Stubborn Love

Slackers

Bernard never liked to leave Coco alone for too long.

Sure, she was 932 years old, but she was just a baby. She still needed help with a lot of stuff, and she was always getting into trouble. He never knew what she did when he was gone, and though he did know she wasn't causing trouble, and that was all Bernard could ask for.

Regarding Coco, he knew he could be a little...protective at times. But with how she came into his life, Bernard felt he had a reason to be.

A good couple centuries or so ago, one of the reindeer had gotten out, and Bernard, who had gotten frustrated after specifically telling Gabriel to make sure to latch the stable, had gone to find it himself, and ended up stumbling upon a small elf wrapped up in a blanket, brown hair and pointy ears being the only things visible. He was quick to bring her back to the workshop with him, and he had brought her to Santa, telling him that he had found her out in the snow, and he was prepared to take care of her if it meant she got to stay.

Santa had laughed in good nature, and said that of course she could stay, and if Bernard really wanted to take care of her, then he could, instead of sending her to an elf nursery until she was old enough for a job somewhere in the workshop.

So Bernard raised Coco the best he could, never liking for her to be out of his sight for too long. He didn't want something to happen to her. Whenever he had to leave, he was always a nervous mess. What if something did happen to her when he was gone? What if she got lost again and he never found her because he was off training Allie Calvin?

At the thought of Allie, Bernard's chest tightened. How infuriating could a person be? Honestly, what was wrong with that girl? Was she always this unpleasant, or was it just to him?

Maybe Bernard shouldn't have left her out on the roof, but she wasn't getting it, and that was the only way he knew she would be able to channel her magic. Most elves did well with using their magic in situations that they felt scared or trapped in, and it had worked for her. Though Bernard couldn't get her teary eyed face out of his head. He knew people were deathly afraid of all kinds of things, but he wondered what caused Allie's fear of heights, because that seemed like it was something more then just not liking how high up she was.

He shook the girl out of his mind. He could think about her later. Right now, he needed to make sure everything was going smoothly.

When he arrived back at the North Pole, elves stopped and stared at him with wide eyes, as if not expecting him back so soon. When he realized they were staring, Bernard snapped, "What are you all staring at? Get to work, we have a little under two month to finish, and we can't have slackers."

He made it out of the workshop and headed towards his to his office when he bumped into Judy. Her eyes widened a bit, but she tried to play it off. "Bernard! You're back. How about a drink?"

"No thanks, Judy. Have you seen Coco?"

"No." If she had been talking to anyone but Bernard, they would have missed how she paused. But Bernard noticed it. "Are you sure you don't want a drink? I'll add extra whipped cream and a candy cane spoon just like you like."

Bernard's brows furrowed. "You need to work on your lying, Judy. Where is Coco?"

"I promised I wouldn't tell." Judy said, playing with her fingers.

Bernard rubbed his face, any thought of relaxing leaving his mind. "Judy, if I get a drink will you tell me?"

The elf nodded. Bernard got his drink and when he finished, he stared at Judy expectantly. The elf looked like she as trying to find a way out of this, before sighing. "Can I get you anything else? A cookie? A cinnamon roll? Hannah just made a fresh batch."

Bernard gave her a hard look. "Judy."

The smaller elf looked nervous. She adjusted her hat, and said, "Are you sure you don't want anything else?"

"Why are you avoiding telling me?" Bernard asked.

"Because I know you'll be angry."

Bernard's brows furrowed. Judy looked away, before giving another sigh. "She's with Curtis near the reindeer stables."

Bernard was up in a flash, and storming off to go find his sister. He arrived in the main entry, and as loud as he could yelled, "Coraline Cole!"

The other elves 'oohed' at Coco's full name. He saw a head duck down, and then a loud 'ow', along with the slamming of one of the stable doors. Coco jumped up, smiling slightly, leaning against the bar between the stables. "Bernard! I didn't-I didn't know you were back already."

"Hmm." He hummed. "What are you doing by the reindeer's?"

"I was just...seeing how they were."

"You mean what Holly, Justice, Gabriel, and Abram are doing?" Bernard question, his voice getting sharper with each word. "Since it's their job. And your job is to be wrapping presents."

Coco opened her mouth, but she wasn't able to find an excuse. Bernard tilted his head, and said, "I don't see wrapping paper around here, do you?"

Coco shook her head, and when Bernard pointed towards her station. Reluctantly she walked away, her head down and her ears red. When she was gone, Bernard walked over to Blitzen's stable, peeking his head over. When he looked inside, he saw Curtis laying on his back, clutching the handbook to his chest. He smiled up at Bernard, but the older elf didn't smile back.

"Are you aware that there is only a little under two months before Christmas?" Bernard question.

"I am." Curtis nodded.

Bernard gave a tight smile. "Then why are you distracting her? Unlike you, she has an actual job to do. She doesn't just carry around a book, and stick his nose where it doesn't belong."

"Wow," Curtis said, his voice flat. "you're very mean."

"Get up." Bernard snapped. "Go make yourself useful. And leave my sister alone."

Curtis stood up, hurrying off, and Bernard noticed he was going the same way Coco was. Bernard huffed, and yelled, "Other way, Curtis."

The elf actually listened, and turned around, going to the other half of the workshop. With a huff, Bernard started his job on supervising, keeping a sharp eye on Coco and Curtis.