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Third Person P.O.V

The next morning...

The rooster in Jesper's post office caws, the hens inside clucking. Jesper had boarded up his office after dropping (Y/N) off at the school, and he was currently muttering in his sleep as he leaned against his weapon, a makeshift broom with a knife on it.

A knock makes Jesper shriek and jerk awake, "Ah! He's here to finish the job!"

He swings his weapon around before hiding under his cover, holding the pot on his head down.

"Mr. Postman?" a little girl calls, Jesper slowly raising the pot. "Are you in there?"

Jesper opens the top half of his door slightly, peeking at the children. "Go away! Go! Leave! He'll hear you!"

He slams the door shut again, the little girl waving an envelope. "We'd like to send these letters!"

Objects clatter as Jesper removes the boards and other things barricading his door before he opens it, peeking out fully.

"What? What did you just say?" he questions, blinking rapidly.

"Our cousin told us if we write a letter to Mr. Klaus, he'll make us a toy!" she replies with a toothy grin. "He also said to bring you a penny each."

The three little girls offer their letters as Jesper looks at them with wide eyes, an idea sprouting in his mind.

"It's not a letter if it doesn't have postage, right?"

...

Jesper smirks as he looks up at the empty wall, rolling up his white sleeves as he holds a piece of chalk. He tosses his hat on the table nearby, and starts drawing long, thin lines.

...

A little girl saws at the ice as the same old man from before sleeps, she kicks away the floating ice away with a smirk, her and her friends jumping as Jesper calls to them.

"Psst. Hey, hey you!"

"Hmm?" they turn to him as he leans against a post, glancing around.

"You want a toy?"

The children raise their brows, the old man still snoring as he floats away.

...

Jesper continues working on his scale drawing.

...

Children scribble drawings on a fence with smirks, pausing as Jesper speaks.

"Hey! Would you, uh... Like a brand new toy?" he smirks.

...

Jesper draws a few envelops, the scene changing to Jesper talking to the same unblinking, creepy children from before.

"Just write a letter to Mr. Klaus."

...

Children meet up with Jesper in a secret spot, (Y/N) jumping as a few race past her. She looks over in confusion, Jesper jumping and swiftly shutting the door as she raises a brow before continuing on.

"And you put it in the envelope," Jesper continues, demonstrating in the secret hideout. "Write your name, and bring a penny. Can't forget the penny."

He flicks a penny in the air, the scene changing to him continuing to draw the scale before setting down a stack of paper and a cup of pencils.

He ties the pencils inside the paper and envelope.

...

Jesper slowly walks past a kid, reaching in his coat and offering the paper and pencil. The kid takes it, him and Jesper high fiving and fist bumping.

(Y/N) watches nearby with a frown of confusion, ducking back behind the fence as Jesper looked over.

...

Jesper sneakily passes another paper and pencil to another kid, doing the same to many others.

...

He holds his cloak open, revealing papers and pencils hooked onto his clothing.

(Y/N)'s brows were furrowed as she spots the papers in his coat, wondering what he was up to.

...

Jesper continues his drawing.

...

A little boy holds his envelope to Jesper, who takes it with a bored expression.

"These better sound sad," he warns lightly, glancing at the other kids. "Do they sound sad?"

They all nod, making him nod back as he stacks the letters in his hands.

"Okay. Good job."

(Y/N) squints at the amount of letters he was receiving suddenly, suspicion on her face as she leans against a nearby fence.

...

Jesper finishes his scale drawing, standing back with a confident smirk as he sets his hands on his hips.

"All right. And now... For the tricky part," he sighs nervously, tossing the chalk and dusting off his hands.

A knock gains his attention, making him look back before quickly hiding the drawing with curtains.

He opens the door, blinking rapidly when he sees (Y/N) standing there.

"Hey... So... I happened to be in town," she nonchalantly starts, pushing past him and walking inside as he watches her. "... And heard about children writing letters."

"Oh, yeah?" Jesper nervously replies, clearing his throat. "That's nice, doll."

"Mhm. To a, uh... Mr. Klaus," she leans back on the table, folding her arms and squinting at him suspiciously. "Asking for toys."

He gulps with a forced grin.

"Weird."

"Right," (Y/N) drags the word, shaking her head and humming. "You wouldn't of happened to go around town telling them he would give them toys, did you?"

Jesper pretends to be offended, stammering.

"Me? I would never!" he objects, (Y/N)'s face neutral as she stares at him.

"So their sudden interest was totally unprovoked?" she demands, stepping closer as he staggers back, sheepishly grinning and avoiding her gaze as he clears his throat.

