Chapter Twelve: Choices
Toothiana collided with something hard and black, feeling a sharp pain in her leg as her body collided with the… ground? She could hear the crowd 'ooing' as she regained her wits she saw that she had not hit the ground.
"Toothless!" She exclaimed as the dragon swooped out over the crowd, the audience looking up at them with mouths hanging open and widened eyes. Tooth's arms curled themselves as tightly as they could around his neck before the dragon turned around, making a landing on the stage. She heard a strange cooing noise as his feet thudded against the stage. He looked back at her with sympathetic green eyes. Tooth gave him a grateful smile, suddenly feeling weak when she let out a deep sigh. "I'm alright." She said softly, turning to look back out to the crowd, who had all suddenly risen to their feet, clapping and whooping like Toothiana had never seen them before.
Tooth swallowed and forced a painful smile, lifting both her arms into the air dramatically, playing it off as if it had all been part of the show. The crowd wouldn't be able to see her shaking arms, or the fear that still glittered in her violet eyes as the velvet curtains closed.
The moment they were completely shut, Toothiana dropped her arms, placing her hands on Toothless's back. Oh god. She thought, suddenly feeling very dizzy. She placed a hand to her forehead, her heart thudding in her chest heavily. Her thoughts scattered, blurred pictures blearing across her vision, but only one name was on her lips.
"Aster."
She felt someone's arms around her waist, pulling her down from Toothless's back. Tooth shifted her gaze just enough to see Hiccup slipping her arm over his shoulder and doing his best to guide her off stage, Toothless trailing behind them.
Toothiana's eyes suddenly felt very heavy, and the sounds around her dulled to a mere drone. She wanted to lie down… she needed to think… what had just happened to her again? She had been falling… then what?
Suddenly people were surrounding her, she saw Fye, shoving her way past two contortionists. She put her hands on Toothiana's shoulders and began saying things… Toothiana couldn't understand. She was too tired. Her leg was throbbing and it hurt to walk on. She wanted to see Aster... where was he?
She then felt a pair of cool hands spinning her around, making her instantly go dizzy. She saw Pitch's face, his amber eyes searching her over. She saw his lips move, but all she could make out was, "alright?" She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't find the words.
The noises around her slowly began to sharpen and she could make out the sound of pounding footsteps.
"Toothy!" she heard a familiar voice shout. She wanted to spin around and fling her arms over his shoulders, but the icy glare that curled across Pitch's face silenced her. Bunny came around, catching her face in his hands, not seeming to care that Pitch was standing just beside him.
"You alright, sheila?" He asked, looking directly into her eyes. Tooth began to reply when she saw a gray hand snap out, coiling around Bunny's wrist.
"She's fine." Pitch said coolly, pulling Toothiana to him. Tooth wanted to interject and say that her leg was actually hurting a bit, but Pitch simply continued. "and there is no need for you to be back here." His eyes narrowed on the man in front of him.
"Like hell there isn't." Bunny said gruffly, his own eyes darkening in a way Toothiana could have never imagined. "Why the bloody hell wasn't there a safety net?" He asked, stepping closer.
Tooth looked between to two men, her unease growing with every moment that passed. "Please-" She began, trying to step between the two, but Pitch stuck out his arm, blocking her out.
"I wouldn't expect a simpleton such as yourself to understand-" Pitch said smoothly, the performers, along with a few of North's crew had begun to circle around.
Bunny scoffed, shaking his head, "understand what exactly?" he asked, practically biting out each word. "The fact that you put her life in danger every time she steps on that stage?" He said, his voice rising with each word.
Tooth turned to Pitch, her heartbeat beginning to quicken. He could set his nightmares on Bunny anytime. She needed to calm him down… she needed to separate them.
"Pitch," She began, placing a hand on his arm, but she knew the moment she saw his face that it would do no good. H was burning up with white, hot rage.
"Silence yourself, Toothiana." He hissed, losing some of his composure when his arm snapped out, his fingers sinking into her wrist. Toothiana whimpered at the pain that flared in her arm, but it was only for a moment.
