From Nightmares to Dreams

by spankingfemfatale

It's been several years since the Guardians defeated Pitch, but they are bound to cross paths again, and when they do, the Guardians have decided that things between them have to change. WARNING! Contains non-sexual spanking! This lovely fic is a co-written piece by myself and the lovely WindChimeGhost! (Her Archive of our own account name!)

23. What's in a Dream?

Chapter Twenty-Three

What's in a Dream?

Pitch started awake his nerves jumping in alarm upon realizing he was no longer where he'd remembered being. At first his thoughts went to assume he was having a particularly vivid nightmare until he realized that he wasn't feeling in the least bit unnerved or unhappy.

Blinking he laid his head back down now sinking in to the soft pillow. Had he fallen asleep and his experience had all been a dream? It would make sense he decided thinking from how the day had started, it was most definitely a nightmare, and most likely Sandy had helped shift the nightmare into a wonderful dream.

He sighed softly thinking it was a nice dream, and it wasn't until he spotted the Easter basket Bunnymund had given him propped up on the nightstand did Pitch realize that it in fact wasn't just a dream. He beamed pulling back the covers excitedly to notice not only was the dream a reality, but the basket was refilled as if he'd never eaten any of it. A note was attached reading: 'Pitch- Some more treats for you, but eat in moderation. -E. Aster Bunnymund.'

Pitch's smile grew impossibly wide as a warmth spread across his cheeks and feelings of elation coursed through him. He saw beside the basket laid carefully in a decorative see-through casing was the egg that North had painted for Pitch as well as the bubble flying toy that North must have also decided to gift to him. These acts of kindness made his heart clench in a way he didn't easily comprehend as the feeling had been made alien through a millennia of time to forget it. Its presence was not unwelcome, but it made him blush heatedly.

It was already dark, and Pitch had to wonder how long he'd been asleep. He wandered out into the hall after taking a handful of chocolates, he had hesitated possessively not used to having possessions, but he ultimately decided they were safe as no one had disturbed the little schooner ornament as of yet, and the elves were forbidden from going in his room.

The clocks said it was only a little after 6PM, so only a few hours had passed, although the sudden shift from day to night was playing havoc on his inner time clock making it feel far later than it was.

Making it out to the main hub, Pitch was suddenly hit with the realization he didn't know what to do with his time. He thought to seek out North wanting some company, but he fidgeted now wondering if he shouldn't just leave the man alone for a while. Surely he was tired of being around him after having spent almost the whole day with him? This was of course Pitch's insecurities tugging at him, but they were hard for him to ignore. So Pitch just stood there idly unsure what he should do.

As if on cue, North rounded the corner and started walking down the hallway toward Pitch. The big man smiled when he caught sight of the Boogeyman, "Ah, Pitch! You are awake. What pleasant surprise." he said. "How are you feeling?"

Pitch smiled winningly his uncertainties put to rest in the wake of North seeming pleased to see him. He responded cheerily, "Much better. I… I don't know what came over me. One minute my brain was everywhere, and the next I found I was slowing down feeling really tired before suddenly waking up under my covers. I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep," he stated sheepishly.

North nodded amusingly. "You had reaction to sugary treats. I brought you back here after you went to sleep."

Pitch's cheeks turned a darker hue of purple, "Uh… yes. I've never eaten that much sugar at a time… other than the plates of cookies and cocoa and the slice of cake from the party I've eaten here, I haven't really consumed that sort of thing." Pitch shrugged, "Honestly, I stopped eating anything for the most part after the dark ages, and none of the foods I ate back then did I ever remember tasting so good or do anything like that! I didn't think that sort of thing could really affect beings like us, but then, it is Pookan chocolate, so I guess I learned something new today." He smirked.

North chuckled. "Now you know why I have to keep eye on elves when there are sweets in room. You do not want to know how sugar affects them, believe me."

Pitch grimaced looking a bit nonplussed at the thought, "Is that how I was acting?"

"No," North continued smiling, "The elves don't ramble about everything."

"Ramble?" Pitch looked offended, "Was I really?" Pitch realized he probably was now that he thought back on the conversations they shared wincing at the reminder, "Oh I must have looked ridiculous!"

