A/N:
Slang:
Scorcher = A really hot day
Court = I think in some places this might be referred to as a culdesac? It's just a dead-end street, usually rounded off to fit most cars turning circles.
Crossover Junkie: No way! What are the odds? I hope you're having a smashing time and the heatwave isn't getting to you. I don't think I've ever encountered an annoying yankee, but I'm sure you will be fine. If you really want to fit in, wear your flip-flops at all times and only refer to them as thongs. Enjoy! You know, I love that point in the movie because it's the first and only time Pitch allows himself to be vulnerable. I think that's what first captivated my attention. And I really like that: a human without love would be rare indeed.
Valentina knew she'd been cutting it fine to get to the North Pole on time, but hadn't realised it would be with only an hour to spare; the journey ended up being longer than she had allowed for. Upon her arrival she'd expected to be swept away by an all out pandemonium in anticipation of the clock counting down, but was perplexed to find the globe room floor mostly empty. The exceptions being three yetis attending to the control booth, pressing various buttons and typing in numbers.
For all it's tranquility though, somebody did remain. Unexpectedly, she was met with a fierce hug from Tooth that nearly knocked the wind out of her.
"You're here! You're ok!" the fairy cried out, squeezing Valentina affectionately. She returned it warmly before breaking away, comforted to know there was still someone that wasn't entirely displeased with her.
"Are you kidding, I couldn't stay away," she laughed.
"How did you get out, did Pitch try and stop you?" Tooth's brow was creased with worry, almost as though she expected the Boogeyman to leap out from the shadows and catch them by surprise. Granted, it wouldn't be the first time.
"No, we have an understanding. I chose to be there and I can choose to leave. Our deal still stands, but don't worry, apparently I'm exempt from his usual bargaining chips. If he doesn't like me bring here, well…" Valentina gave a nonchalant shrug. She didn't want to mention his intentions of disallowing her participation to Tooth, there was enough turbulence as it was and she didn't need her friend's concern for something that could be dealt with later. "I'll handle it. He knows everything about what I was planning now anyway."
Tooth exclaimed softly, searching her for any evidence of distress. "Did he hurt you?" she asked with a grave seriousness.
"What? No, of course not. I mean he was angry, but…" Valentina felt a drop in the pit of her stomach as guilt settled heavily upon her conscience, "…I think he felt betrayed."
Tooth brought a hand under her chin in thoughtful consideration. "That's strange. I would have expected him to lash out somehow. He's never relinquished the upper hand without a fight."
Despite their argument before she left (from which no one had actually emerged victorious), Valentina felt herself overcome with the need to defend the Boogeyman. "You know, at first I might have agreed, but he's not at all what I thought he was. Tooth, there is something good in him. I've seen it. He's remorseful, considerate. He's shown concern for me, what kind of monster could do that?" As Valentina tried to explain the enigma she had come to know, she became more convinced that the Guardians had a rather flawed perception of their nemesis. "When I confronted him about the witch hunts he said he regretted it, truly. I don't think he was lying."
Tooth frowned, exposing her misgivings. "I hear you, it just doesn't fit what I know of him. Whatever he's doing now is going against centuries of malice and destruction. People don't change easily, least of all someone like him." Tooth sighed. "I believe that he might have shown you some sort of kindness, but I've dealt with him for too long to be able to trust that he actually has good intentions for anyone else."
"No," Valentina agreed half-heartedly, "you're probably right." She understood the reasons for Tooth's trepidation, and even though her friend was showing immense patience by listening to her ramblings of someone she had every right to detest, she doubted Tooth's sympathies would stretch much further. Alternatively, Valentina was also able to discern the reason for Pitch's apparent uncharacteristic behaviour. She hadn't been wrong in saying he was capable of caring about someone other than himself. However, although he had been kind to her, Tooth was right, he would probably only do so for her. When she peered into his heart and saw the desires of the Nightmare King, at first she had only seen a begging for an end to his loneliness. But as they grew closer, she had observed that longing evolve. Eventually his desire for companionship had found a tangible fixation point: Her. When she became cognisant of his affections (and she could guess they would have been incredibly frustrating for Pitch to work through), she swore to herself that she would never confront him about it. He was too proud, she thought, to not become scornful of her prying. That, and she would have to deal with the possibility that she might have felt the same.
"I am going back though," Valentina informed Tooth firmly, not to be swayed in her decision to finish what she started.
Seeing the air of determination about her, Tooth made no objections. "I'm sure you know what you're doing. Just promise me you're being careful, he can be pretty unpredictable."