"... Not... completely... unprovoked..." he mumbles out weakly, grimacing.

"Jesper!" (Y/N) pinches the bridge of her nose, sighing heavily. "Why would you do that?"

Jesper stammers for a moment, his eyes shifting to the wall where his scale was covered. "Because... Because..."

He clears his throat, a lie sprouting in his mind as he recovers with a small smirk, radiating confidence and charm.

"Oh, come on, doll. You saw how happy the little boy Klaus gave the toy to was. Would it be so horrible if other children were able to get that happiness in a town so dark?"

(Y/N) frowns, "That's not what I was saying. I'm just confused as to why you even care. Just last night you were ready to run to the hills."

Jesper scoffs, waving his hand. "What? No!" he drags the word out. "And leave all the sad children behind to their fate? Mm-mm," he shakes his head. "I want to help regain their hope and spirit!"

He dramatically finishes, forcing a charming grin at her.

(Y/N) stares at him closely, rising and walking over before stopping in front of him. "If that's what you're truly trying to do... Then okay."

"Okay...?"

"I want to help," she smiles, still somewhat unsure as Jesper blinks rapidly. "Come on, you probably don't even remember the way."

He watches after her as she leaves, sighing in relief as he looks over at his hidden scale. With a slightly guilty expression he turns and follows her.

...

(Y/N)'s P.O.V

I hum a light tune as I lightly crack the reins, urging the pony to walk on as I look around.

"You've lasted a lot longer than most postmen," I comment after a moment, Jesper glancing at me.

"What?"

"Most are gone by the second day. I'm glad you stayed though. I was finally able to get my letter out," I explain, smiling lightly. "So... thanks."

Jesper blinks rapidly, nervously scratching the back of his neck as he quickly looks away. "Y-Yeah. No problem, doll."

I roll my eyes at the nickname and sigh in amusmenet before looking around, gasping softly in awe at the same reindeer from before nearby. They look up, watching us for a moment before running away.

Wood clatters, making me jump as Jesper gasps in alarm.

...

Third Person P.O.V

Jesper climbs out, offering his hand to (Y/N) and helping her down after him.

Wood continues to clatter, (Y/N) looking around and slowly following Jesper as he searches the clearing for Klaus.

Another loud clatter makes Jesper jump lightly, (Y/N) turning the direction and walking towards it with Jesper at her side.

They peer around the birch trees, the noise getting closer when they see Klaus.

He grunts as he swings his ax down, slicing through another log.

Jesper gulps nervously before sighing deeply, putting on a tough act. "All right, doll, you wait here, and I'll--"

He looks to his side, gasping when he sees (Y/N) was gone. He looks back down with wide eyes as she approaches Klaus, blinking rapidly.

"Okay, okay, probably not an ax murderer," he tells himself, gulping again as he slowly makes his way down. "Though... It still is a possibility but most likely-- no. He's a good guy... Deep down," Jesper sighs deeply, swallowing his nerves as he stops besides (Y/N).

Jesper clears his throat, trying to get Klaus' attention. "H-Hello," he greets, his voice wavering.

Klaus continues chopping wood, ignoring Jesper.

"You're... Mr. Klaus, right?" (Y/N) slowly questions with a nervous smile.

Klaus glances to her for a moment before focusing on the wood in front of him, grunting once as confirmation.

(Y/N) and Jesper share an anxious glance before Jesper continues. "Uh... You remember us from the nice breaking and entering last night?"

Klaus grabs the partly split wood, holding it up for a moment.

"Jesper Johanssen, postman, and this is (Y/N). My... helper, we never properly--"

Klaus easily splits the wood apart with his bare hands, (Y/N) watching with wide eyes while Jesper's face falls in fear as he gulps, his hat nearly falling off.

"Uh..." Jesper removes his hat, rubbing his cheek anxiously while (Y/N) forces a grin with a nervous chuckle. "Y-- You see, Mr. Klaus, it seems like word got around..."

He starts, pacing around as he explains, jumping with wide eyes as Klaus raises a hook for a moment. "That... The poor children of Smeerensburg have started, uh..."

(Y/N) peeks around Klaus to see what he was doing, her face showing surprise as Jesper continues.

"Almost completely unprompted, writing letters asking you for..."

Jesper winces as Klaus strains a rope, stretching it out some.

"... Toys," Jesper finishes, wheezing a nervous cough. "So we figured..."

Klaus ties a noose-like knot with the rope, (Y/N) admiring his little creation as Jesper stammers.

"Y-- You know, you have t-- the whole barn filled with toys, just sitting there collecting dust. So..."