North laughed. "Oh, come now, Pitch. We all have our moments of looking ridiculous. There is no shame in that."

Pitch pouted folding his arms looking slightly miffed, "Speak for yourself; how is anyone supposed to take me seriously if I look ridiculous!"

"You have a lot to learn about life." North said, still chuckling. "People don't have to take you seriously all the time. Sometimes you have to loosen up and have fun and act silly. It is normal."

Pitch's shoulders slumped a little considering the fact that he did like to let loose every now and then, but he'd always done his best not to let the guardians see that side of him. Pitch smirked chuckling as he remembered back when he'd been dancing across North's globe. That was fun and silly, but he doubted North would have thought so, especially then. He had to wonder if North's yetis and elves ever reported that particular stunt to the big man, and what he must have thought about it if they had. He beamed, "I've been known to relax a little here and there."

"Glad to hear it." North beamed. "Speaking of relax. I have something for you. Come," he motioned for Pitch to follow him.

Pitch was quite interested now especially with the promise of North having something for him. He followed curiously behind North now walking with a pep in his step as his excitement to see what North was talking about built. He was really beginning to like these surprises, and if most of the day was any indication, Pitch had a feeling he was also going to like this surprise.

North eventually led Pitch to his office. He grabbed up a box from his desk and showed it to Pitch. "Here is something simple for you to build." he said, taking the lid off and reaching in to drag out pieces of a wooden toy of some kind. He put them back in the box and set it on the desk again. He then reached out and picked up a wooden toy train engine. "This is what it is supposed to look like. Before you put it together, you may paint each piece whatever color you wish it to be, and then assemble it when it dries. You may use this as reference to go by." He set the completed train down in the box of pieces.

Pitch looked the pieces over interestedly; his eyes examined the completed train and then the pieces. He pulled each piece out of the box now and lined them up to see each of them individually figuring out how it correlated with the already built train. Finally understanding fully where all the pieces went a smile creased Pitch's face as he put the parts back in the box turning back to North, "I think I got it! Where do I go to paint it and put it together?"

"I have set up your own private work table in workshop." North smiled. "I will show you." He led Pitch out of the office and to the workshop where he stopped in front of a small table that was placed in one of the areas having very little activity, so that Pitch could have his privacy. On the table were a couple of paintbrushes, a cloth, a glass of water and some wood glue. "Here it is." North said, proudly. He pointed. "Through that door is paint room, where we store our paints. You may go in and pick out what you need. Just be sure to replace lids and return them when you finish." He picked up the glass of water. "This is for cleaning brushes. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Pitch nodded watching North depart before looking about the table at the supplies and laying his box of train parts down. He silently glided back towards the paint room, and his eyes lit up as he walked in taking in the vast shades of every color possible. There was over thirty different shades of grey and ten shades of black Pitch noted with glee taking them all down along with the darkest blues and deepest purples. He brought them all back to the table and meticulously lined the bottles up by shade.

He moved through the paint brushes deciding on a wide-brushed paint brush and the darkest black. Pitch then proceeded to paint every piece fully in that particular color deciding it would be the base, and once it dried he would use the other colors to paint on top of it. Several hours later Pitch had placed many different layers of the colors he'd brought to the table on to his train, He painted the edges with the dark blues, filling in the windows with the deep purples and using the greys to highlight the train cars with an almost ghost like smoke that creeped along the entirety of the train making the train look as though it were barreling at a harrowing pace. Pitch used the silver to accentuate the metaled areas of the train and really bring each part to life. He found as he worked each piece through in detail the others had time to dry, and by the time he was finishing the last car, he was ready to assemble the rest of it. Finally slowly gluing it together and letting it set, Pitch was quite delighted. His nightmare train was complete with golden orange haunted eyes peeking out of many windows and screaming faces and hands imaged lightly like an imprint in greys into the cars and the engine of the train. It was very spooky if he did say so himself! He was quite proud of the train once he put it fully together beaming down at it happily.

