Chapter Thirty-four

Dynamics

Pitch stared back out the window just enjoying the soft hum of the windmills and the silent presence that Toothiana gave him. He found they didn't need to speak in order to enjoy each other's company. The silence shared with another person like this held a unique quality. Prolonged bouts of silence still left him feeling restless no matter how familiar, but this silence left a fog of comfortability to be able to enjoy the serenity of the quiet but also to know that there was someone else there he could speak to if the desire arose.

He didn't like being alone, but he did enjoy the stillness of it. Having spent so much time by himself made him irritable and anxious to the hustle and bustle of the Pole just because it was almost too much to observe at once. Having abhorred the soundlessness before from suffering alone, Pitch had still grown uncomfortably used to it over thousands of years of enduring it. It became an expected state, and his mind had grown to cope with it and eventually embrace it in order to not go completely insane.

Now, there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't communicate with someone on some level, and it was a welcome change to the silence. Having spent over a month with the guardians, Pitch had started to covet the company he was granted realizing that these types of interactions were helping to ground him (even if they did make him an emotional mess half of the time.)

New experiences socially were creating a bloom of interest in him, and Pitch was starting to broaden his scope of thought to encompass how others around him felt over just their relation to him. He was wanting to get to know them better, so he could relate to them. He peered over at Toothiana now seeing she seemed lost in thought herself, "Quarter for your thoughts?" Pitch gave her a cheeky grin, "I would have said penny, but you don't deal in those any more right?"

Tooth gave a light laugh. "No," She continued to stare out the window. "I wasn't thinking about anything in particular."

"You looked lost in thought… but if not, are you about ready for some stroganoff? If it is one thing the yetis around here excel at, it's cooking," Pitch beamed looking over at her with a warm smile.

"I guess it's possible for one to look lost in thought but not actually be lost in thought." she replied. "Okay, if you want to eat so badly." She chuckled.

"I'm practically wasting away over here," he gestured at his lithe form grinning at his own joke, "Although, if you don't want to… I mean it's not like we need to eat or anything," he floundered a moment before gesticulating his hands about as a sign of indifference, "It was just a suggestion. Before coming to the Pole, I never took much stock in flavor, but now… I kind of enjoy it."

Tooth's brow wrinkled in thought. "Do you remember eating before... before you became..." she made a motion with her hand to mean his current form.

He grimaced shaking his head no, "I know I did it, but it was so long ago, and those memories have become scattered cobwebs at the back of my mind," His eyes reflected sadness, "I barely remember my own family… trivialities such as food and the taste of it weren't momentous enough to take any hold over me."

Tooth nodded, sadly.

"But… that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it now," he forced a smile as he nudged her not liking the look of sadness on her face.

She smiled. "So what foods have you tried? Besides the stroganoff and sweets."

Pitch's smile became legitimate now as his eyes fluttered looking down almost bashfully, "Oh… I don't know. A couple things here and there. I don't eat most days as the feeling of it in my stomach still feels odd, but I do like tasting things. I've tried entirely too many candies and treats… that seems to be most what the elves subsist off of," as he said this his lip curled in disgust to think of eating candy canes all day long, "But, there have been a few things I've tried that I really liked! The stroganoff… stroganoff Tuesdays…" he giggled mirthfully liking the familiarity of it, "There's also lasagna… oh is that ever good! And… and there's meatloaf! And… tuna casserole," Pitch was starting to get a wistful look as he thought on all of these foods before nodding and turning his bright smile on Toothiana, "What about you? What foods do you like?"

Tooth shrugged. "To be honest, I haven't eaten too much since I became the Tooth Fairy. I've tried some sweets, of course, but being the Tooth Fairy…" she smiled and chuckled. "Yeah, you know how I feel about that."

Pitch rolled his eyes playfully, "Bor-ring! Oh come on Toothiana! There's," he gestured quotations, "Healthy for your teeth foods like carrots and celery… which… I'm not overly fond of those," Pitch wrinkled his nose thinking of the raw vegetables when he'd tried them. He had been quick to discard them getting a scolding from the yeti as he'd done so.

Tooth laughed. "Yeah, I know, but, like I said, I haven't eaten too much since becoming immortal. I guess when you… change… you just forget about doing things that were once commonplace."

