Chapter Eight: Meet Toothless

Toothiana made her way through the circus grounds, quickly stepping out of the way of a man holding a large metal hoop on his shoulder. I wonder what that's for… Tooth thought curiously as she followed the hoop with her gaze for her a moment before turning back.

It was not so different here than the theatre. There were people rushing all over, animals in large cages, woman in beautiful gemmed outfits with long feathers sprouting from their bodices. A large man with a painted face winked at her lewdly. Toothiana quickly turned her face down and walked past him, slipping into the crowd as quickly as she could.

She was amazed at how many children were there. She thought she caught sight of Jamie running by, chasing after a thin brown haired girl. A group of boys ran past, a red haired boy in green pulling a young girl by the hand as they chattered about pirates and Indians.

Toothiana tried to hide her smile as they darted past her. Funny. She thought, I used to never be able to be around children because of… She paused and placed a hand on her lower abdomen, a lump forming in her throat. She quickly swallowed it down, forcing a bright smile when she saw a familiar white haired boy.

"Jack!" Toothiana called, reaching out to his arm gently. She caught him by the sleeve of his blue coat and pulled him back.

"Oh, hey there, Tooth." Jack said, stepping next to her and pulling something behind his back. His blue eyes widened like a deer in the headlights.

Toothiana raised an eyebrow at him. "What is it?" She asked, crossing her arms as she tried to peer around his shoulder. Jack sidestepped and turned just enough to block her view. She gave him a 'seriously?' look and he just smirked at her.

"Nothing." He grinned impishly.

Toothiana felt a smile tug at her lips. "You can show me. I won't make fun of you."

Jack hesitated, scanning her face carefully before he sighed in defeat and pulled out a bouquet of bright flowers. They had clearly been handpicked and lacked the sort of crisp cleanness that store bought flowers had, but they looked soft, and Toothiana could smell their gentle, sweet, scent.

A grin spread across her face as the realization dawned on her. "Who's the girl?" She popped out a hip, nudging him gently.

Jack quickly looked down. "Haha," He laughed, being careful to not let her see his eyes. "No one." He looked at her from the corner of his eye, but Toothiana caught the soft pink that tinted his usually pale cheeks.

Toothiana gave him a knowing smile. "If you say so." She teased before adding, "Have you seen Bunnymund?"

"Sure." Jack said, nudging his shoulder towards a large silver and purple striped tent not too far away from them, "The animal tent."

Tooth gave him a genuine smile and placed a grateful hand on his arm. "Thank you." She said.

Toothiana turned to walk away when she heard Jack call her back quietly. "Toothiana." She turned, sweeping a stray strand of hair back into her up do.

"Yes?"

He gave her a soft look of concern. "Just…" He shrugged, "just be careful, alright?"

Toothiana's brow furrowed. "Alright, Jack." She said nervously as she turned away slowly and made her way towards the tent.

That was… strange. She thought as she opened the flap and stepped inside. She was immediately met with the scent of animal and hay as she blinked her eyes quickly in an attempt to adjust to the change in lighting.

Outside the light was harsh and bright, while inside it was soft and warm. She heard soft snorts from somewhere behind a curtain that was draped across the center of the room, which was right next to a makeshift bed where a limp brown sack leaned against the rickety wooden legs. A faded blanket was thrown across the thin mattress.

Toothiana peered around the corner. A sketchpad was tossed on the bed next to a half formed… thing.

Toothiana walked closer. It didn't look so different from a dream catcher. It was only a half formed crescent with a few leather stings hanging down the side, decorated with beads and a golden flower tied at the end of each.

She reached out to touch it with a gentle finger when-

"Toothy?" A familiarly gruff voice said from her side.

Tooth jumped in surprise, her hand flying over her heart as a shot of adrenaline pulsed through her veins. She was met with the broad figure of Aster, whose sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He grinned at her as she let out a laugh of relief. "You scared me!" She chided, crossing the floor so that she stood right in front of him. Aster chuckled lightly, looking down at her with a playful smirk.