Having finished the project, Pitch moved to replace all the paints in to the paint room and clean up the brushes. Of course as he was doing so, he couldn't help but to keep looking over admiringly at his freshly painted and constructed train which he saw as much more interesting than the boring trains he'd always seen around the workshop and across the Earth. His train had style, and giving the train qualities of horror placated a deep seeded need to give nightmares that always niggled at him especially not being able to do so at all for close to a month now. The paint helped to express the craving even if it didn't satiate it. He wondered what North would think of his train; would he like it? Or would it repulse him? Pitch frowned as he pondered this taking his newly constructed train now to find North to see what he thought of his finished project.

North sat in a chair in front of the fireplace in the lounge, fast asleep to the point of breathing faint snores. An opened book lay face down on his stomach, his hand still resting on it.

Pitch brought his train first to North's office, and after seeing Santa was not there, he moved down the hall towards his lounge hoping to find him there.

When he did find North sleeping as he was, Pitch glided forward to study him silently. He looked down at the train in his hand and the images inscribed on it. His outward reflection of these nightmares didn't help the urges he felt, and as Pitch watched the man gently snoring in front of him, he thought that it wouldn't be so bad to influence his dreams just a little would it? Silently Pitch moved closer now his heart fluttering as the air around the two of them grew thick, and the fearlings within Pitch thrummed to his fingertips and reached out with invisible tendrils to swirl up North's arm and into the sleeping man's nose. North's brow creased now as his subconscious mind began to turn towards the steady pull Pitch was creating. The taste of fear after being deprived of it for some time always tasted sweeter Pitch thought in heady satisfaction breathing in deeply. North was starting to shutter and small beads of perspiration dotted his forehead cueing Pitch that he needed to withdraw before he woke North. Pitch exhaled as he reluctantly receded away from the sustenance he'd wanted to greedily continue to consume. His eyes fluttered from the sensations of satisfaction he now felt, and he closed his eyes to take in long drawn out breaths of air relishing the electric jolts it sent through him.

Getting control of himself once more, Pitch noted North's brow had once more relaxed, and Pitch suddenly felt guilty as he looked about nervously. It was then that he noted his hands wore a slight trail of shadows momentarily and the glittered flecks of light had faded slightly. The implications this wrought were not lost on Pitch as he backed away now feeling the need to depart North's presence; Pitch fled the lounge quickly leaving behind his finely painted train on the couch beside North.

North's eyes flew open, and he jerked sitting bolt upright. He frowned as he looked around him. He sensed something different, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He set his book aside and started to get to his feet when his eyes landed on the train. He reached out and carefully picked it up, looking it over. It wasn't hard to guess who it belonged to, especially since no yeti would paint a toy in such colors. He looked around the room again, curious as to why Pitch had left it.

"Pitch?" he called. When no reply came, he shrugged, got up from his chair, and made his way to Pitch's bedroom.

The guilt Pitch had felt was immediate and sharp. Why hadn't he just resisted those impulses? North had been just lying there so peacefully, and after everything nice that they had done for him today, North specifically even, Pitch still had struggled against his nature and lost. Granted, he could have kept feeding off the delectable flavor of phobia that had been swirling about in North's head, but he hadn't. His desires now felt wrong even though he'd wanted it SO very badly. Why was it so wrong? Wasn't giving nightmares his purpose? Why should he feel wrong for doing what he was constructed to do? He hadn't hurt him had he? Nightmares weren't pleasant, but he suffered them almost every time he slept, and the ones he suffered were far worse than the mild hint of anxiety he'd planted into North's mind. Surely he hadn't been that bad to take a small infinitesimal tidbit of fear to tide his desires. The high was addictive, an instant euphoria saturating his entire being. He was afraid now mostly because he wanted to do it again and again, and if confronted with the possibility he was almost sure that he'd be unable to refuse it.

Exiting the lounge, Pitch's eyes darted about canvasing the area and assessing who was there. The Pole had quieted considerably going on 10PM now, and this relaxed Pitch a little, but he had to walk, something to ride out this overwhelming feeling of remorse that weighed on him. He made his way up to the upper deck now where the windmills resided. He sat on the edge of one of the bases to stare at the big machines while silently watching the blades whirl around only making a soft whump, whump, whump noise. On his walks in the past, he had come here just to stare outside the small slits in the walls where the windmills pulled their energy from and relax in the fact that no one else ever really came up here. It was a good place to be alone and just gather his thoughts he had found. Now it only served to make him feel ill for what he'd done. North had trusted him, and even though he had not specifically told Pitch that he could not feed off of his nightmares, it was undeniably off-limits Pitch knew.

