Hi everyone! I am back! Hope you like this chapter, I thought the Bennett's needed more love haha
"And when we were in Italy, we saw the leaning tower of Pisa, it was cool! And then Sandy showed me some secret passages in some catacombs and I saw many skeletons! But I wasn't afraid, and then we went to Asia and saw the China Wall, and we spent almost all night trying to reach the end but we did it! Now I owe Sandy 20 dollars...and-"
North, Jack and Pitch were having dinner, something they usually didn't do together. North really wanted to pay attention to the boy, but there was something that wasn't leaving him alone, something in what the boy was saying, that made his chest clench painfully and frown each time his boy mentioned Sandman. So the Russian just listened vaguely, nodding each time Pitch spoke.
Jack was eating his food like a little beast, finishing it as quickly as the first three and wanting the fourth one. Pitch's plate was almost empty, as he was so concentrated talking about what he had been doing with Sandy for the past months, so Jack decided to eat his instead.
Just as the Dreamweaver promised, he had been going out all nights to give nightmares under his instructions. Obviously it was a long battle Sandy had to fight because he had to convince stubborn North that it was the best for him and that two weeks with no toys, no books, no powers, of cleaning the workshop AND the stables for lying to North and escaping, was enough punishment. Pitch's puppy eyes were the final blown.
Sandy let the boy give as many nightmares as he pleased, telling him he would only interfere when he considerate it absolutely necessary.
He never had to do it.
Pitch continued tracking the fear to give nightmares to the children, their nightmares always had a message of warning or gave the kids the fear they were lacking.
Pitch felt happy. He helped the children, he helped Sandy, he helped to bring the missing balance once again and he helped himself, because now, he didn't get sick anymore and was getting more powerful, complementing Sandman's powers.
"And what did you do today, Jack?" North asked, gently interrupting Pitch, who rolled his eyes.
"Grr…food…eat" Was his only answer while Jack devoured his food.
North chuckled and looked at the dark boy. He had realized Jack had stolen his food and was now creating different pictures with his sand.
"сын* Don't you want to make sculptures? Let's go in adventure to get more ice, dah?" North said, trying to call Pitch's attention.
"Just you and me, remember promise of going out in sleigh? We can go now!" North said, sounding more pleadingly than he wanted.
"Sorry North but I can't. The Northern Hemisphere will be in night son and I have to meet Sandy in Russia, he told me we will see the Museum of Hermitage and then the Cathedral of San Isaac. Bye! See you probably tomorrow" With that, the teen disappeared in the shadows with his usual smile..
"Cathedral of San Isaac, Cathedral of San Isaac, I helped in construction of Cathedral of San Isaac!" North murmured-shouted.
Jack looked up at North with one eyebrow risen.
"Don't look at me like that!"
-.-.-.-.-.-
"Psst, Jack...Psst!"
Jack woke up startled and looked at Pitch with unfocused eyes. "What?" Now that Winter was over, Pitch saw the spirit without energy, worn out, while he grew up stronger each day. When Pitch wanted to play,he glared at him and shooed him away, almost growling.
And Pitch didn't like that.
"Why are you angry at me?!" He questioned and Jack smiled.
"M not angry"
"Do you feel bad?"
"Nope"
"And then!?" Pitch asked, so wanting to hit him with his own staff.
"Is….z,z,z…difficult to understand…z,z,z…you will unde…" Jack passed out before he could finish his explanation.
Pitch sighed and left Jack napping until it was lunch time. He really hoped Jack was telling the truth about not being angry at him; they never played on the snow anymore or visited Jamie and Sophie.
Thinking in his first believer lifted his spirits.
-.-.-.-
Sandy flew in his airplane to the biggest window in Santoff Clausen, which was in the Globe Room. Before disappearing it, he picked up the sleeping teen with his sand. It had been really difficult to make him go to sleep, but he managed it!
The glowing sand contrasted with the darkness of the workshop, and floated in direction to Pitch's room. However, before he could reach his destination, the lights turned on and he could see Nicholas St. North sitting down on a nearby couch, wearing an unusual serious look.
"Sandman" North hissed.
Sandy bowed his head in greeting, not noticing or ignoring how North talked to him.
"What happened?" North demanded with an accusing glare when he noticed the unconscious boy with Sanderson.
"Worry not, he is just sleeping" Sandy wrote, trying to pass North but he didn't manage it.
"You shouldn't have come this late, he stays awake till too late since he goes with you" North said, approaching Sandy.
Sandy smiled calmly that made North frown. "Nick…Pitch is a dark spirit, a night spirit …he should sleep during the day"
"That wasn't like that before" North argued.
"Pitch didn't have powers before" Sandy explained with a smile and tried to move once again, but failed
"I can take him to his room, thank you" North quickly said, taking the teen and carrying him bride style.
Pitch whimpered softly, complaining for being separated from the peace Sandman radiated toward the neutrality of Santa Claus chest, where he was more likely to have nightmares.
"You don't have anything to do here, Sanderson. You can go"
Sandy blinked a few times under North's stare, wow, he really was telling him to go.
"Nicholas…You do know that even when we didn't like it at first, Pitch giving nightmares is the best for us, right?"
The Guardian of Wonder sighed heavily, looking everywhere but the Sandy. "Dah..."
"And he comes with me because that's the best for him? Pitch knows that-"
"Well, don't you think he shouldn't go with you so often?!" North spat suddenly, hugging Pitch closer to him and earning an angry moan. However, when he realized what he said, he quickly clarified.
"He arrives late to the workshop and he is sleeping little, that shouldn't worry you?...I want to protect him…I-I am scared that something happens to him while I am not there…" The Guardian of Christmas confessed.
Sandy floated silently toward him, and put a small hand over his massive shoulder.