Bunny's hand had instantly wound itself around Pitch's collar, yanking him away from Tooth. Bunnymund had pulled him down to eyelevel and hissed roughly, "don't you dare touch her again, ratbag." Then he swung his arm back.
Tooth's mouth dropped as Bunny's fist cracked into Pitch's chin, sending him flying into the ground. She heard the people gathered around them gasp as Pitch clutched his jaw. She saw him begin to glance at the Stabbington brothers, whom had already begun to push through the crowd towards Bunny.
No. She thought, darting forward and grabbing Bunny's hand, yanking him into the crowd. "We need to get out of here!" She shouted over her shoulder, slipping past the people as quickly as she could with her leg, although the pain was slowly beginning to dull. She heard shouts rise up behind them and began running faster, soon breaking out of the crowd.
"This way!" She shouted, leading him down a dark hallway. Even Pitch's Nightmares didn't know the Theatre the way she did. Tooth opened an inconspicuous door leading to a stairwell and the two clamored down the steps, quickly shutting the door behind them, and thus silencing the voices of Pitch's nightmares that had begun to echo and bounce off the walls.
They slipped down the stairs quietly until they reached a gray door that was bolted shut. Tooth slid back the lock and pushed open the door, peering out carefully before she moved.
The back door led to a dark alleyway, littered with trash and empty bottles, lit by only the lamps by the street. Luckily there were no people. "Alright." Toothiana said, tightening her grip slightly around Bunny's hand. "We can't take the main street." At least not while I'm wearing this. She looked down at her feathered costume. She began walking, trying to stay as close to the walls as she could.
The two had made good distance from the Theatre; they walked in silence for a bit, the moon shining down on them as they maneuvered their way through the dark alleyways of the city. Once Tooth was certain they were out of harm's way-at least for the moment- she tried to slide her hand from Bunny's.
His hand only tightened around hers, not painfully so, but enough to keep her from slipping away from him. "Please," Tooth began, her heart already aching. She wanted to be with him, but right now… they couldn't be together.
"No." he said quietly, stopping completely and sounding just as pained as she felt. Tooth turned to face him, her brows knitting together. She nearly jumped at what she saw. He almost looked as though he were going to cry. Tooth felt as though her heart were breaking. She began to say something, but Bunny's soft voice quieted her. "Please don't let go." He said, putting her hand over his heart so that Tooth could feel the gentle beating beneath her palm. Tooth shuddered, resisting the urge to be closer to him, to wrap his arms around her.
"Bunny, I need to get you out of here-" Tooth tried, looking up at him earnestly.
"I saw you fall." Bunny continued, quieting the words in Tooth's throat. "I saw you and I thought-" his voice cracked slightly, although he tried to cover it up by clearing his throat. Tooth's lips pressed shut as she looked at him. Aster… She thought, feeling the urge to reach up and touch his face. "I thought I lost you." He said finally, looking directly at her.
Tooth tipped her head to the side, feeling her eyes water slightly. "Hey," She said, gently squeezing his hand. "It's alright. You haven't lost me." She assured, smiling at him softly.
He blinked at her. "So you'll come with me?" He asked, eyes brightening. "You'll leave him…" he paused and Toothiana's heart sank as she slowly shook her head, causing Bunny to frown.
"Aster, I-I can't. If I do, Pitch will-"
"What?" He asked, placing a calloused hand against her cheek and forcing her to meet his gaze, "Come after me?" Bunny chuckled lightly, "I think he'll already do that, sheila." Tooth shook her head, feeling the familiar tugs of anxiety and desperation in her chest.
"You don't understand!" She exclaimed, panic beginning to set in at the thought of what Pitch could-would do. "He will hunt you down to get to me."
Bunny's brow furrowed. "I'm not afraid of him."
"But I am!" Tooth said, putting a hand over her chest.
"I promised to protect you!" Bunny argued, catching her hand in his.
