Chapter Forty-One

Just a Spoon Full of Sugar

It was two hours later when North came by and knocked on Pitch's bedroom door. "Pitch? You awake?"

Pitch did not hear him having fallen asleep to the cascading waters of the shower and the sickening thrum in his head from entirely too much sugar coursing through his body.

The bathroom was open, and enough water had spattered on the floor from the open shower door to begin pooling at the point where the door frame to the bathroom met the entrance to his bedroom.

North knocked a few more times, calling the Boogeyman's name. When Pitch failed to answer, he took it upon himself to enter. At first, a surge of anger coursed through him as his only thought was that Pitch must have snuck out of the room. He stepped into the room and immediately heard the water running. He quickly made his way to the bathroom. "What is this?" he said, his anger replaced with concern. Then he saw Pitch. He rushed over and turned the water off, grabbing a towel to toss over the puddle on the floor. He then turned his attention to Pitch. He shook the Boogeyman. "Pitch? What is wrong?"

The jarring elicited a moan of agony from Pitch as he lurched forward dry heaving over the drain, "Oh stars North! What…?" His convulsions eased thankfully not giving way to anything more having already voided his stomach of everything earlier. His body still quaked from the aftermath, and his head hurt terribly, "Ow…" he muttered feebly rubbing at his temples now and trying to orient himself.

"What is matter?" North repeated, concern in his voice and on his face.

Pitch wavered blinking up at North. That's right, he'd come into the shower to feel better. He went to stand on coltish legs and stumbled back into the wall awkwardly as he pulled at the towel on the shower door and wrapped it around his shivering limbs, "I… I'm alright. I just …I climbed in the shower to …rest a moment."

"You are not all right. You look ill." said North reaching to help Pitch stand.

Pitch was grateful for the support as his knees wobbled and he clutched North's coat with a trembling hand close to falling, "Uh… maybe. Just a little." Pitch's vision felt blurred. He'd already had too much candy at the factory eating close to fifty pieces to top it off with another twenty or more when he'd gotten back to his room. North's candy was even more sugary then Bunnymund's chocolate had been, and to have saturated himself with so much concentrated sugar had his body working overtime to expel it now. He staggered a step forward wanting to get out of the shower and dry as his body now shivered from the cold and the shock to his system.

"Well, what is wrong?" North asked, his voice a bit stern. He was growing impatient that Pitch wouldn't come out and say it. "Do you need me to take you to medical ward?"

"Na-no! I …I'll be fine!" Pitch wobbled to the hook on the wall holding his bathrobe to unsteadily sweep it over his shoulders grateful for the warmth even though his body still convulsed with tremors. "I… I may have had a bit too much candy," Pitch admitted lightly.

"Too much candy?" North's brow drew down, trying to understand. "You were not this bad when I left you here. Besides, I have not seen candy do this to a person before."

Pitch flushed, "I... I kind of ate uh... half of the rest of the candy I brought back with me after you left. But... I'm feeling better now," Pitch reassured as he stumbled towards his bed. He left out the fact that he was likely feeling better now because he'd thrown up the pound of sugary items he'd ingested.

North looked dumbfounded. Now it all made sense. His mouth worked a few minutes before he finally found his voice again. "Pitch, candy is not to be eaten in that way. Greedily gorging yourself on any type of food is not proper way of eating. We're going to have to work on your ability to eat, I see. I never realized it was this serious an issue."

Pitch frowned, "It... it's not! I just... I didn't think it would do that! It won't happen again," he huffed as he crawled haphazardly on top of the bed to curl in a ball. He still felt the waves of sugar induced chemicals churning through his veins making his heart race and his stomach lurch uncomfortably.

"I'm glad to hear that you have learned lesson from this. But I am curious what you expected from eating that much candy."

Pitch made a low grunt and a small shrug feeling quite sorry for himself in his current state. He honestly hadn't considered the effects of food since he so rarely ate it. He had satisfied himself with only enjoying the taste, although after the first time he'd felt the much milder effects of Bunnymund's chocolate, Pitch really should have known better.