"North...Pitch knows how to defend himself...and I wouldn't let anything happen to him…not again at least…"
"I don't know that!" North said with a bit of anger. "You and Aster had treated him bad since first day, and just when he recovered his powers you started to care. I was always with there, I treated his injuries and was there when he had nightmares…How do I know you won't hurt him?!" North whispered-shouted.
Pain flashed in Sandy's golden eyes, his glow lowering. "Yes, I wasn't there, and I really regret it, alright? But neither you nor anyone knows why, you don't have the right to tell me how I should feel! He killed me, just to remind you. If-if you knew why I was scared to approach him you would understand…"
Norte had a hard time reading that, but when he finished, his gaze softened, watching Sandy rolling his shoulders, feeling uncomfortable with the thin black scar certain weapon left him, shot by the monster the boy in North's arms once was.
"Sanderson, I know it hurts…but we saw boy doesn't remember, yes? He shouldn't pay for something he didn't do"
Sandy rubbed his eyes. "i know, why do you think it hurts? He isn't the Pitch we knew, but I don't know if he-" Sandy clenched his teeth and looked down. "Forget it" He wrote at the end, under North's expectant look.
"What aren't you telling me, Sandman?" North asked.
Sandy looked at the roof, tired, and then at the sleeping boy, he sighed. "Promise you won't tell anyone…to any guardian…Pitch even less…" Sandy crossed his arms and North nodded.
"Well...a really, really long time…I-" A soft whimper interrupted him and both glanced at the teen. North turned him a bit to see him grimacing, about to have a nightmare. North shook him gently to wake him up, but Sandy shook his head.
"No! I just put him to sleep! Let's take him to his room" Both walked to his room, Sandy floated after North, biting his lip nervously.
North left Pitch on his bed, and he instantly curled up, shaking his head. North tried to wake him up again but Sandy shook his head.
"Are you insane, Mansnoozie? Will you let him have a nightmare? Let me wake him up"
"You said it yourself, he needs to sleep" Sandy sat down next to the teen and put his hands over his pale forehead. His golden sands started glowing, growing brighter with each passing second. The scared grimace the boy wore didn't seem to change and Sandy narrowed his eyes with determination, his entire body glowing like a small star.
Finally, the grimace erased and Pitch's thin lips turned into a small smile; golden sand, albeit pale, turned above the child's head without a determined pattern. Sandy smiled and collapsed next to him, breathing heavily.
"Are you ok?" North asked, looking how Sandy's weak glow wasn't improving. The Sandman opened his eyes and smiled calmly
"Yes, I am fine now"
"What-what happened?"
Sandy rested his head against the pillow Pitch wasn't using. "Well, it is really difficult for me to make Pitch sleep, even more give him a good dream"
"Why?"
"He may be a child, but he is still the Boogeyman" Sandy gave him a forced smile.
North noticed the tears in Pitch's eyes and wiped them softly with his thumb, stroking his cheek. "Poor boy…" He said sighging. "It's been a long time since he had a nightmare"
Sandy looked at North, not believing what he said. "Don't you know it?...Pitch has nightmares every night"
North looked shock at Sandy's written declaration. "But he doesn't cry at nights anymore…and he doesn't call me when he wakes up…"
Sandy's cheeks turned orange and looked away. "He comes with me…" He wrote in little letters North managed to read, his blue eyes narrowing angrily.
"Oh North...Don't worry...I won't steal Pitch from you" He smiled teasingly. "He adores you…don't let that change…" Sandy kissed Pitch's cheek, leaving a print of sand and then gave North a small pouch of dreamsand. "Here, it's dreamsand, for when he has nightmares" That being said, Sandy jumped out of the window, creating a golden cloud and disappearing at the distance.
-.-
"Pitch!" North called the black haired teen and Pitch came out of a shadow in front of him.
"What?" Pitch asked, looking at his game super concentrated, he had really come to like this 'Ipad' thing and a game called 'Piano Tiles' he had been playing all night in the shadows to pass the last song.
"That's the way to answer, young man?"
Pitch growled when he lost and sighed. "No…" He mumbled grudgingly. "Tell me, my dear Nicholas St. North, what I can do for you?" He said mockingly. North just laughed and patted him on the back.
"Can you go find Jack? I need to talk to him"
Pitch moaned lazily but obeyed, disappearing in the shadows, reappearing seconds later in the Guardian's frozen and icy room.
Jack, as it was his habit nowadays, was sleeping. There was snow, ice and frost everywhere, the window was opened and the wind howled loudly.
"Jack..." Pitch touched his shoulder to wake him up but ended up retiring his hand instants later, hissing in pain, as if he had been burned.
His corporal temperature was much lower than usual; Pitch could see the frost covering his cheeks and forehead.
"Mm, Jack? Come on, wake up" Pitch one more time, this time trying to touch his staff that seemed glued (maybe literally) to Jack. An inhuman growl escaped from Jack's throat and before Pitch could react, Jack threw himself towards him, digging his white teeth in his hand.
His shout stayed in his throat, paralyzed with the cold seeping through his body, freezing his lungs. "AAAAHHH!"
Jack didn't stop growling, and he stood up, approaching Pitch menacingly, who backed away confused and with his frozen hand to his chest.
Jack's staff glowed blue, ready to freeze the boy who woke him up. Pitch was in such a shock that couldn't move.
Everything went so fast. Jack screamed savagely, his shout mixing with the howls of the wind and shot. Pitch flinched, waiting for the attack, but it never came, as it was disintegrated by a sword now stuck in the wall.
Both boys looked up and saw North approaching them, especially Jack. He lifted his hands, like the animal trainers do to placate the rage of their beasts.
"Son…sssh…relax…sshh" Jack wrinkled his nose while growling and tried to bite him, but North moved with ease, as if he knew what Jack would do. "You can go to sleep again…calm down"
Pitch saw how Jack blinked heavily, lowering his guard for a moment, letting North guide him to his snow covered bed. Jack hugged his staff again and sighed contently. He was asleep again.
