Just Remember Me - Jackunzel Week Day 3
Title: Just Remember Me
Rating: PG (Romance/Angst)
Mutant AU
Prompt: Jackuznel Day 3: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.
And I’d give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be
And I don’t want to go home right now
*
The white haired boy hid his features under his hood. His crystal blue eyes watched his feet, purposely avoiding the eyes of passerby’s as he walked down the street. His gate was slow, his shoulder slumped a bit, and trying to make himself was inconspicuous as possible. He wasn’t even supposed to be out right now. People like him were supposed to stay inside the academy during daylight hours until they were trained enough to be trusted around normal people.
He was born like this. His skin was pale and cold to the touch bringing ice to anything he brushed against. He had learned to keep it from escaping him. It took years to figure out how to trick his body into saving its energy until needed. He still hasn’t been able to control it when it came to strong emotions though. Elsa was new to it all, still freezing things she touched. Still having to wear the protective gloves North gave her.
North was the head of the small community. He called us mutants, in the nicest term possible. It meant that our genes, DNA, cells, whatever it was, mutated and allowed us to harness abilities far from what humans were ready to accept. He was just a kid when he had his first incident. That’s how North found him. How many other third graders cold jump into an ice covered pond and save a classmate without batting an eye? Not even a shiver.
More came along and more rules were set in place. They were well kept secrets from the world, the government aided North in order to keep the humans safe from them. Jack scoffed at the thought. He thought he was human, just a different kind.
Jack raised his eyes up once heard a familiar laugh just ahead of him. A small smile came to his face as blue met spring green. The blonde sat at her usual table outside a small café, her book open and a hot tea in her hand. He met her on an afternoon just like this almost a year ago now. She was studying for her classes and her paper blew away right into his chest. Ever since then she had been the light in his darkness.
“Jack!”’ she said happily as he opened the small black fence and entered the patio area of the café. He sat down in the chair in front of her, placing his hands in his sweat shirt pocket. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”
He smirked at her, “Did you miss me, princess?”
She smirked back, picking her book and sipped her tea, “No, I just wouldn’t have anyone to distract me from my homework.”
“Oh, I see.” He said, “Just using me as a handsome distraction.”
She raised an eyebrow at him and giggled, “I think you added adjectives mister.”
“Nope could’ve sworn that’s what you said.”
Jack smiled at her and she grinned back. She was his best friend. She knew everything about him. Even about his abilities. She wasn’t supposed to know but one day he walked her home late at night and was venting to her when he couldn’t control it. She was shocked of course, but she found it to be fascinating. All his life he was told that people would hate him for it, be scared of him. But she was never scared of him. She met him every other day, text him good morning and they would take long strolls at night on the Burgess University campus talking about life.
He knew that he was in love with her but he kept that part to himself.
“You know you can take off your hood.” She said, giving him a look. He stiffened, looked around at the other people walking by and sitting at the small café tables.
“And have everybody staring? I’ll pass.”
She sighed, “It’s not like I mind. Who cares if they stare? I like your hair.”
“You are a fan club of one, princess.”
Rapunzel frowned. She liked his white hair. Ever since she met him, she thought that he was the most attractive man she ever met. With those sparking blue eyes and pale features. He was tall and built like a swimmer with big hands and lean roped muscle. He had become her best friend over the time span of the year they’ve known each other. She knew about his uniqueness and thought that it only made him that much more interesting in her eyes. Like a super hero. He hated it though. He was told to hide himself from the world, stay invisible until the world was ready to know that mutants existed. That not every person was the same and others were special, like him.
“How’s Hiccup doing?” she asked, trying to change the subject. Jack accepted the change relaxed in his metal chair a bit.
“Good, still having trouble controlling the change. It gets hard when he gets stressed out or nervous.” Jack responded. Rapunzel nodded in understanding. The boy had told her about the other people he lived with at the academy, the other mutants. Of course she would never tell anyone and that’s why he trusted her with his life. She remembered their birthdays and would give him little cakes or trinkets to give them as if she was friends with them as well. It was adorable.
