Your Center

...

Third Person P.O.V

Yetis bustle around the workshop as the three were lowered in an elevator-like machine.

"It's nothing personal, North," Jack continues as they exit the elevator, shaking his head.

"I just don't think I, or Jack, have the time for it," (Y/N) tries explaining, nervously rubbing her neck as she looks around.

"And what you all do... It's just not our thing," Jack agrees, grinning at (Y/N)'s awestruck expression as she marvels at the workshop.

"Man in Moon says it is your thing!" North replies cheerfully as he signs a paper, tossing the quill away as he walks. "And says you have time! We will see."

"But-- the kids don't even believe in--" (Y/N) stammers out, sighing heavily.

"Slow down, would you?" Jack calls, looking around as North quickly walks, (Y/N) at his side. "Me and (Y/N) have been trying to bust in here for years."

(Y/N) exclaims in protest, shaking her head quickly and pointing to him in an accusation-like manner.

"Correction; you have been trying to bust in here for years," (Y/N) disagrees, walking backwards as she looks around. "I've just been supervising you to make sure you didn't."

"What do you mean, bust in?" North turns around in question, looking between the two as they look around.

"Oh, don't worry," Jack waves off as a Yeti sternly glares at him, pointing. "Never got past the Yetis."

"Hi, Phil!" (Y/N) greets with a wave and a nervous grin as he punches his fist in his hand as a silent threat to Jack. "Come on," she awkwardly laughs, pushing Jack's back as they walk.

"Woah!" Jack laughs as he leans back dramatically into (Y/N), making her yelp as he dodges a Yeti carrying a toy barn.

"Keep up, you two! Keep up!" North calls as he walks with confidence through the workshop.

"Look," (Y/N) grins, holding Jack's arm as she points to the Yetis working on toys.

He smiles down at her before looking around, watching the Yetis all work on different unique toys and test them for any defects.

"Duck!" Jack gasps with a laugh, ducking (Y/N) and himself down as a toy duck flies over them.

"Hah, I get it," she replies in false humor. "Duck. Because, you know..." Jack raises a brow with a small smile as she trails off. "... It... was a duck."

He sighs as she giggles, a wide smile on his face as her laugh reaches his ears. (Y/N) snickers before her laughter dies, smiling gently at Jack as he continues to stare at her. She frowns in concern, tilting her head as he quickly shakes his head and clears his throat.

"Um... I thought it was the elves that made the toys," he calls to North, ducking his head as he rushes after him to hide his blush as (Y/N) quickly follows.

"Yeah! That's what I heard, anyway," (Y/N) agrees, North nodding in agreement before looking around.

"Just let them believe that." He quietly whispers, hiding his mouth behind his hand before Jack and (Y/N) notice a couple of elves.

One of the elves was wrapped up in Christmas lights, another messing with ornaments and using them as goggles as another plugs the lights in.

The elf wrapped in Christmas lights creepily grins as he was rattled, spinning around.

Jack grins with narrowed eyes as (Y/N) watches with a blank wide-eyed expression.

"Very nice!" North says in false enthusiasm, walking between Jack and (Y/N) as he wraps both arms around them. "Keep up good work.

He ushers them along as they pass by a Yeti painting a robot a baby blue.

"That looks pretty," (Y/N) grins, making the Yeti mumble gibberish in agreement as he proudly crosses his arms with a nod.

"I don't like it, paint it red!" North yells, making the Yeti deflate as (Y/N) cringes and follows after.

The Yeti cries out before looking at the other robots he painted blue, groaning and banging his head on the desk as he smacks the robot he just finished away.

"Step it up, everybody!" North orders, a bell ringing to signal speeding up.

Toys fly around the upper level, confetti falling from some of the toys as they test the toys.

...

(Y/N)'s P.O.V

North opens the door to his office, making me breathe out a 'woah' as I look around.

There were ice sculptures decorating his desk and some spare ice blocks on another table, candles on the beam above to light the room.

North dusting off his hands loudly gets my attention, the faint sound of dingling following as an elf offers a tray to him.

"Fruitcake?" North offers, the elf falling as he takes the tray.

"Uh... No, thanks. I think (Y/N) here will take that," Jack lightly pushes my back towards North.

"Oh, no, I insist you take it," I disagree, twirling out of his grip and pushing his back.

"No, no," Jack replies in a light voice, amusement lacing his words. "I am a gentleman, therefore you can have it."