North knocked on Pitch's bedroom door, and entered when he didn't get a reply. "Pitch?" he called. But Pitch wasn't there. He exited and closed the door, wondering where the Boogeyman could have gone. He sighed, looking down at the train in his hand, then walked off toward his office.

Pitch stayed sitting there for a good hour before his feelings of culpability faded and he'd built a new resolve that brokered it was only because he was being divested of what he deserved and needed that he'd done what he'd done, and it wasn't right of the guardians to rob him of what he was entitled! After all, no one was making them not collect teeth, give out good dreams, make presents, paint eggs, and create snow days! Why shouldn't he be able to revel in what he did best?

It was only fair wasn't it? Wasn't it? In the back of his mind this didn't settle well especially as he'd pulled out the chocolate Bunnymund had given him while he'd contemplated this and slowly worked the small bites around on his tongue to get the most enjoyment from the taste before it dissolved. It helped to calm his nerves enough Pitch supposed as he sighed trudging back to his room finally. There on his night stand he glanced at his beautiful gifts from North and Bunnymund, and to look at them now made him feel slightly ill. Wishing to escape this resurfacing guilt, Pitch climbed in his bed and buried himself in his covers. He didn't sleep; he just laid this way under the dark folds ruminating on his feelings and trying to convince himself once more that what he'd done wasn't in fact wrong.

North had searched all of the obvious areas for Pitch as he made his way back to his office. When he still couldn't find the nightmare king, he called Bunny and the yetis to help him search the Pole, fearing that Pitch might have gotten the urge to make an escape. While they searched, Pitch had made his way back to his room without any of them ever knowing it. It was about thirty minutes after he lay down when heavy footsteps sounded outside the door and the door itself swung open. The bulky form of North filled the doorway. The big man thought it would be best to recheck the bedroom to see if Pitch had returned. So he was more than relieved when he saw Pitch's form lying in the bed, "Pitch!" North shouted.

Pitch jumped at hearing North's bellowing voice standing over him, and he couldn't help flinching with a slight thrill of fear coursing through him before recovering and opening the covers enough that only his golden and silver eyes shown out of the darkness highlighting his large pupils. He stared out warily at the big man, "North! Uh… hel…hello. Did… did you need me for something?"

Bunnymund came in behind North now seeming relieved to see Pitch was in fact still at the Pole, "Oh good! Ya found him! Crisis averted!" Turning ta Pitch he chuckled, "Ya had the big man worried Pitch, he's been looking for ya going on an hour now," Bunnymund said lightly feeling much better now that everything was well once more.

"That I have," said North. "I came in here earlier looking for you and you weren't here. I looked elsewhere and you were not anywhere. So I got worried. Where have you been?"

Pitch remained under the covers feeling safer with his whole body shrouded like it was, "Well… I… I finished painting and assembling the train you gave me, but when I went to find you to show you what I'd done, I saw that you were sleeping," Pitch paused a moment, "I… I didn't want to wake you, so I wandered about the grounds to work some energy off before coming back to curl up here."

Bunnymund patted North on the shoulder feeling tired and ready to retire. Turning now to head back to the warren he remarked with a stifled yawn, "Alright North, now that that's all settled, I'm a gonna be on my way."

North gave Bunny a nod, watching as the rabbit disappeared down one of his holes. He then turned back to Pitch. "I saw your train on the couch." He looked at Pitch, rather puzzled. "Why did you just leave it there? I would not have minded if you woke me up."

Pitch gulped, "I didn't want to disturb you. Did you… did you like the train?" Pitch avoided the why he'd left the train wanting to focus the topic elsewhere. He truly was curious to hear what North had thought of his train, and as such peered a little more out of the covers to get a good look at North's expression now.

North nodded, smiling. "Yes, I liked the train. You did a wonderful job on it, both painting and assembling."

