Chapter Forty-Five
Solitary Confinement
Pitch watched North leave feeling a twinge of sadness, but ultimately after their conversation, he'd felt better about his place among the guardians. Of course if he'd talked to the Cossack yesterday evening when they had returned to his room verse after he'd made the short-sided decision to run away, he could have avoided this awful strapping. Pitch lifted onto his knees hissing as he rubbed his throbbing posterior gently before pulling his garments aside to assess the damage. What he saw made him cringe with self-pity.
North had done a number on him, and the crisscrossed marks of the strap as well as many well placed hand prints decorated his flesh in raised welts and a myriad of red hues that would definitely be quite noticeable physically and visually for the next couple days. He marveled at the fact that he'd become so familiar with getting spanked that he could gauge by sight and feel how long it would serve as a reminder that he didn't wish to find himself back on the naughty list anytime soon.
Pitch sighed feeling slightly annoyed at the thought that this was his life now, to find himself over a knee for a spanking much too often for his liking because he just couldn't manage to do what he needed to do; he just wanted to grow past this to a point where such moments as this were a dull faded memory. He pulled his clothing carefully back into place with a pout giving his bottom one last gentle rub to alleviate his sore feelings as much as his sore bottom.
He looked around his room now, his eyes drawn first to the strap on the wall and then down to the painting carelessly laying at a slant against the wall's surface where Pitch had dumped it angrily after North's decree that he was no longer allowed to cover up North's, personally made for him, device of torture. He needed to find somewhere else for his painting to go, and Pitch had nothing else better to do he realized dejectedly as he slid off his bed and moped over to the painting. Pitch had a whole week of these four walls to keep him company until North deigned to come back and visit him for a time before leaving him again to this forced seclusion; this was going to be a miserably boring week Pitch decided.
He frowned bending over to pick up the picture; it was one he'd been most proud of, the picture with the five snow globes that held a depiction of each of the guardian's different homes. Burgess' lake lay motionless with a thick sheet of ice highlighted with low toned dark hues of purple and blue that depicted a moonless night (Pitch's favorite of course.) The lake was lined by woods and surrounded by the backdrop of the sleepy little town the entirety of the scene dusted with flurries of snow and the trees decorated with elaborate frost designs. It was the centerpiece of the five snow globes and was meant to represent Jack. Just as each of the other four snow globes in the picture encompassed depictions of each of the other guardian aspects.
Pitch held the picture aloft now studying its face before setting it on top of his dresser. He placed it on the opposite end of where all of his stored possessions were, so the clutter would not cover any of the details he'd painstakingly put into the painting. He touched the lake in the center realizing that even though he'd originally meant for the scene to specifically cater to Jack's origins, this lake was not far from his own old lair.
He frowned as his mind drifted back to last night where he'd sat next to the closed in hole where his old lair had been thinking he'd never come back to the Pole or the guardians again. He'd had no one for so many years of being locked away, and although it had bothered him greatly then, it was nothing like the desolation of the loneliness of missing someone on top of being isolated. It was an abysmally more acute loneliness than he'd ever remembered feeling, and he'd felt so very much like a remote island in the past while drifting through the shadowed hallways of his own broken thoughts.
Those were the worst times in the hole where the shattered remains of the fearlings, that hadn't fully been absorbed into Pitch's molecular structure, infiltrated his sleeping mind to afflict him with torn fragments of his own misplaced memories as an instinctual survival mechanism to keep their own essence alive within their host. They had lost any true hold of him having been evaporated into mere particles of influence centuries ago, but those subtle holds still had the ability to haunt him when he was at his most vulnerable.
Pitch was thankful for Sandy's presence in this way as the little man supplanted their tired efforts by overriding even that lingering manifestation and keeping them dormant long enough for Pitch to rest better than he ever could alone. Thinking on Sandy's dreamsand made Pitch wish he had some now. It would be ever so nice to slip into an undisturbed coma to ride out the time spent here by himself. Wouldn't that be nice? If he could wake as the Cossack or Sandy came by to visit and spend time with him only to sleep away the rest of the week here. This would of course defeat the whole purpose of him being grounded though since it was meant to make him think about why he was there in the first place. North was also mostly doing it as a point to simply make Pitch learn to obey since the whole reason he was in this mess was his constant refusal to heed North's statues.