Pitch snorted, "Tell that to North! That man eats a mountain of food along with plates and plates of cookies, and milk, and stars knows what else. More than half of the time I've seen him, he's stuffing his face. I have no idea where he puts it honestly."

"Well, that's kind of a tradition with Santa Claus. You know, kids putting cookies and milk and peppermint sticks out for Santa on Christmas Eve, and carrots for the reindeer. There aren't any traditions where kids leave food out for the rest of us, except for maybe carrots for Bunny. Kinda funny, isn't it? Santa gets food and I get the part that chews the food." Tooth chuckled.

"I doubt the reindeer see those carrots," Pitch jested, "Out of all the different jobs out there, yours is definitely… uh…" Pitch held off realizing he was likely already being rude making fun of North's propensity to eat a lot and about to say something mean about Toothiana's profession. He paused flushing a bit knowing he'd just been spanked for rudeness, so it would probably be wise to reign it back a tad, "Uh… messy… and uh…" he wanted to say disgusting and unhygienic, but he probed to say something much less offensive now, "taxing."

She gave a quick shrug. "Yeah, it can be a bit messy sometimes. But… I won't go into that."

Pitch silently was thanking the stars she didn't go into that! He was interested in eating after all, and hearing a detailed description of how revolting Toothiana's teeth could be was the last thing he wanted to think about before diving into a bowl of stroganoff, "So, will you try some with me? Stroganoff I mean?"

Tooth gave a light laugh. "Sure, why not?"

Pitch beamed, "Great!" He was much happier now wearing a bright smile as the two talked making their way to the kitchens.

Huge pots of food were cooking as yetis rushed about cutting up last minute items but mostly working on deserts which would follow dinner. Meal time was quite the affair at the Pole.

Pitch and Toothiana made their way over to where Alla, the main yeti chef, directed a small team that were bustling about making preparations for the masses that would soon be trickling in within the next couple hours. It was an unorganized event where elves and yetis came and went as they finished up their tasks. They usually came in small groups, but as the hour drew on, more and more would fill the balcony space as they often spent a good two hours sitting, eating, and enjoying each other's company.

Alla seeing Pitch put her hands in the air rumbling out a welcome, he was typically one of her first customers, if and when he decided to venture into the kitchens. She was one of the few yetis that Pitch was actually rather civil with as she lumbered up to him barking something he couldn't understand, but the soft pat to his shoulder to lead him over to the side where there were bowls was enough of a direction, and Pitch smiled at her, "Don't mind if I do," he gave her a warm smile as he grabbed up a bowl for both himself and Toothiana and proceeded to scoop out a small helping for the both of them.

Alla scolded him halting Pitch in his tracks and turning him lightly back around to put another scoop into each bowl before seeming satisfied and setting him loose again.

Pitch didn't protest to her manhandling him and only smiled sheepishly at the yeti's persistence that he eat more. He scuttled back to Toothiana handing her the bowl he'd made for her, "She is quite insistent that I eat more," he whispered then, "Don't let her see you throw any of it away. It will upset her, and you'll get scowls for days!" Pitch warned her with a wry smile.

"Alright," said Tooth, accepting the bowl. She couldn't help but smile at the yeti and Pitch. And she shook her head, not really understanding how Pitch could be so gentle and polite one minute and extremely rude and disagreeable the next.

"Come on," Pitch motioned jerking his head to the left, "We can get a good seat near the end of the balcony where there's the best shade and view of the mountainside." He led them through the side door and out onto the balcony. The balcony was encased in a stained glass design of assorted Christmas scenes and snowflakes. The tables were of varying sizes meant to seat big and small groups. Pitch led them to a smaller table where he looked up to get her approval, "This good for you?"

Tooth nodded.

There were a couple yetis and elves sitting at one table already, but other than them, the room was pleasantly empty as far as Pitch was concerned. All of the tables were set with silverware and pitchers of ice water. Pitch poured them each a glass after he'd picked a seat to set his bowl down at.

Looking at the hard wide bench of the circular tables brought about a grimace as Pitch gingerly sat. He'd stayed standing up until now, and forethought had him thinking maybe they should have taken their meals back to his room where sitting would have been much more comfortable. He tried not to draw attention to it even though his back had gone rigid to sit, and he shifted awkwardly in an attempt to get comfortable. He grabbed up his fork to pluck a forkful of food silently cursing North for taking some of the joy out of his meal with Toothiana.

