Pitch

I stared after Toothiana, unsurely, pondering over her words. A family? That's all I ever wanted. But the Guardians are not. Toothiana, however…

A scream echoed through my lair, drawing my attention, instantly. I knew who it belonged to immediately and hurried through my lair, to the exit. I looked up, worriedly, as Toothiana screamed again.

"Put me down, now!" She cried, swatting at her captures. I stared at the cloaked figures as they took her arms. Her head dropped, weakly, as her protests silenced. That was all the motivation I needed.

"You heard her," I frowned, "Put her down."

The captures turned to me, their red eyes glowing in their cloaks, "Pitch Black…" One hissed, "Do not involve yourself in matters that do not concern you." It croaked, hoarsely.

I clicked my fingers, making my nightmares appear, beside me, "Put her down." I ordered, sharply.

They glanced at my nightmares before dropping her to the ground, where she laid still. "We'll be back. You can't protect her forever." The other one growled, before they flew away quickly.

I knelt beside Toothiana, rolling her onto her back, "Are you alright?" I asked, softly.

She opened her eyes, slowly and nodded, "I'll survive." She smiled, weakly. "Thank you."

Her eyes fell shut again, as though she were sleeping. I picked her up, carefully, despite the sun's rays weakening me and climbed onto my nightmare, holding her close. We'd better get her back to North. He'll take care of her.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" Frost cried, flying over to me, quickly. "Oh God, Tooth!"

"Shh," I hissed, as she flinched, "We need to take her to North. Are you coming?" I asked, gagging mentally.

Frost frowned at me, confused at my politeness. "Sure… how do I know you're taking her to North?"

"You could carry her, if it'll make you feel better." I offered, holding her closer, as she shivered.

He looked down at Toothiana, before looking back at me, "Let's go," He sighed, looking behind us. "Wind, take us to North!" He called, causing a large gust of wind to push us into the air.

I stroked her feathered cheek lightly, as I looked down at her. You can't protect her forever. The voice snarled. Her small form trembled slighlty and she leaned closer. I frowned, looking up, we'll see about that.

0o0o0o0o

I barged past the Yetis, as they protested to me being at the workshop. But I merely snarled at them, causing them to back away, nervously. I jumped down from the railing and landed beside North, making him jump. He blinked, surprised by my reappearance and glanced down, as Toothiana moved.

"What happened?" He frowned, taking her from me and placing her on a sofa, carefully.

"I don't know," I told him, quickly, my eyes glued to her. "There were these two cloaked people and they were trying to take her."

"Let me guess, you saved her life," Bunnymund scoffed, hopping to Toothiana's side.

It's not that hard to believe. "I scared them off," I frowned at him, "But they said they'd be back. You need to keep an eye on her. I am not sure who they are but they won't give up easily."

"Thank you, Pitch," North nodded to me, politely. "But what were you doing at Tooth Palace?"

I looked up at him, confused, "I wasn't at the palace. I was in Burgess. Toothiana found my lair and was trying to convince me to join you." I told him, making him frown, "She didn't tell you where she was going?" Why am I surprised? Toothiana would never had told them about her desperation to make me join them. I don't blame her.

"No, she told us she was going to her Palace." Bunny told me, sharply, before looking up at North, "She'll be okay. She lost a lot of energy but she'll sleep it off. Sandy?"

I looked down at Sandy, as he pushed past me, balling up his sand, and sprinkled it over her. I smiled, slightly, as teeth floated above her head, a smile appearing on his petite face. Sandy turned to me and frowned, a clock appearing above his head, as he crossed his arms.

I felt my smile fall, as I realised what he meant and shook my head, "No." I said simply. Sandy's eyes widened and sand puffed from his ears, exasperatedly. I sighed, "Look, I know you don't like me but I'm not leaving yet."

"Why not?" North asked, curiously.

I shrugged, looking up at him, "Because no one here knows what these things look like. How are you supposed to protect her from them?"

They all stared at me, a puzzled expression on each of their faces. North glanced at the other guardians, before looking back at me, "You want to protect her?"

I frowned at him, impatiently, "What's so surprising, North? We've known each other for centuries."

"But you tried to kill her," Frost pointed out, floating down from the ledge. "Sorry I'm late. I had to calm down the Yetis."

"I didn't try to kill her," I said, defensively.

"You did," Frost nodded, sitting on his staff, "When you took her fairies. The children stopped believing in her." Oh.

I glanced at Toothiana, regretfully and nodded, "I took her fairies but it wouldn't have killed her. She would've just been invisible like I am, like you were." I explained, looking at him, irritated.

"So, you didn't want to kill her?" He narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully, "And now you want to protect her from these things? Why?"

I shrugged, unsurely, returning his suspicious glare. What was he insinuating? "I don't know." I muttered, before freezing. "Something's wrong." I said, quickly, looking around the workshop.