His mind wandered now taking in his reflection in the mirror as he leaned on the dresser. There was so much to reflect on when there was no one else to talk to, not that Pitch wasn't used to silent contemplation of course. The mind had to do something to keep from going mad although if he were to be honest with himself, he had gone mad long ago spiraling into a retreat of the sheer desires of his own powers. Coupled with his personal desolation in the past, attaining power had been the only thing that had made Pitch feel any measure of wholeness. Once the dark ages had succumbed to hope, wonder, and dreams, he'd lost almost all belief in him from the children and had craved its return fiercely. Power was all he had hoped to attain.
Having come here to the Pole though none of that seemed to matter as much anymore. Sure, he still wished to have belief and be at the height of his power. There was always going to be a want to feel that heady with belief. As an aspect it was downright invigorating to feel such a course of energy jolting through you and empowering your very essence. But for Pitch, such a reign of power had never lasted, and that Easter was the closest he'd ever come to achieving that ultimate goal. Centuries of slowly gathering and corrupting Sandy's dreamsand just to be defeated in three days' time. It never lasted… now he wanted something that would. He craved stability and moreover, he yearned for affection and comradery. It was something he'd never be able to attain on his own or by force; it had to be given willingly and genuinely. These feelings were greater he'd realized than any rush of supremacy he'd gorged on previously. At his core he longed for a family.
Absently digging the little wooden schooner out of his pocket now, Pitch turned back to the petite lamp that sat on his nightstand and carefully reattached the ornament. He smiled to see it dangling there even tapping it for good measure. Grounding aside, Pitch was relieved to be home again.
This happy contented feeling faded as the day drew on and Pitch grew restless; Pitch had started off tinkering around with his bubble toy and that had amused him for a time. He spent even longer still debating on whether or not to paint or read to pass the time ultimately deciding to just lay on his bed sulking for hours because he didn't feel like doing anything productive he had available to occupy his time. It was hard to find joy in these things as he was already feeling listless. He'd only been restricted to his room for six hours; it hadn't even been one day of the whole week he had left to endure, and he was already incredibly bored! Another wave of self-pity came over him as he released a heavy deflated sigh of defeat trying his best not to think about the tedium, but with nothing else to concentrate on, he found that was all he could think about.
He squirmed up to the top of his bed gripping his pillow under him in agitation now as he stared grumpily at his headboard deciding to try and just sleep as an escape. He was of course not tired in the least after Sandy's extra dose of dreamsand, so instead Pitch remained staring, first sourly, and then after several hours, dully at his bedroom door just hoping North or anyone for that matter, would come by to visit him sooner rather than later.
To his surprise, it wasn't North who arrived next but two yetis. The first yeti had only given a short knock before cautiously opening the door to peer about. Seeing Pitch laying on his bed now staring in surprise at him, the yeti gave a satisfied nod and a grumble to his partner that the nightmare lord was dressed and awake before they then unceremoniously hulked into his room. At least this is what Pitch assumed was relayed as he rose out of his bed with an affronted scowl. How dare these yetis barge into his room so unannounced and without an invitation!
The two surveyed the area talking amongst themselves and pointing at different objects in his room. One of them was carrying a hammer and pointing at his pictures.
Now more than ever Pitch wished he could understand what they were saying and more importantly planning to do in his room! He didn't like the purposeful look they were giving his paintings, and he became alarmed as the yetis moved to the wall and began removing them from the wall, "Hey! What… what are you doing with my paintings?!" Pitch spat uneasily.
The yetis didn't heed him any mind knowing that Pitch couldn't understand them, and trying to explain what they were doing to Pitch would likely be a fruitless endeavor if not also confrontational.
Pitch weaved around them nervously watching every move the yetis made with his art.
The yetis were gentle with his paintings as they took them down carefully and laid them on Pitch's bed.