“What about Elsa?”
“Locks herself in her room, afraid to touch anything. The usual.”
Rapunzel sighed, “Poor girl.”
“She’ll figure it out. North has her working with Aster in hopes that he can teach her to channel and control.” Jack explained, choosing his words carefully in case anyone else was listening.
“Is he still teaching you?” she asked. Jack nodded,
“Yep, cottontail still thinks that I’m unmanageable and a ticking time bomb.”
“No he doesn’t, he’s just worried for you. The last thing you need is to lose control around other people. That would open a door that North is not ready to answer yet.” She said, her tone was almost motherly and full of wisdom. He knew she was right.
If any of them cracked in public that would be it. If Hiccup shifted into his dragon form or if Elsa killed someone with her ice? All of them would be rounded up and used as lab rats or soldiers. He frowned, closing his eyes.
“I know, I know.”
The spent the rest of the time catching up, talking about her classes the college and his at his academy. He told her stories of the people there she now knew by name, picturing what they looked like unless Jack showed her a picture. She would tell him about her friend Merida who was the biggest tomboy at the school. They leaned closer to each other as it got darker, eventually people watching while sitting right next to each other. Her tea was gone and she shivered in the night breeze.
“Want to head back to your dorm?” he asked, a bit of self-loathing sank in his stomach at the fact that he couldn’t put his arm around her to keep her warm. He was worthless in that department.
“Walk me?” she asked. He smiled,
“Planned on it.”
Jack and Rapunzel started down the street, her pink cardigan was pulled from her satchel to cover her bare shoulders. She wore a pretty yellow dress with her hair in a braid resting on her shoulder with a flower behind her ear. She was his antithesis and he couldn’t stop sneaking glances at her. People passed them as they walked in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other’s company. It was her who hand moved her hand to his wrist where he let his hands rest in his sweatshirt pocket.
His blue eyes widened as he let her take his hand out of its hiding placed and lace her small warm fingers with his long cold ones. She didn’t flinch at his lower body temperature or even look at him. She acted as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze.
They stayed quiet, smiling to themselves until they stepped onto the empty campus. Most students were inside studying or sleeping, socializing in the common rooms of their dorm buildings. They walked beneath the lamp lights down the concrete pathway that was well worn towards her dorms.
“Will you take off your hood now?” she asked. He looked at her, unable to resist the way her green eyes silently begged him to comply, her pink lips in a pout. He sighed and lifted his free hand to slide the blue hood back.
His white hair stuck up every which way. The street lamps hit his face instead of casting a shadow on it. His blue eyes seemed to glow like an angels now that there was no darkness covering up his natural beauty. She smiled at him, with a small blush on her cheeks.
“Oh! I forgot to ask you. Have you learned anything new?” she asked excitedly. She was the only person he knew who was genuinely excited for him and his personal development of his abilities. He grinned at her,
“Yep, but I can’t show you till we get to your dorm.” He said, giving her hand a squeeze. She pouted for a minute before narrowing her eyes playfully.
“Hmmm, I’m letting you into my dorm at night?” she said. He smirked,
“Oh you’ll want me there, princess. I’m gonna rock your world.”
The blonde blushed and gave his shoulder a shove with her free hand, “You wish.”
He grinned at her as they turned into walkway toward her building. She took out her ID card and slid it before the door buzzed open. They made the trek to her dorm room, whom she shared with two other girls. They snuck passed the kitchen and living room, both experts in the art seeing as this was not the first time. They went into her dorm and she turned on the lights and sat on her bed.
“Okay, show me.” She said excitedly, dropping her satchel onto the floor. Jack chuckled and turned off the light, letting the moon light shine through the window. He walked over to her and kneeled before her. His hands were in fists, put together as he closed his eyes.
Rapunzel watched in awe as her friend began to shimmer for a moment, the air around him got cold before he opened his eyes. His irises were the shape of snowflakes, glowing crystal blue in the darkness of her room. He opened his hands and a glowing white silhouette of a bunny rabbit appeared in his hand. She gasped. It looked like it was made of snow, snowflakes falling from its twitching nose and paws.
