𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐂𝐄 》 JACK FROST

IX. More Dolls

MORE DOLLS

2007 AD

20th February, 15:00

North Pole

''What are you so worried about?'' Jack asked, feeling like he should laugh, but he refrained as he didn't want to upset her.

Agatha was one of the many hallway's that led to the Globe Room. Any moment now, the other Guardian's would arrive inside that room and would be told that she was to be working with them for this one.

And she thought she was going to have a breakdown.

She had reached the door to the Globe Room before panic began to overwhelm her as she had began pacing, going over every scenario over and over again in her head as Jack watched from the side, trying to comfort her, though he was highly amused at her unneeded worry.

''What am I so worried about?'' Agatha repeated, as if shocked he didn't know as she ran a hand through her hair, making a sharp turn as she paced. ''Well, gee, I don't know. Maybe because half of them hate me and all of them did little less than fifty-four hours ago.''

''I didn't,'' Jack added unhelpfully as he shrugged, his amused gaze never leaving Agatha's figure as she waved her hands about.

''Yes, Jack, I know you didn't, and I'm very thankful for that-'' Agatha, in her current state, missed the quick blush that spread on Jack's pale complexion. ''-But you're out here, with me. They're in there, with what they think of me.''

''Well then,'' Jack said as he stopped leaning against the wall and moved towards her, finally deciding to put her out of her miser. He placed a hand on each of her shoulders, turning her to face him as he held her shoulder-width apart. He had felt her flinch and freeze underneath his hands, but she had almost immediately calmed down once she realised it was him. ''You're gonna have to make them think differently of you.''

Agatha gave a light scoff, shaking her head slightly. ''Right. Because that's easy as pie. 'Hey, guys, I know you all think I'm the bad guy and is here to kill everyone, but I'm going to help you stop another villain!''

Jack chuckled at her flustered state. Her hands had been waving about as she spoke, her gaze darting everywhere, her eyebrows furrowing before raising and then furrowing again, her red cheeks, her foot tapped on the floor impatiently and she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

He smirked, tilting his head to the side cockily. Agatha un-tensed under his gaze, releasing a deep sigh. ''I actually did that you know,'' He said. Agatha raised an eyebrow at him. ''Minus, the whole death thing, and the villainy, and - you know what, just trust me on this. I was in your shoes not that long ago-''

''~No,'' Agatha said in fake disbelief. ''You? The famous Jack Frost, had trouble fitting in?''

''I know, I know, hard to believe, right?'' Jack said, smiling as she seemed to have calmed down now. He let his arms drop from her shoulders but he didn't take a step back. ''But it's true. They thought I was this 'bad kid' with 'prank issues'-'' Agatha scoffed sarcastically. ''-They thought I wasn't fit to be one. And in a way, I guess I wasn't. I didn't know my centre.''

Jack watched a small gathering of smoke appear in Agatha's hand. She looked down at it, shocked. She hadn't summoned it. The smoke evaporated and Agatha un-clenched her fist to reveal the Russian Doll.

''What-'' Agatha seemed hesitant in asking her question, so she cut herself off. But when Jack gave her a smile and a nod, she continued. ''What is your centre?''

''Fun,'' He said, smirking as if it was obvious. And it kinda was. Agatha felt like face-palming, but she settled for rolling her eyes at herself, causing Jack to laugh. He put his hand in his hoodie pocket, fingers wrapping around something as he began to pull it out.

What is it with these guys and carrying around mini versions of themselves?

Jack had pulled out another Russian doll figure, similar in size to the one already in Agatha's left hand. He quickly noted that she was left-handed, you never know when you might need to know something like that.

His miniature-self, had his hood up, his hands almost glowing as snowflakes appeared around them, a mischievous smirk on his face. He was only painted on some wood, but Agatha could've sworn she saw his eyes twinkle like Jack's did.

Agatha smiled at it as Jack held it up in his hands, his eyes weren't on his little-self, however, but on Agatha's face, watching as it lit up. He smiled to himself before slowly reaching for her right hand. Again, she didn't flinch - she rarely did around Jack anymore - instead, she cautiously raised her hand to meet his half way. Jack mentally celebrated this moment.

He softly grabbed her wrist, turning it to he could see her palm as he placed his Russian doll in her palm, like he had done with North's hours ago.

Agatha's eyes widened. Jack tried to get her fingers to wrap around it, but Agatha forced her fingers to stay open as she shook her head, brows furrowed as she looked up from the doll to Jack.

''I can't take this,'' She said, hurriedly putting the doll back into his hand.

''Sure you can,'' Jack smiled, trying to give it her back. Agatha brought her hands to her chest, not letting the small doll be pressed into her palm as she continued to shake her head. Jack sighed, half-amused, half-sad. ''Why not?''

''Because, Jack, it's your centre! You just told me you had struggled finding it too, and you expect me to just take it from you? Jack, it's a part of you, I can't ask you to give me something like that,'' She said, her voice a loud whisper - for no apparent reason - as she spoke quite quickly.

''Good job you're not asking then,'' Jack smirked as he held the doll out again. When he saw Agatha make no move towards it, his smirk slowly formed into a smile. Agatha sighed before hesitantly taking it, making sure she didn't grip it too tight, yet tight enough to not fall out of her grip. Like it was the most delicate thing she would ever handle. Jack laughed at her care for it. ''There, was that so hard?''

''Ah, there you are!'' A loud voice called out to the two, one could only guess who the voice belonged to. North walked towards them, his hands outstretched happily. When he reached them, his hands came together in a 'clap'. Agatha flinched slightly at the loud noise. ''The other Guardian's have begun to arrive! Follow!''

Jack looked at Agatha expectantly. She sighed as she began to follow after North, Jack following after her.

For an odd reason, unknown to her, she didn't like being led by a large person and followed by one, so she dropped back to walk along-side Jack instead. He didn't protest, in fact he let out a hum, Agatha assumed it was a happy one.