Chapter Nine

Pushing Limits

The next morning, Toothiana curiously poked her head into the stables, knocking lightly, "Hello? Pitch?"

"Toothinia," Pitch stated dryly from beside one of the reindeer that was outside of its stall tethered to a pole. The animal was steadily plowing its head greedily into a bucket of grains that Pitch had set before it while he painstakingly worked to scrub the beast while it was distracted and less likely to give him a hard time bathing it.

Tooth was stunned to see Pitch actually doing work. She eyed him a few minutes, thinking she was dreaming, and then a smile formed on her lips, "Um… I stopped by your room, but you weren't there. North said you were in the reindeer stables."

"These beasts require sustenance and get quite ornery if not managed properly, so I wanted to tend to them early," Pitch of course stated this matter-of-factly as if it were common knowledge how to care for reindeer.

Pitch's reply shocked the Tooth Fairy even more, but she didn't bother to question. At least Pitch was doing something without protest, and she found that to be a good thing, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

The fact Toothinia felt the need to check in on him irritated Pitch especially after the way they had parted ways the night before, and so he snapped icily, "Yes, well as I told you before, I don't need a babysitter."

"You don't have to be rude, Pitch." she replied.

"You're right, I don't," Pitch was purposefully being rude now mostly because he knew he could be with her, and it was his way of getting her back for angering him the day before. He knew he probably shouldn't treat her that way, but she always seemed to accept it and move on, so he'd made her his verbal punching bag to vent his frustrations on. It was rather therapeutic.

Pitch's blatant rudeness greatly annoyed Tooth. She knew he was doing it for spite to get back at her for what happened between them the day before, which she actually couldn't understand since everything that had happened had been Pitch's fault. He had been the one to act like a brat and hurt her feelings. Maybe North had been right in choosing spanking for Pitch, she thought. Perhaps the disciplinary action had its place after all, "So, North gave you the job of taking care of the deer?"

Pitch finished his scrubbing backing away from the animal to take a better look and seeming satisfied dumped the scrub brush into the bucket of sudsy water before turning to address her, "It would seem so… you appear surprised to not see me with a warden. Were you thinking I'd try another escape attempt or shirk my duties if you hadn't came? As I told you, I don't need you watching over my every move. Even North trusts me this much." He knew he was getting on her nerves by the manner in which she stared at him now, and this brought a smirk to his lips. Getting under her skin was too fun, and getting a rise out of her was becoming a small form of entertainment for him. He was bored after all.

"Like I said, I came to see how you were doing. I didn't come to see if you were trying to escape."

He smiled at her deciding he'd give her a small break if she was indeed just coming to see him, "I'm doing better. This is an improvement from scrubbing floors and baking cookies which I'm not really cut out for," he said with a tint of disdain thinking on the memory. "I thought you wouldn't come by again until after I'd finished for the day… I'm surprised to see you here this early."

Tooth remained silent, not knowing what to say.

He peered at her curiously, "What? You look upset. I haven't offended your delicate sensibilities now have I?" His smile widened maliciously. She really was too easy he thought as he pulled the grain bucket away from the reindeer returning to the stable to fill it again, "So what would you like to talk about? Surely you didn't just come here to watch me work? Or did you?"

Tooth continued to stare at Pitch. Then she shrugged. "We could talk about a lot of things. Like your apparent need to spend more time over North's knee, among other things."

His face registered shock as he spun back around, "Wha-what!?" Pitch's brow drew down sneering angrily at her as he pouted, "That's not funny!"

"I... didn't say it to be funny, Pitch. I meant it." Tooth fought to get the words out. She couldn't believe she was saying them, but at the same time it felt good.

Pitch couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth; how could she say that to him? He blinked his eyes expressing hurt, "I thought you were against that sort of torture! Were you just lying to me?"

Tooth sadly shook her head. "I was against it... I still am... sorta. But the way you acted yesterday and the way you're acting now has opened my eyes to see that maybe North was right all along."

