Chapter Eight

Road to Recovery

Pitch slept for hours as the yetis continued to sedate him for the next twenty-four hours straight unbeknownst to Pitch, so that they could do more extensive tests with a more willing patient as well as having a way of keeping Pitch from being able to hurt himself since the closer to waking he became the more he would thrash about as his nightmares tended to plague him quite severely when he hit REM sleep. At one juncture the nightmares were so bad that the yeti had to hold him down while Sandy used his dreamsand to neutralize them. It concerned the golden man as he watched the tears run like rivets from Pitch's tightly closed eyes all the while as he called out for someone that he obviously cared deeply for. This made Sandy's heart ache to see the nightmare king so distraught even in sleep.

When Pitch finally was weened back from the sedative he was still quite loopy as his eyes lulled about the room unable to really focus as he went in and out of consciousness. At one point he remembered all the guardian's faces speaking to him throughout this blotted time although he couldn't remember what they said, or remember ever speaking back to them. He did recall one time that he had woken seeing Tooth sitting by his side, and he had given her a big goofy drugged out smile as he slurred out a, "Salutations! Fancy… lady meeting you here I… oh my, I feel very dizzy," with that said his head had fallen back onto his pillow, and Pitch drifted back to oblivion, but before he slipped away her cute laughter had followed him, and he smiled to hear it.

Upon waking the next time, his senses were clearer, and she was still there next to him semi-dozing. He just watched her for a long while and when she finally stirred looking his way, he averted his eyes momentarily before looking back at her to see she was still watching him. He cleared his throat feeling horse from the drugs and sleeping for so long as he looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and affection his voice cracking as he spoke, "You… have you been here all day?"

"Of course," she answered.

Of course she had been, Pitch thought admiringly as he gave her a small smile, "That was... unnecessary you know. You... you don't have to watch over me," Pitch stammered slightly embarrassed now.

"You were chewing at your bedcovers and mumbling something about bread. I was concerned." she replied.

"I don't know whether to be concerned or laugh," Pitch smiled tiredly before frowning at his still bound hands, "I thought these would have been removed last night." Pitch hadn't realized he'd actually been in that bed for three days sedated, and the results had already come back that there in fact was no internal damage much to the guardians' relief.

"Uh… Pitch," worry etched across Tooth's face as she looked down at the restraints and back at Pitch. "You've been here for three days."

His eyes widened in shock, "What? What do you mean?" It was then that he realized the bruising on his chest had faded considerably and that his soreness and body aches had decreased to a mild irritation outside of his flanks that had been jabbed several times over to keep him sedated throughout the three days. He paled slightly realizing what his recovery meant.

"Take it easy," Tooth said, flying up and putting her hands on him. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Pitch's eyes narrowed, "You mean other than that nasty beast rudely stabbing me with a needle!? Not much really." His expression softened as he looked back her way, "Well, I... I remember you to..." He flushed a slight hue of purple averting his gaze as he spoke. Why was he feeling like this towards her? For some reason, he actually cared what she might say or think of him.

Tooth looked at him expectantly, but when he refused to say anything else, she cleared her throat and changed the subject.

"Good news is that you're doing very well. They were able to run some tests on you when you were… sedated… and there were no internal injuries. Just minor cuts and bruises." she smiled. "Isn't that great? You'll be up and about again in another few days."

"uh… yes… wonderful," Pitch stated unenthusiastically as he grimaced thinking that his ability to milk being unwell was now a moot point which meant that North would soon wish to 'address' his escapades with him trying to leave. He wondered if he could pass the stunt off on only wanting to ride the reindeer but losing control of it causing the incident, but he quickly dismissed the idea knowing that such a blatant lie would likely only make things worse on him.

He sighed dejectedly hating his predicament before looking back to Tooth, "Well, since I'm getting better, we don't need the cuffs to keep me safe anymore right? They are rather uncomfortable. Can you please take them off of me?" If he could at least get free of this bed, he might be able to do something about his situation.

Tooth shook her head sadly. "I've already told you that I can't. The nurses have them on for a reason. They'll remove them when they feel it's necessary."

