Child's Play 4
Sometimes it as easy to forget that Pitch was not only the Guardian of Courage, the Nightmare King, Fallen Hero of the Golden Age but also a father. North had to admit that last part as what he had come to admire most about Pitch. At first he had objected to Pitch taking all Jack's pillows save one to created what appeared to be a fort around the sleeping child. The man didn't even bother explaining what he was doing until after he had made everything perfect and then placed a thin blanket over Jack rather than the thick comforter that North had been holding.
"He's still a winter sprite," Pitch had said firmly when North tried to place the comforter over the small boy. "He'll overheat with that on and will get sick, especially considering we need to keep the windows closed."
"Wait, Jack always has his windows open," North objected.
"Yes, as a teen, but as a toddler the last thing we need is him roaming the tundra," Pitch pointed out as he began closing windows and opening the skylight just enough to allow cold air but not enough room for Jack to fly out.
"What about this fort?" Tooth asked, fluttering about anxiously.
"The pillows will keep him from falling off the bed," Pitch explained as he strolled back to the bed. "Considering the number of times I've watched Jack fall out of a tree or out of the rafters while asleep I think this is safest for him. You have no idea the number of times I've been tempted to duct tape that boy in place at night. He's always moving about. You'd think he was having a nightmare or something."
North and Tooth shot him a glare.
Pitch raised his hands defensively. "Don't blame me for doing my job, but honestly, I prefer scaring him when he's not in a position to hurt himself." He hesitated as he neared the head of the bed. The now toddler Jack looked so peaceful and utterly beautiful. He raised a hand to brush aside Jack fringe when North grabbed his wrist.
"No," North said sternly, his gaze hard as he glared at Pitch. "No nightmares. Not while he's this small."
"I wasn't planning to, Cossack," Pitch snapped back as he yanked his wrist free. "I was just…thinking," he said softly, brushing the child's hair, his eyes going far away as he remembered doing the same with his own child many years ago. He sat on the edge of the bed, almost instantly forgetting the others were there as images of a little girl replaced the boy laying in the bed. He began humming an old tune he had not song since Seraphina was a child.
North stepped back in amazement. Pitch was acting rather peculiar. He rarely seen the shade smile or laugh with any true joy but to hear him hum and coddle anyone. Pitch had become rather protective of Jack over the years all due to their rather awkward relationship. In all essence Pitch was the boy's grandfather and had every right to have access to the child but other than watching over Jack and belittling the way North tried to be a father to the boy, Pitch never really showed that parental side. There were days North feared that the only reason Pitch bothered with the child was because Jack willingly allowed the Nightmare King to give him nightmares whenever needed. But they had a special relationship that North could not quite understand. Jack told Pitch things that he told no one else, his deepest fears and wants that he feared no one else would understand. Even though North knew this and understood, he did not like it. He did not like that Jack felt there were things he could not tell him.
"Alright, everyone out," Pitch suddenly said, standing in front North.
The Russian blinked in surprise and stepped back. "What? I am not…"
"Lunaroff has it taken care of," Pitch continued firmly and actually steered North out of the room.
Now that was new. Pitch was not one for physical contact – unless it was Jack or Sandy, the odd time Bunny (but that was a whole other situation) – yet there he was, half a head shorter than North, hands on the large man's shoulders and all but shoving him out of the room. Tooth, just as surprised, followed after them.
"Uhm…is it really a good idea to leave Jack alone?" the Tooth Fairy asked with concern.
Baby Tooth zipped in front of them, anxiously talking to her mama.
Pitch sighed. "Fine, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for her to stay with him. But no waking him up."
The mini-fairy glared at the shade but nodded.
"Don't let him wander about if he wakes up," Tooth instructed. "Either come and get one of us or send an elf, understand?"
Baby Tooth nodded again before zipping back into the room. North went to shut the door but Pitch shook his head. "Leave it open. It'll be easier for everyone to hear him if he wakes up scared." He looked about the workshop with a frown. Even though they were in the residential section it was still not child friendly. The whole place needed to be…
"Where is he? Where's Jack?" Bunny yelled as he jumped out of a hole just feet from the child opened bedroom door. Sandy appeared a right behind him waving his arms to silence that anxious Pooka.
Everyone turned to shush Bunny but it was too late. A small whine came from the bedroom and before anyone could give Bunny a warning the Pooka shoved the door open all the way and rushed in.
"Jack? Jack… Blimey," Bunny muttered in surprise and confusion.
North rushed back in, hoping to stop Bunny from waking Jack up completely but it was too late. Little Jack was rubbing the sleep from his eyes before knocking pillows out of his way to climb out of bed. "Thirsty," he whined softly as he walked toward North. "Daddy! Oh!" Big blue eyes blinked when they met the spring green of Bunny's. For several long seconds they simply stared at one another then excitement filled Jack's eyes. "Bunny!"
"Whao…what is this? Where's the kid come from?" Bunny asked as he stepped back. Fear filled his eyes as his nose twitched, telling him all he needed to know yet his brain refusing to accept it. He jumped back in shock as the toddler ran at him and grabbed one leg causing him to trip.
The child giggled, covering his mouth with his hands hidden in his long sleeves. "Bunny, hop, hop, hop!" he laughed before climbing on Bunny's belly and hugging him tightly. "My Bunny!"
North chuckled, Tooth tried to stifle a giggle as Sandy bounced around in silent laughter. Pitch smirked. "I never knew you could feel so much fear for one small child, Rabbit," he said with a chortle. "Let's keep Jack like this for a few more days," he told North with a smirk. "Bunny's fear alone can keep me going for years."
The others ignored him and Bunny would have made a remark but he stared down at the little bundle of energy that was once his mate and lover with undeniable fear. "What the hell happened?" he asked on to have his nose slapped by said child.
"Bad Bunny!" Jack said with a pout. "Bad Bunny say bad word!"
That only made everyone else crack up with laughter.