She gave the fairy a mischievous smile. "Would you believe me if I said I'm even more so?"
"Yes," Tooth nodded with a laugh, "I think I would. Now we need to go, it's almost midnight." She grabbed her by the hand and steered her toward the edge of the mezzanine.
"Oh yeah, where is everyone?" Valentina wondered, glancing around the empty space.
"They're all ready downstairs, and I think the presents should be just about loaded on to the sleigh." Tooth's wings began to flutter and she rose off the ground, but her ascent was wobbly and appeared to require a great deal of exertion, Valentina realised.
"Are you ok? You don't look so good."
"It's the kids," Tooth pointed to the globe, which looked bleak and desolate without its usual abundance of twinkling lights, "we've all sort of taken a hit since the Night-Mares got loose."
Valentina shot her a look of bewilderment. "Really? I feel fine."
Tooth smiled at her sadly. "You can't loose believers you've never had. It happened to Jack too. When we last began to lose our powers he was fine for the most part. This time he hasn't been so lucky."
Although Valentina knew what Tooth was saying was true and not intended to be a jab at her invisible status, it was still a bitter reminder of her own waking nightmare.
"You're the strongest one of us now, and we're going to need anything you've got. Don't let this be the night you underestimate yourself," Tooth encouraged her. Valentina nodded with a gulp and together they descended through the void, down to the workshop. "Oh, and one more thing," she added, "don't mention Pitch to the others."
"Val! Glad you could join us," North called in salutations as he slipped on his coat. "Get in, we have no time to lose."
Valentina cocked her head to the side as she assessed their travel arrangements. The sack of presents almost took up the entire sleigh, leaving very little standing room. Already Bunny, Sandy and Jack were invading each other's personal space and small fits of bickering ensued.
"Alright, I guess," she shrugged and hopped aboard anyway with Tooth hot on her heels. The others noticed her arrival curtly. Sandy was the more welcoming of the three, but Bunny could not seem to shake his suspicions and regarded her with a narrow gaze.
"You took your time," he said coolly.
"I got caught up. It looks like I just made it though, so no harm done," she replied brightly.
Bunny scoffed. "Yeah, we'll see."
After a countdown to midnight that would have been more far more thrilling had it not been dampened by a general unease, the sleigh was pulled through its launch tunnels by North's eight reindeer, still going strong despite the weakened condition the Guardians were in. With Christmas having finally begun, they dashed away into the night.
Their first stop was New Zealand. Although they quickly dropped presents to other smaller pacific islands, this was the first instance where they had to actually disembark the sleigh. In the capital of Wellington the streets were quiet, allowing them to land inconspicuously in a nearby park. They all more or less tumbled out on to the grass, stretching after being cramped up just a bit too long.
Wasting no time, North reached into the red sack and tossed five smaller bags at each of them.
"Delivering presents is simple. The bag knows present needed for each child. When you reach in and find one, it will be correct. Takes care of mistakes so job can be done quickly, yes?" he explained enthusiastically, waving a sword around much too freely for the fact that it had a sharp blade. But he could be forgiven, it was his night and to say he was excited would be an understatement. The same could not be said for the rest of them, experiencing a tension in their dynamic that North was oblivious to. Valentina had a sinking feeling she was to blame. Swallowing her pride, she turned to speak to Bunny, Jack and Sandy.
"I know you guys don't trust me, and I am really sorry that things have become so messed up. But please believe me when I say that I am on your side and that I was just trying to get to the bottom of all this. I might have some opinions you don't agree with but I'm here to help in any way I can. Bunny, I swore to you I would do everything in my power to make you proud, and you have no idea how much your support meant to me. Please, do you think you could give me another chance?" She was careful not to reference Pitch explicitly, like Tooth advised, and she was glad she didn't.
While Sandy had given her a kind nod of approval, the pooka softened ever so slightly and instead of arguing, sighed wearily. "I'm sorry too, I suppose you did what you had to." He also refused to be explicit. "Doesn't mean I agree. You just have to understand that we're hanging on by a thread here. We need this win."
"I know," she assured him. "Jack, you're angry at me because you care so much about Tooth and I get that, but-"
"Woah, hang on," he cut her off with eyes wide, glancing over his shoulder at the unsuspecting fairy. "Do you mind?" he pleaded in a harsh whisper.
She couldn't help but laugh at his panicked state. "Seriously?" She bit back a snicker and chewed a finger in amusement at the frost spirit.
