changing future: book 1 through time

chapter 7: have a mug of hot chocolate

A/N: Remember when I said I was starting the fluff strong? I intend to keep that promise.

And I'm sorry yall, no art for this chapter :( but I am accepting fanart ;D
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Katherine watched as Ombric moved from the door to let in the strange boy in armour. He was odd, she thought. What boy had glowing blue skin and hair as white as snow that reflected the shine of stars?  

The boy looked around, his eyes wide in childish awe and… wistful longing? With a shake of his head, that look changed into a small smile as he spotted the girl standing by the stairs that led up to her room. He inclined his head to her in a greeting before being ushered by Ombric to the kitchen of Big Root. 

“Would you care to join us for a mug of hot chocolate, Katherine?” Ombric offered, one bushy eyebrow raised in a question. The little girl beamed at him as she dashed into the kitchen, excitedly chanting “hot coco” over and over as she sat down at the table, causing the spectral boy to chuckle lightly as he bounded over right next to Katherine, leaving Ombric to work on making their drinks. 

“You’re going to love Ombric’s hot chocolate!” Katherine beamed as she practically vibrated in place at the thought. This caused FrostLight to smirk with a raised eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes that Katherine did not catch. 

I wonder how she would react to the kangaroo’s chocolate then. He thought with a shake of his head, remembering he had not seen her first reactions to the Pooka’s chocolate as he listened to Katherine go on about chocolate and other things Ombric had discovered and made over the years. 

Feeling relaxed, the astral boy allowed himself to let go of his spear, leaning on his elbows on the table as he listened to Katherine ramble on. Oh, how he missed this. And didn't that make his heart flutter in a way he had not felt in a very long time. 

Soon enough, a mug of steaming hot chocolate was placed in front of him which he gratefully cradled in his hands, revelling in the warmth it gave off. It was too hot for his taste but he enjoyed the warmth that flowed into his hands as he waited for the beverage to cool down. 

Katherine took a hold of her own mug with a quick “thank you” to Ombric before taking a sip of her chocolate, the old wizard soon following her example and taking a sip of his own chocolate. Both Child and wizard stared at the astral boy who stared intently at the hot chocolate in his hands with a fond smile. Noting their stares, he looked up at them and offered a questioning look with a tilt of his head. 

“You are no threat,” Ombric suddenly started. “You’ve proven that when you crossed the forest and saved the children the other night…” he mused, keeping a close eye on the boy in front of him, his eyes glistening with curiosity. 

Katherine gasped slightly and frowned. “Ombric! That's rude!” 

“I was merely wondering out loud as to what our silent visitor’s motives are.” Ombric stated bluntly, causing the spectral child to laugh brilliantly and glow brightly with elation, having missed the undying child-like curiosity and bluntness of the old wizard. This outburst caused their heads to turn to the astral child who wiped away a tear of joy from his eyes as he attempted to calm down. 

FrostLight shook his head then shrugged his shoulders with a bright smile. Then through the window filtered in three moonbeams, circling around the boy like excited puppies. This only piqued the wizard’s curiosity even more. Giggling, the spectral child placed down his untouched mug of hot chocolate before picking up his spear and heading towards the window. 

“Alright, alright.” His voice flowed melodiously and seamlessly with his laughter as he opened the window, lifting up the tip of his spear towards the moon as the three moonbeams danced and flickered feverishly around the diamond tip. In a flash, a fourth moonbeam shot out of the crystal, zooming about excitedly before seeming to nuzzle up against the side of the boy’s face. 

FrostLight let out another dazzling laugh, pulling away the moonbeam with care and gently coaxing it outside. “Go on! Go play, Beamie!! I’ll come to play later!” he beamed, earning another nuzzle from the creature of light before it whizzed away with the other moonbeams. 

Soon, the spectral boy reclaimed his spot at the table letting go of his staff once again as he picked up his mug and sighed contentedly at the feeling of warmth once again pressed against his skin. There was silence in the room as Ombric and Katherine stared at the boy in awe. 

"You can speak with the moonbeams?" Ombric questioned out loud. 

"You can play with them?" Katherine asked, her eyes sparking with wonder. 

FrostLight blinked at them then finally took a sip of his hot chocolate before scrunching up his nose at the heat. The drink was still too warm for him. Slowly he placed down his mug and looked at his hosts and nodded tentatively. 

"Then are you the one the man in the Moon sent us to help keep us safe?" Ombric asked, his own mug forgotten and cast aside. 

FrostLight frowned and shook his head and shrugged as he looked slowly at and counted the chunks of chocolate that floated in his drink. "I was not sent here… I was trapped only but mere days ago and have been exploring ever since." The astral boy did not open his mouth to speak but instead his voice rang around them like an echo of a thought. It held a sadness that Katherine Could not understand but she knew it was there. 

"Trapped? Where were you trapped?" Katherine asked a frown growing on her features. FrostLight only shuddered at the memories of hundreds of thousands of years in Pitch’s cold and dark heart. He didn't respond to that, his light dimming ever more at the thought. 

"Well then, if it is any consolation," Ombric started, taking note of how the astral boy's mood had instantly almost soured at a simple question. "Santoff Claussen's doors are always open to you. You do not have to hide." 

The boy looked up at Ombric, his smile and glow returning as he nodded his thanks. "I greatly appreciate that. This place is so lovely, so open, accepting. I like it here more than any other place I've been to." That brought a smile to the old wizard's eyes as he nodded, pride welling up in his chest at the praise to his village.  

"Oh! If you're staying, maybe I could introduce you to the others! Fog and Sascha would love to meet you! Oh the parents would all adore you too!" Katherine gushed beaming brightly, though her smile fell as she saw the spectral boy flinch and fidget with his mug at the mention of the adults. 

He didn't meet their gaze nor did he speak to them. He was silent. Ombric spoke up then. "Are you afraid?" FrostLight shook his head slowly as a blush that lit up his face a darker shade of blue starting to spread all the way to his elven-like ears. 

"Oh!" Katherine exclaimed with a sudden realisation. "You're shy! That's why you stayed hidden!" Her exclamation was no louder than a whisper though the boy hesitantly nodded, his blush becoming so fierce that he had practically curled up on himself and hid his face in his hands as the other two in the room burst out into soft and gentle giggles. 

Here in their midst was a boy seemingly made out of mist and light, a boy who had fearlessly faced off against the fearlings that had rendered most of the villagers frozen still with ease, a boy who played with moonbeams, was shy. So shy, in fact, that he was rendered immobile by the mere mention of meeting a large crowd of people. A bad habit neither Nightlight nor Jack could get rid off and therefore resonated strongly with Frostlight. This made him feel more human in a sense, it was something he was quite grateful for as a creature of the stars that defied expectations. 

It took them a while, but eventually, all mugs were emptied of their contents before the children were ushered towards bed. Katherine had gone on ahead, dragging FrostLight by the hand up to her room where Big Root had prepared another bed for the boy to sleep in, except FrostLight didn't sleep. He couldn't, just yet. 

And so after a bit of a struggle, FrostLight managed to tell the young girl of his situation with sleep and instead offered to stand guard of her by the window just in case. Ombric didn't quite like the thought of leaving Katherine alone with a boy in general but the eagerness in the little girl's expression made him relent.

And so, FrostLight found himself once again by the bedside of his beloved Katherine as she slept.