Taking in a deep breath he looked up at Toothiana to see her reaction to the food as he took a tentative bite himself.

Tooth had been watching him shift in his seat, her cheeks flushing slightly when he finally looked at her. She cleared her throat and quickly grabbed up her fork to stab at her food, more or less to look busy.

"It's good isn't it?" Pitch queried taking another bite. He hadn't noticed that Toothiana had been watching him wriggle about, or he would have been severely embarrassed, but as it was, he was blissfully unaware and amiably awaiting her opinion on the food.

Tooth took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. A smile appeared on her lips. She nodded. "Yes, it is very tasty." She took another bite. "I had almost forgot how enjoyable it is to eat."

Pitch beamed replying excitedly as he grabbed another forkful, "Me to! It is a nice change of pace is it not?"

"Yeah, it is." she answered.

Pitch was a slow and methodical eater taking very small bites and just savoring it as he watched the clouds roll by through the lightly stained glass.

Tooth ate silently, occasionally looking up at Pitch. She still couldn't get over the drastic change in him. He seemed like a totally different person from the way he was when she had had to swat him. Maybe the spankings did help, she thought.

Pitch smiled at Toothiana as they ate, "If… If you like, Saturday they have lasagna. I think out of all the dishes made here at the Pole, it's probably my favorite. Maybe… I don't know, if you're not busy, we can come by and grab a plate?" He wanted to share that experience with Toothiana as well he thought happily, but then regretted the offer because he was unsure if he'd be finished with the repairs by then. If he was, then he'd already be on restriction to his room and wouldn't be able to leave it. This brought a momentary pout to his face, but his brow drew down in determination as he stabbed another forkful of stroganoff thinking he'd just have to make sure that the repairs stretched at least until Sunday, so as not to interrupt his plans with Toothiana.

Tooth frowned. "I don't know if I'll be able to make it then. I can try, but won't you be working on the conveyor?"

Pitch shook his head, "Not all day. Besides, I'll need to give most of my help when the mountainside and glacier walls are covering the area in shade. I can't exactly work out in the direct sunlight and all. It's a high cliff, but during the peak sunlight hours, even it can't create enough shade to protect me. During those hours, I can't be out there without it directly hitting me and doing me physical harm. You could come around noon, the sun usually dips off to the other side of the building by two, so I'll have a two hour window… saying you're not busy."

Tooth nodded. "I'll have to wait and see. Uh... North does know all of that about the shadows, right?"

Pitch blinked never having thought about the fact since he'd never been asked to do anything in the direct sunlight, so the occasion had never come up to bring it to the man's attention. Pitch had been quite thankful that the design of the many spires of the Pole and the multiple floors as well as being surrounded by impossibly high sheer cliffs created a pretty well shadowed area for him to visit the reindeer at most junctures during the day as the stables themselves also added an extra layer of protection. The landfill though was not in the same vicinity of the Pole and although seemed well shaded enough, Pitch hadn't spent much time in that particular area to know for sure. His eyes shifted to Toothiana looking a little chagrinned, "Uh… no. I guess I just sort of assumed he knew."

Tooth gave a nod. "He probably does, but I would check with him just in case."

Pitch grimaced at the thought of having a safety talk with North not really wanting to bother with such formalities, "I doubt it'll be necessary, but if the need arises, I'll address it."

"Alright," said Tooth, looking a little concerned. She took another bite of her food.

The two continued to eat in silence for the most part until Pitch had had his fill and rose not wishing to sit on the hard bench any longer than necessary. He'd only eaten about a third of the food; he'd enjoyed it, but unlike North didn't find the need to gorge himself on it. If it had been some of Bunnymund's chocolates… well, that was an entirely different matter altogether.

Not wishing to waste it, he walked over to one of the tables where several elves cringed to see him darken there table. The way they shrank from Pitch elicited a malicious smile to bear his lips, "Here; one of you eat this," he demanded dumping the bowl in the middle of the table.

The four elves stared first at him and then each other and then back at him.

"Go on, what are you waiting for?" Pitch growled having done this a number of times in the past since the severe scolding he'd gotten from Alla previously had made him not wish to return to her kitchen with nothing less than an empty bowl.

Tooth scowled when she saw what Pitch was doing. "Pitch!"