This incensed Pitch as he grumbled, "I can't speak to them, and I don't think they'd listen to me anyway." Getting an idea he turned a smile onto Toothinia, "But, I bet they'd listen to you if you asked them."

"Well… um… I'm not the best at it," she said, nervously smiling, "but I can try." she fluttered away from the bed in search of one of the nurse yetis. One just happened to be walking by at that moment and she caught his attention, explaining what she wanted him to do the best she could, using hand gestures to help her communicate. The yeti walked over to look at Pitch. After a few minutes, the yeti nodded and grunted out a stream of growls and reached down to undo the restraints.

Pitch was elated rubbing at his wrists once the cuffs were removed wanting to spring out of the bed but he thought better on showing how healthy he was with Toothinia still here. The last thing he wanted her doing was telling North he was up and about well enough to clear the air with him as well as get back to doing menial tasks. That certainly wasn't appealing at all. He did however roll over on his stomach though just to be able to change positions.

He was genuinely thankful as he practically cheered, "You did it! Thank you my dear, this is much better." Tucking his pillow under himself, he lay now propped on his elbows as he studied her a moment before sighing and looking away feeling a deep seeded guilt for everything he'd done to her and the continued kindness she still showed him, "You know, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I mean about the teeth… your fairies, and you know trying to destroy belief in you. I know it wasn't the best way to go about it, but I just wanted to be believed in to."

Had she heard him right? Did Pitch just… apologize? Toothiana's face looked stunned, her pink eyes searching Pitch for any hint of deception, eventually coming to the conclusion that Pitch was still drugged up from the sedatives. She blinked a few times, not really knowing what to say.

"I..." she gave a slight laugh and waved him off, "It's been so long ago. All's forgiven. Will you... forgive me for knocking your tooth out? I... sorta got carried away with that."

He smirked at her now, "I suppose I had that coming. At least I should be happy it wasn't one of my front teeth eh?" He grinned widely at her now as a show that his smile didn't show the missing tooth.

She nodded. "Yeah, and you're fortunate that your fall didn't knock one out."

He wondered absently what ever happened to that tooth after he'd been dragged away back to his nightmare lair. That thought put a frown on his face as it brought back to mind punishment and the fact he was still and would be for the foreseeable future a prisoner. He had to ask her now trying to keep the edge from his voice but not being able to do so entirely, "So… how long are you guardians going to keep me here… against my will?"

"You mean here in the medical room?" said Tooth. "Probably a few more days. But then again that's up to the nurses."

Pitch lowered himself to hug his pillow now as a scowl worked its way on his face, "No, I meant in general. What kind of sentence term am I looking at here? When will I get my freedom back?"

"Oh," Tooth's smile dropped. "Well, that all depends on various things. But really, that's North's decision. You should ask him."

Pitch snapped, "If it's up to that blow hard, I'll be here scrubbing his floors for the rest of eternity! His very presence irritates me, and I'm sure if I were to ask, he'd have some predictable catch phrase of what he wants to call wisdom to depart." As he spoke, Pitch was growing more volatile clutching his pillow now tightly.

Tooth was a bit taken back by the sudden outburst, but then she relaxed, shaking her head. Pitch was still Pitch no matter what, "I would be careful what you say. North is not a bad person. He means well. He's trying so hard to help you; if you could just see it. Can't you understand that you're only making things worse for yourself by your disagreeable attitude?"

Pitch began to work himself into a rage listening to Toothinia defending North, "Trying to help me! Ha! He's exacting revenge on me is what he's doing! You've said it yourself that you don't agree with his methods! What is there not to be disagreeable about?! He has no right to treat me like this! If I never see that fat buffoon again it would be too soon." Pitch was squeezing his pillow so tightly now that it looked about to burst.

Tooth's face went pale and her eyes moved upward, looking at something standing behind Pitch. A sheepish, nervous smile appeared on her lips. Before she could say anything, a booming voice rang out through the medical bay, "Fat buffoon, huh?" shouted North.