Pitch blinked a few times, a look of utter confusion on his face while he cradled his hand. North approached him. "You ok?"
"What-what the hell just happened?!"
"I am sorry, I should have supposed he started hibernation…"
"Hi-Hibernation?!" he winced when the pain grew to his forearm.
North looked at his hand, thinking vaguely that Pitch loved to hurt his hands, and frowned. "He bit you, dah? Let's go to my office"
Pitch nodded, acting brave to not show his frozen hand hurt more that it looked. "Why-why your office and not the infirmary?"
"Jack's bite is especial, really cold...freezes hand, it turns purple, like when you stay too much time in snow"
Pitch snorted. "Frostbite..." He said chuckling softly and North also laughed.
"Dah. It is even worse during hibernation"
Pitch extended his hand so North could pour a blue liquid to his hand. "Can you explain me that about hibernation? How come Jack is hibernating?!" He asked disbelieving.
North smiled at the boy's confused face. "Seasonal spirits hibernate when their season finishes. Sometimes they don't, sometimes yes. Jack hibernates in hottest months of summer.
"Ok…but why did he bite me?"
"Protection mode…let's say he is in 'automatic', a wilder way to protect himself while he hibernates"
"Cool…how long does it take?"
"Well...the longest Jack have slept is five months" "Five months?!" "But it is usually three"
Pitch blew a lock of black hair out of his face, pouting. If it was three months, Jack would wake up by July…He would never admit it…but he would miss him
"Eh…don't give me that face" North said when he noticed his depressed expression. "He will be fine, truly"
Pitch continued frowning and North hugged him, this time managing to make him smile. "Do you want to see the new designs for sculptures?"
"Hm…I don't know…I had to go with Sandy toda-"
"Bah! It is just a day! I will let you use my saw..." He singsonged.
"Oh yes!" Pitch said excited, shadows moving under his feet while he ran toward the table.
North smiled victoriously. North:1, Sandy:0
-.-.-.-
"Pitch! I know you are there!" Sophie said giggling the instant she noticed the shadows in her home moving.
Pitch appeared in front of her with his arms crossed and a smile. "How did you knew it, girl?"
"Because she isn't a fool, you make too much noise when you try to scare someone from the shadows" Jamie answered with a smug smile, fist bumping with the spirit when he managed to escape from his sister's grip.
"Hey! Of course not!" Pitch whined.
"Of course yes!" Sophie giggled again. Pitch stuck his tongue out and Sophie did the same.
"Hey...and Jack?" Jamie asked while he took off his headphones.
Pitch played with his jacket's sleeve nervously. It was the first time he visited the Bennetts without Jack and it felt weird. What if they didn't want him here now that Jack wasn't here?
"Uh…he's... sleeping"
"Sleeping?"
"Ah,yes, well..." Pitch thought in how to explain what North told him. "Winter's over, so Jack goes to sleep for a few months and-"
"Oh! He is hibernating!" Jamie said and both siblings laughed when Pitch gaped. "You could have said that, we already know
Pitch laughed sheepishly and ran a hand through his hair. When he looked up, he saw the little blond staring at him and he felt his cheeks burning.
"Uh, what are you doing?"
Sophie's eyes widened and took Pitch's hand, dragging him to her room. Once there, Pitch sat down on Sophie's bed while the green eyed girl searched something through her drawers.
"Sophie, what are you doing?"
"Aha!" Sophie cried doing a little victory dance and Pitch chuckled. The girl was adorable.
Sophie approached him and gave him a card with a little bow, with her handwriting it was written 'To Pitch'
"It's for you…" Sophie said blushing slightly and looking at the floor nervously.
Pitch raised an eyebrow and looked at the card, missing how his action made Sophie's blush deeper.
He opened the card and read what was inside. You are invited to my birthday! I hope you can come and celebrate this especial day with me.
"I-I had to deliver them in a few months...but-but I didn't know if I would see you...and I would really like-like you to come..." Pitch felt his heart break when he noticed tears in Sophie's eyes. "But-but if you don't want to come, it is ok…"
"Aw, Sophie..." Pitch said hugging the girl, who quickly hid her head on his shoulder. "Don't cry, I will obviously love to come, don't cry"
Sophie pouted. "You promise?"
Pitch gave her a toothy grin. "Absolutely!" Then he bowed with a hand behind his back. "On my soul, milady"
Sophie giggled and wiped her face. "It is in July"
Pitch nodded and put the card in his jacket's pocket. " You gave me this really early, dear…like three months, I don't know…" He said shrugging. Sophie rocked back on her heels. "I wanted to be sure you would come"
Pitch rolled his eyes playfully, the shadows darkening the room more than usual. "Everything for my first believer"
Sophie giggled and hugged him. Pitch didn't lose time to return the hug.
-.-.-.-.-
"I am booooooorreeedddd" Pitch moaned, stretching lazily. The Tv was on, his toys everywhere (but that wasn't new) music, electronic devices, all on, and he was still bored.
"Stupid Jack that has to sleep for three bloody months!" It has only been a month and Pitch already wanted to pull his hair out.
When he rolled close to the bed edge and fell to the floor, he was absorbed by the shadows under his bed. He was expelled in some place of the workshop seconds later, laughing.
It was the kitchen, and he assaulted the pantry before the elves could. He stuck his tongue out at the little monsters when they realized they didn't have food to steal.
Laughing evilly, he disappeared in the first shadow he saw, barely missing being bitten by the elves.
"Mwahaha! Stupid elves that cannot-AH!" He shouted when he get out of the shadow and fell face first to the floor.
He groaned and rolled to look at the roof. He saw shelves, many books and four guardians looking at him curiously, one with his usual grumpy look. It was the library, and apparently, they WERE in a meeting.