Pitch was taken off-guard by Toothiana's tone as he spun back towards her looking surprised that she'd be calling his name in such a fashion, "What?" He asked quizzically.

"That isn't nice." she shook her head. "If you don't want the food, just throw it away. Don't force the elves to eat your leftovers."

Pitch frowned as he tried to explain, "I'm not forcing them. They'll eat it; stars know they continuously are munching on something at all times. I'm just making sure there's none wasted."

Tooth sighed, shaking her head. She pointed at Pitch's seat in a gesture for him to return to the table and sit down.

Pitch didn't like the manner in which she was addressing him now, but he grumpily moved back over to the table. He was agitated, so he didn't sit (not that he wanted to sit anyway), and he left the bowl on the elves' table giving them a glare before he left to intimidate them into eating the leftovers. One of them shakily took the bowl and began shoveling the food in its mouth, and Pitch smiled darkly before turning to return to Toothiana feeling quite vindicated. He now stood next to Toothiana with a scowl painted on his face feeling the need to argue his point as he huffed, "I thought you'd be happy that I was doing my best not to throw it away! One of them always eats it! Look, one of them is eating it right now!" He motioned to the elf that was painfully shoving the food into his mouth for fear of the nightmare lord's repercussions.

"I said to sit down, Pitch." said Tooth, still pointing to Pitch's bench.

No, he didn't like this side of Toothiana at all! But, reluctantly he obeyed not wanting to upset her further. He carefully lowered himself back onto the bench to sit, adjusting himself as best he could. His mood had been severely dampened though, so now he sat with slumped shoulders sulking darkly to show his unhappiness.

"I wish you wouldn't be so mean to the elves." she said. "They might not be the brightest, but they're still living beings. They aren't your toys to kick around."

Pitch nodded looking away from her disapproval, "I… I know. I wasn't trying to kick them around. I… I'll try to ask more nicely in the future," he sighed not wanting her to be upset with him any longer.

"I'm glad to hear that. Kicking around, ordering around-it doesn't matter. It's all the same. You're displaying dominance over someone who's weaker than you are. That's bullying, Pitch. And don't try to lie about it. I saw how that elf was shaking as he ate that leftover food. You've been forcing them to eat your leftovers all this time so you won't have to face that yeti." A look of disappointment washed over Tooth's face.

When she said it like that, it did sound kind of mean, but they were just elves! All they did was scurry about and run amuck, Pitch was just making use of them. Alla on the other hand always served him some of the best portions of what she made. For whatever reason, the yeti had taken a shine to Pitch and had seen it as her duty to make sure to 'fatten him up,' so Pitch having taken to the special treatment aimed to please in the manner he knew best. This wasn't acceptable to Toothiana obviously.

He wanted to get up from the table now feeling irritable over the scolding he was receiving, but for some reason or another, Pitch bore it only deepening his frown in response.

Tooth sighed, looking down at the table.

Seeing her expression made his falter as he screwed his mouth first into a tight line and then into a pout. He couldn't win with her, "Okay fine. I won't order them to eat it anymore. I was just trying to get them to do something functional for once," he grumbled.

Tooth turned an exasperated look to him. "Pitch, it's still wrong. You can't force someone to do something against their will. They might be elves, but they still have freedom to choose. If they don't want your leftovers after you've kindly asked and offered, don't force them to eat them."

He rolled his eyes at her exasperation didn't he just agree with her? What more did she want from him? His temper was rising, and he stood, "Alright! Fine!" he stormed over to the table of elves and snatched the bowl away from the terrified elf bringing it back to the table and letting it clatter with a loud thud in the middle of the table as he groused, "Done!"

Tooth nodded, ignoring his rising temper for the time being. "That's good."

His irritation had spiked, so he gave her a smoldering look as he crossed his arms remaining standing over her peevishly and waiting impatiently for her to finish as he grumbled, "I hope your happy now."

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I'm happy that you corrected your behavior and mistake without throwing a tantrum or making a scene." She smiled. "But there's one little thing you forgot."

His lips parted wanting to make a retort that he didn't throw tantrums, when her last statement caught his curiosity, "Oh? And what's that?"

"You haven't apologized to the elves."