A cold thrill shot up Pitch's spine as he gasped eyes growing impossibly wide and jaw hanging agape as he spun his head around to see the imposing Cossack standing over him. "North! I… I… was just venting! It's the drugs!" The drugs had worn off quite a while ago, but Pitch was hoping North didn't know that.

North was skeptical as he glared down at Pitch, hands on his hips. Tooth, on the other hand, was too stunned to even speak as she continued to watch whatever was about to happen unfold in front of her.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't." said North. He pointed at Pitch's wrists. "I see they have taken off restraints."

Pitch nodded dumbly, "I uh, Toothinia spoke to them about taking them off for me… I was uncomfortable," he spoke now in clips carefully moving to his side wanting to get his rear out of swatting range as he shrank into the bed clutching his pillow nervously.

North nodded slowly, still staring dangerously at Pitch. "I hear you have been given clean bill of health and have made recovery."

Pitch gulped, "Well, uh actually… I… I was speaking to Toothinia, and she… she was saying that I should be here to rest another few days." He turned back to Toothinia now, "Isn't that right Toothinia? You think I need more rest; don't you!?" He was hoping that she would save him from North since he seemed ready to snatch him up right then and there, and Pitch was not at all prepared to face the burly man this soon.

She removed her hands from in front of her face, not sure what to say, "Well, I... Yes, I did say that, but if you're feeling fine, then you can leave anytime, I suppose."

Pitch visibly winced at her reply; that was not what he was hoping she would say for certain. He spun back to face North as he nodded nervously, "I think another few days rest is definitely a good idea!"

"Indeed," North mused. "I think it's excellent idea."

Pitch breathed a sigh of relief hearing North seemed to agree with him needing more rest, "I'm… I'm glad you agree. I… I should probably get to that now… resting I mean." Pitch strained a smile although his eyes were still impossibly wide watching every move North made.

Before Pitch could lay back down, North wrapped a huge hand around his wrist, "Get out of bed." he said simply.

A hard lump formed in Pitch's throat as he stammered, "Wha-what? Why?" He looked at North with a growing terror depicting that he knew exactly why, Pitch just silently prayed he was wrong.

"I think you know why!" said North, giving Pitch's wrist a tug. By now, North's voice had drawn the attention of the yeti nurses around them.

Pitch jaw worked to say something, but North's sudden action left him stunned silent outside of a sharp intake of breath as he was yanked forward shaking his head no vigorously.

"I've been lenient on you for too long!" North continued as he pulled a nearby chair up beside the bed, sat down, and yanked Pitch out of the bed and over his knee. "I showed you some mercy by waiting until you recovered. But now it is time."

The shock wore off as Pitch was roughly yanked over North's knee, "What!? Here! No! Wait! Not like this!" Pitch squirmed like an animal caught in a trap now.

North grunted as he positioned Pitch so that his legs were restrained by his own. He grabbed hold of Pitch's flailing arms and pulled them around to the small of his back and held them in place there. "I don't see why not. You apparently have no shame about insulting me out loud here."

"No! No!" Pitch shouted as North manhandled him. Nothing he did seemed to help his situation as he felt North remove all avenues of recourse to get away or block his intended purpose.

Once Pitch was secured into place, the fact that this was happening right in front of Toothinia and the ward's staff sank in as Pitch strained, "I… I'm sorry! That was a bit tactless I admit!" He turned a pleading eye to Toothinia, "Toothinia! Make him stop! Please! Don't let him do this to me!" Maybe her words would set him free here as she had managed to get him free from the bed's restraints earlier. As it was, Pitch knew North most certainly wasn't going to listen to him.

Finally, Tooth got her senses back and moved, "Um… North,"

"What?" said North turning his gaze to her.

"Maybe we could approach this in a different way."

"There is no different way," he said, pulling Pitch's robe back. "I have had it. It is time Pitch learns lesson. If you don't want to watch, leave."

Toothiana sighed and looked down at Pitch sadly.

Pitch grimaced feeling North pulling his robe back, and upon hearing Toothinia's pleas fall on deaf ears, he whimpered becoming quite desperate now, "North! Please! There has to be another way! Hear her out at least!"