She smacked his arm. "Don't make fun of me!" She laughed as the smile on his face only grew.

"I didn't say anything, sheila!" He argued, catching her hand in his.

"You did, too!" She countered, a glowing smile dancing on her lips as she poked him in the chest, despite her hand being enclosed in his wide fingers. He raised an eyebrow at her. "You said it with your face."

He chuckled, not noticing how he gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

Toothiana felt a warmth bloom in her chest as her cheeks slowly began to heat. Without meaning to, she began to slowly lift onto the tips of her toes. For a moment, Aster seemed surprised, but soon his eyelids began to shut as his free hand slowly drifted to her hip.

It seemed so easy.

It seemed so right.

If Toothiana didn't know any better, she would have thought that was what she wanted.

No. She thought, her breath hitching in her throat as she quickly stepped away, her heart pounding in her chest as her cheeks flushed. What was happening to her? She didn't have feelings for Aster… it must have all been an accident! Maybe she was getting sick or-

She felt Aster gently squeeze her hand. Her violet eyes flitted up to his green ones as he looked at her softly. With longing? No, that couldn't be right.

Could it?

Then, his face seemed to slam shut, growing cold and distant for a moment before he retracted his hand and plastered a fake smile on his face. "aheh." He laughed nervously, scratching the side of his chin. "Sorry about that, sheila. All the heat must've gone to my head for a minute."

Toothiana dumbly nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. Of course, she thought, the heat.

Yet, she seemed to know deep inside that it had never been the sun… though she would never admit to that.

It wouldn't have been right. She was married, and completely in love with her husband. She owed Pitch everything. Her freedom, a life where she could make her own choices…

"Come on, I want to show you something." He quickly added, using as light a tone as he could.

"Oh, alright." Toothiana said, laughing nervously as she gently tugged on the beaded cloth of her dress. Aster waved her over, past the curtain and into the next room.

Tooth picked up the hem of her dress and hurried after him, her shoulder brushing against his arm as she walked along with him, looking at the large cages that circled the room. Bits of hay were scattered about the circular tent and stuck out between the bars.

When she took a minute to actually peer into the cage, she was amazed at what she saw: brightly colored birds with feathers that shimmered in the low light, a large white horse that pawed at the floor of his cage, even a mother elephant with a large eared baby that stood close to her side. Tooth giggled as the baby animal blew his trunk out at her, sending out a shrill squeal.

Then, there was a low growl. Toothiana whipped around and saw a large golden-brown lion prowling across the length of his cage, snarling and keeping his brown eyes trained on her.

Tooth gasped and stepped back. Bunny reached out and placed a comforting arm on her shoulder. She looked up at him and saw him gazing at the creature with a relaxed grin. "Don't worry, sheila." He squeezed her arm, "I've got you."

Tooth felt a fluttering in her chest as she quickly nodded, turning back the creature. It was strange. Just a moment before she'd looked at the animal with fear, but now…

The lion gave out a low rumble, little flecks of amber shimmered in his eyes as he turned away. His large paws thumped against the hay-covered wood as he stretched out across the ground, looking almost peaceful in the golden light.

Toothiana felt herself step forward, reaching out with slender fingers towards the cage. She thought back to all the horrible stories of people being ripped apart by the great beasts, but now that she was standing just in front of one… she believed that, perhaps, they weren't as vicious as they'd first seemed.

A large, calloused hand caught her arm in his. She stopped and frowned up at Bunny curiously. "Why-" She began, but was cut off.

"Just because he looks gentle, doesn't mean he can't hurt you, sheila." His eyes were sharp, warning her to stay away. Tooth looked back at the lion, which was in mid-yawn, revealing a set of sharpened teeth.

She felt her mouth open. The teeth were nice, sharpened and white: made to rip and tear into flesh.

Tooth stepped back. "So… this is what you wanted me to see?" She glanced back at the lion, whose tail twitched from side to side.

