don't own it

“I See You”

(A Jake Frost & Rapunzel One-Shot Fanfic)
By: AvK (whitekiss.deviantart.com)

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Funny.
Do you notice that a day can go by so slow when you want them to be over fast?

And the days that do go by so fast...

Well, these are the days which you wish would never end.

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Jack was sitting on the ledge of the open window; his chin resting on his sturdy staff, watching in leisure at the girl whom he now knew was called Rapunzel.

“What shall we do today, Pascal?” 

Jack chuckled to himself. Ah yes, these were how the days normally started – with Rapunzel asking her pet lizard their activities for the day.

Her pet lizard was also a curious case to him as he could never tell if the beady-eyed chameleon could actually see him or not by the way it would suddenly dart a glare at his direction every now and then. For when Jack tried to speak to it, it would ignore him. On purpose or not – Jack would probably never know.
But that of course did not bother him as to the other question. The question that continually lingered in his mind too often nowadays, that it became too much for him to bear.

Would she ever see him?

It was because of this question that he had decided that today would be a different day for him. 

For unlike the days that he left and found himself coming back here; well today he would see her for one last time and no, he would not return.

Why stay?

Jack’s frown deepened – the pain in his heart grew.

Why stay?

He looked over to her and of course she did not look back at him. Even if her gaze happened to be upon him – it went right through him. Even if he could say something to her – it was when she was halfway between dreams and never when she was wide awake. 

Even if he could touch her...

At this point he was but a breath away from her. A breath away from those tender lips that were always on the verge of a smile – a smile which he found himself nowadays wishing he could kiss.

He shook his head, willing himself to return back to the present as he gradually pulled himself a step back from her.

He really didn’t know the reason to why he should stay – only that it was because he wanted to. Wanted to be around her – wanted to see her smile, hear her laughter, watch her paint and do everything that she did in her wonderful ways; but most of all he  just wanted to see her happy – because it made him happy.

But…

He sighed deeply then.

But somehow he knew – he just couldn’t stay. He had to go. He would have to leave her – and although he would miss her – she would never know that he did.
He would feel her empty presence that she would never know she had filled.

Maybe one day they could meet again. But then again maybe it was just too much to hope.

He smiled as he looked at her face for one last time; going through the details of her features which he had grown to memorize. To hold on to this memory for one more time. To remember the warmth that she gave to his heart.

“Goodbye, Rapunzel.”

He whispered the farewell close to her ear and turned to go. His heart was heavy and he feared he could feel it breaking; piece by piece. This was a different kind of heaviness than the one he had been so used to.

But he would not look back again.

Then a sudden gasp startled him and he stood frozen in place. His face towards the open window and his back towards the sound – but he didn’t dare turn around.

Didn’t dare to risk raising his hope for the impossible – it was painful enough to have to go through with his decision and to look back one more time only to see that he had indeed been mistaken.

He must be mistaken. He took another step towards the window.

“Please don’t go.”

His heart raced at the soft pleading tone and his instinct was to turn around immediately but he was still battling with himself to do so.

Why stay?

His grip tightened around his staff as he took a deep breath and braced himself for the consequences of his actions. 

He turned. 

And he found her staring right at him.

Her green eyes widened with such wonder and the gleam in them hinted her tears. 

Maybe it was because she grew to believe more and more each passing day. Believe that there was someone with her; someone who was not just a shadow of her imagination or a faceless voice in her dreams. Believed that hope had a form and now, finally she could see him.

She now smiled shyly at him and asked,

“May I know your name?”

It took awhile for Jack to realize that she was actually speaking to him and was waiting for an answer.

“It’s Jack,” he smiled. 

She took a step closer and stretched out a hand – which Jack met halfway and the surface of their palms came into contact. Like snow melting in the sunlight.
 
Jack caught his breath as he felt the warmth again. “Do you really see me?” He said in a half whisper.

She nodded as she smiled back, her gaze holding his.

“I see you, Jack.

I see you.”

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Author’s Notes ♥:

Happy Valentines!  ^o^

This actually started out as an idea for a drawing, which then became a short poem and eventually evolved into this one shot (Faints) – which could be a follow up of my first one shot: Warmth.

Coming to the second month of the year, days have been getting quite busy and I have this sinking feeling that I won’t be able to be as active as I wished I could be. But I made up my mind that I must post something for this Valentine’s to appease my love for Jackunzel (Cries).

Anyway, I’m not sure if I should have stuck to the simpler poem that I originally intended to post – but I do hope you guys like it (even if just a little bit? Hehe). Do let me know! 

Off to go ogle at the other wonderful fanart, fanfic, vids etc of Jackunzel while I still have time~~~

Wishes of Love, always – Feb 2013