North stopped and regarded Pitch a few minutes, "Pitch, if there was, I would use it, because I do not enjoy causing you pain. I know this is hard for you, but I want you to know I do this for your own good so you will learn lesson. I do this because I care about you and wish to help you. I do not do it so that you fear or hate me. I knew that keeping you here would be difficult, but if I can help you change your ways then it is worth it."

"My own good! It's for your own good! You just want to control me because you fear me and what I'm capable of!" Pitch's lip quivered his anxiety growing, "You couldn't possibly care about me! None of you could, I'm an affront to everything you are! Why would you even want to?" Pitch was breathing hard now his body trembling as he stared at North his eyes searching for reason.

A hard smack came down on Pitch's backside. "I do not want to control you. I try to save you from yourself."

He ducked his head as North's words echoed through him just as his heavy handed swats did. To save him from himself? No! He couldn't really want to help him! Could he? That seed of doubt was growing within him as Pitch knew enough about North to know that he wasn't known to be a cruel man, and the thought that North would think that the only way to help him to learn a lesson was to spank him of all things because he was incapable of being reasoned with was humbling in and of itself.

Pitch grit his teeth trying his best not to make a sound, but as the sharp smacks connected and repeated again and again spreading a pain that was becoming all too familiar he realized that wouldn't last long. He yelped now as the swats began to move over already sensitive skin, his body jerking and twisting violently as North laid into him. Pitch did his best to brace himself against the pain and displace what was happening to him, but he found he couldn't especially with all of them watching him strewn over North's knee kicking, yelping, and squirming like this.

Not letting up on the spanking, North continued talking in a calm, even voice. "I want you to know that you bring pain and misery on yourself, Pitch. You have no one to blame but self. You see me as being cruel? Fine, go ahead. But just remember that when you do so, you are only denying truth. You are putting blame on someone else because you can't face truth that you have brought yourself to this point." He brought his hand down harder. "The choices you make and your actions always bring consequences. You make poor choices and do bad things, you get punished." At the mentioning of 'punished', North landed an especially hard slap to Pitch's underside to get his point across. "Your rear suffers now because of poor choices on your part. I know it is hard for you to understand, but in time you will." Another hard smack. "And I will make sure you understand, even if I have to tan your hide all night."

Pitch hated hearing North chide him like this and shook his head as if he could stop hearing his words. The pain was becoming insufferable he realized as he twitched exaggeratedly letting out soft gasps and high pitch cries as North's hand continued its work. Not wanting this to go on any longer he screamed out, "Okay! Stop! Please! I get it! I… I shouldn't have tried to leave! I… I'm just so miserable here," he felt himself choking on his words as the past few days and all that he'd been through melded into an emotional wave of sorrow. What hurt more was the fact that it hadn't been all bad. The time he spent with Jack and Toothinia especially had awaken something in him that wanted companionship, but knowing who he was, he couldn't bring himself to believe that he could deserve any form of happiness in that way. Not having their friendship left nothing to lose, and so he had pushed them away afraid to let them get close because all it would leave was a deeper cut. He'd just disappoint them, and then he'd be all alone again.

"I accept your apology for trying to leave. But as I told you before, you do not decide when your punishment stops." North brought his hand down hard again before grabbing the waistband of Pitch's pants and pulling them down in one swift motion, picking up where he left off by bringing his palm down swiftly. "Like I said, I have been too lenient on you up till now. I will correct that mistake." North's hand came down in a blur as he peppered Pitch's bared butt with stinging swats, turning it a bright red. He made sure that Pitch never forgot the moment, but at the same time made sure he did not permanently harm him. "Are you miserable here, Pitch? Or is that lie you tell yourself? Part of your problem is you deceive yourself. You are your own worst enemy."