Apologize to elves? Seriously? If it would make Toothiana happy, he supposed he could do it. He turned toward the elves, and they immediately froze to stare at him terror stricken. Pitch sighed, "I doubt you'll comprehend the sentiment, but I'm sorry for forcing you to be useful. It won't happen again," Pitch ground out.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" said Tooth.

He turned back to her replying flatly with an equally unamused look plastered on his face, "Incredibly so, but to appease you; I think I can manage it."

"It's not to appease me, Pitch. It's to help you learn some manners." Tooth replied. She studied Pitch a few minutes. "Or would you rather I tell North and let him deal with your rudeness?"

Pitch blanched eyes going wide as he shook his head vigorously, "Na-no! I... I'm sorry! Please don't tell North!" He wore a look of wild-eyed desperation now well aware of how such news would be received by the Cossack.

Tooth nodded. "Okay, then. You either learn by my methods, or I take you to North. Just to let you know, I won't spank you unless I absolutely have to. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn't push me into having to do it, because I know it's not pleasant for either of us. There are other ways of learning, and I would like to use them if possible, but you're going to have to be willing to go along with them without giving me difficulties."

Pitch winced wearing a worried expression now. He didn't want to be taken to North, so he hesitantly agreed, "O…okay. We can do it your way. I… I won't give you any trouble." She'd mentioned she'd spank him now, and that sent a sick feeling to run down to the pit of his stomach. Now, not only was she onboard with North, she also intended to apply it if he angered her enough? His whole face burned with the thought of her even contemplating the idea let alone threating to do so. He had to wonder what other learning methods she planned to use; he was morbidly curious in that he wanted to know, but deep down, he had a feeling he really didn't.

Smiling, Tooth nodded appreciatively. "Good to hear," she gave Pitch a loving look. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, but I'm tired of you taking advantage of me."

He sulked, "I …I didn't mean to make you feel that way." Pitch was confused not understanding how the way he treated the elves correlated with her, but he thought better than to expound upon the topic for fear of her thinking that he hadn't learned some lesson or what not that he had managed to overlook.

Tooth nodded, not exactly sure what else to say.

Pitch studied her a moment unsure if she was still eating but knowing he was through with sitting at the table, so he stood idly by looking slightly displaced over their recent conversation. He couldn't help but to dwell on what possible 'other methods of learning' she could possibly be talking about. He almost wanted to ask her just to satiate his curiosity, but to know what she planned most likely would upset him he was most certain. It was after all supposedly some other means of punishment, and what wouldn't be upsetting about that? Why did she feel the need to punish him at all? Wasn't he facing enough punishment at North's hands? Why couldn't she just be there for him? These thoughts had his brow drawn down in a stormy expression as he started to absently pace.

"Is there something wrong?" Tooth asked, noting Pitch's pacing.

Having grown a bit unsettled by her words and eventually flustered as he weighed her declarations, he replied a little more snappishly than he'd meant, "I finished some time ago, so now I'm just waiting on you."

Tooth sighed, shaking her head. She took her bowl and fluttered off her bench. "I don't have to eat unless I want to, remember? If you want to go, we can go."

He hadn't meant to interrupt her meal. He was being rude again he realized as he frowned holding out a hand to halt her progress, "No, no, I… I wasn't trying to rush you. I… I was just distracted by what you said is all. Please do finish. I won't disturb you."

She lowered herself down on the bench again. "Pitch, if there's something bothering you, just say it. You torture yourself further by holding things in to the point where you blow up. I'm here to listen, you know that."

He might as well get it out, letting the question fester in his mind was only causing the both of them strife, and if they were going to get into an argument about it, it'd probably be better suited while he was still somewhat capable of keeping a lid on his temper, "I… I can't help thinking on what you just said… regarding alternatives… to North. What exactly are you planning to have me do?"

Tooth looked at him like he'd grown another eye, not really understanding his concern. Finally she shrugged. "I don't understand your question, Pitch. You obeyed me when I told you to apologize to the elves, and I'm proud of you for doing that. But if you had refused to obey me, I would have had to do something to discipline you, either put you in a corner or... spank you... or something. I can't have you taking advantage of me anymore. Part of that was my fault, though, I've come to realize that."