"There's a lot of things wrong," Bunny agreed, "Like the fact Manny thinks you're a Guardian."

I ignored his comment and frowned, "No, I mean, there's something here."

They fell silent, watching me curiously, as I listened for a sound. A small hiss echoed through the room, almost inaudibly. Bunny perked his ears up, clearly able to hear it too. "What was that?"

I hushed him and turned to the direction the sound came from. I squinted through the sun, as a figure appeared outside the window, above the Globe. "They're back," I told them, quickly, making my black-sand scythe appear in my hand. "Take Toothiana into that room," I told Frost, pointing to the room, they'd kept me in. "And stay with her."

Frost nodded, picking up Toothiana and carrying her into the room, quickly. I looked up as the window shattered. Cloaked figures flew in, laughing madly. They looked down at me and gave an impatient sigh, "Did we not make ourselves clear, Pitch Black?"

"Did I not make myself clear?" I growled, clicking my fingers again. My nightmares neighed at my sides, eagerly staring at the floating figures. "Leave her alone."

They laughed, simultaneously, "Do you really think we'd give up that easily?"

"No, that's why I'm here." I told them, simply. "You won't get her."

"Oh, I see," One of them chuckled, turning to the others, "He loves the Tooth Fairy." I felt my entire body go cold at their words, as they began to laugh. I felt the other Guardians look at me, curiously, but ignored them.

"Leave or else!" I hissed, my anger rising as my secret was revealed. Great. Now the Guardians know how I feel. What if they tell Toothiana? I panicked, my breathing quickening. My nightmares whinied beside me, knowingly, but I forced myself to focus on the creatures, pretending that I had made my nightmares growl on purpose; as though attemptingt to scare them away.

"Well, I suppose we could always come back another time," The one that had revealed my secret said, "I think your friends want to speak with you. Let's go." He called, as they all flew out, laughing again.

I evaporated my scythe and sighed, walking over to the room, where Jack and Toothiana waited. I knocked on the door, softly, "You can bring her out now, Frost."

The door opened and Frost appeared, carrying Toothiana, who still slept, peacefully. I nodded to him, gratefully, before walking back to the other Guardians. "Any ideas on what those things were?" I asked, hopefully.

They continued to stare at me, as though I had grown two heads. I frowned at them, "What?"

"Were they telling the truth?" Bunnymund asked, hesitantly, his eyes flickering to Toothiana then to me.

I laughed, shortly, shaking my head, "Don't be ridiculous," I said, quickly. "That's outrageous. I'm surprised you believe it. I mean, seriously, I-"

"Alright, mate," He held up his paws, "A simple no would've been plenty."

I nodded, sighing mentally. Thank the moon. I thought, relieved. I looked over at North as he gave me a look. "So what do you think they were?" I asked, hurriedly. "And why do they want Toothiana?"

North narrowed his eyes, as I said her name but simply shrugged, "I have never seen one of them before. And I know all immortals."

"Maybe they are working for someone," I offered, glancing at the broken window. "They would've attacked if they were here on their own accord. Obviously the person they work for doesn't want anyone to know who they are."

"Pitch has good point," North said, before frowning, "Never thought those words would come out of my mouth."

"Never thought I'd hear those words," Bunnymund chuckled, "But I suppose it could be true. Maybe we should look through the immortal's book. See if anyone is known to have flying monkeys. Then we'll find out why they want Tooth."

"Do mind if I stay?" I asked, hesitantly. "I mean, if it's uncomfortable for you guys. I know she's safe with you and you've seen them now."

North shook his head, smiling softly, "You can stay. We need all help we can get. But would you mind if I spoke with you?" He asked, already walking away.

I gave Toothiana one last look before hurrying after him, silently. I followed him to his office, walking in ahead of him, glancing around intrigued. "You always did enjoy your sculptures." I muttered, turning as he slammed the door. Here we go again.

He frowned at me, crossing his heavily tattooed arms across his large gut. "So, they were lying?"

I shrugged, wandering around his office, forcing myself to seem unbothered.

"Pitch," North sighed, softly, making me look over at him. He met my eyes, a strange sadness in them, "After all these years?"

I dropped my eyes, rolling my shoulders again. Of course. Why would I have stopped? She was the one person who understood me. I thought, sadly.

"Does she know?" He asked, making me look up, quickly.

"There is nothing to know," I snapped, weakly, "As long as she is safe, nothing else matters."

He smiled, nodding, "Oh, how terrific. You do care."

I frowned, shaking my head, "No, of course not." I lied, glancing out the window. "Look, I'm tired and the sun is not helping. I'm going to go check on Toothiana." I told him, moving for the door.

"That's another thing," He said, stopping me. "Why you use her full name? Nobody does that."

"Well they should. It's beautiful." I said, automatically. I felt my eyes widen and shook my head, as North's smile grew. "I did not say that. You have no proof." I said, quickly, hurrying out of his office.

This isn't important. Just focus on keeping her safe.