Too lenient! Pitch gasped in mortification as he felt North bare his flesh, "No!" he cried out mournfully. He couldn't help but to glance back and see his further shame mirrored by the fact that they were not alone and everyone else in the room was also seeing what he saw right now. His bottom was already quite red and splotchy with North's palm prints painting its surface, and he didn't seem to be letting up any. "Please!" he whimpered, but the big man gave no indication that he planned to stop anytime soon, and Pitch was reaching the end of his strength to struggle against the immovable force that was North. No, just as North had warned him, Pitch wasn't going to stop this, couldn't stop this even though he wished it so with every fiber of his being. This fact broke him, and the tears that had begun to well in his eyes now spilled down his cheeks. North was right of course, he was his own worst enemy, "I… I can't!" he lay limply now as he cried openly, "I… I don't know how to change."

North lessened the swats, but didn't stop. "First, you have to want to change. Nothing can happen until you take that first step. Then you have to commit to it. It will not be easy, but I believe it is possible. I have feeling there is good still inside you. You just have to find it. You may need help along way. And that is where we come in. We are here to help you on journey. You are not alone, Pitch. We are not enemies as you seem to think." North stopped spanking and leaned down close to Pitch. "Do you know why Man in Moon released you? Hm? He released you so that we could help you. You say you are miserable here, but you are where you are meant to be."

Toothiana had been fluttering in mid-air the entire time, horrified by the sight before her. But try as she might, she couldn't bring herself to move or say anything to interfere with what North was doing. So she remained silent and watched Pitch with sorrowful eyes.

Pitch sobbed breath hitching at the mention of not being alone. How desperately he wanted to believe North. The thought that the man in the moon would release him so that the guardians would save him from such a fate was hard to swallow, but he found himself wanting to believe it. Pitch sobbed now not from the spanking but from the forgiveness he was being granted. The thought that North could see any shred of good in him when he doubted its existence in himself struck a chord, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me!" Pitch wept deeply now, "I… I'm very tired of being alone; I… I want to try! I do, I'm just afraid to fail."

North stopped the spanking, letting go of Pitch's arms. Gently, he pulled his pants back into place and gave Pitch time to get himself under control again.

"You know I forgive you, Pitch." North said.

Toothiana took this moment to finally move forward. She put her hands on Pitch's wet cheeks, lifting his head up slightly to plant a kiss on his forehead, "Everyone's afraid of failing at some point, Pitch." she said softly. "It's normal. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. I was afraid of failing once too, when I first became the Tooth Fairy."

Pitch was so relieved that North had stopped, and as he pulled Pitch's pants up his body quivered at the sting that radiated there. The tears still poured from Pitch's eyes as he sniffled trying to get his breathing under control, but he found the more he tried to stop crying the harder he cried. It poured from him, his fears and anxiety, his doubts and anguish, he wept hard letting it shed from him, needing to be rid of it, and by the time he had started to calm, it felt as if his soul had been cleansed by the act.

He had barely registered that Toothinia was still there until her delicate tiny hands were lifting his face to hers. The kiss she left filled him with warmth and hope. He swallowed hard finding it hard to meet her eyes now as the onset of everything that had just happened, that she'd witnessed happen, and the fact that he was still over North's lap made him blush furiously as he let himself slide off of the Cossack's lap. Pitch landed gently on his knees wrapping his arms around himself and staring at the floor as he whispered tentatively, "I'm… I'm going to try."

"Come," North said gently as he helped Pitch to his feet. "I will take you to your room, and you can get rest you need."

Pitch complied wordlessly feeling spent emotionally as he rose to his feet keeping his head down to avoid eye contact with the yeti that still watched on curiously. His face burned with his humiliation, and he was still in awe of what had transpired between them and subsequently what he had agreed to do.

Pitch couldn't help but glance over at North. He wanted to be angry with the man, he should have been, but for some reason that he couldn't fathom, Pitch wasn't. He was just glad the whole ordeal was over and he could finally move on.

North walked with Pitch as he led him back to his room. Toothiana fluttered a few feet behind them, remaining silent. Once they arrived at the door, North quietly mouthed something to Tooth and she flew off down the hall.

"Here we are," North announced, opening the door.

Pitch sighed slumping his shoulders as he walked into his room. It was just as he had left it, and the familiarity was both comforting and saddening representing his recent failures, but also a place of belonging.