His lip twitched as he fought to control the anger that welled in him that even Toothinia who was staunchly against what North was doing at first now seemed to agree with it… at least concerning him. He growled, "I don't need to hear this from you! Just… just go away!" He began throwing supplies around in a huff kicking over the grain bucket next to his feet as a way to physically vent his frustrations with Toothinia. He didn't need her friendship or her stupid opinions!

"Fine!" Tooth quickly flew off, stopping halfway to the door. "I felt sorry for you at first. But now I see you're nothing but an arrogant brat." She turned and left.

Pitch clenched his teeth and balled his fists watching her leave kicking the stable door violently and startling the reindeer in the stall next to him. Looking down at the mess he'd created, he sighed tiredly. Maybe that wasn't the best of ideas. Now he'd have to clean this up to.

It could wait until he'd finished taking care of the reindeer he decided as he trudged back to the reindeer still tethered to the pole. It had shaken off the majority of the water, so Pitch brought it out to the main running area where he'd brought the others to romp after bathing them. There he stood leaning against the fence line just watching them run about and bump heads as he thought about Toothinia. He hadn't really wanted her to go away, but he also felt betrayed with her knowing how much that remark must have hurt him to hear her of all people say about him. Could she really see him like that or was she just trying to anger him? His cheeks darkened knowing Toothina wasn't the type of person to say hurtful things out of spite; that was him. Maybe he'd gone a little overboard with teasing her. The thought to apologize came to mind although to actually do so might be painstaking.

Sandy saw Toothina come zipping down the hallway looking quite unhappy, and he stopped signaling a question mark above his head as she approached.

"Oh, Sandy," Tooth said, taking a deep breath, "It's Pitch. He's such an arrogant, stuck-up brat. I see now that North was right all along in his method of discipline. If you ask me, Pitch hasn't had enough yet."

Sandy's brow drew down looking Tooth over to see if she'd been hurt before looking worried and flashing a picture of North and a question mark over his head.

Tooth looked at Sandy, not quite understanding him. She shook her head, "I'm sorry, I'm not following."

Sandy sighed before depicting a picture of North followed by an arrow pointing to a picture of Pitch and then another question mark.

"Do I want North to spank Pitch?"

Sandy nodded with obvious concern for her.

Her shoulders slumped. "I don't know. He said a lot of rude, hurtful things to me, last night and a few minutes ago. Some of it I think he only said it to make me mad. I don't understand. I thought I was making headway with being his friend, and then he just suddenly acts like he doesn't even care anymore. I mean, this IS Pitch we're talking about. So it's normal, right?"

Sandy shrugged before his eyebrows lifted as he tilted his head to the side lifting a finger with a lightbulb portrayed over his head. He pointed at her and made a picture of Pitch raging and then of her spanking Pitch.

"Me spank Pitch? I… no… I couldn't…" Tooth said, looking nervous. "I wouldn't know how. He'd get away from me."

Sandy's smile broadened as he patted her shoulder. He pointed to himself then formed a question mark.

Tooth thought about his offer a moment, and then slightly nodded her head. "Yeah, I would like that."

Sandy nodded giving her a smile and a gesture to lead the way.

Tooth led Sandy to the stables, entering first and looking around for Pitch, "Pitch?" she called out when she didn't see him nearby. "I wish to talk with you."

Pitch had still been leaning against the rail watching the reindeer when he heard Toothinia's voice; he didn't bother turning around but called out his location with a hint of scorn, "I'm over here."

Tooth nervously hesitated, glancing at Sandy.

Sandy gave her a thumbs up before fashioning a dreamsand whip as if to say he was already ready to take Pitch in hand if need be.

Tooth gave him a half smile and fluttered forward until she found Pitch, "Uh, Pitch…" she really didn't know how to approach this, "We need to talk."

Pitch glanced over at her as she flew up next to him before turning his attention back to the reindeer, "Go on then, talk." He tried to act disinterested, but he was listening quite intently and very curious as to why she'd come back so soon. Maybe she'd regretted that her words had upset him and had come back to apologize.

Toothiana held back a few more minutes, trying to gather nerve enough to do what she had to do. Suddenly, a look of determination appeared on her face as she flew closer, "Pitch, I'm tired of your attitude."