Pitch smiled to hear this as he gave a weak, "I'm glad you like it." He found he couldn't keep eye contact now though as the thought of what he'd done weighed down on him more than ever. He wanted to get it off of his chest. He'd been wanting to speak to North concerning how he felt about his cravings for a while, but he was afraid North would be angry with him now because he'd had so little control over himself.

He couldn't bear to create another rift between the two of them so soon after they'd just had such a great time. That, and the thought of North punishing him… yet again made a ripple of disgust go through him. He remembered how North had left the warren after what had happened, and as much as he feared the pain, he feared that reaction even more.

"Something troubling you?" North asked, looking at Pitch with concern. He had to admit that Pitch was acting a bit odd, even for Pitch. He thought for sure that he would be rambling in excitement over the train.

"Um… I guess I'm still a bit… tired from the chocolate," Pitch lied disappearing back into the folds of the blanket to keep the expression on his face obscured. He knew he had a bad habit of expressing his feelings too easily, and North seemed to be getting wary now. The last thing Pitch wanted was to have the big man questioning him because he really did just want to get it out in the open if just to settle this horrible feeling that was growing in the pit of his stomach the longer the man was in his presence.

North continued to study Pitch. His special senses told him the man was lying, but he decided not to say anything. Instead, he pulled Pitch's train out and set it down on the night table next to the Easter basket.

Pitch watched North lay the train down, and had to bite his lip now. This feeling was horrible, and already he could feel the tenuous relationship between them growing thinner. Pitch was wrought in indecision, so he just stared quietly in the tense silence waiting to see what more North would say.

"If you ever wish to build more things, let me know." North said. "You did good job with train." With that, North turned and walked toward the door. "Have good night, Pitch."

North started to depart, and against his better judgement, Pitch called out to him, "Uh... North?"

North stopped and turned toward Pitch. "Yes?"

"Can we... I need to talk to you," Pitch stated carefully. His heart was racing now, but this wasn't something that he was going to be able to keep secret from him without it damaging their relationship Pitch knew.

"Oh?" North closed the door and walked over to the bed again and sat down on the side. "I thought something was troubling you."

Pitch was silent a moment having to work up the courage to speak now, "I… I kind of did something you might not have approved of." He swallowed hard now as his mind worked to piece together exactly how he would tell North and hopefully not anger the Cossack too much.

North raised an eyebrow, not saying a word as he moved his arms to cross over his chest.

Pitch cringed at the motion North made feeling reticent to speak further now, but knowing he didn't have any other real option anymore. "Please… don't be angry with me. I… I didn't really mean to do it. It just sort of happened…" he trailed off feeling terrified to reveal the truth now in fear that every good thing they had just shared would evaporate like ash in his mouth. Would North be able to forgive him?

"Go on," North said, "I am listening."

Peeking out of the blankets to get a better read on North's face, Pitch continued, "Well… you… you know when I said I went to go find you earlier… and I found you sleeping?" Pitch halted a moment carefully considering his words, "I… I may have invaded your dreams a little bit." He recoiled as he spat it out watching North warily.

North nodded slowly, his eyebrows lifting. "So that explains it, then."

Explains it? Pitch wondered what he meant by that, but the only words he could find to say were, "I'm… I'm sorry. I know I keep disappointing you," Pitch sounded deflated now.

North wasn't sure what to say. He had sensed something wasn't right when he woke up. Now that Pitch had told his story, it all made perfect sense.

"I appreciate you being honest and telling me, Pitch." North said at last. "I am disappointed that you would try something like that with me, but I'm glad that you have told me instead of covering it up and lying."

"I didn't mean to… not the telling you about it part, the giving you a nightmare part. I… I couldn't help myself. When I saw you lying there… sleeping… it was like second nature to want to reach out to you. I… I hope you're not too mad at me," Pitch's words were strained, and it was obvious he was having great difficulty even admitting this to North for a multitude of reasons.

"No, I am not mad." said North. "Disappointed, yes. Also a bit worried."

Pitch was glad to hear that North was not mad although his disappointment was still unsettling but expected. Worried? That he had not expected though and voiced his concern, "Worried? I don't pose a threat; I… I only gave you a mild nightmare to get a smidgen of a taste… you should have barely registered I had even given you one."