He felt so confused and at odds with himself now as part of him warred to rebel against the situation he'd found himself in while the other half longed for the companionship staying here gave an opportunity for. Pitch stood now inside the confines of his room and looked to North, his face was a wash of the inner turmoil he felt.

North smiled, pointing a finger at him. "You rest." Turning, he disappeared out the door.

Pitch watched him go, and once he was alone, he glanced down at his bed with a frown. He'd been strapped down to that hospital bed for who knew how long, so the urge to lie down was the last thing he wanted to do, and well sitting… he absently rubbed at the tenderness radiating from his seat deciding that this to was an activity that he didn't wish to partake in any time soon. He instead glided over slowly to one of the portholes to look outside glad that the stained glass shut out the harsh light of the day enough that Pitch could just stare out the window and think.

I light knock came to the door.

Pitch was torn from his thoughts turning his head towards the door, "Come in," he announced flatly before turning back to the window to watch the snow flurries whip across the glacier side.

Tooth slowly entered, peeking around the door until she caught sight of Pitch. Smiling, she came into the room, carrying a tray in her hands.

"Sorry to intrude, but I thought you needed a little cheering up." she offered her tray and the mug of hot cocoa on it. "You... er... probably wish to be alone right now, but yeah... I'll just set this down here." she put the tray on the night table.

Pitch turned to regard her. Of all the guardians, she had quickly become the one he felt closest to, and after what he'd just gone through, he didn't really want to be alone. As she put the tray on his nightstand, he held out a hand, "N… no don't go. I mean, if you want to, you can stay." He looked away before glancing up at her once more as if afraid that she would already be gone.

She came back into the room, "I can stay if you want me to. Do you wish to talk?"

He was somewhat nervous now as if tongue tied, "I… well, I thought you'd like to share the treats you brought…" he moved over to the bed quickly fixing the covers and fluffing the pillow for her to sit, "I don't have a chair," he said lamely feeling socially inept.

She smiled, pointing to the rocking chair in the corner.

He wrung his hands together, "Oh, oh yes." He was hoping she hadn't seen the rocking chair that he'd hidden in the corner after North's last use of it had left the mere sight of it as a bad memory. He had secretly hoped she'd have sat next to him on the bed, but he wouldn't dare voice it out loud.

She laughed lightly. "That's fine, though, I'll be content to just stay here where I am."

He blushed giving her a small smile before awkwardly climbing onto the bed and laying on his side propping himself on one of his pillows to carefully avoid sitting. He subconsciously hoped she hadn't noticed his carefulness surely able to put two and two together. He cleared his throat, "So uh; what did you bring?"

"Cookies and hot cocoa," she said with a nervous smile, fluttering over to the tray. "But I'm not really in the mood for anything, to be honest. So I'll leave this here for you. And we can just talk..."

She was unsure what to say to Pitch, especially after everything she'd witnessed. What was one supposed to say? Sorry you got your butt tanned? She noticed that Pitch was having a hard time getting comfortable and flew over beside him. "Um... are you comfortable? You want me to get you some more pillows or... something?"

He covered his face as an all new wave of embarrassment washed over him, "Uh no… I'm fine. Really." Well this was getting awkward he thought trying to shake off the memory that she'd been present throughout his recent punishment. Pitch desperately wanted to change the subject, but he had no idea how to start a conversation with her he realized, but he tried anyway, "So, uh… are you, are you going out to collect teeth tonight?" Wow, that was lame he thought silently chiding himself as he reached over for the hot cocoa to occupy his hands and subsequently put something else in his mouth other than his foot.

"Actually, no," she replied. "I took some time off whenever you had your fall. I felt like one of us should be around for you so you'd have someone there that wasn't, you know, a yeti. Since I have my fairies that can do my work for me, I figured I was the best one."