Pitch drew back like he'd been slapped in the face, "Put me in a corner? Seriously? That's ridiculous nonsense; you'd really want me to do something like that?" He was awe stricken that she'd even had the audacity to suggest such a ludicrous punishment for him. And then of course there was that mention of spanking him again, so what, was he supposed to just let her spank him? North didn't give him a choice in the matter, but with Toothiana, they were much more evenly matched even though he was depowered quite a bit comparatively now where she was quite well believed in, he didn't think she'd be able to hold him down if he fought hard enough… at least he hoped not. That would surely be much more humiliating to bear. Her statement served to confound him as he stared at her clearly offended.

Tooth's brow drew down in a scowl. "Would you rather be put in the corner or spanked?" she asked. "And don't think I won't, because I will if you push me far enough." She suddenly reached up and grabbed hold of Pitch's ear, jerking him forward. "You think you can get away with things around me because I haven't believed in spanking up until now. Like I said, you've been taking advantage of me, and I'm tired of it, Pitch. I want to be your friend, I really do, but we're going to have to come to some understanding. I'm not going to let you walk all over me anymore."

He gasped shocked by the sudden pain and wholly not expecting such a reaction from Toothiana towards him, "Ow, ow, okay, okay!" He was quickly tilting in the direction she pulled on his ear until he was bent weirdly shifted to his side from where she'd tugged his head down to be face to face with her. He held up his hands in a defensive gesture his face reflecting the surprise and astonishment she had elicited in him, "I… I'm sorry! Truce!"

Tooth glared at him a few minutes, then nodded, seeming to be satisfied with the reaction. She let him go. "Alright. I'm glad we understand each other."

Once she'd released him, Pitch quickly straightened and backed away a couple steps as he held a hand cupped over the wounded ear. His eyes were still wide in disbelief trying to fully absorb what had just happened. His mind was racing over the impact this encounter encompassed, and he pouted regretfully now as he stared at her with sorrowful eyes. He was hurt that she had once more shown him that she was willing to get forceful with him to get him to comply with how she felt he needed to behave. This new structure within their relationship had him mentally floundering, and he found himself just staring at her unable to speak.

"Pitch," Tooth sighed, "Please understand that I don't want to punish you. And I hope I never have to. I don't want this to ruin our friendship or change it in any way. But I'm just... tired of the way you've been treating me and the way you've been acting overall. It ...saddened and shocked me when I saw the way you treated those elves. You can act so nice and act like a changed man, but then you turn around and treat the elves like they're nothing to you."

Finally composing himself, Pitch dropped his hand to clasp his other in front of himself as he shifted uneasily listening to her with lowered eyes. His mouth worked as she spoke, his lips puckering as he struggled to control the emotions that she was fostering in him. He didn't want to ruin their friendship, and he most definitely never wanted her to feel the need to actually punish him. Yanking on his ear and swatting him once previously was enough for him to know that it made him feel awful inside. Pitch couldn't stand the thought of her this unhappy with him, it hurt his heart and he whined, "I… I didn't mean anything by it. I understand though. I will do better. I swear it," he brought his face up to gaze at her earnestly to show he took what she said very seriously.

"I believe you," she said, softly. "I know you see the elves differently than I do, but it's like I said… they're still living beings, as are my fairies. It hurts me when I see someone treating someone else like that."

He nodded his understanding. Pitch still found it hard to consider the little gremlins on the same tier as the two of them, but he planned to do his best to treat them better for Toothiana's sake. He really didn't want to see that look in her eyes again. It seared him like a lance to think of her being so disgusted with his behavior. He felt awkward now as he moved tentatively toward her to stand beside her now. His shoulders sagged dejectedly as he whispered softly, "I… I really am sorry Toothiana. Please forgive my behavior. I don't have an excuse for what I did other than ignorance."

Tooth smiled as she fluttered forward to wrap her arms around him and hug him. "I forgive you."

He buried his neck into the wedge between her neck and shoulder closing his eyes and bringing his hands around to clasp the middle of her back right below her fluttering wings. Her embrace filled him with an immediate warmth that radiated to Pitch's core, and he carefully squeezed her back in a gentle hug taking in another deep breath as he nuzzled into the nape of her neck as if he could disappear into her.

Whenever she offered him comfort like this, it took him somewhere outside of himself, and if he could, he wished he could just get lost in that place and this feeling forever. Fearing to make her feel uncomfortable, he released her withdrawing carefully. His eyes flicking up to hers a moment before looking down bashfully. These intimate types of touches shared with another person always left his heart hammering in his chest and a spike of emotions that he still didn't quite understand.