"Since when were you a gentlemen?" I shoot back with a snort of amusement, smiling.

We both stare at each other, both not backing down before he starts to snicker, shaking his head as he soon looks away, rubbing the back of his neck almost bashfully.

I look back at North, smiling bashfully as he narrows his eyes and tosses the tray with the fruitcake away.

"Now we get down to tacks of brass." North cracks his knuckles as Jack and I look at each other in confusion.

"Tacks of--?" Jack was cut off by the door slamming behind us, locking.

I gasp, Jack doing the same as we turn back to North looming over us.

"Who are you, Jack Frost and (Y/N) (L/N)?" North demands, his voice hardened as he looks between us, our backs to the door. "What are your centers?" He continues, jabbing at Jack's chest.

"Our center?" Jack repeats with obvious confusion.

"I don't know what you mean, North," I reply, tilting my head.

"If Man in Moon chose you two to be Guardians you both must have something very special inside," he points between us as we glance at each other, Jack's face hardened in confusion.

"I... Um... make people fall in love? That's what makes me special?" I reply with uncertainty as he leans away, stroking his beard in thought.

"Hmm," North hums in reply, glancing towards a shelf before grabbing something. "Here. This is how you see me, no?"

He shows off a Russian doll, himself painted on it and showing off his strength.

"Very big, intimidating," North chuckles as we walk beside him. "But if you get to know me a little..." He shoves the doll to Jack, making him grab it with both hands as I grab his staff, peeking around him as he holds the doll. "Well, go on."

Jack opens it and reveals another North, smiling widely with a kind expression.

"You are downright jolly?" He questions with a raised brow and a grin.

"But not just jolly!"

I hold his staff in one hand, using the other to twist the doll off as Jack holds it steady for me.

"I am also mysterious," North continues as I reveal a North using his cape to hide his face, his eyebrow raised as he glares.

Jack takes off the next piece, setting it down on the table besides him and revealing a North that seems to be yelling, as if challenging someone.

"And fearless," North adds as Jack sets the bottom part down as I take off the next piece, showing a North cradling a puppy with a single tear. "And caring! And at my center..."

Jack and I look at each other for a moment before he takes off the final piece, North holding his palm out as Jack dumps whatever was in the doll out.

A baby North was at the center, his wide blue eyes and small smile standing out.

"... There's... A tiny wooden baby." Jack rubs his forehead as he sighs in mild annoyance.

"I don't get it," I rub my neck, gripping Jack's staff with my other hand.

"Look closer. What do you see?"

Jack grunts in irritation, looking at me as I shrug before he looks closer at the doll.

"You have big eyes," he points out, making North nod and wave his fists in excitement.

"Yes! Big eyes, very big," North agrees, using his fingers to widen his eyes before he places a hand on our opposite shoulders, shaking us. "Because they are filled with wonder! That is my center," North explains as he pushes past us, Jack and I smiling.

"It is what I was born with," North gestures to the toys littering his office, "eyes that have always seen the wonder in everything! Eyes that see lights in the trees and magic in the air."

A small airplane toy flies out of the office as the door opens, the workshop toys dazzling the area as we look around.

"This wonder is what I put into the world! And what I protect in children," North continues as the same airplane toy flies around us. "It is what makes me a Guardian."

Jack sighs as he opens his palm, looking down at the small doll. I stare down at it, trying to desperately find something that makes my center.

"It is my center. What is yours?" North finishes, looking between us with a gentle smile.

We look at each other before he sighs, "I don't know."

I shake my head and sigh softly as North looks at me. He simply smiles and nods, taking my hand and placing it onto Jack's so it covers the doll.

Jack looks at my hand before looking up at me with a small smile. I smile and nod to him, silently telling him it was okay.

Our smiles fall when we hear the frantic squeaking of fairies, Tooth's silhouette racing past North's office window.

I gasp as a small sting shoots through my heart, North grunting in confusion and his eyes widening as I grip at my chest. Jack holds my arm as I stagger, shaking my head as I look up with furrowed brows. Something was wrong.

"Pitch," I manage out, gritting my teeth as the pain fades and I stand straight.

"What do you mean? What's going on? Are you okay?" Jack quickly questions, his grip on my arm tight.

"I don't know... But this pain... I-- something is telling me it's him," I reply, gasping lightly and shaking my head.

North breathes out a faint 'what' as Bunny and Sandman quickly join us.

"We have a problem, mate. Trouble at the Tooth Palace."

...

..

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