"Is that what this is about?" The pooka slapped a paw to his forehead. "Jeez, I though there was something weird going on with you two."
"It's nothing," he denied a bit too forcefully, then to Valentina he grumbled, "thanks, now I'm never gonna hear the end of it."
"Nah, never." Bunny rubbed his paws together, beside himself with glee. It might have been Christmas, but for him, Easter had come early.
"Ignore him, Jack," Valentina laughed, "and don't worry, she likes you too. Although I think she's going to kill me for telling you that."
He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her closer to whisper as though it were life or death. "Did she say that?"
Valentina tapped the side of her nose with a smile. "Trust me, I always know." She heard him chuckle to himself and thought she could spy him blushing slightly in the dim light. "Think you can forgive me?" she asked hopefully.
Jack nodded with an amicable one armed hug. "Yeah, you're alright Val. I don't have you figured out yet, but you're alright."
"Well, you'd be the first if you did," she dead-panned.
"Are we ready?" North called to them jubilantly. With their bags in hand they replied with a newfound enthusiasm. Having a sense of common ground had reenergised them and the Guardians were rearing to go.
"Just remind me," Jack interrupted, "we're doing this quickly, right?"
"As fast as possible," North clarified informatively before catching sight of Jack's mischievous grin. Beneath his white beard, his lips curled into a smile. "Ah…"
Jack elbowed Bunny. "Bet I can get more presents out than you."
"You reckon?" the Pooka laughed humourlessly. "Mate, I'd like to see you try."
North chortled at their bravado. "Please, you are all dealing with expert."
"It's a race? Oh, I'm definitely going to be faster than all of you," Valentina chimed.
"I don't think so," Tooth interjected with a smirk.
"And what makes you so sure?" Jack asked her with a cocky grin.
"Because Sandy's already beaten you to it," she said simply.
They ceased their trash-talk and looked up to find the Sandman speeding off into the distance with a cheery smile and a smug little wave, leaving them all well and truly in the dust. With cries of outrage they scrambled after him.
"He's bolted, that bloody cheat!" Bunny yelled as they ran.
The Guardians, by nature, were all highly competitive, and it wasn't long before they had raced all over town, leaving something for each child to find the next morning. As they traversed through the country and then onto the island continent of Australia, the stakes were raised. North eventually employed the use of his sleigh full-time, happily kicking them out when they reached a new destination. From the high rise apartments and canal-side homes of the Gold Coast, all the way down the east coast to reach the sprawling suburbs of Melbourne, the banter continued.
"Just give up, mate, I'm ahead by a long shot and I'm on home turf," Bunny called to Jack as he disappeared down one hole and reappeared a few houses away. The winter spirit flew to catch up, launching himself off trees and parked cars.
"If it wasn't so hot, you would be eating my dirt right now," Jack complained. None of them had ever been above petty tricks to slow their opponents down, and he'd tried to lay a harmless trap - a slip'n'slide of icy road - for the rabbit as he tore down a street, but found that his frost simply melted into a puddle with the bitumen still warm from the heat of the day.
"Welcome to my world," Bunny said smugly. "Shame you're not feeling too frosty, I reckon they'd thank you. These poor buggers are gonna be in for a scorcher tomorrow."
Meanwhile, the others were on a roll. Tooth, with her experience in leaving money for children, found the giving of gifts a piece of cake. So quick was she, that North was almost beaten at his own job, finding several trees already abundant with gifts, much to his annoyance. Sandy and Valentina, on the other hand, were engaged in a friendly competition, racing one and other on opposite sides of each street to see who could get through their line of houses the quickest. As the night went on and they reached more children, they had begun to feel better, stronger. Believed in. Strangely though, they were yet to run into any particular trouble with the Night-Mares. It was tough to determine if that was promising or if there was something more menacing afoot to be weary of.
"Really, again?" Valentina cried in dismay when she found Sandy with his bag slung casually over his shoulder, waiting after another round. "How are you doing this?"
The dreamweaver just shrugged with a smirk.
"Ok, this time I'm getting a head start," she said, and was just about to fly off again, when she sensed that something wasn't quite right. She remained rooted to the spot, trying to source the disturbance. Sandy noticed and approached with a large question mark suspended above his head.
"I don't know," she replied, "I've got a strange feeling."