“Wow, this is amazing.” She said. He smiled and lifted his hands together before the rabbit jumped from his palms and hopped around in the air, snowflakes and ice crystals falling in its wake. It finally hopped above them and poofed into a rain of soft snow. She giggled and held out her palm as if to catch it. At that moment their eyes met and she gave him a sky, kind smile. A smile he returned.
She leaned forward and touched either side of his face with warm hands before her lips touched his softly. He never let people touch him. He hated the look on their face when they jumped from the sudden change in temperature. He never kissed anyone either. He closed his eyes and leaned upward from where he knelt in front of her bed, in front of her knees. Her lips were warm against his, soft like summer daises.
She pulled away and looked at his eyes, “Sorry.” She said softly, biting her bottom lip. He let a goofy smile come to his face before he placed his cold hands on hers, keeping them on his cheeks before pressing his lips against hers again. He tasted like peppermint. She smiled against his cool lips, tilting her head at a better angle.
“Punz?” a voice called from behind the door, “you home?”
The couple pulled away from each other with wide eyes. Jack stood and headed for her window, throwing it open. She tried to stifle a giggle at the entire situation. No one was allowed to know he was here with her just in case North caught wind of it. He straddled the open window, looking at her.
“See you on tomorrow?” he said. She nodded and walked over to him,
“Same place.” She replied. He took a hold of the end of her braid and pulled her down gently to give her a quick kiss.
“Will never get tired of that.” He said with a smirk. She rolled her eyes and blushed,
“Get out of here.” She giggled. He winked at her before jumping from the fourth floor window, riding the wind like she knew he could. She closed the panel and looked down at him as he floated to the concrete once more. He looked back up at her and gave her a bow. She shook her head.
What a silly boy.
*
Everyone was acting weird around him. He would walk down the hall and Hiccup would avoid making eye contact. Elsa was her usual brooding self but even she was avoiding him. Aster was watching him like a hawk the entire day and he knew that he needed to tell Rapunzel that he wasn’t going to be able to sneak away tonight. No one had seen North around the halls or classrooms which was odd within itself. Even Tooth was scarce. The feathered woman was never not seen. While she moved fast, it was hard to miss the rainbow of her.
He went to his lessons, feeling like everyone was in on something while he was left in the dark. Aster was never more than ten feet away, his green eyes on him like he was prey. When the school day ended, the sun setting, Jack walked to his dorm. He pulling out his cell phone and paused, his brow furrowed.
It was out of service. That’s weird. He walked into his room and closed the door with his foot, throwing his book bag on the bed. He pressed Rapunzel’s number and lifted the phone to his ear.
Dun Dun Dunnnn. I’m sorry, the number—-
He hung up. What was going on?
The white haired boy stood and headed out the door once more, jogging down the stairs. He needed to talk to North about getting his cell phone turned on again. He was supposed to meet Rapunzel today at the café again and he couldn’t even tell her that he wasn’t able to make it. He didn’t want her to feel bad or worry about him. He jogged down the halls, passing only a couple of students who were heading to their own dorms or study hall.
He turned and made a beeline for North’s office.
“Jack!”
The white haired boy paused in step and turned to look behind him. Hiccup stood there wearing his usual green button up and jeans. His eyes were shifted into dragon like slits and he looked nervous, the way he rubbed his arm.
“What is it, Hiccup?” he asked, feeling soemthign sink into his stomach, like something bad was going to happen. Hiccup didn’t meet his eyes and it was only a blink before he could see the black finned tail swish behind the boy. “Hiccup, what’s going on?” he asked more sternly.
“I’m so sorry, Jack.” He said softly, “Come on.”
Hiccup turned and walked down the opposite way of North’s office. Jack followed a couple paces behind, thinking of all the things that could make Hiccup so nervous around him. Hiccup was never this nervous around him, they were friends. He followed the brunette down the halls until they came to the west wing courtyard. It was lit up beautifully with roman statues around the flowers and water fountains. This was where Tooth did her mediation class to help the mutants focus better.