"I know eating is new experience for you and you have lot to learn." said North as he pulled the covers of the bed over Pitch. "Something you should remember. No matter how good some foods taste, you should always eat in moderation. Only eat until you are full. No more. When it comes to foods like sweets and candy, eat even less. They are pleasure foods and treats to be eaten in small quantities, otherwise you get tummyache." He stood to the side, looking down at the pitiful form on the bed. "Have you thrown up?"

Pitch wore a fierce pout now as he gave North a weak nod, "I …I did before I climbed in the shower," he felt ashamed now after North's chiding. He still felt awful not wanting to move from the uncomfortable cramping in his stomach and slight dizziness he felt. Pitch was glad North had pulled the covers over him as he felt an unnerving chill that even the bathrobe seemed to not quell as his body continued to shiver. It felt like it came from the inside of his body out instead of the outside in which was highly peculiar to Pitch never having remembered feeling such a sensation in reverse.

North gave a quick nod. "Good," He walked to the door. "I will get you something to help settle your stomach then." he said as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Pitch vaguely recalled North leaving as he lay stock still trying his best not to move now. He felt like death warmed over; no, he could guarantee that he was never going to do this again! He sighed shutting his eyes and letting out small miserable whines when a particularly bad cramp roiled through him, but otherwise he remained quiet. He was still pulled into a ball albeit a little looser one now that he was under his covers and not feeling as cold.

Thirty minutes passed and North returned, opening the door and stepping inside. "Here you go," he said, walking up to the side of the bed and offering a steaming cup of tea to Pitch. "Drink this down. It is special blend of peppermint and ginger tea I concocted ages ago. It always helps when I have stomachache."

The smell of peppermint made Pitch want to gag now as he groaned. He wanted to feel better, but he felt so drained now that he just laid there peering at North through half-lidded eyes as he worked to push himself to sit up unsuccessfully; letting out a pitiful moan he let his head collapse back on to the pillow, "Maybe in a minute," he whined deciding he didn't quite have the energy when laying here just like this felt preferable to trying to move anymore.

"Alright," North nodded, setting the cup on the night table. "But you need to drink it. If not, I will take you to medical ward and let them give you something."

Pitch complained into his pillow, "It… it smells awful! I… I don't want it! I just want to rest! Can't I just sleep for a little bit instead?" He felt absolutely terrible, and just the smell of North's concoction was making him want to wretch all over again. All he felt like doing now was slipping back into that comfortable oblivion he'd found in the shower until he could wake up feeling normal again.

North felt like saying something in reply to Pitch's comment, but he decided not to. Pitch was already punishing himself enough. "Fine. Have it your way. If you do not wish to feel better, then don't drink it."

Pitch whimpered, "I… I do want to feel better," He groaned as another sharp pain panged through his gut, "Do… do you have anything less… peppermint? The smell of it is turning my stomach," he sulked.

"Peppermint helps to soothe your stomach. I can take you to medical ward and they can give you some medicine that will taste worse than this smells."

Pitch let out an inarticulate sound of complaint not wanting to go to the medical ward. Finally deciding the tea would likely be the less of two evils since North did threaten to bring him to the medical ward if he refused to drink it, Pitch painfully pulled himself up to lean against the headboard enough to try and drink the tea. He grunted several times as his stomach protested the jostling. Pitch did NOT like these new feelings at ALL. He'd been hurt in the past, he'd been hurt plenty! But this was a whole different level of hurt that was not just physical outer pain. This was internal and left him feeling physically and mentally incapacitated and lethargic. He moaned piteously feeling on the verge of tears, "Okay… I'll …I'll drink it." He said this, but Pitch felt no compunction to move his limbs his face the picture of the misery he was feeling.

North reached over and picked up the cup, moving it closer to Pitch. "Want me to help?" he asked.