No, this wasn't an apology, she'd come back to berate him! He turned towards her now glowering, "Oh really? Well perhaps I wouldn't have an attitude if you weren't so wishy washy with your supposed personal convictions! Perhaps if you…"

Pitch was cut off though as Sandy's whip arched out snapping him squarely on his backside.

Pitch let out an undignified yelp spinning around to face Sandy his jaw dropped in mortification as his gaze flitted nervously from Sandy to Toothinia, "You… you brought him back here so you could talk to me?" He would have backed away further, but he was already against the fence, so he instead pressed himself against it rubbing fiercely at his bottom as it still smarted quite a bit from the day before where North had done a number on him. Just the one lash was enough to ensure Pitch's rapt attention.

"No," Tooth answered, shaking her head, "I brought him here to help me put you back in your place. Your attitude towards me these past few days has been inexcusable. I've put up with your rudeness up until now, but I'm not going to put up with it anymore."

Pitch's mouth worked into a pout as he looked down. He knew that he'd been disrespecting her for some time now, and he guessed eventually it would have come to this through one of the other guardians reprimanding him as Sandman had done in the kitchens, but it still hit him like a kick in the chest that Toothinia herself actually went so far as to fetch Sandman to come 'deal' with him like this. He didn't know why, but this act hurt him more than he'd expected it to mostly because he had realized that he pushed an otherwise passive person into thinking this way. He stated somberly, "Alright… point made. I… I guess I let my anger get in the way sometimes. I'll… work to control it." He glanced back up at her a moment before looking back down feeling wholly embarrassed by the conversation to be chided in such a way and for his immediate reaction to buckle to it.

Tooth peered at Pitch and then glanced over at Sandy, wondering what she should do next.

Sandy shrugged not knowing if she wanted him to make more of an impact to go with her words by lifting the sand whip.

Pitch had glanced up his eyes going wide as Sandy lifted the whip, and Pitch realized quickly what the golden man was asking her. He spun towards her now grabbing one of her hands becoming quite penitent, "I'm sorry! Really! It… it won't happen again okay? Just please don't have him…" he trailed off a worried glance flitting to Sandy and back to her.

Tooth searched Pitch's eyes, wanting to believe him. She still wasn't sure if he was being truthful or faking to get out of the current situation, "Are you going to act better towards me and the other Guardians from now on?" she asked.

Pitch's eyes narrowed at her words, but he didn't dare glare at her directly instead choosing to stare at his hand that was busily picking at the splinters of wood in the fence. He barely contained a hiss as he spoke, "Yes."

Tooth thought a moment, studying Pitch's movements, and then turned and gave Sandy a quick nod for him to give Pitch another reminder.

Sandy was on him like a flash lashing out a strand of dreamsand to wrap around his wrist and yank him forward before whipping out a new strand to capture both hands in front of him with one strand as Sandy rose in the air. Pitch spun on tip toes as he was led back towards the fence and dragged over it beside Toothinia. Sandy then whipped out another strand of dreamstrand through the hole in the gate to wrap around Pitch's knees affectively pinning him straddled over the fence bottom high in the air.

Pitch for his part gasped in surprise having fully expected the conversation to have ended with the one strap as a warning, but realizing that was not going to be the case, he squalled, "Wait! No! I said I would act better! Please no!" Sandman was like lightening, and before he'd realized it, Sandy had him trussed up and immobile as Pitch pulled desperately to get away.

Sandy now held both strands in one hand preparing a third strand to start lighting Pitch's rear up when he glanced to Toothinia and motioned to her to see if she wished to make the point herself or have him continue to do it for her.

Tooth looked at Pitch's rear and then to her hand then she looked at Pitch, "Were you telling the truth?"

Pitch raised his head looking back at her his eyes reflecting uneasiness; he practically shrieked, "Yes, yes! Toothinia! I said I was sorry didn't I?" A knot was forming in his stomach as he breathed heavily trying to back off the fence without being able to budge.