They had found themselves in a court, with houses facing in toward the circular dead-end. As she scanned the facades of each one, she zeroed in on a single story, weatherboarded house, with a well manicured front lawn. As she stared at it, she felt something from inside it emitting an energy that beckoned her closer. In a trace-like state she gravitated towards it. Sandy followed, trying to steal her attention by waving a hand in her face. But she took no notice, completely entranced by the calling. Across the yard she walked, rounding the side of the house and stopping in front of a window that looked into the room of a child. There, she found what she sought.
"Thomas, I'm not going to ask again, it's two in the morning. Go to bed or you won't find any presents from Santa tomorrow." A mother, who spoke with an accented twang similar to Bunny's (though not quite as pronounced), was scolding her son for still being awake on Christmas Eve, but this troublesome child would not have a bar of her reprimand.
"No! I'm not tired," he all but yelled at his exhausted mother, throwing a fit. "You can't tell me what to do!"
"Oh yes I can." She picked up the boy, who looked to be about five, and tried to place him in his bed. But Thomas refused to go quietly and kicked out at the poor woman violently, screaming as he did so. Ordinarily, Valentina would have been horrified that one child could be so beastly, but she was far more engrossed by the seething rage that he exuded, which captivated something sinister within her.
Sandy was beside her, observing the astounding display with a frown. He was ready to knock the child out with one of his dreams, but a rustling in the bushes distracted him. He glanced around behind them to find nothing out of the ordinary. Despite a growing unease, he focused on the matter at hand just in time to hear the boy's enraged out-burst.
"No! No you can't! I won't. I hate you! I HATE YOU!" he wailed. His mother looked incredibly hurt by his irrational remarks and tired from interrupted sleep. That was enough, thought Sandy. He sent a golden ribbon of sand into the room which hit the boy instantly. He tired quickly and within a minute he had settled into bed, much to the bemusement of his mother, still rubbing her hip from where she'd been kicked. With her child finally asleep, she clumsily slapped the light switch off and closed the door, yawning as she left.
The issue had been resolved for the most part, and Sandy made to leave but realised Valentina would not budge. Her hand was pressed up against the pane, her nose mere inches form the glass, and there was a dark expression on her face that unsettled him. He tugged her away from the window and she followed, but in a daze, not quite her self anymore. The further they away from the house they got, the more she seemed to return to normal. Sandy placed his hands on his hips and stared up at her to interrogate.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what that was," she said, shaking her head slightly as though trying to clear it of fogginess. He grimaced in concern.
"I'm fine, really. Come on we've still got plenty of work to do," she pressed.
In reality, Valentina was not fine, and she knew more than she was letting on. The boy's outburst had triggered a reaction that she'd had to fight consciously against. The same one, she now realised, that had consumed her before she'd left Pitch. Only this time, having emerged on the other side without slipping away entirely, she was able to retain her awareness and her memories. This thing inside her hungered for that loathing, that hatred she witnessed. It was like a drug, the more she got, the more she needed. She only hoped that she could restrain herself long enough to get through the the next twenty or so hours. She was already skating on the thin ice of their trust. Somehow, she didn't think she'd make it, and ignoring the problem wasn't going to make it any easier.
"Sandy?"
The dream weaver halted and turned around to face her.
"Maybe I'm not so great," she said, wringing her hands anxiously. Truly confused, Sandy's question mark had returned, flashing incessantly in need of some answers.
"Whatever happens tonight, please don't think poorly of me," she pleaded. In uncertainty he held one of her hands in both of his and patted it comfortingly, not sure what to make of her strange confession.
Down the road, the rest of their assembly had appeared, and the Sandman was ever so grateful to see them.
"There they are!" North announced to the others when he spotted them under the cold, white illumination of the singular streetlight. They hurried to meet each other. "What are you waiting for? We have many houses left."
Sandy tried to explain as best he could that something was wrong with Valentina and that he was worried about her. North eyed her with some trepidation.
"Val, how are you feeling?" he called over to her.
"Um, fine. I think."
North wasn't the least bit convinced. She was rubbing her forehead and her brow was creased in what looked like frustration. What they couldn't see was what Valentina was being awoken to: A world where only the most bitter, resentful feelings existed. She was fine-tuned to receive hatred of children who shouldn't have known such contempt, resentment that infested their dreams and destroyed their good thoughts. This was definitely something new, and in retrospect she couldn't help but think that perhaps she should have heeded Pitch's warning. She wanted more, needed more. Resisting the pull was futile, but a small, distant voice of reason told her that she had to stay grounded somehow, thus her panic at the thought of once again losing control increased tenfold. Through her mind's upheaval, she was cognisant of one thing; they were being watched. She felt a foreboding pickling on the back of her neck.