"That's not what I'm afraid of." She said, turning from him. "It's what he might do to you that scares me." She said as she looked to the ground. "If you were hurt because of me…"
"Then let's leave tonight!" Bunny said, drawing her towards him so that their foreheads touched. "Before he even realizes you're gone!" Tooth shook her head, he didn't understand. It wouldn't matter how far they went, Pitch would still come after her. And when he did that, Tooth didn't want to think about what he would do to Bunny.
"I can't" Tooth said, trying to step away.
"Why?"
"I-I don't love you." She lied pitifully, and Bunny knew it to, she could see it in his eyes.
"Come on, Toothy." He said. "Please."
"No. I can't." She said, voice cracking.
Bunny stiffened and stepped away from her, sighing. "Fine…" He looked up at the clock tower that reached high up into the sky. Suddenly his face brightened and he looked down at her.
"Let me make you a deal." He said, holding both her hands. "It's 10:30 now, stay with me until midnight, and if at midnight you still feel the same way…" for a brief moment he looked very pained. "I promise I will leave you alone." He paused. "Forever."
Tooth swallowed. If it was just a few hours, then they could avoid Pitch's henchmen, and she could spend one last time with Bunny. Her gut twisted painfully, then they would say goodbye.
It would kill her.
But it would keep him safe.
"Fine…" She said. Bunny grinned mischievously for a moment.
"But there's one more thing…" Tooth raised an eyebrow at him. For a moment his smile faltered. "I want you to act as would if you were not married to Pitch."
"But-" Toothiana began.
"Just until midnight." Bunny pleaded, clutching her hands.
Tooth paused. This would be the last time she would be with him. She bit her lip. She wanted it-despite every inch of her body screaming that she was being a fool-to be real.
She wove her fingers through his. "Very well." She said finally. Bunny smiled at her and began to walk down the alley. "But first I need to get out of this costume."
Bunny grinned back at her. "I'll find something."
TTT
Pitch paced in the main walkway of his home, waiting for any news of his wife's whereabouts. A maid poured him a drink, offering it to him, saying it would calm his nerves. Pitch hesitated for a moment before downing it in a single gulp.
Where was she?
He looked to the clock. It was eleven. He felt a pang of worry. Please let her be safe. He pleaded, sinking into a chair by the door and letting his head fall into his hands.
TTT
Tooth walked beside Bunny, hand in hand like any other couple out on the town for a Friday night. A plain purple dress swayed around her knees. Bunny had procured it from one of the circus girls for her to wear for their hour together.
She looked around the central city. Lights lit up the streets, and people milled about, going to street vendors and laughing as they moved from restaurants and various speakeasies.
She felt a warm hand around her waist and looked up to see Bunny smiling down at her. She smiled back before she could stop herself. Then he leaned down, kissing her forehead softly. Toothiana didn't pull away. Instead she closed her eyes.
Because tonight, even though they would only have an hour together, she could be honest with him about how she felt.
It would be a moment of happiness.
TTT
"I can't believe!" North exclaimed to Sandy, pacing about the tent while the round man merely sipped tea from a cup, watching his friend.
"Why did you not tell me?" he asked, falling into a chair and reaching for a cookie.
Sandy raised an eyebrow at him as he took another gulp.
North sighed, "You are right… I would have been upset." He shook his head. "But Tooth loves Pitch!" He looked at Sandy for affirmation, who just shook his head. "She does not?" he asked, clearly shocked. He slowly shook his head. "What will we do now?"
Sandy just looked at him.
North chuckled and stood, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You are right, Sandy." He smiled. "We always help our friends, no?"
Sandy nodded and smiled at him.
TTT
Tooth and bunny found themselves at a sort of small dance club, the sound of the piano flowed around them, and for that instant, it seemed like they were the only couple there.
One hand was on her waist, the other woven in her fingers. She let her head rest on his shoulder, surrounded by his warmth as they stepped in time with the music.