Toothiana seated herself on the bench again. "So... um... What do you wish to do now?"

Pitch shrugged, all he really wanted was to be around her. Everything else was just white noise as far as he was concerned. His endorphins were still kicking in high gear after the hug they'd shared, so he was feeling happy for the most part, although some small portion of him railed against what he was letting himself conform to in order to make her happy. He didn't care about that side of himself right now still in the throes of the affection that had quelled his deeper insecurities. She forgave him and left him feeling cared for even if he did manage to upset her endlessly, and Pitch still marveled at this.

Tooth continued to eye Pitch. Even though she forgave him, she still couldn't understand how someone who felt so much affection for North's reindeer could be so heartless towards the elves. She hoped that Pitch understood and would keep to his word.

Feeling her eyes studying him left Pitch feeling a tad uneasy as if he were under a microscope. What was she thinking? Whatever it was, it left her looking somber and speculative.

Deciding to suggest something in order to move past this unpleasant silence, Pitch gestured back towards the kitchen, "When you're done eating, we could always spend the rest of the time before you have to go at the wishing fountain." Normally Pitch avoided the fountains, not because the fountains themselves were not pleasing, but because many of the elves and yetis traversed the area to spend time there leaving it rather noisy and annoying to Pitch. He was of course offering this particular site for Toothiana's sake feeling she would enjoy the scenery. With it being dinner time, the place should at least be less active being most of the denizens would be in the dining hall or heading that way, and with Toothiana getting close to leaving, Pitch knew he wouldn't have to endure it long either way. He hoped she liked the proposal.

Tooth nodded. She again grabbed her bowl and fluttered off the bench. "We can go now. Although, you might want to pick your bowl up."

Pitch frowned looking at the bowl; it wasn't empty, and he considered dumping the remaining contents in a nearby plant basin, but decided after everything else that had just happened with Toothiana, he didn't want to take a chance at upsetting her. Pitch did however glide as sneakily as he could over to the trash bin to empty the bowl thankfully without Alla noticing.

Tooth fluttered up beside him, casually dumping the remainder of her own bowl into the bin.

Dumping their bowls into the dish depository, the two made their way towards the fountains on the ground level. They boarded one of the many elevators and descended the three flights in silence. Pitch had been watching her as the elevator fell, and since they were stationary a moment, he felt the need to ask, "Is everything alright? You've seemed rather distant since we left the cafeteria." She hadn't spoken a word since they left the table in fact, and he wondered if it was that she was just tired or still unhappy with him and keeping it to herself.

Tooth looked at him. "Yeah, everything's okay, I guess. Just thinking."

"Thinking? May I inquire what about?" Pitch asked inquisitively as they exited the elevator moving towards the wishing fountains.

Pitch had to admit the fountain area was a rather artful design. It was set in the center of the south wing with lattices of finely crafted woodwork that closed the area off from the open grounds to give some semblance of privacy to its guests. Several benches lined the outside of the lattices; spots were drilled into the ground to give large circular mounds of earth where trees grew in the design of a star with five points where the fountain acted as the center. The trees served to give a fresh scent of pine to fill the area and something pleasant to enjoy in the confines of the Pole where outside the building was a bitter cold winter all year round.

The spruces of life patterned around the fountain created its own peace of mind as birds like sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays flitted in and out of the fifteen foot tall bushy pine trees. Little networks of birdhouses were worked to hang down from the lattice framework decoratively like Christmas ornaments as well as bird feeders with honeyed seed-sticks for them to eat. One had to wonder how the birds had arrived so far north, but Pitch had never cared enough to inquire.

The fountain was a four-tiered marble bowled statue, and the base was a large goldfish pond that had a sizable surface for visitors to sit and relax. Instead of coins, there were several dispensers with fish food wafers that could be broken into crumbles to feed the fish or tossed in whole to be nibbled away at.

"You," Tooth said. Might as well go ahead and get it out, she thought. "Just... trying to figure you out."

As they entered the framework of the enclosed fountain area, Pitch tilted his head to look at Toothiana questioningly, "Me? Am I that much of an enigma?" He said playfully.

"Actually, yeah, you are." Tooth replied.

He smiled cheekily, "Well, I have been known to be mysterious," his grin broadened obviously amused to think this before he continued more seriously, "What are you trying to figure out? I am the source after all, maybe I can enlighten you?"