Their astute precaution with his works let Pitch relax a little knowing that his art would not be harmed, but this sudden invasion of his room as they took first his paintings down and then the nails that held them had Pitch confused and anxious. He wasn't very fond of change, and he especially didn't like unknown changes that he had no control over.
Pitch had wondered briefly if maybe the yetis were planning to make another extension to his room like they had a few weeks prior with the bathroom, that would not be unwelcomed. Although, when North had had his bathroom installed, the yetis had added it on from the other room as an extension by first placing the ceramic sink, toilet, and shower where North had designed to set it and built the frame around the fixtures. The electrical and water piping were then worked through the skeletal framework of the walls before they had to cut a hole into his room to link the two.
The yetis didn't really wish to deal with the nightmare lord (having had more than their fair share of his haughty racist attitude towards them.) They had done everything in their power to make any interactions or disturbances minimal and left the last touches of closing in the walls and putting in a door to when they had no other choice but to enter Pitch's room.
Pitch hadn't actually had to deal with much annoyance other than the noise from the other side of the wall when he happened to be in his room and the mess the yetis made when they had cut the hole to make a doorway to the new addition, and then it was more exciting than annoying. The whole process only took two days to do, and Pitch had been out and about for the majority of the construction involved with the project having to tend to the reindeer or occupied elsewhere, so he'd not actually been privy to the work or cared to be. He'd just appreciated the fact that his domicile had become that much bigger once the yetis had finished the work and he could use the amenity.
The paintings that they started moving though were on the far wall that led to the outside, and consequently to a very far drop to the ground, so this was not to be a new addition that was for certain. Pitch had to wonder now what exactly they would need to move his pictures for.
It started to become clear as the yetis moved to either side of Pitch's bookshelf and carefully lifted and moved it to the far wall. They then moved over to his bed and moved this too to the back wall followed by his nightstand sidled up beside his bed once more, and placing the rocking chair between his bed and the bookshelf. By the time everything was shifted around, it effectively emptied the center of his room by arranging his furniture against the far wall. This gave the room a bigger feel by opening up another good ten feet of space; it was nice, but seemingly unnecessary.
Once all the furniture was set up. The yetis hung the art as close to where the paintings had been arranged originally before leaving his room.
How strange? Pitch thought curiously too confused by the event to be perturbed as he watched them go. Some of his books had been shifted, so Pitch straightened them as he took in the new changes with a frown. He wasn't very happy that they had just burst into his room and decided to move about his furniture without ever asking. Pitch had moved to straightening the pictures (that were already placed well, but Pitch felt the need to move that smidgen more because it was his room and his things, and no yeti could place them exactly the way he wanted) when the same two yetis returned.
The yetis returned shortly after carrying a medium-sized square table large enough for six settings. They maneuvered the table in to the room and set it about where his bed had originally occupied. The yetis went back to barking casual conversation between each other pointing to the space between the bookcase and the wall nodding in agreement and leaving once more.
After they left, Pitch glided over to the table to inspect it. It was a finely made oak table, simple in design, but well crafted, thick, and sturdy. Pitch lifted the end with a grunt; it was quite heavy to! The surface was smoothly polished with a shiny glazed sap finish, and the coloration was a rich dark brown much to Pitch's liking. He realized that North had likely had it sent up for the dinners the Cossack had spoken of sharing nightly earlier. The size of the table was likely for the prospect that he and all the guardians could dine together here in his room at some point, and this thought brought a small smile to Pitch's lips.
The yetis arrived once more this time with one carrying a desk and the other carrying a tall circular stool. The yeti with the desk lumbered over to where the bookshelf had been placed and smoothly lined it up flush against the bookcase, so the front of the desk faced Pitch's bed and in turn the stool was placed in the corner as a perfect fit to the height of the desk that was also quite tall.
Pitch wandered over to this new item not quite sure why he would need a desk but pleased that he was being given new things regardless. He opened the desk to see that inside was a stack of parchment along with various writing utensils from modern pens to quills with a corked bottle of ink. The yetis had left once more, but Pitch was no longer paying them any mind; the previous worry he'd had was abandoned for a new feeling of excitement for these new freshly acquired pieces of furniture.