Klaus turns to Jesper, making him gulp and trail off with a small whimper as Klaus holds the noose up to Jesper.

He shoves it in his hands, turning as Jesper shakes. "Oh, God. This is it. Here it goes..."

"Jesper!" (Y/N) shakes her head with a sigh of exasperation as he puts his head through the noose.

Klaus grabs the rope back from Jesper, making him jump before looking up. Klaus uses the rope, tying it around the birdhouse and swinging it before tossing it to a tree.

The rope wraps around the branch, the hook snagging on the branch and securing the birdhouse.

"Whoa..." (Y/N) mumbles as she looks up in awe at the hundreds of birdhouses hanging.

Birds happily tweet as they land on Klaus' birdhouses, glad that they have a little house.

"Oh, wow," Jesper looks up with wide eyes. "That is..."

He starts with a tone of confusion, (Y/N) swiftly elbowing him. He jumps before clearing his throat, changing his tone.

"... Totally normal," he finishes, (Y/N) nodding with a smile as Klaus walks past them. "Not a symptom of any mental illness or anything."

"Be nice!" she hisses quietly, turning back to Klaus. "I'm sorry about him," she nervously laughs.

"Go away," Klaus grumbles back, walking away.

"Mr. Klaus, sir!" Jesper calls after him quickly, rushing after him with (Y/N) following. "Those little children..."

He slips and falls onto his hands and knees, (Y/N) snickering as he glares at her before grabbing his hat and quickly rising.

"The children in Smeerensburg could really use a little joy, and your old toys might be the key to that," (Y/N) says to Klaus as he continues walking away.

"And I'll gladly deliver them for free!" Jesper nods quickly.

Klaus continues ignoring them before pausing as a familiar gentle breeze starts to blow. He looks down at the sparkling snow, slowly turning to the two as they make it up the small hill.

"Mr. Klaus, wait!" Jesper shouts, pants heavily, (Y/N) giving him a really look as she waits for him on the top. "Please!"

The wind blows over to the two, (Y/N)'s cloak swaying lightly as Jesper wheezes, out of breath.

"Think of the joy you'll bring to their miserable little lives like (Y/N) said!"

"Hey, now, I didn't say they were miserable," she defends, crossing her arms as Jesper digs in his bag for the letters.

"Look here," he holds up one of the letters, the two not noticing the breeze flowing around them. "Poor little Herlief."

Klaus looks at them with slightly widened eyes, his face otherwise neutral.

"He only has sticks and stones to play with. So sad," Jesper reads as (Y/N) looks over his shoulder, looking over the messy writing.

Klaus looks up as the birdhouses start swaying, clinking together softly as they move with the breeze.

"And this one," Jesper continues, handing (Y/N) the read letter. "Little Penny..."

"Patty," (Y/N) corrects, squinting to read the sloppy name.

"Patty," Jesper nods quickly, Klaus glancing back down to the couple. "Her doll was so old, it crumbled in her arms when she came to me."

The breeze was flowing in a circle behind Jesper and (Y/N), some leaves and snow blowing with it.

"And Kristoff, little, ugly Kristoff--"

"He's not ugly!" (Y/N) can't help but laugh, lightly shoving Jesper with a scolding look as he grins bashfully, laughing along with amusement as he shrugs innocently.

Klaus stares at the two with narrowed eyes, (Y/N) smiling at Jesper while he side-grins at her before his eyes flicker to Klaus. She looks over to Klaus as well, tilting her head as she and Jesper look behind them just as the wind stops, settling as if nothing had occurred.

Jesper and (Y/N) share a look of confusion when they see nothing, Klaus looking down for a moment before speaking.

"Tonight. Same time," was all he said, turning and stomping off and leaving the two baffled.

"Thank you!" (Y/N) breathes out with a wide grin, Jesper smiling triumphantly before frowning.

"Wait-- 'same time'? You mean, dead of night?" Jesper stammers, following after Klaus as (Y/N) slowly follows. "We can just take the toys now."

"No. I go with you," Klaus replies, entering his house.

"That's fine," (Y/N) grabs Jesper's arm, giving him a confused look as he frowns.

"But there's really no need for him to come with us, really," he objects, (Y/N) frowning. "It might be against the law for a... Non-certified postman to ride with me."

"I'm not certified," (Y/N) reminds with a raised brow. "Come on, it'll be fine."

"U-- Uh..." Jesper trails off, wincing as Klaus slams the door to his house shut behind him. "Great. Tonight then, we'll see you then," he calls to the house with a forced smile. "Good talk, good talk."

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