North turned to Pitch. "Don't pose a threat? The fact that you gave in to feeding is grounds for concern." His voice sounded somewhat sad. He wanted to say more, but he didn't want to hurt Pitch. Instead he sighed. "Pitch, you must learn to get your fearlings under control."

The tone North was taking troubled Pitch, and he finally brought his face out from the depths of the covers to speak in earnest, "I… I know. I'm sorry. You must understand, it's… it's a need I have. I know the fearlings call for it, but it's a part of who I am. I… I can't help what I am North. No one is asking you to stop being Santa, or Bunnymund to stop delivering Easter, but you're asking me to stop being who I am. I didn't want to hurt you, and I was afraid to tell you because I know how you guardians think of me and what I do," Pitch's voice wavered under the burden of guilt he felt.

"It is not who you are, Pitch," North snapped. "Yes, you are Boogeyman now, but you weren't always." he pointed a finger at Pitch. "Part of your rehabilitation here at Pole is you getting your fearlings under control and doing good with your powers. I suggest that you try doing that before you get self in more trouble."

The hair raised on the back of Pitch's neck as North became animatedly agitated. Pitch nodded vigorously at North's last statement to ensure not to raise the man's ire any more than he accidently had, "Of course, of course; I want nothing more than to use my powers in a way that will make you happy with me believe me!" Pitch was adamant, but he felt unable to figure out how to make such a compromise with the skillset he had and still get what he wanted out of it as well. He did not voice this though as he felt it might further upset the man. The last thing he wanted to do was upset North more. He was hoping to escape any further punishment just by the fact he'd actually fessed up for his wrongdoing in the first place. Getting North more upset though would not help in that cause.

North nodded. "Good. Glad you understand. You are only one that can do it, since it is your power and your responsibility. Only you can get them under control and then choose for yourself what you do with it."

Pitch sighed as he nodded, "I know. I'm working on that. …I'll continue to work on that," Pitch was sure to sound sincere for North's benefit to let the Cossack know he took his words seriously.

"Pitch, I am unsure what to do with you." North suddenly said. "Concerning this matter, I mean. I accept your apology, and I am also pleased with your honesty in telling me about what you did. But as I said, I am disappointed. You came very close to breaking my trust, and this hurts me." North's brow scrunched up as he pondered the situation.

Pitch swallowed hard as he listened to North's words; he could tell North was deliberating on whether or not to punish him further, and if he did, Pitch couldn't really blame him as he knew he'd brought this on himself. Since North was on the fence though, Pitch was going to do his best to sway him that he'd learned enough of a lesson already, "I did come out and tell you without you having to ask. That should count for something shouldn't it? I mean, if I'd never told you, you'd never have known right?"

North nodded. "Yes, it has helped to cut down on your punishment a lot, but I still feel you need something to help this lesson stick so that you remember. Am I right?"

"I won't forget! Believe me! The lesson has stuck more than you could ever know! I couldn't stop thinking about it; that's why I told you!" Pitch protested. He was really hoping the fact that he had felt so bad would be punishment enough, so he gave North his most pleading face to show just how sorry he was.

"You felt guilt," said North. He was very pleased to hear Pitch admit it openly. It was definitely a good sign that all of them were moving in the right direction. "That is good. But, come; let me help you put closure on that guilt." He patted his lap. "I will only give you six swats. Had you not told me about this, it would have been a good deal more."

Pitch wanted to say he didn't need any more closure than for North to tell him he'd been forgiven, but he didn't dare say this out loud as he reluctantly climbed out of his covers and slunk over to North's lap with a sullen frown plastered on his face. He didn't argue as he tentatively made his way across the man's lap feeling wholly shamed that he had become so accustomed to this sort of punishment that he just accepted it now as a willing participant. How very far he had fallen he thought absently as he settled over North's lap, and his body quivered uncontrollably in anticipation. He was holding his breath now clenching rigidly as he waited anxiously for this all to be over.

The gold flecks in Pitch's skin being somewhat faded did not escape North's eye as he peered down at the Boogeyman. This concerned him greatly and he made a mental note to talk with the Sandman about it when he returned from his work. Just wanting to get this part over with, he remained silent as he pulled Pitch's robe back. He decided to show Pitch a small amount of mercy and leave his pants in place this time and immediately set to work, laying down six swift, hard swats to the nightmare king's rear.