"... Oops?" He apologized, rolling once again to be on his stomach.
"What are you doing on the floor, Pitch?" North asked and Pitch had the URGE to answer sarcastically.
"Oh! Well it is really comfortable to be on the floor, you know. I mean, it IS my favorite place to be"
"But the floor is cold and uncomfortable, why would you?" Tooth approached him and said. "It's sarcasm, North"
Pitch heard North whispered "Ah!" and burst out into laughter. Sandy helped him stand up.
"Thank you" He said, and three of the four guardians smiled
"What were you talking about?" Pitch asked, casually sitting down on Jack's chair.
Bunny groaned rolling his eyes and looked at North exasperately. "Can you tell this to leave us alone?"
"I have a name, you know?" Pitch said hostilely. If he had been alone with the Pooka, he wouldn't have had the courage to fight back, but now that he was with his family, he knew nothing would happen to him.
"Yes, I know…but I don't want to throw up"
"What's your problem, stupid?! Better go suck an egg, I bet you are really good for that!" Pitch smiled victoriously when he saw the Guardian's offended face.
Aster grabbed his arm and shook it violently. "Bloody nuisance! Why don't you go fu-!?"
"ASTER!" North shouted, separating the Easter Bunny from the Boogeyman. Sandy floated towad Pitch, pulling his arms so he didn't attack Bunnymund. The rage in his yellow eyes was only surpassed by the one in the russian's eyes.
"Enough, Bunnymund!"
Bunny plastered his ears to his skull and looked astonished at his friends who were approaching Pitch…Pitch!
"Are you ok?" Tooth asked Pitch who was looking at the floor with a pout, he shook his head. "My arm hurts"
"Aw! Bunny! What's wrong with you?" Tooth said hugging Pitch.
Bunny glared Pitch when he stuck his tongue when no one was looking.
"Are you bloody kidding me?!"
Everyone turned their heads, and now it was Bunny's turn to be glared at.
"Can I know what are you talking about?...Or are you going to hurt me too?" Pitch asked with sad puppy eyes, that, both Bunny and him knew it was fake. Yeah, he had that talent.
"Of course, lad. We were talking about Jack's hibernation, of that the number of children who believe in us has grown" North informed.
"Hm…cool, I guess…Do you talk with the children who believe in you?" He asked out of curiosity.
Bunny, who was still pissed off, crossed his arms and looked away. The guardians shook their heads.
"No Pitch, we never talk to the children" Sandy said, knowing where the boy wanted to go.
"But, why? You have more chances to be believed in that way! And the ones who already believe, will tell other kids"
North, Tooth and Sandy looked at each other, it wasn't a bad idea, but there was a problem, they didn't have time! They were so busy making children happy that they didn't have time for children!
"Pitch, it is a good idea, but …it is really difficult to have time to spend with them" Tooth said with a warm smile. "Our belief is based in their faith, besides; there is not a special occasion we can share with them"
Pitch narrowed his eyes in thought when a bulb made of black sand appeared above his head, making Sandy chuckle. "There is one! Sophie's birthday!"
That called Bunny's attention. How could he forget it? Sophie's birthday was close
"It is a few months away. She will have a party, make a space in your tight guardian agenda, go, let the children see you for a while, eat cake and I am sure that there will be more lights on the globe!"
North burst out laughing, hitting Pitch on the back, congratulating him, but only he managed to get the boy ran out of air in the lungs. "Pitch is right! Good idea, dah? Sophie Bennett has a strong belief! What do you say?"
Tooth nodded laughing and Sandy gave him thumbs up. Pitch's chest filled with pride, he had helped the guardians, and had found his friend the perfect birthday present.
The three guardians looked at Bunny, and Pitch dared him to say his idea wasn't good.
"Gr, fine! But just because it is Sophie's birthday"
-.-.-.-.-.-
Jack felt in Paradise. A cold and icy paradise, soft and comfortable. He was relaxed, without a worry in the world, just in finding the perfect position to continue sleeping. But something wasn't letting him continue.
Behind his eyelids, there was a light, a light that made him uncomfortable. Jack tried to open his eyes, but his eyelashes were frozen, with frost covering them. He managed to break the barrier and he really wished he hadn't, because a horrible light attacked him.
"Gah! Turn that thing off!" He whined, his breath misting as he talked. His voice was hoarse, cold, like ice.
Jack rubbed his eyes and looked around. What had happened? The last thing he remembered was that he was tired, so so tired, and swore a revenge against Sandman, then nothing. Just relaxing darkness.
He looked at his clothes, he had more ice and frost on them than usual. He felt weird, but a good weird, his body was colder than normal, but he felt new, renovated, as if the sleep had refilled his energy
He opened the door of his room, or rather, tried, fighting against the ice keeping it close. He decided to kick it and it opened easily. "Hehehe"
He walked by the already known hallways of the workshop, his feet leaving frost footprints as he walked, until he came across certain black haired teen.
Pitch's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.
"Hey"
"Jack!" He approached to give him a hug, but when he was close, he backed away, shivering. "you're freezing..." He muttered and Jack laughed.
"Good to see you too"
When he stopped shivering, Pitch said. "Finally you woke up!" Then he shouted angrily. "You know how much I have been dying here?!"
Jack looked confused. "Finally?"
"Three months is a long time, you know"
Ah! That explains everything…
"Hahaha. Hibernation...obviously...Who was the stupid who tried to wake me up this time?"
Pitch raised his hand. "Me. And you bit me"
Jack burst out laughing, trying to imagine that scene, because he couldn't remember. "Sorry"
"Don't worry" Pitch said underestimating the matter.
"Jack!" Both teens turned to look at the Guardian of Christmas shouting behind them. North lifted Jack and kissed both his cheeks before hugging him.
"Can't breathe!" Jack cried, hitting North's back. He chuckled and let him go.