"There's five minutes left." Bunny said softly as they swayed from side to side. Tooth felt a pang in her chest but said nothing. She felt him take a shuddery breath. " So before time runs out I want to tell you something. And I want you to listen." He gently touched a hand to her cheek, bringing her face towards his. "I love you." He said, looking at her in a way that he'd never looked at anyone before.
Tooth felt her eyes water up and she looked down, burying her face in his chest. "Please." She said softly, "just hold me."
She felt his arms around her. "Always."
A tear slipped from her eye. She thought back to everything they'd done, walking the streets talking, sharing a bite of food from one of the vendors. She smiled at the memory of when -out of nowhere- he'd picked her up at the waist, spinning her in a circle.
It had been the most right feeling she'd ever had.
She would remember it forever.
She felt her arms tighten around him slightly.
She would cherish every second they had spent together. Maybe, she thought, if I don't look at that clock, we can stay like this forever.
Another tear slipped from her eyes. She could wish couldn't she?
She knew their time was running out. She could feel it.
I love you. She thought, tightening her fingers around the cloth of his shirt.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
She looked into his eyes for a split second, and everything in the world seemed to disappear.
Everything but them.
"I-" She began, but the sound of bells drowned her out. She saw Bunny wince; the pain was evident on his face. He reluctantly slid his arms away from her.
Tooth felt a hollowness fill her chest, and her mouth went dry. She should say something… she should do something.
Instead, she simply walked past him, not able to look at the pain on his face as she left him there.
She gasped at the feeling in her chest, it was as though someone had stabbed her. It was unbearable. Tears streaked down her cheeks as her hand landed on the doorknob. The bells rang in her ears.
Seven, eight, nine, ten.
She began to open the door, the hinges creaking as she did so.
Eleven.
She could walk out now.
Twelve.
Tooth paused. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to be with him. Toothiana looked back to see him watching her, longing in his eyes.
She wanted to fight for him.
The doorknob slipped from her fingers, and then she was running. Running to him. In a strange way, it almost felt as though she were running home. Then, he was sprinting to her, too. Wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her up into the air.
She placed both her hands on either side of his face, smiling softly as she pressed her lips to his. It was electric, and she could have held onto him forever.
When they pulled away, she brushed a strand of hair from his eyes. Then, she smiled at him. "I love you, too."
A grin broke out across his face.
"I knew it."
Toothiana laughed for a moment, and then he lowered her to the ground, kissing her again.
And I always will.
TTT
Pitch heard the telephone ring, and he leapt up to grab it. "Yes, yes?" He said hastily.
"Boss?" he heard on the other end, "we found her."
Relief swelled in his chest as he sighed, thank god. "Where is she?"
"With the man from the circus."
Pitch nearly thought he felt his heart stop. He licked his lips before replying. "What are they doing?" he asked, clenching his fist.
The line was quiet for a moment. Pitch grit his teeth. "Speak, you imbeciles."
He heard brief mumbling on the other end before a nervous voice answered. "They're kissing, sir."
Pitch felt as though all the air had been kicked from his lungs. She's…. He thought, closing his eyes tightly as he locked his jaw, sinking his nails into the flesh of his palm.
"What would you like us to do, sir?" The nightmare asked.
Pitch took a deep breath, feeling a horrible pain in his chest, as though his heart were splintering. "Nothing." He finally said, shaking his head slowly. "Do nothing."
There was a pause on the other end. "Are you sure, sir-"
"Yes." Pitch replied softly, loosening his hand and looking towards the ground. "Just… return to your homes."
"…very well, sir."
Pitch hung up the phone, taking a deep breath and resting his head against the wall. He was feeling so weak… like he just wanted to do nothing.
"Master?" he heard a maid say. Pitch looked up.
"I am fine, Toothiana is staying with her fairies tonight." He said tightly, moving towards the stairs. Once he was halfway up, he turned back.
"I'd like to not be disturbed." He said, not looking back.
"Very well, my lord." The maid said softly. Pitch nodded and continued walking, down the hall and into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
A/N: So what do you think guys? Has Pitch really given up? Leave me a review! They make quicker updates!