"She's not fine," Valentina heard Tooth decide, and felt hands leading her away from where she stood. It was as though she wasn't quite connected to her own body. She was aware but not present and in a disassociated stupor, realised that they were no longer alone.
Night-Mares appeared from out of the shadows, racing into the open court and encircling the group. There was nowhere to run and their only exit from the dead-end was blocked. The Night-Mares were just as aggressive as ever. They separated Valentina from Tooth, dragging her away and swarming relentlessly around the confused spirit.
"No! Leave her alone," the fairy screamed and fought the beasts off her friend, armed with only her dagger and a fierce protectiveness. The others raced to her aid and attacked the dark horses with as much effort as they could muster. Although they were able to destroy most of them, it was to no avail, the damage was done. As the remaining few dispersed, the Guardians got their first good look at the monster that stood in the Guardian of Love's place.
Power. Intoxicating, electrifying power coursed through Valentina's veins, sizzling at her fingertips. Except, she wasn't Valentina. Not anymore. That mess of a girl was gone. She felt this was her true form, what she was supposed to be all along.
"Val!"
She was made aware of the fact that she had an audience, something momentarily forgotten in her euphoria. The fairy had been the first to wail that name.
"Don't call me that," she spat in detestation. Examining the group before her, it was as though she was seeing the Guardians for the first time. Beloved and believed, they had everything she'd ever desired, and she despised each of them for it. She was filled with jealousy, wanting nothing more than to shatter their hopes into tiny, irreparable pieces. It had taken until now for her to see that while she had been forced to suffer though an eternity of isolation and ingratitude, these glorified spirits were worshiped by the world, with little care for anyone else until they required something.
"Such a shame," she began threateningly, "that all your efforts tonight will go to waste."
The rabbit riled up instantly. "What the bloody hell is going on?" he demanded. "I thought you were helping us!"
"You thought." She chuckled mirthlessly. "Yes, you all assume a lot, don't you? Take it for granted that every being under the sun is subject to your fanciful whims. Well, I am done being just another of the Man in the Moon's henchmen."
"Val, you don't mean that," the white haired boy cried, "what's wrong with her?"
"What did I say about that name?" she screeched.
"It's not her, it's not Val," the fairy assured the others. "It can't be."
"The little bird is right," she agreed with a wicked grin. With a commanding wave of her hand, the black sand of Night-Mares thought to be destroyed swirled and reformed into the terrifying horses, under the command of a new mistress.
"You're mine now," she whispered to the two nickering mares, petting their muzzles as they nudged her.
"What are you, the new Pitch?" the oaf of a rabbit dared to ask.
"Oh no, I'm so much more than that. Do you really still think he's the one behind all this?" she sneered.
"And you are?" the rabbit yelled, starting toward her. He drew to his full hight, and would have been intimidating to anyone else, but not her.
"No, but I'll gladly take it from here," she smiled venomously. Her line of vision shifted suddenly as something caught her eye. A little person ambled across the front lawn of the weatherboarded house she spied into earlier. The boy called Thomas had been roused despite the dreamweaver's efforts.
"Oh dear," she exclaimed in mock dismay, "what have you all done? Awoken a child on Christmas, how negligent."
Thomas rubbed sleep from his eyes and blinked at the strange scene. "I heard voices shouting," he grumbled tiredly.
The Guardians exchanged quick, remorseful looks and Jack was the first to approach him, crouching to match his height. "Hey, kid. We're really sorry we woke you, but you should be in bed, not out here."
"Not tired," he refuted with the stubbornness of a mule, and crossed his arms over his chest with a huff.
"Sure you're not," he sighed. "Okay, you see that guy over there in the red?" The frost spirit pointed to North. "That's Santa Clause and he's working really hard to give all children their presents tonight. That includes you too, buddy, but it only works if you're in bed and asleep," he explained in a rush, trying to get him out of the vicinity as quickly as possible.
Thomas' eyes lit up when he realised just who North was. "Santa?" he breathed. "That's Santa? I-" The boy was interrupted as a Night-Mare galloped past and knocked him off his feet.
The Guardians looked past him to find her glowering at the interaction. She wiggled her fingers with a devious raise of her eyebrow, informing them that it was she who had commanded the horse to run.
"I..." From the ground where he sat, Thomas' impression of enchantment turned to one of disgust. "I... I hate Santa Clause!" he spat at the big man. She observed with mirth the instant effect this utterance had. North looked completely shocked, as though he'd been slapped in the face. As the scene unfolded, a hypothesis formed in her mind. Perhaps, just maybe, there was a chance the boy would believe in her instead. He only needed a hint of persuasion…
"Where did he go?" Thomas wondered without any real urgency.
