daunting but it loosens up in the next chapters, so push through if you can! Review if you'd like and enjoy the story!

Loneliness

It'd been months since Jack Frost had returned to his home town. After he and the other guardians defeated Pitch; he had parted ways with them. He would leave the unexpected snowfall to alert them of where he was but apart from that Jack made no contact. His staff was held tightly in his hand, the wind rushing past his face resulted in his white hair being scattered across his forehead. He flew in limbo and gazed from high above, his eyes searching through the familiar town, trying to find certain buildings and parks to remind him of his past-life, over 300 years ago. To his dismay, nothing sparked resemblance to him and he gave the small town he once called home a final glance. Jack flicked his staff and began picking up speed towards the forest, nearing the lake where he had been reborn. Within a few minutes he reached it; memories came flooding back to him and a light smile played at his blue-tinged lips. Memories of him and his father woodworking, him and his mother cooking, him and his friends playing, him and his sister… He flurried down to the centre of the lake and where he landed caused the ice to thicken in intricate design. He sat down with his legs crossed and let the faces of his family and friends cascade over him.

Jack woke with sudden alarm; he had fallen asleep on the lake itself. His back was pressed against the freezing ice and his hair flayed across the frozen floor. The night sky was pierced with bright lights and the moon shone clearly in the middle. Jack chuckled to himself.

"Here to chat, man in the moon?" Jack teased, looking up at the mesmerizing light of the natural satellite. He waited expectantly, although he knew no response would come his way. He simply stared at the moon whilst it stared back at him. Why, this reminds me of old times… He thought, as he recounted the numerous nights he spent in complete isolation with only the silent moon as his companion. Despite the eerie quietness, Jack relished it and let his eyes flutter back closed. He spent a lot of time making children happy, letting the smiles and grins grow wider at the sight of snow and the coughs and sniffles that followed shortly after. The laughter and the joy that he could create, it made him happy. It just didn't make him satisfied. He had only been a Guardian for a few months, the Guardian of Fun. And for a while, that title seemed appropriate for him. He enjoyed making all those children delighted; even more so that they believed in him. But Jack soon fell back into his self-made prison; a trap of thoughtfulness and a cave of confusion. One he despised and loved. Jack looked up at the moon again and gave it a polite nod. He stood up and stretched his long arms and legs then proceeded to brush himself down and pick up his staff. With a slight jump at the feet and a click with his staff he flew up into the night sky, looking for his next respite.

Jack had been flying for a while, creating snowflakes in boredom and analysing them in fascination. Finally he decided to rest at a nearby treetop in a closed neighbourhood. Jack was about to settle down in his abode when he heard a chirp. He swiftly turned around and there was Baby Tooth, a sparkle in her eye as she zipped across his head in amazement. Jack chuckled at her surprise and offered his hand as a resting place. Baby Tooth gently landed upon it and Jack sat back down. Neither one said a word; Jack just pleased that he had bumped into a friend.

"Well, whose tooth are you here for?" Jack asked, grinning at the bird and peering into the differently coloured eyes. Baby Tooth chirped something in response, but of course, Jack could only answer in a simple 'uh-huh' and doubtful nod. Baby Tooth rolled her eyes at him and flew out of his hand; she faced him as she flew backwards; indicating she wanted him to follow. Jack sighed in reluctance and began flying with her; it only took them a few minutes to reach the designated house. A young girl, no more than six, was sleeping in her purple-clad room, with toys dispersed across the room, in a way that seemed more like organised mess. They both entered silently, she was deep asleep, her curly red hair being sucked into her mouth with her deep breaths. Her dream was illustrated in golden sand as she dreamt of an ice-cream laden mountain. Jack smirked at the simple ideals of the small girl; the little things could make someone happy. Jack waited patiently for Baby Tooth to climb underneath the pillow and leave a quarter. The tooth was a pearly white with no apparent discolorations or cavities, a tooth Toothiana would be delighted in. Baby Tooth then left the room and Jack lingered behind, leaving a detailed ice figurine of Baby Tooth. He smiled at the sleeping girl and followed Baby Tooth outside.

"So… tell Toothiana I said hi," Jack said, albeit awkwardly. He wasn't sure that the other Guardians would be all too pleased with his abrupt cut of communication. It seemed Baby Tooth wasn't all too pleased herself. Her chirps were rapid like gunfire and she glided all the way up to his face until her beak was touching his nose. Her eyes were determined and adamant, Jack could clearly see that Baby Tooth wasn't about to just let him go. She then became oddly still, Jack stood there in utter bemusement until he realised what she was doing; contacting Toothiana. His eyebrows flew up in realisation and he jumped up into the night sky, hoping to get some distance from Baby Tooth and him. Unfortunately for him, Baby Tooth was not a slow flier and was able to keep up, though from a distance.

"Leave me be, Baby Tooth, I'm doing my job, just go!" Jack shouted back, his voice being carried away into nothing by the sharp winds grazing at his and Baby Tooth's face. It wasn't too long until he heard the familiar buzzing of a certain Hummingbird's wings, his shoulders sagged with defeat and he slowed down. Jack turned to face an exhausted Baby Tooth, whose chest was pumping much faster than normal and her much larger counterpart and boss: Toothiana. The deep blue tones that started at her feet transformed into turquoise and then light tones of green. Her wings fluttered gracefully behind her, in a flurry of pink, purple and blue. Jack then brought himself to her eyes, which were violet and rimmed with long lilac eyelashes. Her lips were set in a deep frown as she stared at him through and through, her anger radiating through her spectacular feathers, which ruffled ever so often.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Jack Frost?" The Tooth Fairy asked, her voice giving her away slightly, as slight airs of concern and worry slithered into the question. Jack reached for the back of his hoodie and slung it over his head then let his gaze fall downwards. His white hair swayed in the wind and covered his face until he prepared his answer.

"I did what I had to do." He stated, breathing deeply and purposefully, finally looking up and peering back into her eyes. The same frosty feeling wrapped around his cheeks and they took a deep dark blue. His eyes slipped away from hers and stuffed his hands in his pocket, trying to regain his usually calm posture.

"You're the Guardian of Fun, Jack. How can you spread joy throughout the world if you, yourself, are unhappy?" Toothiana whispered, as if the truth would cripple Jack and return him to his pre-Guardian state. Without noticing it, his eyes flashed an icy glare, which struck Toothiana cold and hard.

"You think I don't know that? I want to be content, be with those I care for, grow connections with others. But I can't just turn a switch that will make that happen. It's just me. I can't return to my human self in a matter of months!" Jack finished, his cheeks chilled and he took deep breaths after the long rant. He groaned and faced away from her, pushing his hood back and slicking his hair back. The tears in his eyes shone in the moonlight, all of them threatening to fall on the edge of his eyelid. His eyelids drooped, low and heavy, and one tear drop fell and began to crystalize mid-air. It didn't continue falling. The humming from Toothiana's wings came closer and she held the tear drop in her hand. She reached for Jack's chin and raised his face up to hers.

"It doesn't mean you have to be alone," she cupped his face in her hands, letting her fingers slowly caress his checks. It may have only been a few seconds. But in that moment, when both their eyes caught, on that wintry night, where tensions were high and defences were low. Jack drew Toothiana to his lips and they shared their first kiss, with Baby Tooth and the moon as their only witnesses.