"Sandy, you can let him go." Tooth suddenly said

Pitch visibly relaxed, "I'm glad you've come to your senses," he breathed thankful she wasn't going to actually go through with it.

"I came to my senses when I realized North had been right all along in the method of discipline he chose for you." said Tooth with a sigh. "I accept your apology, but I expect your attitude to greatly improve from now on."

His insides froze at hearing her words as he looked away sulkily. Sandy relaxed his hold on Pitch's legs and hands until the dreamsand melted away. Pushing himself off of the fence to finally stand upright, Pitch wanted nothing more than to leave this horrible encounter, "I… I have to put the reindeer back in their stalls," he spoke in an almost whisper as he moved quickly to unlatch the gate just to get away from the two guardians.

He felt defeated on a whole new level now. It had been bad when North had spanked him as well as Sandy, but on some level he'd come to expect harsh treatment from them, but not from Toothinia. Toothinia had been the one person he could rally to his side concerning his severe treatment, and now here she was saying that she agreed with it fully and worse was about to carry out the punishment herself. It made him both angry and sad as his emotions swirled within him impossibly to the surface causing tears to well in his eyes. He felt disgusted feeling them standing there waiting to fall, as he moved to storm off across the field.

Tooth sighed and looked at Sandy, still wondering if she had done the right thing. She didn't want Pitch to fear her, but yet she now understood that she had allowed Pitch to get out of control around her, and that she needed to do something to put him back in his place.

Sandy's eyes followed Pitch a moment before turning back to Toothinia and floating down to her. He lay a comforting hand on her shoulder as he smiled sadly in understanding. Pitch needed to be shown he had to respect them, and unfortunately, he didn't ever seem to make it easy on them or himself.

Pitch sighed as he made his way across the field to one of the first reindeer he came upon. He grabbed its reins pulling it to him and reaching out to pet it absently as he got his emotions under control.

What was wrong with him? He hadn't even really been hit, but here he was on the verge of tears over what? He sneered cursing himself inwardly and feeling weak. What was he becoming? He wasn't sure, but all of these uncontrollable feelings were getting to him, and perhaps it was because it had been so long since he was actually forced to feel at all made these feelings so hard to deal with now. Either way, he had to get himself together.

Pitch straightened now taking in a deep breath as he worked to cut his emotions off trudging back with the reindeer and doing his best to keep the beast between he and the other two guardians as he walked it back to the stables. He kept his head low only cutting furtive glances their way to avoid speaking to them further.

"Do you think I did the right thing?" Tooth asked Sandy.

Sandy tilted his head looking at her curiously before his eyes wandered to Pitch moving swiftly into the stables. He turned back to her now giving a vigorous nod.

Toothiana visibly relaxed, even though the air around them still felt tense, "I guess I'll just leave him alone for now and visit him later when everything has calmed down."

Pitch skulked in the shadows of the stables watching as Toothinia and Sandman made their way back to the entrance of North's workshop. He didn't want to see them again after that whole scene and was glad they had decided to leave him be. He felt a mix of anger at Toothinia for doing this to him as well despondency having lost her respect. He was cross at himself now for ruining their relationship and twisting it into something else where she obviously thought less of him. Why should he care what she thought of him? What any of them thought of him? This was all temporary; wasn't it? Was it?

These thoughts made Pitch brood as he moved back out to the field to pull the reindeer in one at a time and finish caring for them. The work out here with just he and the reindeer was soothing he found, and not wanting to return to his room any time soon, Pitch took his time completing the rest of the chores just to eat up time. Once all the reindeer had been thoroughly tended to and he grew bored of the stables, he trudged back to his room moving through the least populated areas to avoid everyone.

Once he'd made it to his room though, this too was lackluster, but having nowhere else he'd rather be at the Pole, Pitch decided to climb into his sheets. The bed really was comfortable, definitely cozier than anything he'd slept on in centuries, and between its sanctuary and solace, Pitch found it to be one of his preferred places to be even if he wasn't sleeping. Pitch sighed laying his head on his pillow just staring off at nothing in particular. He really had to find something else to do with his time he thought listlessly.