He pulled up his new stool to sit at his pristine desk immediately regretting sitting on the very unforgiving hard surface. The stool was tall enough that his legs hung freely, which under normal circumstances would be novel since it was hard to find furniture that wasn't too short for his legs with his height, but at the moment, sitting left entirely too much of his weight to bear down on his still very sensitive rear. He hopped off the stool quickly rubbing away the immediate chafing that prickled across his bottom from the harsh contact and shoved the stool backward away from him and into the corner with a frown.
Pitch turned back to the desk now a bit soured from the stool experience but forgetting it quickly enough as he went back to examining the surface of the flip top desk to see it had a bottom ledge to keep papers from falling off and a flat bar on the top with a ribbed design to hold writing utensils easily. Like the table, it was also well crafted, and more importantly, it was obviously made with him in mind, and this thoughtfulness brought Pitch much joy. No one made things tailored for him specifically, and the fact that North had perceptibly done so before he'd ran off made Pitch realize further that even though he'd been acting like a jerk to the man half the time, the Cossack had still been thinking of him and past his awful behavior to make him something like this. Pitch felt his cheeks flush in his embarrassment. He decided then that North deserved a sincere apology from him, and one not prompted from an about to be over the knee confession.
The yetis had returned another three times to bring in five high backed wooden chairs for the dinner table and one without an open backing that had a square framed adjustable headrest for support. It was clearly designed with Toothiana's tail feathers and wings in mind. One of the five high backed chairs' seat was raised much higher than the rest, and was obviously meant for their shortest member Sandy.
The chairs being set around the table served to please Pitch more as he was almost able to see them all sitting at the table enjoying a meal together. It was a pleasant thought that had him grinning from ear to ear. In fact the abrupt interruption to his otherwise entirely too quiet day had become a most welcomed distraction that brightened Pitch's mood considerably.
It had taken about another half hour after North had sent Steven and Gilbert upstairs to help rearrange Pitch's quarters and bring in the new furniture for the Russian to put down the tools he'd been using to shape the clay of his latest creation. He let out a bellowed clap of a laugh as he leaned back in his chair lifting the horse figure into the light and turning it about to take in the details he'd crafted.
North had worked for quite a few hours to finish what was to be the centerpiece of Pitch's new table (if Pitch liked it of course, but North really had no doubts that he wouldn't.) The Cossack knew how much Pitch enjoyed his reindeer, and because Jack had told him that Pitch had spoken of always having a fondness for equine animals, North thought this would make the nightmare lord happy.
He had done a lot of thinking last night, and decided one of the things Pitch needed most was to feel like this was his home, so North considered that sprucing his living quarters up a bit might go a little ways to making Pitch feel more welcomed at the Pole. He'd actually fashioned the desk after the two had originally spoken about practicing magic together. North had planned to set up the desk in one of the studies when it came time to start training Pitch, but with further plans to also begin teaching Pitch the yeti language during his grounding, it just made sense to instead set it up as a fixture within Pitch's room to give the Boogeyman a place to work more easily and conveniently in his own personal chambers.
The Cossack lifted himself to standing, and the chair he had been sitting in groaned its appreciation. The horse was ready for the kiln, and it would be fired, cooled, and ready to present to Pitch in a couple hours' time. North walked down to the ceramics workshop and set the figurine in the care of one of the yetis that specialized in the firing of all the Pole's ceramic pieces. Once the clay figure was in the process of getting baked, the Russian went back to his office to get some more odds and ends taken care of while he waited for the horse to be ready to give to Pitch.
When the time came to go to the kitchens to get some food packed up for their promised dinner, Alla, the main yeti chef, personally tended to North letting him know she would ready a cart for him and insisted that she would bring the food up herself having been worried about not seeing her 'too skinny shadow man' as she'd referred to Pitch as.
North laughed, "Oh not to worry Alla, he has not been avoiding your cooking! He is grounded for week and was not allowed to go round Pole alone while working on conveyor. I am sure he will come back to kitchens when he is free to leave room."
This seemed to set Alla's mind at ease having worried she'd upset Pitch somehow since rumor had gotten around that Pitch always seemed to be getting upset with many of the other denizens at the Pole.