Pitch's eyes flicked up to meet North's looking apologetic for having to have the man help him before leaning towards the cup and sipping the tea. His lip curled in disgust, "Oh stars North! You said this didn't taste that bad!" Pitch bellyached turning his face up away from the cup a moment and giving an undignified huff before turning back to the cup with an impossibly scrunched face as he took another sip, "Awful! Just awful!" He stated finding he had to retreat once more with a whimper.

"Or maybe we just have differing tastes." North said with a slight chuckle.

"If I never taste another peppermint anything again it'll be too soon!" Pitch pouted as he begrudgingly took another sip. It took another ten full minutes of Pitch sipping and then complaining about his horrible predicament before taking yet another painful sip until the concoction was finally gone (or at least low enough North decided it wasn't worth giving him anymore and put the cup one fourth full to set gently on the nightstand.)

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" North smiled. "Definitely better than the awful medicine they would have given in medical ward. That is why I created this tea."

Pitch's lip was pooching in disdain, "That remains to be seen," his face softened then as he added lightly, "But… I …I am feeling slightly better. Thank you," Pitch blinked lifting his head to give the Cossack a small smile of appreciation although it was apparent Pitch was still not feeling well by the abnormally darker circles raising a slight swell of exhaustion to highlight his normally bright golden eyes that glittered with a sheen of silver to look almost dulled like worn copper and nickel.

"Good," North said. "Do you need me to contact Sandy and have him come by to give you sleep?"

Pitch grimaced but regretfully nodded. He felt so foolish now, North had come to spend time with him scant hours after he'd left! If he'd just read his book like he'd planned, and not decided to angrily stuff piece after piece of the candy North had let him take back to his room in his mouth partly out of greed because the candy did taste so good, but also partly out of spite because North had told him he'd had enough candy for one night. Pitch didn't ever like being given edicts (even if they were for his own good.) After dropping Pitch off in his room, North had no reign to tell the Boogeyman no, so Pitch had passively defied the man. Pitch was severely regretting his decision now having unwittingly caused his own downfall in a most unsettling way.

North nodded. "Sandy promised to come by every night after rounds, but if you need him now, I will fetch him for you."

Pitch sighed leaning his head against the headboard. The cool surface felt good against his heated flesh. He really didn't want North to have to call Sandy back earlier than he'd planned to come visit him, "I ...don't worry about me. My stomach isn't cramping like it was, so I think I'm well enough to just rest here until he returns." Pitch curled in on himself huddling lamely against the headboard now too ill to want to budge enough to climb back under his sheets. He didn't want to be left alone like this, but he was sure North wasn't going to be interested in just standing around next to him since Pitch felt ill equipped to carry on a conversation at the moment.

"Alright," North said with a small nod. He walked over and pulled the rocking chair up to the side of the bed and sat down in it. "I will stay here till he arrives."

Pitch seemed surprised lifting his head and looking over at North, You... you will?" To hear North say so and to see him pull up the rocking chair next to him elicited a small smile and a soft contented sigh from Pitch as he settled his head back against the headboard.

North cocked his head. "Why wouldn't I?"

Pitch frowned, "I'm not very good company at the moment."

North gave a shrug. "People do not have to talk to be company. You are sick. I stay here until Sandy arrives."

Pitch mumbled a barely audible thanks as he closed his eyes a moment pulling his covers back up to wrap around his lithe form as he worked to scrunch back down to lay on his pillow once more just wanting to lay down.

North nodded toward the book lying on the night table. "Would you like for me to read to you while we wait?

Pitch smiled brightly, "That sounds rather nice," he admitted as he snuggled his pillow getting comfortable.

North reached and picked up the book and leaned back in his chair. He found the place Pitch had left off and began reading.

Pitch just stared at North with a slight awe to see that he would be so kind as to sit with Pitch reading to him for no other reason than to keep him company. Despite the sickness, Pitch found himself wearing an elated smile. His eyes glazed close to tears reflecting the happiness he felt as he quietly squeezed his pillow listening to the timbre of North's voice melodiously flow through the words of the story. Pitch felt very loved in this moment, and he let his eyes close all the while beaming a contented smile from the warmth he now felt inside.