His eyes landed on familiar long gold hair and his heart dropped.
“Rapunzel?” he breathed out before Hiccup grabbed his arm and pulled him out of sight and into the nearby bushes. He yanked his arm from the dragon boy’s grip, “Why is she here?” he demanded in a quiet whisper.
Hiccup flinched, “They found out.”
Jack clenched his fists, “Why is she here?”
“I don’t know! I heard Aster talking to North about it all this morning. North and Tooth spent all day talking about what to do. No one is supposed to know about us, Jack.” He pleaded, his heart going out to his friend.
“Don’t you think I know that?” the white haired boy hissed, “She’s different, Hic. She wouldn’t tell anyone about us. You know that!”
Hiccup hung his head, “I do, but they don’t.”
Jack turned back to the scene unfolding before him. North stood with his arms crossed next to the human form of Aster. They all looked so normal, talking to her. Her face was what worried him. Her eyes were full of sadness and her lips partly slightly as she listened to them.
“He didn’t tell me maliciously! It was an accident a long time ago. He’s my friend, I wouldn’t hurt him by telling anyone.” Rapunzel had stood, looking at the two men with pleading green eyes in hopes of being believed.
“We understand, but it is more than just Jack, Ms. Corona.” North replied, his thick Russian accent lacing his words, “Many children here are at risk, you know of this, yes?”
“Yes.” She said softly, looking at the ground.
“Then you know that this beyond you and Jack.” His words came out tired and sympathetic. Jack stiffened, listening to the words yet not understanding what was going to happen next.
“We would like to introduce you to a friend of the academy, shelia.” Aster said. Both men moved aside as the small petite fairy woman walked up to the trio. Her wings rested at her back, trying to not scare the human by flying in. Jack’s eyes narrowed.
Rapunzel smiled and gave a wave, “Hi, I’m Rapunzel.”
Tooth smile but it was full of sorrow and guilt rather than of happiness, “Hi there, I’m Toothiana. I teach meditation and flight here at the school.”
“She not only has the ability to fly but to also access memories.” Aster filled in. There was a tension between the teachers that made Rapunzel feel uneasy.
Jack’s heart quickened in his chest, blue eyes widened in realization. No they can’t do that. They wouldn’t do that. They said never to use their abilities on humans but when he looked at Hiccup, at the way he refused to watch the scene or meet his eyes, he knew what was going to happen.
“Rapunzel, I want you to look into my eyes.” Tooth voice echoed in the courtyard and Jack’s feet moved before he knew what was going on. He was running.
“No! You can’t!” he yelled. Aster was quick to grab the boy, hooking his arms under the Jack’s so that he could hold him back. North moved over to the struggle. Both Rapunzel and Tooth looked at him with wide eyes.
“Jack?” the blonde looked from the fairy woman to the other men. She saw how the Australian man handled him and took a step back from the woman. “Wha-Whats going on?” she asked.
“You can’t do this, North! Please don’t do this!” he screamed, struggling as ice formed on the ground in angry spikes, his eyes glowing blue. Aster withstood the cold, keeping his hold on the boy.
“It is… not a decision I make lightly.” The elder man responded looking away and back to Tooth. The fairy woman looked at her old friends eyes before turning to the girl. Rapunzel looked from Jack to the people around her, her heart pounding in her confusion.
Tooth lifted her small fingers to the girl’s temples, Rapunzel stood stiff.
“NO! DON’T DO THIS! PLEASE! YOU CANT!” the boy screamed, north winds picked up, spinning around them in a small blizzard of ice and snow.
Tooth closed her eyes to his pleas, trying to ignore the way her heart clenched. She was doing this for his own good. Rapunzel gasped as a jolt went from the woman’s fingers to her temples.
Jack watched as Rapunzel stared off into space as Tooth held two fingers to both temples, her eyes closed and her body glowing. Jack felt his heart breaking. He felt everything start to slip away from him. He stopped struggling to watch as the best thing in his life looked off into the distance with vacant eyes.
