Chapter Text
If you asked, Death never liked his job.
I mean sure he grew into his own since it came with reaping and guiding souls to the afterlife, but that didn't mean he always enjoyed it. Taking the life of someone arrogant with a god complex? Most definitely, sometimes dealing with mortals on that scale was a good way to pass the time, tormenting and watching the fear in the person's eyes each time he comes for them made it fun, enjoying the rarely primal thrill of hunting the fools down knowing they're scared, sometimes idly watching them at a safe distance for subtle signs of change or failure before humbling them either for the better or a slow agonizing end is what made Death a force of nature.
But taking an innocent life? A child?
Death hated that beyond anything else. Just to feel the wavering breath of someone so young who barely had time to live depart from the world was something he tried avoiding, that tiny glow from one barely out of toddler stages or stepping into highschool years never made it easy.
But he is Death, and death is a part of life.
He cannot change what and who he is.
But sometimes, times like this he wishes.
"Alright let's do this!"
Death heard and looked up with soft eyes spotting a girl of 10 with messy brown hair chime excitedly bounding over the frozen lake of Burgess.
"Hey wait a sec Steph, don't be in such a rush kiddo!"
The voice of someone the entity himself heard over the years–older, more mature, says, Jackson's figure coming into view as he followed the girl who waits by the edge with matching brown eyes "Hey Jack do you mind?" she asked, lifting a leg to her brother who snickered at the unspoken request, nodding.
"Sure thing Steph, lemme–"
Then he kneels down typing what looked to be a brand new pair of ice skates for her, fingers carefully tying a bow and knot so they don't come off, once the string is tied, his sister gets up with eagerness and treads over.
"Whoa hold it right there lil missy!"
Jackson catches her by the arm.
"Jaccccck~"
Death snorted to himself, watching as the two Overlands mingle with rare fondness, it's not everyday he gets to see children play and be themselves without being on call to pick up a soul, it's rather soothing despite the harshness of the world. Just last year a Plague wiped half of Europe and he had to watch many atrocities and witness the unfairness of those of low status bend down to the churches. Shame how religion was good but some used it to perform demonic acts.
Burning people for petty reasons was just unforgivable.
"C'mon Jack put me down."
Death's attention flickered up once more watching the siblings now on the icy lake, Jackson hoisting his sister over his shoulder who laughs and squeals delightfully kicking her legs out amused.
"Awww what's the matter kiddo? Don't wanna be held by your big brother?"
Jackson teases, laughing at the playful roll of his sister's eyes as she pouts and proclaims how she wants to be put down so she can skate, he perked at the sudden sound of someone chuckling, looking up seeing a figure in the distance dressed in black the only features displayed being a pair of familiar hellfire eyes.
Grinning, Jackson gently placed his sister down "Fine." He ruffles messy bangs "Go ahead and skate to your heart's desire. If you need me I'll be right over there." He says pointing in Death's direction, his sister looked over at the spot at the lake edge nodding.
"Okay, I won't take long."
She says waving at him and Jackson laughs nodding back "I know, but if you need me I'll be here watching."
Seeing that the teen was approaching him Death waits silently with hidden mirth when the brunette skids across the ice, a huffed out laugh breaking through when the child's in front of him.
"It's you again." Jackson says greeting Death whose eyes flicker observantly up and down the smiling youth's frame, clicking his tongue. "You really need to invest in some shoes. Chico."
Jackson laughed, "Yeah I know, but I'm used to walking in the snow without them."
"Still. That's not good for you, you can get sick y'know?"
"Yeah." Jackson sighed "But I'm good. Weather's nice too."
"It's…okay I guess." Death nodded.
"Just okay?" Jackson chuckled taking a seat on the snow, Death shrugged "It's the same thing every year, never changes. Winter is winter." He says also sitting down, red eyes watching the teen who sighed softly with nonchalance "Yeah I guess you're right. But hey didja come here to skate with us?" the child suddenly asked with excitement in his eyes.
Death snorted at how they sparkled, those big eyes that he remembered ten years ago on a cold October night.
"Does it look like I came here to endeavor in playing on the ice, chico?"
Jackson hummed thoughtfully, albeit playful when he boldly said "I mean, you can." And Death's lips twitch underneath the hood, the entity shaking his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Don't like ice, you shouldn't either."
Ice isn't safe, especially a frozen over lake, but this was Jackson, Deaths known him over the years as a prankster to the nearby village, always mischievous and playful but reckless and fearless, the cold never bothered him anyway henceforth the bare feet and lack of proper clothing.
This kid will be the death of me!
" But ice skating is fun."
Jackson's voice starts up again and Death sighed at the child's stubbornness.
"I didn't say it wasn't, I'm just stating that it isn't safe skating on a frozen lake."
"Awww c'mon where's your sense of adventure?"
"I don't have one."
"Well you should."
"There's nothing adventurous about me."
"Oh?" Jackson's eyes flicker from his eyes to his robes "You sure? I mean don't take this personally, but you look like you belong in a medieval play. That's not adventurous to you?"
A laugh, short but genuine "I don't wear this to look adventurous, pequeno."
"Then?"
"It's what I wear depending on where I go, I dress according to the occasion."
"Laaaaaame." Jackson blew a raspberry.
"Most jobs are." Death chuckled amused.
"Does your job make you whistle too?"
Ah he remembered.
Death mentally mused to himself, it's not everyday someone living remembered the death song unless they themselves knew of him.
"The whistle ain't a requirement."
"Shame, I thought I could one day apply for the job." Jackson fake pouted, kicking at the snow much to the entity's amusement.
"Trust me chico, you don't want this job."