Aster chuckled, "Oh no." He said, shaking his head slowly from side to side. "I have something better in mind." He gave her a mischievous wink, causing her to grin brightly.

He led her across the room to a high roofed cage that appeared to be empty. Toothiana searched through the cold metal bars, even the floor was clear of straw… strange. She felt Bunny leave her side and heard a quiet shuffling at the other end of the room.

She stepped closer and curled her fingers around the chilly iron, giving it a gentle tug. There was a low creak, but the bars didn't budge. "Hmm." She hummed, thoughtfully crossing her arms.

There was a clatter and the sudden stink of fish. Toothiana nearly choked on the smell and her hand instantly flew to her nose. "Aster!" She scolded, whipping around to see Bunny crouching down over a tipped barrel of fish. "What are you doing?" She laughed walking towards him and crouching down next to him, careful to tuck the dress under her knees so it didn't drag in the dirt.

"Just makin' things a little easier, Tooth." He replied, giving her a Toothy grin as he pulled out a silver fish from deep within the barrel. He rose from his knees, using the hand not clutching the fish by its tail to brush the dirt off his knees. Tooth watched the slimy looking fish flop around from side to side as Bunny straightened. For a moment, Tooth was certain she'd be seeing her breakfast much sooner than she wanted to.

Aster walked over, the strong stench of fish growing stronger with each step he took. "Oh my." Tooth laughed, plugging her nose quickly. "That smells awful."

Aster chuckled and held the fish out to her, smirking at her quickly widening eyes. "Take the fish, sheila."

Toothiana's mouth dropped. "No! Aster, it smells awful and it looks…" She shook her head with disgust as she giggled. "Slimy."

Bunny laughed and stepped closer, the silver fish slapping against his wrist. "Come on now, it's not so bad once you get used to it."

Tooth quickly shook her head from side to side, but still reached out her hand, curling her slender fingers around the slick tail. The scales were cool and slimy, leaving a strange clear liquid on her fingers as she shifted her feet, looking at Bunny pleadingly. "This is so gross!" She laughed nervously, holding the dead animal as far away from her body as she could.

"Trust me, sheila." Bunny said, walking towards the empty cage. "It'll be worth it." He pulled a key out of his back pocket and slipped it into the lock on the gate, twisting it to the side with a clank.

Tooth's heart rate slowly began to increase. She'd thought the cage had been empty…

She began to sweat and suddenly felt the desire to loosen her scarf, but she couldn't do that… not with the mark Pitch had left her with. "Aster…" She began to say, stepping forward just as a large black figure began to crawl along the bars of the cage, stepping to the cold iron base and slipping out the open gate as quiet as a fog.

It was huge and completely covered in shimmery black scales. It's clawed feet stepped onto the dirt and straw covered ground, as light and graceful as a cat prowling across the grass.

In fact, the more Tooth thought about it, the more she realized this animal reminded her of a feline. Its wide green eyes scanned her appraisingly, as though it were trying to distinguish whether or not she was a threat.

Then Aster reached out to it. Tooth opened her mouth to shout; the animal had claws that could rip him apart! What if-

The creature's ears furled out, allowing the gruff man to slip his fingers against his neck and scratch against his scales, which the animal seemed to immensely enjoy, his mouth hanging open slightly and his tale lazily swiping from side to side.

When Aster looked back up at her, Tooth quickly snapped her mouth shut, not realizing it had even dropped in the first place. He smirked when her cheeks flushed as her eyes darted between him and the great cat-like creature that seemed to be shockingly gentle. "Come're, Toothy." He said, waving her over coaxingly.

Tooth's mauve eyes shifted to the large black mass next to him which seemed to be eyeing her in a strange way, it was unsettling; like she was a piece of meet to be eaten.

Yet, when she looked back at Aster, she saw his eyes: kind and gentle, just how they'd always been with her. He'd never failed her before.