Pitch was grateful for any small leniencies North afforded him although the first slap had come as a surprise because of it. He squeaked out an undignified yelp and twitched about uncomfortably as North peppered his backside with the stinging hard swats. Tears flowed from his eyes before North had even started hitting Pitch as the guilt for what he felt mixed with the humiliation of what was to come. It caused a catalyst of sorts to bubble over within him now as he worked to stay silent through the remainder of his punishment.

The fact that the smacks had been laid over already tender flesh still made the sting quite unbearable, but Pitch did his best to contain himself and take the punishment stoically. If you could call the way he was wreathing about and kicking his feet stoic. Still, he did manage to stay in place on North's lap fighting the urge to roll away from the intensity of the blows he received, and other than small grunts of pain, he did not call out like a madman as he'd done the last time he was draped over North's knee a couple days ago. As the sixth blow landed, Pitch wordlessly praised the fact that North was finished and fought the urge to bolt off the man's lap to hide back under his covers. He found himself turning a sulky tear streaked face back toward North now unable to speak for fear of breaking down into sobs as he silently awaited release.

"Now, all is forgiven." North said, helping Pitch to his feet. "I expect you to exercise self-control the next time you feel urge to enter my head, or head of one of other Guardians."

Looking down, Pitch's eyes blurred over again as he sniffled and gave a quick nod of affirmation, "I will. …I'm really very sorry. I won't let it happen again." He really hoped that were true; this had managed to be his best and worst day with the guardians. He'd been switched in the morning, everything else positive that had followed, then to give into temptation that ended with being spanked for a second time in one day! It was a new personal record Pitch realized begrudgingly. It did a number on his ego to repeatedly rack up offenses like this. This of course made him reflect about what the other guardians would think of him if they knew he'd done this to North. His eyes shot back up to North as he clasped his hands together in supplication, "You… you're not going to tell the others what I did are you?"

North said nothing as he stood to his feet. He gave Pitch a gentle squeeze on the shoulder and walked to the door, opening it. He looked over at Pitch again, "Get some rest, Pitch." he simply said before leaving the room.

Pitch wiped his eyes dry and ran his hands through his hair as he watched the big man leave. He had started to pace but stopped as quickly as he'd started feeling the chafe of how sore he once more was. He reached back to cup his inflamed backside rubbing tenderly at the sensitive flesh and thinking sourly that at the rate he'd been going, he was never going to sit comfortably again. The fact that North had said nothing regarding his concern left little in the hope that the other guardians would not be informed of his breech, and this brought a fresh wave of shame to cover Pitch's face. On some level, he wished he hadn't told North what he'd done although Pitch was sure if he hadn't told North that the man would have ferreted out the truth eventually, and the mild spanking he'd just received would have been ten times worse.

Pitch sighed staring down now at his collection of gifts and toying with one of the tendrils on the bubble machine before picking it up and winding it as he'd seen North do. The contraption floated in to the air distributing streams of bubbles as it paraded across the ceiling. Pitch watched it move about no less fascinated by it now than when he'd first seen it in all its wonder at the warren. He had regretted that telling North what he had done had earned himself another spanking, but he hadn't regretted the relief he now felt having the matter off of his chest and knowing that North had in fact forgiven him when Pitch had fretted he may not for such a grievance against his person. Pitch could now look at the offerings on his night stand and once more feel that genuine joy he'd received when he'd been given them in the first place over that tainted wretched tug at his conscious he'd felt those several hours after the incident had occurred. That had been awful.

This however did not change the sorrow Pitch felt regarding his powers and how North expected him to conjure some supposed good way to use them. North had turned down his previous suggestions, and this left Pitch feeling at a loss. Self-control… that was what North had stressed, but this too left Pitch restless to ponder the lengths of his own ability to avoid indulgence. He'd never had to before, and having made promises that he would, left Pitch feeling melancholy and doubtful. He supposed if it ever came up again, he'd see how well he could keep that promise. For now though, Pitch decided to grab a handful of his chocolates, climb on his bed, and complacently observe his bubble machine to help soothe the tensions he felt.