Dead || Jack Frost

Twenty three

"How dare you have fun in my presence!" He seethed as he strode towards Jaime. The boy had gone back to throwing snowballs at his friends. "I am the boogeyman. You should fear me"- Pitch broke off as Jaime turned and ran through him, as if he was a ghost. Pitch's face broke and the fury disappeared. Jack gently set Dia on his feet and the guardians all watched as Pitch staggered back. The black robes man taking off running.

He fled in a dizzying route away from the city. Although he did not get very far. Through the trees and too the frozen surface of a lake where he collided heavily with North and fell back heavily onto the ice. "Leaving the party so soon?" North asked with false cheerfulness as the rest of the guardians stepped up at his side.

"You didn't even say goodbye", Tooth added with sickly sweetness. She flicked something on to pitch's lap.

"A quarter?" His question was cut off as Tooth punched him squarely in the face. One of his teeth bouncing away on the ice.

"Remind me to never get on her bad side", Jack muttered into Dia's ear.

"And that's for my fairies", Tooth grinned as she shook out her fist. Her little baby teeth fairies all squeaking in agreement.

Dia strode forwards and kicked the boogeyman between the legs. Pitch let out a groan of pain and curled up protectively. "And that", he glared. "Was for kidnapping me and breaking Jack's staff".

Jack grinned as Dia returned to his side. "Definitely never getting on your bad side". Dia smiled and pecked him on the cheek. Jack's face turned slightly purple with his blush.

"You can't get rid of me", Pitch was trying to sound threatening but his voice seemed more pleading. He staggered to his feet, still slightly curled up in pain from Dia's kick. "Not forever. There will always be fear".

"So what?" North waved a hand. "As long as one child believes we will be here to fight fear".

"Really". Pitch smirked. "Then what are they doing here?" He gestured to the last remaining nightmares. There were less than tenth now, when there were hundreds. Their shadowy bodies were approaching the lake slowly.

The guardians looked around. North laughed. "They can't be my nightmares. I'm not afraid".

"Me neither", Dia grinned. "Not anymore. Are you Jack?"

"Nope", Jack leaned on Dia's shoulder as he gave the nightmares a nonchalant look. Pitch's face fell and Jack smirked. "It looks like your fear they smell".

Pitch gasped and began running. The nightmares converged and he screamed. Barely reaching the edge of the lake before they swept him up in a whirling cloud of black. The guardians watched as his form was dragged through the air and out of sight. Above them, the clouds finally disappeared and the moon was bright in the early dawn light.

Tooth let out a happy laugh and twirled through the air. She soared down and grabbed Dia and Jack in a big hug. Her wings beating heart enough to pull both boys off their feet for a second. "Best boys!" She squealed. "Thank you guys so much! I'm so proud of you!"

Dia and Jack both chuckled and hugged her back. "Thanks tooth", Jack smiled. She squeezed them tightly and let go. The baby teeth fairies all squeaking at them happily.

"Are you ready now Jack, Dia?" North asked. Sandy and bunny watching at his side. "To make it official". At his feet a elf waved a trumpet threateningly. Jack and Dia glanced at each other. Dia raised a hand and let his make up melt away. Then he reached down and opened his palm in a question. Jack smiled and took it in answer.

A yeti handed North the familiar thick leather book. "Then it's time to take oath". Dia felt Jack inhale deeply and squeezed his hand. Behind them, the children and the rest of the yetis and fairies all surrounded them in curious silence. North began speaking.

"Will you, Jack Frost and Dia De Los Muertos, vow to watch over the children of the world? To guard them with your lives, their hopes, their wishes, their dreams. For they are all that we have, all that we are and all that we will ever be?"

Jack turned to Jaime. The boy nodded then he turned to Dia, who smiled. "I will", he grinned.

"I will", Dia echoed. North beamed at them.

"Then congratulations Jack Frost and Dia de los Muertos, for you are now and for evermore, guardians!"

Everyone began cheering. North seized Jack up by the shoulders and exclaimed something in Russian, kissing him on both cheeks. Dia tried to step back but North put Jack down and seized him and did the same. All of them laughing loudly as Dia was dropped. He staggered for a second in surprise and Jack rested an arm on his shoulder. Their winter boy laughing fondly.

"Guys look!" The children exclaimed, pointing to the sky. North's sleigh soared in a downwards arc over head. The reindeer back in formation and the wood as good as new. It came to a smooth landing on the ice. The children all yelling in delight.

Bunny chuckled at the noise. "Everybody loves the sleigh".

North nodded and smiled. "It's time to go". Sandy waved his arms and Dia gasped as the golden sand erupted in a shower of golden fireworks. It fluttered down around them as everyone began to say their goodbyes.

"Dia!" Dia gasped as Caleb and Claude both tackled him in a running hug. He staggered backwards under their sudden weight but retained his footing. He grinned at them, hands coming up to rest on their heads. "Are you leaving now?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah. I've got to go".

"Will you be back?" Claude added.

Dia nodded. "Of course. I'll see you on the day of the dead, like every year. And of course I'll bring your family too".

"I can't wait!" Both twins let him go and stepped back. Dia knelt down so that he was closer to their height. He booked their noses and they giggled at him.

"Whenever you miss someone, I will be there", he smiled. "Wether you see me or not. I will be there. Whenever you experience grief or sadness, I will always be there. Remember that". They both nodded and Dia stood up. He looked over towards the sleigh we're the guardians were waiting. Only Jack and him left saying goodbye. "I'll see you soon", he promised as he stepped away.

"See you on Halloween!" Both boys shouted after him, waving. Dia laughed and waved back as he clambered in to the sleigh. He took a seat at the very back. Arms up as he waved goodbye to all the children.

"Jack", he held out a hand as the winter boy climbed on board. Jack smiled and took it as he sat next to him. Dia beamed and interlocked their fingers together. Jack smiled at him and leaned over. Their lips meeting in a soft slow kiss as the sleigh was pulled into the sky. Dia sighed and relaxed into it. The relief in their victory and the stress of the last week falling off him.

He had found friends. He had found family. He had found his purpose and he had found belief. He had even found love, which was not as bad as he had thought.

It was safe to say, that he did not regret being kidnapped by yetis several days ago. Nope. Not one bit.

("Put a sock in it ya love birds".

"Go suck on a egg bunny".)

Unedited