Tooth took a deep breath and stepped forward, her grip on the fish tightening as she approached the beast, whose slit pupils never once left her form.

She quickened her last two steps so that she gently bumped into Bunny's side. Tooth felt a wave of comfort as soon as he placed a hand on her arm. "Don't worry, this little gobber won't hurt you." He retracted his hand from the animal's neck and stuck it in the pocket of his tan pants.

"Alright, Toothy. This…" He nodded towards creature whose eyes were now wide with almost childlike curiosity. "Is Toothless."

Tooth turned to him and raised and eyebrow. He raised his hands in a 'don't blame me' manner. "I didn't pick the name, sheila." Tooth just smiled and rolled her eyes. "Now just go ahead and feed him that." He poked the fish in her hands. Tooth felt a shiver of disgust as it squished under her fingers.

She then looked to Bunny nervously. "Do I just… hand it to him?"

He nodded, "Just hold it out."

Tooth took a deep breath and shook her head. This had not been how she'd expected her day to go. She looked back to Aster and sighed before she tentatively reached out.

The animal tilted his head, watching the fish curiously before he furrowed his eyes on Tooth, as though he were trying to determine whether or not the strange woman in front of his could be trusted. Tooth slowly began to nod, careful to make sure her eyes never left his.

A moment passed between them; a strange sort of understanding.

Then, it stepped up to her, opening it's wide mouth and stretching out closer, revealing a perfect…

Gum line.

Toothiana huffed in disappointment. A massive being like this didn't even have teeth… she'd expected fangs, or at least a regular tooth, but-

With a quick shick, several pearly white, sharpened fangs slipped out from some hidden space in the mouth and snapped up the fish quicker than Toothiana could blink. Jumping back her hands flew to her heart, watching the pleased animal lick his lips, looking at her happily before crawling closer, sniffing around her dress, looking for any other fish she may have. When he realized she had none, he looked up at her with widening eyes and perked his ears up.

Toothaiana's heart swelled. "Oh! You are so adorable!" She giggled, falling to her knees and wrapping her arm around his neck, using the other hand to scratch behind his ear, just like she'd seen Aster do. This earned a purr of pleasure and a gentle nuzzle to the cheek.

She heard a low chuckle from behind her; she turned her neck so that she could see Aster, kneeling behind her, scratching the side of his face as he watched the two. "And what are you laughing at?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's nothin', sheila." Aster replied, shaking his head from side to side slowly before he burst out into laughter once more. Toothiana huffed turning back to her new friend and cupped his face in her hands.

"Aster is making fun of me." She complained, gently stroking the black scales on the animal's forehead.

"Oh come on-"

"Now, I think that's just plain rude, don't you…?" She paused, what was the animal's name?

"Toothless." Bunny supplied smugly.

"Oh Toothless!" Toothiana gushed, scratching underneath Toothless' jaw. "What a wonderful name, though I am very happy that you have teeth. Now tell me Toothless, what kind of great creature doesn't have a beautiful mouthful of teeth, hmm?"

She heard footsteps behind her and then felt the fabric of Aster's pants brushing against her leg as he crouched beside her. "You know that's the dragon they're planning to use in your performance. " He said, reaching around Toothless's neck and scratching him right behind the ear, causing the muscles underneath the dragon's scales.

"Really?" Toothiana asked, flashing him a toothy smile.

Aster nodded as Toothless leaned into his touch. Tooth shook her head slowly from side to side, looking at him with soft awe. "It's amazing." She said, catching his attention. He gave her a questioning look, opening his mouth to ask what she meant. Tooth quickly clarified; "the way you are with him," she smiled at Toothless who was purring contentedly. "I've never seen anything like it."

Aster just shook his head. "No. I didn't do anything, sheila. It was mostly Hiccup who trained him."

Tooth just shook her head. She believed what he'd said about Hiccup, but she doubted that Aster had done nothing. He was just being modest. She blushed. it was kind of cute. Stop that! She quickly snapped at herself as she stood up quickly. A little too quickly.