He grimaced, "Yes… that was rather unfortunate. I… I hope I didn't disrupt your routine too much." Pitch was touched that she had stayed with him even though he had been unconscious the majority of the time, he had no doubts that she monitored him the majority of the time he'd been in the hospital bay. Thinking on the fall saddened him as he doubted he'd ever be let near the reindeer again, and he had really enjoyed the beast… that was before falling off of it of course.

"Oh, not at all! Like I said, I have my fairies to take care of everything when I'm not there. So I can take off whenever I need to." she smiled. "Since you're feeling much better now, I can start back collecting teeth anytime."

"Oh," Pitch's face fell at her admission as he sighed, "I suppose so." It saddened him to think of her leaving again so soon. He took smaller sips off of his hot cocoa now staring inside of his cup.

"Aw, don't be sad. I can always come by anytime."

"Sad! No, no I'm not sad," Pitch lied waving her off, "I... I was just curious is all." He smiled sheepishly, "It's not like I have much else to do here," he grimaced as he didn't much care to think on that fact.

"I'm sure North will allow you to go back to doing your chores within the next few days, after you recover." she replied. Then her face brightened. "And after you get through, we can visit!"

His mood soured more at the mention of going back to doing chores as he replied wryly, "I can hardly wait to return to indentured servitude." He pouted angrily, "So you're going to leave me with those task masters to oversee me?" He didn't like the idea of having to deal with Sandy or North watching him work since they were a lot less flexible than Toothinia.

Tooth looked at him a moment, her smile fading, "You'd better watch how you speak about them." she said, all hint of mirth leaving her voice. "I'm in agreement with them when it comes to you doing work to help pay for your wrongdoings. You have to pay some way, Pitch. Better to do work than going back to the pit."

Pitch narrowed his eyes at Toothinia all out glowering now, "Or what? Are you going to rat me out, so they..." He couldn't find it in himself to finish the sentence before shaking his head in disgust. "Am I not allowed to speak my mind now? I should have known you'd side with them. You say you don't agree with how they treat me, but you're more than willing to stand by and let them force me to do their bidding. It almost makes you worse for doing nothing at all when you know it's wrong!"

Tooth backed up against the door, "I... hope you enjoy your cookies and cocoa." she softly said as she left the room.

Pitch yelled after her angrily, "Fine! Just leave then!" He began muttering to himself agitatedly, "I didn't want to spend any time with you anyway!" He glanced back towards the door sighing, why did it always boil down to this? Every time he thought he and Toothinia were getting along so well, she had to start putting herself and the guardians on a pedestal as if they had the right to punish him anyway they saw fit! He slammed the cocoa cup back down on the tray ignoring the cookies as he laid on his stomach pulling his pillow under crossed arms to lay his chin on them while his eyes were boring a hole into his headboard as he fumed.

Another knock came to the door, louder and heavier this time.

Pitch jumped at the abruptness of it. It was definitely North he was most sure. The man boomed and bellowed everywhere he went. His eyes widened fearfully as he thought to slink off the bed and hide under it. He of course only imagined this knowing it wouldn't do much for him other than likely anger North. "Co…Come in?" Pitch squeaked timidly. Did she actually go tell North what he'd said? He wouldn't come back to spank him again so soon would he? That consideration was absolutely awful especially since he was so very sore already. Pitch cringed not even realizing he was now clutching his pillow to himself in anticipation.

North entered, "Is everything okay?" he asked. "I saw Tooth fly down hall like she was mad."

Pitch swallowed hard still staring at his headboard and keeping his head propped on his arms his whole body growing tensely rigid. He was afraid to look the big man in the eye for fear he'd read his guilt, "Uh. Yeah, everything's fine. I think she had to go back to the tooth palace or something like that," Pitch stated tightly.

"Ah!" North nodded. He continued to look at Pitch, his face showing that he was deep in thought.

Pitch found himself glancing worriedly towards North feeling rather uncomfortable with the man standing in such close proximity. He'd grown quite fearful of the man's quick recourse and worried now if the man knew he was lying about how he and Tooth's conversation went.

"I would like for you to come with me," North said at last. "If you feel up to it."

Pitch turned to face him studying North's face and almost afraid to refuse, he gave a short nod, "Sure," he replied lightly.

