05 ❄ ( voice )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack has come back to the city after his fight with Kyle and his talk with Bucky at the shell's edge. He isn't quite ready for video replies yet, knows that despite the usual cheerful timbre he's forcing into his voice it won't cover the fact that his eyes are sad and hollow. ]

Has anyone seen Periwinkle? I went to her suite to give her fresh snow but she's not there and it looks...

[ he fumbles for the right description ]

Unused.

[ private to Finnick ]
Sorry I haven't figured out those other lures yet, I... something-- kind of came up. I take it you saw the announcement?

[ private to Damian ]
I... wanted to apologize, for what I said to you on the sled hill. When you brought up-- I, I just shouldn't have snapped back at you like that. I don't have any right to say who trusts you and who doesn't. I'm sorry.

[ private to Kyle ]
... please don't tell everyone about the snow. I get it, okay? It was wrong and fake and cheating and a horrible thing. But just let them have a good memory of it and-- and I won't spread any more snow like that around. Please. I'll... I'll do whatever you want.

[ He doesn't think he could take it if all the people who thanked him for the snow day suddenly turned on him for it. The ones who'd had their hearts lightened enough to even be able to see him for the first time. ]

Comments

[wintershepherd]

It's not just something I do, Zatanna. It's who I am.

[backwordscompatible]

Yes and no.

We've spent how much time together, and you've never once cast a spell over me? We went sledding on a chair, ice skating in the middle of March, and you still owe me a ride on the Wind. Sounds like magic to me, except it was all as real as you are.

I mean, that's all who you are too, right?

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, it is.

[ It's not that he doesn't agree, but it seemed too small to counter the enormity of what he was feeling right now. ]

And I'm not wallowing, okay? You wouldn't like it either, if someone told you that you were some kind of dangerous person who couldn't be trusted just because you had magic.

[backwordscompatible]

[She almost laughed from the irony of it all.]

No, as a matter of fact, I don't. I like being told I need to be "watched" for the very same reason even less.

But if anyone thinks that's going to stop me from using magic, then they don't know me as well as they claim they do.

[Pause]

And you are so wallowing.

[wintershepherd]

[ I'm watching you... I'll be watching. Blue eyes widened in startlement before narrowing again and Jack reached out to touch her sleeve. ]

Who told you that?

[backwordscompatible]

[She gives a light shrug to show that it doesn't bother her that much anymore. Even if it still does a little.]

Batman.

That's...kind of how he is, although the Batman I knew back home never went as far as to bug my room. Something happened in his world.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's expression pinches a bit in recollection, back to the meeting for the teen superheroes he'd attended. Nomad had told him of that name, said he was a good person -- although she'd also mentioned the bugging of places so he could listen. ]

No one should say things like that about you, I don't care who they are. It's not right.

[backwordscompatible]

You're right. It's not.

...just like nobody should've yelled at you for the snow day.

[She's not saying they weren't allowed to be upset, but to make Jack feel so horrible about himself...well, like she said, been there, done that. And it sucks.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack pulled his hand back, resting it momentarily against the material of his sweater as though he could touch the knot clenched tight inside of him. ]

I don't want to believe it's wrong, Zatanna. Why would the Man in the Moon give me a power that would be hated? But when people who you trust tell you that you've done something awful...

[ He looks back up at her. ]

What do you think I should do?

[backwordscompatible]

[Her brows furrowed in deep thought, wishing she had the right answer. It was hard, because she still believed one thing while still learning so much about other people. Kyle was right to not want people to interfere with his emotions. Batman was right to be wary around someone who had the potential power to alter memories win a single backwards word.]

[At the same time, she knew Jack was a good person, who only wanted to help.]

I think...well, you're still learning your powers, right?

Maybe...I don't know...maybe there's some way around still being about to bring Winter and Fun to people without anything that would directly affect someone's mind or heart. Or give people the chance to decide for themselves if they want to be affected?

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack hesitated, but slowly shook his head... he wouldn't lie to her (ever, if he could help it) but especially not when she was trying to help him. ]

I'd like to be able to say otherwise but I've known what my snow can do for a long time.

And yeah, maybe this time there was a little more magic in it than usual, but it wasn't like I didn't know about it. I wanted people to feel better. They're all trapped here, away from their friends and their families and their homes and if I can--

[ If I can help them overcome that, even for a weekend, don't they deserve it? But he can't say that, shies away from speaking what he feels in his very being. ]

It's my center for a reason, Zatanna.

[backwordscompatible]

I know, Jack.

[Well, there went that idea. She sighed heavily, leaning back. Not in defeat, but out of exasperation.]

Then we'll just have to figure something out.

[We. Because no way was she leaving him to deal with this alone.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack scooted over so he was sitting next to her instead of across, offering her a smile that seemed a little less weary. ]

Thanks, Zatanna. I don't know what I'd do without you around.

[backwordscompatible]

You'd be hopelessly lost without me, of course.

[Now that he was back to less-weary smiles and a closer proximity, she was back to the jokes. And a little boost the ego never hurt.]

[wintershepherd]

Of course. And I'd have to do my own laundry.

[backwordscompatible]

I'll bet you'd even mix your whites and your colors.

[She shakes her head, giving a low 'tsk tsk' as if it were a pitiful crime.]

[wintershepherd]

[ blink. blink... pulls the neckline of his hoodie away and looks down at the shirt underneath, his nose almost touching the material. ]

Is that bad?

[backwordscompatible]

[That finally broke her; after the weight of their lengthy conversation, the look on his face and genuine consideration for her joke left her in a fit of laughter. Nearly doubling over.]

[wintershepherd]

Hey!

[ Finding himself the source of her amusement, he gave a mock growl and pounced on her, clearly intent on this becoming a tickling war in retaliation. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[She gave a loud squeal when he pounced on her, his cold skin brushing against hers in the haste. Of course, the shock is nothing compared to the surprise of...suddenly finding herself pinned beneath his admittedly light weight.]

[The laughter is gone now, and she stared up at him with wide eyes. Not particular frightened of offended. Just...caught off-guard. Very off-guard.]

Jack? What are you...?

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack stopped moving when she felt her go still, the bright spot that had been her laughter snuffed like a candle, his fingers curling away from her sides and then bracing on the floor as he studied her. His grin hadn't quite faded but it held a note of unsurety and his blue eyes searched hers for what was suddenly, something, different. ]

Was it too cold...?

[backwordscompatible]

[Why was he looking at her like that?]

I--uh--yeah...

[What are words?]

[wintershepherd]

Oh... right.

[ The carefree moment is gone; he pushes back and rocks on his heels to his feet, hand fluttering as though he wants to offer it to help her back up as well but she'd just said he was too cold so it remains awkwardly at his side. Instead he bends to pick up the plate and what's left of the fruit. ]

I should really invest in a pair of gloves, huh...

[backwordscompatible]

[She kind of...lingers on the ground for a moment. Waiting until her heart stops pounding in her ears and she finally remembers how to breathe again, because...that was...and he...]

[Oh. Right. He'd said something to her, hadn't he?]

[Slowly, she rose to a sitting position. Attempting the most awkward attempt at a smile in the history of smiles.]

Gloves. Sure.

...what was that all about just now?

[wintershepherd]

The tickling? I don't know, I assumed you were -- most people are.