"Tooth?" He asked, rising after her. The small woman quickly brushed the dirt off her dress. She shouldn't feel this way. She couldn't. It wasn't fair to Pitch. She couldn't betray him like that. But she didn't really feel that way. She loved Pitch. She loved him. She really did.

Aster seemed to read her like a book, somehow understanding exactly how she felt. Tooth could see it in his widening eyes, and in a sudden flash, she could see exactly how he felt. It ripped through her like a knife, tearing straight into her chest.

What was the worst part? That she had feelings for him? That he returned them? It was so, so wrong.

She took a deep shaky breath, her mauve eyes locked with his green ones. It was a strange conversation, the one their eyes shared. It sent shivers down her spine and warmed her heart, but all at the same time it sent a sharp pain up her body that she was sure would split her apart.

She quickly looked down, staring straight at her feet as she walks away as quickly as she can.

She couldn't deny what she felt, yes, maybe she had a slight… crush on Aster, but it would be nothing, she'd just ignore it. It would disappear.

It just had to.

A warm hand closed around her wrist and stopped her, pulling her around to face him. Tooth gasped in surprise as she bumped into his chest. Nonononono. She thought, I can't do this, it's wrong. Aster raised a rough, calloused hand to her cheek and gently pulled it up to face him. His eyes were soft and thoughtful, searching through her, looking for an answer.

"Tooth?" She squeezed her eyes shut and reached up, covering his large hand with her small one. He gulped and took a shallow breath. "D'you… do you feel?"

Toothiana felt a burning sensation in her chest that slashed straight through her heart. Oh god, what was she doing? Tears stung her eyes as she easily slipped her hand out of Bunny's. It wasn't fair. Not to anyone…

Why did she want this? Why did she want him?

She felt an urge to throw her arms around him, to hold him close, to never let go.

Toothiana backed away, brushing at a stray hair that had never been there. "No." She lied softly.

She felt his eyes on her, seeing straight through her deceit. He'd always been able to do that; ever since the moment he'd first seen her. Why?

When Tooth began to turn she felt his arms curl around her, pulling her against his back. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, fluttering just as quickly as hers. She wanted so badly to relax into him. To curl her arms around his…

Then she thought of Pitch. She could see his face: twisted with sick betrayal and hurt. His golden eyes would show no tears, she knew, but she'd be able to see the pain reflected in them. A pain she caused. It would destroy him. She couldn't do that, not to someone she loved, but what if she loved Bunny, too? Was that possible after just a few days?

Was it possible to have more than one love?

She could hear Pitch, his voice would've been level, but cold and as sharp as a knife, splitting her heart like the trunk of an old tree being broken down in a heavy storm.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. She'd break the trust that had taken so long to build. She was one of his only friends and definitely the only person which he could share everything.

Which was why took a shivery breath, calming herself and wiping all emotion from her face. She gently pushed Aster's arms away from her and treaded away from him, making sure to not look back, despite how painful it was to feel his skin slip away from hers.

It only lasted a second, but it felt like eons.

A thick lump formed in her throat as she pushed through the thick flaps on the tent and into the lowlight.

She didn't look back, but she knew Bunny would be there waiting. Maybe even wishing she'd turn around and jump into his arms.

She hopelessly wondered if he knew how badly she wanted to.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry, I feel like this update was super late, but I've been busy with the final track meets, impending tests, and my Tumblr, which has lots of Jackunzel, Mericup, Cavity and SweetTooth writing. If you like this story, go check it out! The blog is called Me and My Many Misadventures.

Now, thank you to everyone who reviewed, it really does inspire me to write :).

So tell me, what did you like, what didn't you like? Improvements? Requests? I'll do my best to include them, but I can't promise anything ;). Want a character cameo? Just put it in a review or PM me!

Again, thank you for every thing and please remember to review, I love hearing from you. The good, bad, and everything inbetween.