"You're just saying that cause you don't want me whistling that cool song." Jackson shoots back with a teasing grin and mirthful eyes.
It's more than that.
Death thought it played along, grinning a fanged smile at the bold speaking child.
"Sí, that's right, I don't want you taking my gig. That's my schick, find your own."
"Hey, sharing is caring."
"Not this job."
"Bet I can do a better job, I'm young, fast aaaaaand I can whistle a mean tune. Wanna hear?"
"Oh que diablos. Sure why not. Lemme hear it" Death quietly muttered nodding at the teen giving him permission, he watched as Jackson's eyes beam with happiness and the youth clears his throat, taking a breath.
Then he hears it.
The pitch of the whistle, it's there.
But it's airy, cheerful sounding, instead of a haunting lullaby it sounds like a folktale being sung, the chipperness it gives makes it resemble the tune of a pan flute that gets played during a bonfire.
Color him impressed, Jackson turned the song that usually meant the end into something joyous and imaginative.
"JACK!!!!!"
The song stops, unfinished and Death watches with sudden understanding why.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Cold evaporates him and it's dark, everything chills his body as he tried to swim up to the surface only for the gravity to sink him, Jackson's pushing and pushing, fighting against the dark depths but it's too much and he's going down and down until he could only watch as life comes to an immediate end.
Then there's a glow, he's being lifted and wait, why was there ice in the water? And what was that voice whispering in his ear?
'You will be reborn again.'
Wait what?
'From now on your name is, Jack Frost'
A sharp gasp of returned breath erupted.
Jack looked up at the big bright moon with confusion, unsure why he felt this sudden sense of wonder and amazement nor did he understand why everything suddenly felt different, but a foot accidentally kicks a stick and he picked it up with interest, the feeling of its weight familiar somehow and yet he makes no comment, inspecting the wood with consideration only to gasp when a gust of crystallized frost emitted.
The awe in his eyes quickly flickered to excitement, a giddy feeling suddenly took hold and he wondered to himself.
Can I do that again?
With the same curiosity and determination brewing, Jack takes the stick and lightly tapped it on a different source, a tree and to his joy the same crystalized ice forms and he's laughing like a child, happy and filled with bubbling thrill, the boy now moved on the ice skating along the icy ridges of his new powers laughing, dancing to the feel of the cold air that surrounded him, what could've made him freeze felt warmer and more welcoming than anything he's ever felt, and when he moves to make another spectacle he's suddenly being lifted into the air, body hovering caught in the wind's trajectory.
This is your friend young Frost, use it well and it will be your guide
The same voice echoes in his ears and Jack grinned brightly, his eyes shining with more joy like a child on a Christmas Eve anticipating presents, he sees the beauty of his creation below and fills pride brim, it's wonderful this feeling, the freedom, he takes it all in, but concentrating loses itself to gravity and he falls, the only courtesy the wind gives is softening his fall so that he hits a tree branch and not the ground.
But oh Jack laughs, doesn't get phased by the fall and jumps down, his feet landing in snow and ice that tickle the bottom, there's a sound in the distance that gains his attention, the teen sees lights and wonders, curiosity piqued once more as he trudged towards the direction, coming to a village.
The people themselves are doing well whatever they're doing, families walk side by side, women washing clothes in big old pots while men sing folk songs by a fire pit, everything is bright and Jack is more excited to join in on everything there, but where is this place? Who are these people? Suddenly he's interested but lost and he wants answers but is still high with adrenaline from playing with his powers so he waves happily at the townsfolk, passing by on stumbling legs giggling.
"Hello/Hi/Good day ma'am."
The teen goes on and on bounding down the snowy streets passing people old and young alike, stopping when a dog sprints his way being chased after by a little boy, grinning Jack approaches.
"Excuse me can you tell me where I a–"
The child ran through him, the sudden action immediately took him aback.
"Hello?!"
Another person passes him, and another, the teen stumbling in shock, disbelief and horror, what he had thought was just a strange night suddenly changed to something unknowingly dire, as he attempted to talk to someone, he slowly came to the harsh realization that nobody can see him.
He's invisible.
"What's going on here?"
He shakily looked down at his hands.
"Why can't they see me?"
"Because you're death chico."
Jack heard and slowly turned around seeing a figure in black looking at him.
"What…?" The white haired youth breathed out choked and winded, eyes gazing at the unseeing red that barely show through the hood, eyes that burn with anger, sadness and resignation.
"I said you're dead."
The voice repeated, rough gravel and not at all friendly, it made Jack shiver, the teen shaking his head frantically "No…" He takes a step back "No you're wrong." another step back, "I'm not-" a harsh swallow voice brittle and raw, he blinked away the tears that built up in his eyes.
"I'm not dead…" He says again as if trying to make it sound real, that he is real, but someone walks through him and he stumbles onto the cold ground, eyes wide and wet, hands burning from the frost prickling against his palms.
"Lo siento, I should have eased you into th–" Jack violently smacks the man's hand away, he can't explain why he suddenly feels guilty seeing those eyes look so hurt, but he can't help but feel bubbling anger.
"Get away from me…"
The man's eyes flicker into something unreadable for a second, then resignation.
"Chico–"
Jack desperately holds his staff at the ready, body trembling but he refuses to back down, resembling a deer now caught by a big bad wolf.
"Get away!"
Crystalized ice summoned and charged at Death who in quick fluid motion used the sickles to destroy the onslaught, red eyes watching the boy who looked at him with fear and tears make a run for it.
Scrambling, calling onto the wind like a child would call to its mother when scared, and flying away, Death can do nothing but put his weapons back and whistle.
Not because Jack Frost left.
But because Jackson Overland was gone.