"Did I seriously bite Pitch?" Jack asked ruffling Pitch's hair, receiving a 'It took me hours to have it like this' from him.
"Dah, but less than what you bit Bunny"
Pitch burst out laughing when Jack wrinkled his nose, sticking his tongue out, remembering fur in his mouth.
"Oh, Jack. Tomorrow's Sophie's birthday, you can come, right?"
"It's July already?"
-.-
"Take that thing off my face!"
"Jackson! Let Tooth put on the sunscreen!"
"Over my cold and dead corpse!"
"Jack!"
"But it feels weird!"
"Do you want to get burn?"
"I just hibernated, I will take it fine"
"I don't care, sunscreen now"
Jack escaped and Tooth flew after him. North had designed the sunscreen. While a normal one protects from sun rays, this kept Jack cold so the summer heat wouldn't affect him, but for that, he had to wear a lot.
Sandy was watching Pitch putting on his, the one for him protected him not from the hot, or the sun rays, but from the light these created. Pitch wrinkled his nose when Sandy said it wasn't enough and extended the white cream all over his face and neck. He didn't like it, but it was the condition North and Sanderson put to go and of course Pitch wouldn't break the promise he made Sophie
Norte grabbed Jack, who just yesterday discovered the plans they had made without him and Tooth spread the sunscreen without delicacy, using the same speed with which she beats her wings. Jack stuck his tongue out and licked the sunscreen accidentally.
"Ah, ah,ah!" Jack yelled, jumping from side to side with the sour substance on the tip of his tongue. Tooth smiled victoriously.
When both boys were ready, Pitch looked like a zombie and Jack like a palid snowman. Neither of them couldn't help but laugh at each other's appearance.
"Where's Bunny?"
As if on cue, a tunnel opened on the floor and Bunny jumped out of it. "Are you ready?" Bunny was holding a gift wrapped with light blue and green paper. "Urgh…He comes too?"
Norte approached the rabbit calmly and whispered some thing that, if Bunny weren't covered in fur, everyone would have seen how he got paled.
"Of...course...I suggested it" Pitch said under the Dreamweaver menacing stare.
"Ok everyone, to the sleigh!"
Pitch's eyes lit up. Was he hearing well?! The sleigh?! He used the shadows to get to the hangar first- The yetis were adjusting the harnesses and giving the last details. They got startled with his sudden appearance.
Be careful, don't touch it until they say so.
Touch it and destroy it!
Pitch was jumping up and down excited, the ice under him mixing with black sand. "Can't you be slower!?" He shouted. "Come on!"
Jack floated to the sleigh, sitting down next to Sandy and Tooth. Bunny gulped and North pointed at his sleigh, with a look that for Bunny said Go in or die.
Pitch waited till Bunny entered to the sleigh to timidly approach Santa Claus. "North…"
"Hm?"
"This counts like our ride only you and me?"
North looked surprised and then smiled warmly. "No" He winked and Pitch got in the sleigh happily.
"Buckle up!"
"Stop saying that..." Bunny mumbled and North shook the reins. "Hyah!"
The reindeers started to run and the sleigh moved at a neck breaking speed.
Everyone flew black, and Bunny tried and dug his claws in the wood that already had marks of his previous panic attacks.
The sleigh entered to a dark tunnel and Pitch screamed when he had the sensation that he was falling into the void, just to laugh with all his might when the light returned and they were sliding by the tunnel made of ice.
"This is not the best part!" Jack shouted even louder than Bunny was. Pitch looked back and saw Sandy and Tooth lifting their arms, as if it was a roller coaster. Pitch wanted to do the same, but he didn't dare to let go of the side of the sleigh he was holding.
The sleigh was jumping for the speed and when Pitch looked up, saw a wooden tower where some yetis were working.
"Faster, faster!" He managed to shout. He heard North laugh maniacally and lowered a lever. The sleigh was now sliding by the walls! Incredible! Pitch couldn't stop crying with excitement, his knuckles turning white.
"I hope you like the loopty loops, Pitch!"
"I am going to throw up!" Bunny shrieked and Pitch chuckled, inhaling the delicious scent.
"There we go!" Both white haired spirits said at unison when the exit appeared. Pitch approached to the border and his eyes widened. There was a wooden ramp. The reindeers ran and jumped and started running in the air.
"Klassno*!" North shouted, making the sleigh spin in the air.
"Wow!" Pitch said, seeing the workshop disappear at the distance. The wind played with his hair, his black locks covering his eyes.
"Buckle up everyone" North took out a snow globe and whispered. "Burgess's Woods"
Pitch closed his eyes when the sleigh entered to the colorful portal, disappearing through it.
-.-
"Jamie!" Mrs. Bennett shouted desperate, checking the list she was holding.
"What?" The brown haired teen asked, bothered by the fact of being called every five minutes.
"Be respectful, James!" Can you call your dad?! He told me he would come with the cake!"
Jamie rolled his eyes and went to call his dad. He had returned some weeks ago from his trip of five months to who knows where and he was really happy. When his dad answered, he told him his mom was about to go crazy and not to delay with the cake. His dad laughed and told him he would try to go as soon as possible.
"He says he is coming. Can I go now?"
"Can't you help your mother, James?" Jamie looked at her as if he had been told he had to cut his arm
"I will pay you 20 dollars for each hour you help"
"Ok!" Jamie said happily. While he put glasses and plates on the table, he heard Sophie giggle with her friends in the second floor, she was probably telling them about Jack and Pitch and the gu-GUARDIANS!
He barely caught the glass he let fall and almost broke. "Mom! I forgot to tell you something!"
"What now, Jamie?"
"Jack and Pitch are coming…" He started
" I knew that, son. Now, please bring me those-"
"…with the guardians…"
Julie continued fixing everything until she registered the information.
