Pitch
"This is not fun, not fun at all," I muttered, clutching the seat tightly as North drove the sleigh.
"It'll get better," Bunny told me, though his face was green.
"Why couldn't I just take my nightmares?" I asked, weakly.
"It's daytime, Pitch," North called, "You'd pass out before you even got close to Tooth's Palace."
I hissed, as we exited the cave, the sunlight burning my eyes. "Good point," I gasped, holding my hand up, to block out the sun.
"Tooth Palace," North said, throwing a snow globe ahead of us.
A group of colourful swirling lines appeared, surrounding us. The scene changed immediately to the Tooth Palace. "So that's how you got around so fast." I noted, impressed. "There she is!" I said, abruptly, pointing down at the Palace.
North landed the sleigh behind her, skilfully. I jumped out and hurried to her side, glancing around, "Where are the fairies?"
"Monkeys," Toothiana whispered, weakly. "They took all of them."
"We'll get them back," I promised, helping her to her feet. "Let's get you out of here."
She stopped, turning around, her eyes wide, "Maharajah…" She gasped, looking around quickly, "Where are you? Show yourself!"
I looked at the Guardians, curiously, but they shrugged, looking around. "Who's Maharajah?" I asked, looking down at her.
"I am," I turned quickly, pulling Toothiana back, as I spotted the monkey man. "Though not many people use it nowadays. Hello, Tooth Fairy. It's good to see you again. It's been what, five hundred years?" He swung from the ledge and landed on the floor, flaring his nostrils, as he looked at me. "Did my minions not make it clear, Pitch Black? Do not involve yourself in things that do not concern you."
"This does concern me," I frowned, "In case you didn't hear, I'm a Guardian." I lied, smoothly.
"That's pretty ironic, isn't it?" The Monkey King laughed, smiling at me. "You took her fairies, I took her fairies, you're a Guardian, I'll be a Guardian."
"What is he blabbering about?" Bunny asked, "You? A Guardian? I don't think so."
"Soon, my Pooka friend." He replied, smiling at Toothiana, "Very soon."
Toothiana tensed, as he smiled at her, "You'll never be a Guardian, Maharajah. No matter what you do."
"We shall see about that." He laughed again, "Tell me, how do your fairies like water? Can they breathe under it?"
She gasped, her fear exploding. I held my breath, not wanting to breathe in her fear and pulled her away from The Monkey King. "If you lay one filthy paw on them-!" She cried, pulling against my grip.
"You'll what? Kill me?" He scoffed, "I am so scared. You know the deal, Fairy. You have twenty-four hours or your fairies go for a swim." He turned and swung away, laughing manically.
"No…" Toothiana sobbed, staring after him, "Not my fairies. What are we going to do?"
I glanced back at the Guardians, nervously, who shook their heads, unsurely. I looked down at her panicked expression and gave in, wrapping my arms around her, reassuringly. She dropped her head on my chest, her arms sliding round my back, tightly.
"We'll get them back," I whispered, softly. "I promise."
0o0o0o0o
Bunnymund thought it a good idea to take Toothiana to his warren, instead of North's workshop, since it was more open and calming. However, Toothiana didn't find it relaxing at all. She sat by the river, staring at her reflection, refusing to speak to any of us, until she thought of a plan.
I was sat beneath a tree, watching her, worriedly, when North sat beside me. I looked up at him, frowning at his expression and returned my eyes to Toothiana, "Don't say anything. She was upset and I was simply reassuring her."
"So you are friends? Nothing more?" North asked, quietly, glancing at her, as I nodded. "From the way you look at her, it is hard to believe."
I dropped my eyes, forcing myself to look away from her, "I don't know what you're talking about. I think you've had too many fruit cakes."
"We have known each other many centuries, Pitch," He reminded me, "And I know how you feel about her."
"Is that so?" I frowned, looking up at him, "And what are your sources?"
He smiled, shaking his belly, making me sigh. "It is obvious you care for her. But how much is not clear. Do you know how you feel?"
I shook my head, pushing myself up, "We aren't discussing this, North."
"Why not?" He countered, rising to his feet and following me, "We spoke about it the first time."
"That was five hundred years ago, North," I laughed, shortly, "Long before you all abandoned me to become this."
North frowned, "You think we abandoned you?" He asked, softly, "Pitch, we asked you to join us but you refused. You walked away from us."
I snapped my head up, angrily, "That's what you think? I was lost, North. I was alone. None of the humans could see me anymore because of you Guardians and you all turned away from me." I told him, harshly. "I had to walk away. There was no one who cared. I had to start again. So I became the boogeyman, people feared me but they saw me. I wasn't alone."
"That is why you became Boogey? Because you were alone?" He asked, sympathetically.
"I don't want your pity," I frowned, moving away from him.
He placed his large hand on my shoulder, turning me back to him, "Why not speak to us?"
"I tried. You were off building toys, Bunny was painting eggs, Sandy was always busy sending dreams. The only person who would speak to me was Toothiana." I shrugged, looking over at her. "She stayed by my side, even when she was protecting children. Until I became the boogeyman obviously." I sighed, dropping my eyes, regretfully.
"Well, she's still on your side." He told me, "She defended you at my workshop. Even yelled at Bunny." He chuckled, "I think it was first time she shouted at him."
I smiled, slightly, "I bet he was quite surprised."
"I was terrified," Bunny said, hopping over to us, nosily. "What are we talking about?"
"Tooth and Pitch." North told him, making me freeze.
"Oh, yeah, I remember that," Bunny chuckled, smiling at me, "You were like a bee surrounded by fresh flowers."
I shook my head, tiredly, "I was not." I told him, glaring at North.
Sandy floated over, nodding, with a sand heart above his head as he smiled widely. I swatted the heart, frowning at them all, "Look, that was over five hundred years ago, I've changed."
"You have. Your feelings? Not so much." North smiled, nudging me.
"No way," Bunny gasped, "After five hundred years, you're still starkers about her?"
"Starkers about who?" Frost asked, walking into our little circle.
I slapped my face, weakly. "I am not."
"Come on, guys." Frost smiled, eagerly, "Who's he starkers about?" He looked down at Sandy as an arrow pointed at Toothiana. "No way," He chuckled.
"It's not true," I told him, impatiently.
"Guys," Toothiana called, making me look up quickly. "You aren't ganging up on Pitch, are you?"
"Not at all," Frost told her, softly, "We're simply bonding."
She turned around and smiled, "Really?"
I smiled back, nodding. I felt my chest tighten and she laughed, happily, "That's great!" She beamed, turning back to the river.
My face fell, as the Guardians grinned at me, smugly. "That meant nothing," I muttered, walking past them and sitting beside her, despite the sun burning me. "How are you?" I asked, softly.
She smiled up at me, "I'm glad you're getting along," She told me, cheerfully. "I'm still worried about my fairies but this has really helped. So thank you."
I smiled back, nodding to her, "My pleasure."
"So, what were you guys talking about anyway?" She asked, glancing behind her and waving.
"Oh, uh, just some small chat." I lied, following her gaze to the others, who smiled at me, unsubtly. I rolled my eyes, looking down at the river, "I'm sorry I took your fairies." I told her softly.
She looked back at me, curiously, "You are?"
"Yes, I just needed to break the balance and it was the only thing I could think of." I admitted, regretfully, "I didn't know you cared so much about them."
"Of course I do. They're my family just as much as you guys." She told me, "And it's alright. I forgive you. As long as you forgive me for punching you."
I smiled, meeting her violet eyes, "Of course."