North continued to read, becoming involved in the story himself and jumping to his feet and waving his arm during one of the more intense moments as if he were acting out a scene in a play.

Pitch chuckled softly as he lay watching North's reactions and enjoying the theatrics. Time passed quickly, and Pitch was almost sad to hear the soft click of his door opening and to see Sandy floating lazily into the room.

Sandy carefully made his way to Pitch's bed pulling the comforter up to Pitch's neck before settling down to sit behind Pitch. Sandy leaned lightly on Pitch's side like a propped up ledge doing his best not to disturb North as the Cossack, so caught up in his reading, seemed to not have even have noticed Sandy's entrance.

Pitch couldn't help but to give Sandy a loving smile as the golden man tenderly adjusted his sheets and gently leaned against him. The Sandman's warmth felt like a heater against his back, and the sensation of the subtle rise and fall of his chest against Pitch's back caused Pitch to sigh in content. Pitch positively radiated with bliss having both North and Sandy giving him such attentions.

"And—" North stopped mid-sentence and finally turned to look at Sandy. He smiled. "Ah! I did not hear you come in."

Sandy gave a shy wave ducking his head and beaming with a smile. Both Pitch and Sandy cuddling on the bed looked the picture of a yin and yang with twin smiles.

"He has been sick." North explained. "Ate too much candy."

Sandy perked with concern looking to Pitch.

Pitch averted eye contact feeling wholly embarrassed as a hue of purple flushed his cheeks, "Uh… yes, I did. But …I'm feeling much better now," Pitch assured. He really was feeling much better now that the sugar had had the chance to equalize through his system, and the worst of the stomach cramping had finally faded into a dull lurch that as long as he stayed lying still remained peaceable.

"I took him on tour of my candy factory, and he had to test everything, and then brought extras back to his room." North continued. "He gorged himself on extras after I left him alone."

Sandy lifted a brow shaking his head chidingly as his lip pulled into a dissatisfied frown.

Pitch frowned looking quite ashamed as he ducked his head, "Trust me, I think I'm done with candy for a good long while."

North chuckled. "Remember, Pitch, it can happen with any food. You must learn to eat responsibly. Don't gorge yourself."

Pitch didn't answer, he merely huffed thinking that he only ever had gorged himself on sweets, but now the thought of eating them turned his stomach.

Sandy slid over closer to Pitch's head now propping his body up on one arm and gently laying his head on Pitch's shoulder grinning down at him like a Cheshire cat.

Pitch's eyes flicked up to Sandy's face with a knowing pout, "Can… can't we listen to the rest of the chapter before we call it a night?" Pitch whined. He was enjoying himself and didn't want to go to bed just yet.

Sandy turned his smile to North to see what his answer would be.

"Sure!" North said with a smile. He turned back to the book and continued reading.

Sandy being in such near proximity to his head though had Pitch's eyes drooping after a couple paragraphs as dreamsand particles drifted lightly in the air around the Sandman and were casually inhaled by Pitch. Within less than ten minutes Pitch was asleep dreaming of North reading him a story and the depictions of the storybook coming to life in his dream.

Sandy watched the sand dream proudly turning to North to point and silently giggle at his jolly sand form animatedly telling the story in Pitch's dreams.

North slowly stopped reading and smiled at the scene in front of him.

Sandy leaned down planting a soft tender kiss on Pitch's temple, and the glow from Sandy's face illuminated a small smile to crease Pitch's lips at the contact as he sighed in contentment.

Floating above Pitch now, Sandy peered down at their charge lovingly before turning a broad knowing smile to North before gliding to the door. He stopped for a brief moment giving a small wave before quietly departing to start the next set of rounds he needed to attend to.

North waved back. He yawned and closed the book, putting it back on the night table. He stood up, grabbed the rocking chair, and put it back in its place. Turning out the light, he walked out into the hall and closed the door.