"WHAT?!" She asked mortified.
Jamie flinched in same for not telling her before. "Yeah…Pitch told me he wanted it to be a surprise for Sophie…"
"Oh god, Oh god, oh god! Are-Are you telling me that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are coming?!" His mom asked hysterically.
"The Easter Bunny and Sandman too…" Jamie mumbled but when his mom glared at him, he shut up.
"Great! Just great!" She said in defeat, collapsing on a nearby chair.
"Mom, don't worry, they are great, you will like them…" He said trying to comfort her.
"Haha…yes, I don't doubt it, son"
The bell rang.
Mrs. Bennett shouted again.
Jamie chuckled and opened the door. He smiled incredulously at the six spirits in front of him.
Jack and Pitch entered normally, used to enter and exit the house. "Hi Mrs. Julie" They said at the same time when they saw her rocking back and forth.
Jamie looked at the Guardians, who couldn't be redder in embarrassment than they already were and then said. "Mom! Come here!"
Mrs. Bennett inhaled to gain courage and stood up, determined to greet her childhood idols. A simply, 'Hey Santa, thank you for the doll you gave me when I was six, really pretty by the way' should be enough.
She marched to the door with a smile, smiled that disappeared when she saw the Guardians.
Santa Claus was tall man with tattoos, the Easter Bunny was even taller than her, The Tooth Fairy was a beautiful woman covered in multicolored feathers, with a pretty make up and beautiful wings that beat quickly and strongly, like a hummingbird's, and Sandman was a little man with golden hair that actually seemed to be made of sand.
She didn't have the right to be that surprised really. After all, the Boogeyman ended up being a shy boy with disheveled hair…
"Good afternoon, ?" Santa said politely. Um...Santa was russian. Who knew?
"..."
"Mom!"
"... Oh! God! Where are my manners? Please, come in, come in!" She moved, letting the guardians enter.
Jack and Pitch refused to move from the couch in where they were resting. They had had to walk from the forest! Under the sun! Just because North thought it would be better to hide his sleigh near Jack's lake.
Jamie pulled both spirits, throwing them to the floor with a thud. After all, he had to be polite with guests and give them a seat.
"Hot!" Jack whined and Jamie went to move the thermostat of his house.
"How have you been, mate?" Bunny asked Jamie after laughing at Pitch.
"Normal…"
"Jamie…" Mrs. Bennett scolded but she couldn't stop staring at the guardians.
"I can't believe you are in my house..." She said lifting a hand, as if she wanted to touch them to prove they truly were there.
"Thank you for letting us come, Mrs. Bennett" Tooth said.
"Yeah...you can call me Julie..."
Pitch sighed and stood up from the floor, pulling Jamie and Jack away from the conversation. "You told me you would tell your mom about the guardians! She is half scared to death!
"I'm sorry, ok?! I forgot, but I remembered just in time..."Jamie said, crossing his arms.
"And where's Sophie?" Bunny asked hopefully. He wanted to see his little ankle biter. He hadn't had time to visit her so frequently, but he wanted to tell her he was always thinking of her.
"…Sophie..Oh, right!...Sophie! You have visits!" Julie shouted in direction of the stairs.
"My mom is really surprised with all this" Jamie thought aloud. Then he realized something and the color drained from his face. "Oh no…"
"What's wrong?" Jack asked worriedly.
"My dad doesn't know you exist..."
"You have a dad?" Pitch asked innocently, receiving a nudge from Jack. "Sorry, Jamie...is that I-ah"
"Don't worry…"Jamie muttered, still shocked for his sudden epiphany.
They heard the sound of steps coming down the stairs and the six spirits stood up to see Sophie descend. She was wearing a white shirt and jeans, her hair combed and wearing a blue head and when she saw who were downstairs, his green eyes widened.
Bunny smiled, and opened his arms to receive the hug from the little girl.
"Pitch!"
Sophie ran toward the black haired boy and hugged him tightly.
...What...?
"Happy birthday, Sophie!" Pitch said happily, pointing at the guardians and then returning the hug.
The Guardians' mouths hit the floor, minus Jack's, and certain Guardian of Hope's ears plastered to his skull.
"You came!" Sophie exclaimed, refusing the let the black haired boy go.
"Of course I did! I promised didn't I? And guess what, I have a present for you"
North snorted and closed Bunny's mouth, but no matter how hard he tried, it remained opened.
No...Sophie...No...
Pitch smiled slightly and gave Sophie her present. It was a rose, but not any rose. It was made of black sand and shadows. The petals shone with blue and purple grains, and even when it looked rough, they weren't, the same for the stem and the leaves, that were soft to touch. The leaves were as black as night, and had so much details that if it wasn't for the shadows waving around, it would look like a real flower.
"It was really hard to make it, believe it or not…You just have to put it in a dark place and it will be fine"
Sophie stared at the rose in her hand for a while, touching each soft petal with extreme care, until she found her voice again. "It's…so…beautiful…"
Pitch felt his cheeks warming up when Sophie tiptoed and kissed his cheek. "Thank you…"
The blond girl laughed at Pitch's stunned face and grabbed his hand. "I want you to meet my friends! Come!"
Sophie guided him to the stairs but she stopped, as if she had forgotten something. "Oh! Hey Jack! Hi guys! Bunny"
The Guardians minus Bunny smiled and waved at her. That being said, Sophie disappeared with Pitch.
"We have a big problem..."Jamie said, still worried.
"If by that you mean Bunny will CUT PITCH IN LITTLE, LITTLE PIECES when we return…yeah…we have more than a big problem" The white haired teen said, looking at North making Bunny sit down, who still wore a shocked face.
"Yeah, wait, what? No"
"No, it is true, Bunny will kill him"
"No Jack! I mean that my dad will arrive at any moment and he doesn't know you are real!" Jamie shouted, pointing at the spirits.
