Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Rise of the Guardians except for any and all OCs.
This chapter has heavy Guardian bashing, but I gave the excuse of the "foils of the youth"
BEWARE: This may have a TRIGGER! Thought it best to say so now.
Previously on ODF:
"We'll work on your language skills at another time but for now..." murmured Pitch as he tilted Merith's face towards him and claimed those succulent lips with his own, enjoying the spark of hope and desire that lit up those verdant green eyes. Pitch's last conscious thoughts before he became lost in the sensations were that he would never be alone again. As they continued, Merith opened his mouth to deepen the kiss.
Oh yes, he definitely wouldn't be alone again.
Time Skip (6 years)
The Annual Spirits Celebration was the one big event that most, if not all spirits looked forward to every year on New Year's. It was a night of peace and truce, when spirits from all over the world; no matter who or what their job. It was the night for relaxation, gossip, and just having a good time as they announced the beginning of a new year. But, the talk of that night as it had been the past few years, was of The Couple.
Ever since those two had been together, due to many of the misconceptions about their roles in the spirit world, many had warily watched and waited for the end. Having two powerful spirits immersed in the darkness together, with what seemed to be a hatred for children didn't seem very wise to many, including the four young Guardians. Those concerns seemed unnecessary and silly over the years at the stunning chemistry between the two; the tenderness, love, and devotion in their every movement and expression could be nothing but genuine, definitely not the emotions truly evil spirits could display. This year, whatever doubts remained were wiped away when Pitch walked into the room with a heavily pregnant Merith on his arms, both practically beaming with parental pride and joy.
However, some spirits, including one group in particular, despised the thought of Merith and Pitch's bond and pregnancy. One of the most vocal in their dislike for the couple was the Big Four, the main chosen Guardians selected by the Man in Moon to protect the children. Being the youngest of the spirits at around 50 years of age, (since Merith had been destined to be a spirit and Guardian way before them) they still largely held the prejudices of mankind, that of same genders bonding and males conceiving. Another reason for their irritation at the announcement of the baby was that the baby would be born stronger and with two centers. Babies born of spirits are already naturally stronger than the average spirit, but with both parents being gifted by MiM guaranteed two cores. Spirits chosen by MiM like Merith and Pitch were gifted with a center connected to an emotion or ideal held strongly by all of mankind, like North's center of Wonder or Sandy's center of Dreams. And since Merith was a favorite of MiM, and Pitch was one of the strongest spirits, the chances were high that this child would be twice as strong.
That was the main reason North was grumbling lowly in Russian while frowning deeply in their direction. Tooth was fluttering about with a sneer of disgust disfiguring her pretty face as Sandy merely shook his head in disapproval. The usually hot headed E. Aster Bunnymund was merely watching the couple, arms crossed and face unreadable. They kept an eye on the couple throughout the night prepared for confronting the two.
Later that evening
"No."
"Please Koz, just one sip. I'm thirsty."
"You're pregnant. Alcohol is bad for you and the baby, so my answer is still no."
"But Kozzie I'm thirsty and they haven't served anything but alcoholic drinks all night, and since you refuse to leave and get me water or trust anyone else to, I'm going to get dehydrated." pouted Merith up at his husband, adding teary eyes for increased effect.
Pitch avoided looking in his direction in a desperate attempt to avoid caving into the demands of his six-month pregnant husband.
"Kozzie, you wouldn't want me to suffer from dehydration, right?" said Merith sweetly as narrowed green eyes focused intently on Pitch.
"Of course not, but-"
"But nothing." declared Merith. "The party is practically over and everyone is gone. The only reason we're still here is I need to rest a bit before we go, plenty of time for you to safely leave and get some water." The or else was clear.
He audibly gulped at the unspoken threat and trying to subtly back away from the intimidating figure of the other male with a baby bump, swollen ankles resting elevated upon another chair, and the absolutely terrifying death glare fixated upon him. Inwardly stating his absolute lack of fear towards his husband in any way, shape or form, Pitch bravely opened his mouth to give a firm no.
"Of course my love. You know that I hate to see you suffer in such a way."
Well, he never said he was the brave one.
Sighing in relief at the beaming smile the raven-haired sent his way, he gave a brief kiss to his husband's cheek as well as the proudly protruding belly that held his unborn child.
"Papa will be back soon little one, so be good for Mommy." And with that, Pitch slipped into the shadows before Merith could do more than blink.
"Not mommy, I'm a male dammit!" yelled Merith rather uselessly into the empty room.
"That only makes this situation even more freakish and unnatural."
Padding out into the light crouched Bunnymund as he scowled menacingly at a frowning Merith who was slowly wobbling off his chair.
"It's bad enough that two child-hating, dark spirits are together, even more so because they're both male. But to unnaturally conceive a creature you would dare call a child, it's- it's- it's just…"
"Revolting!" finished Tooth as she swooped out from behind Bunnymund, North and Sandy following behind her.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, the other spirits will never say it out of their fear, but this convoluted affair between you and Pitch is quite frankly, disgusting. It'd be a relief to everyone if you would cease your actions at once. And when you do that, getting rid of that demon spawn shall be next, men should never be birthing, especially when the sire is someone as atrocious and vile as Pitch Black."
"Really?"
Dark killer intent dripped like poison from those two syllables as sharp green eyes pierced the four with their scrutiny.
"If anyone should be ashamed, you four best look in a mirror. How dare you say such degrading and insulting things about my family! What fucking gives you the right to threaten the well-being of my child, my choice in husband? And saying this straight to my face when I'm alone, cowards the lot of you! If this is what it means to be a Guardian, I don't want to be one anymore." yelled Merith as he rubbed a hand over his stomach to soothe the slightly agitated baby within.
"You are not Guardian, you merely gained MiM's pity. You are baby-killer, not child protector." bellowed North as he smoothly pulled out his two swords from his scabbards, pointing them threateningly at Merith.
"Thus, we must dispose of either you or demon spawn. Both works as well."
Without a second of hesitation, North lunged at Merith with the intention to gut, only to be blocked by a deadly scythe. Frowning in concentration, Merith backed up and prodded North with the butt of the scythe, already focusing on Tooth in an attempt to slice her wings.
'Damnit, of course Guardians decide to attack when I'm alone and vulnerable. The link between my familiars or Pitch will take up too much concentration, and they're all too far away; knowing Pitch, he probably went to find the freshest water possible straight from Antarctica, so now I have to stall until he gets here. Lucky for me that they all prefer fighting with short range weapons, except for that bloody-" ducking the boomerang that whizzing past his ear "-boomerang! As long as I keep them at a distance it should be less stressful on my body.'
Even as he was thinking, Merith knew he was running out of time, fast. His pregnant body was highly unsuited to fighting and his own offensive style would leave his unborn child vulnerable therefore forcing him to be stuck on the defensive with his scythe.
Slashing and defending against his attackers, Merith was aiming to maim or seriously injure (Dobby!) as he started moving away from his wall, hoping to keep pushing until he found an opening to escape successfully. He decided to accomplish this with a little magic, though it wouldn't be enough to make them aware of his hidden ability nor deplete the magic feeding his baby. Merith was focused so much on the implementation of his plan and the hassle of fighting with North, Tooth, and Bunny simultaneously, he never noticed Sandy forming and aiming a golden whip of sand slightly behind him in his blind spot.
AN: Self-edited 9 July 2016