Tooth shrugged. She fluttered over to sit on the edge of the fountain. "I was more or less just thinking heavier about the events that just happened. How you... seem to be two people crammed into the same body."

Pitch moved over to stand beside Toothiana placing his hands behind his back as he regarded her looking more than a little confused, "What do you mean two people?"

"Just… the way you can flip back and forth between your changed self and your old self, and sometimes you seem to be both at the same time… like you were just a few minutes ago. The way you were so kind to me, yet you bullied those elves." She shook her head, looking at him. "It's like you have two people in you that are constantly struggling with each other," Tooth explained.

Pitch took her words in mulling them over a long moment before responding carefully, "I… I'm changing to the best of my ability, but sometimes what I think you want from me doesn't always correlate into an understanding I automatically get. The elves… it's true, I hadn't really considered them as… uh… people? They are rather… simple… and annoying… and I know that is not the case for you, and I'm well aware now how you wish me to treat them, but I still find it hard to see them as… I don't know, equals as you all do, so I have… trouble denoting the level of respect you want me to give them. I will though… as I promised you," he watched her now to gauge her expression on how she felt about what he had said knowing that parts of it, although honest, were likely discomforting to hear.

She nodded, simply. "I guess I just have a hard time understanding how you can devote so much care, love, and attention to North's reindeer, but you can't see the elves as being people who should be respected. It's true that the reindeer are animals and the elves are not, but they're both living creatures. I know that the elves are not entirely bright, but that doesn't make them any less a person."

Pitch took in a deep sigh slouching a bit. Toothiana always had a way of making him feel a bit like a heel when she wanted to. He supposed he did treat them poorly, and maybe it wasn't right, but it was also hard for him not to respond that way since it was almost second nature to do so with minions. He supposed that was why he was here though, many of his automatic responses to things seemed to be rather socially unacceptable, "I …I know. You're right. I shouldn't see them as such. I get that. I have a habit of reacting before thinking sometimes, and that bit in the cafeteria… I've been doing that for a while now without an issue, so it just hadn't quite occurred to me that it was wrong since there hadn't really been a complaint over compliance on their end."

Tooth lifted an eyebrow. "It hadn't occurred to you that it was wrong? Pitch, any time you treat someone in the way you were treating those elves it's wrong. You should have learned that when you were caught making them do your chores when you first arrived here."

Pitch rubbed at the back of his neck giving her a sheepish grin. He had known it was wrong on a deeper level, he'd just ignored the ramifications of his actions affecting the elves and validating it as okay because he was simultaneously preventing the waste of food (which was good) and had weighed the deeds as counterbalancing each other. Now of course, it clearly was brought to the forefront for what his forcing the elves to eat his leftovers really was (which was bullying the elves to clean his plate to make the yeti chef think he was finishing everything he'd been given to further ingratiate himself to her and in turn get better treatment in the future.) "Uh… well… yes sure. You're right technically," he gave a nervous laugh, "But eating that food wasn't exactly an unpleasant task that I was asking of them… not like the chores were right?" He justified, if just to make his case sound a little less bad than the picture Toothiana was painting.

"Pitch," Tooth sighed, "If the elves didn't want to eat the food, then, yes, it was unpleasant and wrong."

Pitch shifted under the weight of the topic, his eyes darted away from hers in the presence of the guilt of his actions that she was forcing him to observe fully. He gave a small nod and replied demurely, "I know it was wrong. I… I shouldn't have done it. It won't happen again; you have my word."

"I know you won't." Tooth replied. "But I just want to make sure that you fully understand that what you did was wrong."

Pitch was confused looking at Toothiana with a furrowed brow, "What do you mean? I just agreed with you and gave you my word. What more do you need?"

Tooth nodded. "Yes, I know you did. That's why we're having this talk. I just wanted to make sure."

"Alright; are you sure now?" Pitch queried tilting his head with a quirky smile.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Tooth replied.

"Glad to hear it," Pitch purred pleased that everything seemed to become smooth once more between them. She created a balance in him that he hadn't quite realized before; when she became upset, it affected him on levels he didn't understand. All he really did know was that he just wanted to see her happy with him because it in turn made him happy. Pitch would keep his promise to her, or at least he would do his best.