The Guardians frowned, looking at each other, until Jack smiled. "Oh I know! If he doesn't see us, you don't talk to us when he is close and that way he won't think you are crazy"
Jamie laughed, high fiving with Jack. The Guardians weren't' really convinced, but it was their only plan so they will just go with it.
Minutes later, Sophie, her friends, and a trembling Pitch came down the stairs and let's say the poor girls froze to the floor when they saw the guardians. They were a bit rusty in interacting with children, who weren't Jack or Pitch, but the Guardian of Fun helped them break the ice, using many snowflakes, or 'funflakes' as Jack called them.
Pitch approached Jamie carefully while trying to tie up his hair and the brown haired asked curiously. "What happened?"
The black haired teen shivered. "They wanted to braid my hair..." Jamie didn't stop laughing for a long while.
The girls went to play in the back yard and suddenly, the people who remained inside heard the sound of a key in the door. The Guardians, Pitch, and the Bennett yelped. Mr. Bennett had arrived.
The door opened and the man entered carrying a big cake which covered his face. How he managed to open a door, still remained a mystery.
William Bennett was a tall man, but not as tall as North, he had dark blond hair with a short beard and mustache, and the same green eyes of his daughter.
The six spirits stayed in their places, they didn't dare to make a single noise. They followed Mr. Bennett with their eyes, who quickly said. "Hi, honey, hi Jamie" and went to leave the cake in the kitchen.
Everyone breathed again in that moment. The three boys laughed for the sync there was.
"Jamie…won't you present me your friends?" Mr. Bennett asked from the kitchen and everyone gasped.
Jack looked at the Guardians asking for help when William approached Pitch and him and offered his hand to shake.
"Good evening, sorry for not greeting you before, but if I didn't leave the cake, it would have fallen"
"..."
"Dad...can...you...see them?!"
Mr. Bennett looked at him furrowing his eyebrows. "Of course I can, what kind of question is that, son?"
Jamie looked at him perplexed, thinking in how the hell he could see them. "Dad…um…they are…Jack and Pitch" He said, pointing at each one.
Mr. Bennett analyzed them and both spirits cowered. "You dyed your hair, didn't you?" He asked Jack, who looked terrified. "Nosir" He said with a small voice.
"Hm…ok" Now it was Pitch's turn to be observed and Mr. Bennett saw how the pale teen widened his yellow eyes. Sandy had put him so much sunscreen that his skin didn't look gray anymore but a pale white, something really convenient at the moment.
"Are you new in the neighborhood? I have been out recently" He asked to the boys and Jamie answered.
"Yeah…they…they just moved…"
Mr. Bennett nodded and when he turned to look at the guardians, Tooth immediately stopped beating her wings and Sandy and her put their feet on the floor as soon as possible.
"Wow! Those costumes are so awesome!" Mr. Bennett exclaimed with a big smile, and Julie covered her mouth, not knowing if she should be amazed or worried
The four guardians laughed sheepishly attempting to smile. "Haha…yeah…costumes" North said, rubbing the back of his neck.
William laughed and looked at them from head to toe. "Ok,ok, don't tell me who you are, let me guess, ok? Sophie must like you so…Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Sandman?! And…The Tooth Fairy? Wow, that's a super original design!" He said, looking at Tooth, whose face was as red as a tomato.
Jamie, Jack and Pitch burst out laughing when Jamie's dad asked Bunny if he wasn't hot in that costume.
"I didn't know your dad was a believer"
"I...don't think he knows..."
Mrs. Bennett intervened when her husband starting pulling his ears. "Honey, now that you are here, why don't we go outside?"
"Good idea!" Said William excitedly, walking quickly to the back yard. Mrs. Julie quickly followed him.
The teens were next and the Guardians stayed in their place a bit more.
"William J. Bennett doesn't have a light in the Globe" North muttered.
The party was pretty normal. The Guardians played with the girls, who couldn't believe their friend Sophie had always been right, and told her they will tell everyone that they were real.
The girls were close to Tooth, telling her she was pretty, and that her colorful feathers were beautiful, and to Bunny, telling him he was cool and soft. Bunny smiled to each one of them, but couldn't ignore that feeling of hate that grew inside him each time he looked at the black haired brat. Sophie didn't like him and it was his fault, his fault…
Sat down under the shadows of awnings, were Pitch and Sandy, talking with Sandy in the traditional way (with sign language, after all they were half scared with William and were scared to use their powers). Mr. William approached him from time to time, telling him that he should be under the sun for a while, because he was too pale, but Pitch refused politely.
Suddenly, a water splash soaked him completely. When he stopped to cough, he saw Jamie and Jack with water guns. The frost in Jack's clothes had melted, but Jack was still cold, the cold he emanated could be felt.
"What's wrong, Boogeyman? Scared of water?" Jamie asked challengingly and Pitch smiled, catching the gun Jack threw to him.
He ran after them, and he missed how Sandy bit his lip, worried.
After running around the house for some more, Pitch ended up soaked from head to toe. The freezing water (thanks to Jack) dripped from his jacket and had to take it off, but it didn't matter, the sun would dry it soon.
Jamie offered him a towel, and Pitch accepted it gladly, drying his face, but at the same time taking off the sunscreen without knowing. Jack still was wearing sunscreen, Jamie and him knew better than to throw water to Jack's face.
Jamie and Jack disappeared after that, leaving Pitch alone again. He couldn't help but smile when he saw Sophie playing with her friends with a volley ball. All the girls laughed, but his ears only worked to listen to his first believer's laughter, Sophie's, and his adorable voice.
A pain in his arm brought him back to reality. He looked at his arms and bit his lip. He was now wearing a t-shirt, and was more exposed to the sun and his arms were burning for the light.