North led Pitch through the halls until they came to the reindeer stables. Here, North took pitch inside, "I understand that you like my reindeer." said North at last.

Pitch had been wary as they had made their way to the stables wondering if North had another point to make regarding the reindeer, but his words helped Pitch to finally relax as he nodded cautiously looking up to see that one had moved to poke it's head over the stall at them.

"In that case, I put you in charge of them." North raised an eyebrow. "If you want the job."

Pitch seemed unsure as he looked between the reindeer and North stepping up to the reindeer that lowered its head to be touched. Pitch couldn't resist the urge and reached out to touch its muzzle tenderly closing in to let the creature nuzzle his cheek as he closed his eyes enjoying the feel of the creature's warmth and contact. Pitch opened his eyes again staring at North now perplexed as his eyes searched North, "I… I don't understand? You, you're trusting me to care for them after… after everything?"

"Let's call it second chance." North answered "I'm trusting you won't make same mistake again."

Pitch shook his head no; that ordeal was more than enough of a lesson to know he had no plans to try and ride a reindeer again… or runaway for that matter. His bottom twinged at the recent memory; no definitely not anytime soon!

He couldn't understand why North would be so nice to him after he'd disobeyed him so thoroughly. Pitch gathered North felt he'd already addressed the matter, so they could move on, and Pitch was grateful for it. He'd assumed that North would make him suffer for quite some time with horrible additional tasks, but this small boon had surprised Pitch. The reindeer seemed content to be rubbed now, and Pitch as before drew its head in close continuing to pet the creature lovingly as a small smile broke on his lips. Yes, he would enjoy caring for these creatures very much so. He looked back up at North replying softly, "I'd like that very much… thank you."

North nodded. "The job is yours. I expect you to brush them, bathe them, and water and feed them. And you will need to take them outside for exercise."

Pitch nodded eagerly thinking of any kind of work to be made to do, this work would be ideal for him. His excitement at being given this particular detail he didn't hide as his smile widened with genuine joy, "I can do that!"

He started to observe the stables more analytically to notate where all the various supplies to complete the chores were. He wondered what exercise included, but the thought of riding one of the beasts just for fun was an exciting prospect. Perhaps he could get the chance to train one if North would allow it. Of course that would be a conversation best broached another day.

"I know you wish to rest," North continued, rubbing the nose of one of the deer. "So you can start when you feel up to it. If you have questions, come to me."

Pitch watched North curiously now, for once not seeing the man as strictly an obstacle to overcome, "I'll start tomorrow," Pitch voiced confidently not really liking the idea of being cooped up in his room for days recuperating, even if he should take a day or two to heal fully, it just seemed rather dull and boring to his new tasks in comparison.

"Excellent!" North said. "I will leave you to get acquainted with deer, then. Unless you have questions?"

Pitch shook his head no, he was still in awe of the fact that North was giving him this as he stared back up at the massive animal, "I'll try not to let you down," Pitch stated quietly almost to himself as he continued to pet the deer's muzzle.

North nodded, studying Pitch a moment before turning to leave.

Pitch watched North go deciding to stay with the reindeer a while longer as he pulled one of the brushes off the wall and made his way back to the reindeer. The deer grunted in satisfaction knowing well what the brush meant. Smiling, Pitch climbed up on one of the rails to bring himself closer to the animal and began methodically brushing the underside of its neck.

He spent the next hour there getting lost in grooming the animal before wandering back to his room feeling somewhat satisfied. Tomorrow he would start early tending to them.

These thoughts pleased him, but for now he was weary from the day's events and his body still ached from his bruising from the fall, so he curled up in his sheets to rest. Pitch contemplated the fact that even after everything he'd just endured and the fact he was still a prisoner, he had to admit to himself that he wasn't as unhappy to be here as he had been when he first arrived.

(For any interested, there's new artwork for the story for chapter one and looking to have one more done before the end of the weekend! All artwork is posted within the chapters on my archive of our own account under the pen name: spankingfemme! Miles of smiles! And as always reviews are much appreciated! XD)