An arrow materialised in her hand as she summoned it from from her quiver. Retrieving the bottle of blood-red potion from her person, she doused the weapon with some of its contents.
"He doesn't believe in North anymore!" the fairy cried and with a horrified gasp, noticed her taking aim at the innocent boy.
"On Christmas Eve too!" she cackled. "How terribly awful, that simply won't do."
"No, it won't," said a voice from the shadows.
The Guardians gaped at Pitch Black with a mixture of fear and loathing. He proceeded calmly, not intending to spook them, although really, he wouldn't be surprised if they overreacted. But he wasn't there to spite them, not today at least.
"Pitch!" North roared in a rage, "You have stooped too low this time." He raised both swords threateningly, daring the Boogeyman to come any closer. "You will not ruin Christmas, I will not allow!"
"Oh, I would, if I truly wanted to. But you're quite right," he sneered, "I couldn't care less about your pathetic little endeavours this evening. That's not why I'm here."
"Pitch Black, just who I wanted to see," Valentina beckoned, still holding the bow and arrow aloft. He maintained an even gait as he approached her, but could hardly believe his eyes. This woman, if she could be called that, was but a shell of the Valentina he knew. She bore a slight resemblance in appearance beneath cold eyes and ashen skin, but the warmth of her fiery personality ceased to exist within this thing that pulsated with the intention of grievous harm. He wanted so badly to do something, anything that would bring her back, but her potential for instability called for caution.
"What did I tell you, he's turned her against us. We should never have trusted her!" The pooka raised his boomerangs, taking aim at the two foreboding figures.
Pitch rolled his eyes in exasperation and failed to bite back the snide remarks on the tip of tongue. "Rabbit, do something intelligent for the first time in your life and refrain from throwing those things," he snapped. He turned his attention back to the contemptuous demon in front of him and was aware that the unsuspecting boy was in immediate danger.
"Valentina. Might I ask you to lower your weapon?" he calmly requested. "It's a bit of over-kill, wouldn't you agree? He might be a brat, but he appears fairly harmless."
"Don't call me that," she said with a scowl. Yet, she dropped her aim, albeit begrudgingly.
"What on earth are you doing with my Night-Mares?" he enquired equably.
"They're not yours, darling, they're mine." She walked towards him with an air of triumph, closing the distance between them. "These Night-Mares are much more to me than the embodiment of corrupted dreams."
He raised his brow in surprise. "What makes them so special?"
"You were down in that hole a long time, and your sand has evolved. It's… suggestible to my influence" she alluded, but wouldn't explain any more. "I must say, I'm surprised to see you after our little spat. Still, I won't deny I'm pleased you're here," she said with a simper.
"And why is that?"
"I'm in need of some assistance, and I think we could help each other." Her words echoed the manner in which he had conducted their initial bargain and he almost laughed in spite of himself at how the tables had turned.
"If you help me take them down, I will be your Queen, my Nightmare King," she said with a purr that sent a shiver of desire though him. Edging closer, she continued. "That's what you want, isn't it?" She trailed a light finger down the front of his chest, biting her lower lip as she leered up at him. "Them out of the way, and me by your side?"
It was exactly what he wanted and it took every ounce of his strength to not become enamoured by the vision. He needed to maintain a level head.
"You make a compelling offer," he considered smoothly, "I have to ask though, if you refuse to be called Valentina, who are you?"
She chuckled darkly. "Haven't you guessed? I'm the contempt you feel for those wretched Guardians, I'm the self-loathing people grapple with everyday. I'm the rebellion in children that compels deplorable behaviour, and I'm the grudge that's held long after the betrayal. I am hatred, incarnate," she revealed with a malicious cackle, "and darling, what could go together better than fear and hate?"
There were indeed very few things that could be paired so fittingly, and fewer still that could truly strike terror into the heart of Pitch Black, but the thought of Valentina being replaced by her sadistic alter ego was enough to do so.
"A fascinating proposition," he reflected with a quiet intimacy, "you're right, I do want those things very much." He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, and cupped her chin in his hand, holding her gaze in his steely one. She stared at him hungrily, a fiendish smile playing on her dark lips.
"There's just one tiny detail you've missed," he whispered.
Her triumphant expression faltered.
"I want them with Valentina, and as you've made it abundantly clear, you're not her."