The shadows were just a few steps ahead, he could just go and hide but in that moment a ball flew past him and Sophie ran after it
The black haired boy followed Sophie with his eyes. The ball landed in the other side of the street and the blond crossed the street
Pitch sniffed the air and frowned when he felt something-no, he stopped feeling something. For being watching that Sophie was fine, he had forgotten to go to the shadows and his face was starting to burn too.
He heard the sound of skidding not that far away. It was a car, and was turning the corner at a high speed
Where's Sophie?...Oh, no!
Sophie had seen the car, and Pitch knew she had, but she had crossed anyway. Why did she do that?! He knew why. That's what he had stopped feeling, Sophie's fear...but fear didn't just disappear...did it?
The car was coming.
Pitch! What are you waiting for?!
Where were the guardians? He had no idea, it seemed as if they had disappeared. The only thing he could see was the car, Sophie, the sun, the shadows...all so close...
Go to the shadows! You are getting burned! It's the brat's fault to not notice the car.
Pitch! She's your friend!
Go to the shadows! Come with us...
The car was approaching. Pitch didn't know what to do.
Pitch! – Pitch!
Imagine the fear everyone will have!
I would- Kozmotis would save her!
The made the effect.
"Sophie, watch out!"
Pitch turned away from the shadows and ran toward the road, making his staff appear. The car was almost in front of Sophie and Pitch stepped in front, pulling the girl from her waist to the other side with the curve of his staff.
The car didn't stop and Pitch closed his eyes when the impact came. He shouted, and flew various meters and the driver didn't even notice.
"Pitch!" Sophie cried, realizing what had happened. She stood up from the floor and ran toward the boy lying still on the floor.
She hugged him tightly, but that only made Pitch hiss in pain.
"Pitch, why did you do that?!"
Pitch was breathing shallowly, oh moon, his chest hurt like hell and couldn't feel his legs but managed to look at the girl. "Me? Sophie, you could have gotten hurt! What were you thinking?!" Pitch blew black sand to her eyes and something in Sophie's gaze changed. She looked at the road and felt fear, she didn't get hurt, but Pitch did. Her eyes welled up with tears when she saw Pitch's shoulder was bleeding.
"I am sorry, Pitch!" Sophie cried, but she knew that wouldn't fix anything.
The black haired teen smiled but it ended up being a grimace. His body was burning, and was hurting like hell, but he didn't want Sophie to suffer. He tried to stand up to show her he was fine but failed and fell to the floor once again, hitting his head. The sun was falling directly to his face, there was too much light, too much, everything hurt. He couldn't breathe.
Sophie was moving his arm, but he couldn't hear her, just the shrieks of the bad voice and the shadows trying and failing to move around him, while with a blurry sight he looked at his arms turning white, he wasn't sure, but, wasn't his arm each time more transparent?
"PITCH!"
North had returned from the moon knows where. And to look at his son on the floor, with his shoulder bleeding and looking at the wrong direction, wasn't what he expected.
"Please, help him!" Sophie pleaded, running toward them.
Sandy flew past North to go with Pitch but North was the one who wanted to help Pitch and pushed Sandy. Sandy pushed him. North pushed him and both started fighting, none of them moving.
Pitch felt someone grabbing his hand and pulling it softly to make him open his eyes. He didn't want to, the light burned, hurt, but did it anyway. He expected to see North, Jack, Sandy or Tooth. Hell, he expected to see anyone in front of him. Everyone but Bunny.
"B-b-bu-"
"Ssshh...easy ankle biter...come here" Bunny helped him stand up, grabbing him by the waist and lifting him up, carrying him toward the shadows, covering his face with his jacket .
Sophie ran toward Bunny crying, hiding her head in the Guardian's chest
"Pitch…I...I am so sorry, mate…" Bunnymund said with his ears plastered to his skull. He had been the only one here when this mess happened. Sophie had crossed the street and everything was fine, until the car appeared. Aster hadn't recognized the danger it represented, he hadn't fear for Sophie's safety till it was too late. And that was when the child ran.
Bunny couldn't believe it till now, Pitch had risked his life for Sophie's life, for a child. That-that…wouldn't have done it the-the monster he knew…
"I am sorry, mate…I-I was so wrong about you…" Bunny ran a paw through his hair softly, at first Pitch flinched with fear, but ended up accepting Aster's soft paw
The rest of the Guardians approached Pitch and didn't want to do anything more than hug him and not let go. Everyone felt guilty when they saw his arms, neck, and face burned, they didn't know how was the rest of his body, but fortunately the shadows were already helping him with his wounds.
"Pitch, son"
"Everything will be ok, buddy!"
"North! We have to take him to the Pole"
"Sorry for not being here, Pitch"
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett appeared and when they saw the wounded boy and Sophie crying, they thanked God that the other girls were inside looking for something.
"I am going to call an ambulance!" William said and everyone shouted. "NO!"
Sophie stopped crying in Bunny's chest and made her way through the guardians, kneeling next to Pitch, who had his eyes closed.
"Forgive me, Pitch! This-This is all my fault! I am such a fool! You are hurt because of me! It should have been me-" Pitch stopped her by taking her hand.
"Don't say that again, Sophie…how do you think I would let you get hurt? Hey…don't cry" Pitch lifted her face with his finger, wiping a tear from her cheeks softly. "I would do it one and thousands of times, if that means you will be safe…You know why?"
"…N-No"
"Because I love you…" Pitch said to his first believer, smiling slightly.
Sophie smiled brightly with eyes full of tears and hugged Pitch carefully, his shoulder wasn't bleeding anymore for being in the shadows, but he would be better inside.
"I love you too…" She told him, resting her head next to him and then kissing his cheek. "You are my hero..." She whispered and Pitch smiled.
The pain was totally worth it…
Please review! I love to see what you think of this! :D
Why do you think William can see the Guardians? The most creative answer wins a cookieeeee (::) Hahahaha
Till next chapter!