It only lasted a couple of moments before he couldn’t take anymore. He tossed his shoulder back into Aster, sending him flying into the stone walkway as a blast of ice and wind it him. Tooth gasped as she let go of Rapunzel’s head. The blonde’s eyes fluttered closed and she started to fall to the ground. Both the fairy woman and North went to catch her but it was Jack who got to her first.
He caught her and fell to his knees, holding her body to him. He looked over her sleeping face, his lip trembled as his body let the dam break inside him.
“No no no no no…” he mumbled, pressing his forehead against hers. She was warm against him. He hated touching people. Their warmth reminded him of how cold he was. She reminded him of sunlight. She was the only one who knew him, the real him and wanted him still. She was the only one who made him think that maybe people knowing what he was wasn’t so bad. She made him feel special and important. Like a super hero rather than a fuck up.
“Jack…” Tooth reached out her hand to him. He glared at her, holding Rapunzel’s body close to him. A wall of jagged ice appeared to put distance between him and her. The teacher gasped and backed away. Jack looked back to Rapunzel as she stirred. His heart lightened and he held her close, waiting for her to open her eyes.
She moaned and held her head, trying to sit up. Jack moved so that he could help her, placing her on the ground rather than his lap. Her brow furrowed and she blinked open her eyes.
“Oww.. what happened?” she mumbled. Jack carefully helped her to her feet. She swayed a bit and looked at him and the others. “Where am I?” she asked.
“You’re at the Burgess Academy, you had a pretty nasty fall.” Aster covered up with a small polite smile. Jack’s head snapped to them, and noticed that Tooth was gone. This was a cover up. He looked at her, still holding her hands in his.
“Are you, okay Punz?” he asked, looking at her eyes. She looked at him and gave a small smile,
“I’m so sorry,” she said softly, looking down at their hands, “Do…I know you?”
Jack’s heart dropped once more, panic set in. He could feel his hands getting colder and she gasped and jerked her hands from his. That look. That look that other normal people gave him when he touched them. Not her though. She never looked at him like that.
“P-Punz, its me.” He said, he could hear his voice shake. The blonde girl looked from him to North and Aster.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ve ever met.” She said.
He could’ve sworn he could hear his own heart crack in his chest. Fern like designs of ice started to form on the stone under his feet. His emotions taking over as his blue eyes glazed over with tears. He grabbed either side of her face and her eyes widened in a mix of shock and fear towards the stranger.
“No no no, you have to remember me.” He pleaded, she tried to pull out of his cold grip, “What’s my name? What’s my name?”
Everything he built was breaking down. All the walls, all the happiness he had built for himself had begun to fall away and left the lonely frozen boy he was before. She tried to jerk herself out of his grip.
“I don’t know!” she cried, “Please let go of me!”
It was North who decided that Jack had to understand the situation now, stepping in and pulling the girl from his hands. Aster grabbed the boys shoulder as North led the scared college girl out of the courtyard, explaining some story that Jack mistook her for someone else. He told her more stories of what she was there and called her a cab to get home.
Jack watched her walk away, his body trembled. She looked over her shoulder at him and he could see her fear in her green irises, he could see the confusion and uncertainty. She didn’t remember him anymore. All those months gone just like that. All those moments, the talking, the friendship, the kisses, all gone. He let his legs give out and Aster let him fall to the ground.
“I’m sorry, mate, but we—”
“Leave me alone.” He mumbled, hugging himself as his shoulders shook. Ice formed under his knees. Aster took a step back,
“Jack, she—”
“Leave me alone!” he yelled.
The man jumped back as jagged ice spiked from the ground in all directions, its source being the boy. It surrounded him, his own personal wall that kept everyone out. The spikes of ice were sharp and gleamed in the moon light, threatening pain to all those who came close. The ice grew taller, bigger until all anyone could see was a circle of crystal sharp spikes.
The boy inside held himself before leaning over and letting out an anguished scream of sorrow and loss.
*
And I don’t want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
(To be Continued…)