North heard her wing beats behind him before her voice rang out, "Uh …hey North."
The Russian turned to regard the fairy with a genial smile on his face and wide out stretched arms of welcoming, "Ah, Tooth! Have you come to eat at cafeteria?" North really didn't think so, but he was curious enough to ask since she'd come to find him here, so she must have been actively searching for him.
Tooth seemed a bit flustered as she zig zagged in the air her crest of feathers fluffing a moment before she smoothed them back. She shook her head no, "I- I just happened to be in the neighborhood after finishing a run and wanted to check on you… and on Pitch. Is everything going alright since you brought him back to the Pole?"
North saw something was bothering her; he gave her a warm smile, "You know, Alla can add another plate of food if you would like to come to room and see for self?"
Tooth grimaced shooting back a couple feet, "I don't know if that's such a good idea. The last time we all got together… well, I don't have to tell you how that went. Besides, I don't think I'm ready to see him right now." She sighed tiredly as she shook her head, "I don't know how you do it North. He'd have driven me bonkers by now dealing with that attitude and his antics on a daily basis."
North took in a deep breath nodding, "Pitch is handful I agree, but I like to think he is also challenge. He is hard to take at times, but I see good in him when he puts attitude aside long enough to let it shine. We had words this morning after spanking, and I think he will do better from now on. I tell him that I will give him quick incentive to do better if I see he is getting out of line in future da?"
"Oh, uh good. I uh… hope that helps," Tooth blushed uncomfortably; she was more in agreement now than she'd ever been prior that Pitch did indeed need North's wisdom of a firm hand when the situation called for it, but talking about spanking Pitch with North could still embarrass her due to his blaring directness on the subject.
The Cossack tilted his head giving the fairy a curious look, "Well? Will you come? I know he wishes to apologize to you; I tell him after grounding he will, but eh, why not now? Is always good time to make up sooner than put off no?"
Tooth frowned. After everything that happened, even though it was Pitch's fault that she'd lost her cool and slapped him, Tooth still felt a little guilty for doing it especially after hearing Pitch and North's conversation at his old lair as to why he had ran away while her and the other guardians had listened through the snow globe portal. Pitch did adore her. Why, she couldn't rightly say, but she was definitely aware that he cared for her greatly and valued her opinion. Because of this, it hadn't taken long after she'd left the Pole to continue on her runs that she realized that her and Pitch's altercation was likely the driving point to him feeling a need to have run away (and a driving force of her guilt now that she had let herself snap on him knowing how unstable Pitch could be.)
His deep affection for her knocked Tooth off kilter because Pitch was so emotionally imbalanced at times. It made her feel like she was out of her league trying to help care for him, but that it was equally important that she make a concentrated effort because of his formed attachment to her. She wanted to be what Pitch needed her to be, but she didn't think she had the resolve to step up to the plate like North had. She wavered, "Now's not such a good time. I …I have to get back to my rounds and…"
North interrupted her, "Tooth. Is okay. You need time. There is nothing wrong with that. You do not need to feel pressured. When you are ready; we will go see Pitch."
She sighed giving North a wry smile, "Thanks for understanding North. I'm not giving up on him, I just need a little time to get my thoughts together before I can be around him again. I have to be mentally prepared in case he blows up again. You know how quick he is to temper; I don't want to ever lose my cool like that again."
North frowned shaking his head no, "His temper will not get out of hand like that again. I see it, and I will correct it," he snapped his fingers, "Quick like! I have told him this already; from now on we nip in bud before it becomes big problem."
Tooth's smile faded, and her eyes lidded into a sullen gaze as she sunk in the air slowly. It was as if her mood was weighing down her ability to fly, "It'd be nice if we could just talk to him. I hate that we have to treat him like this in order to get any kind of positive results."
North nodded grimly in understanding, "It will not always be like this Tooth. I can feel him changing," he smiled grabbing his belly and giving her a wink, "Right here, in my belly!"
She couldn't help but to giggle softly. It was good to see North's mood had lightened up quite a bit from last night. The man had been quite dour since the lunch incident coupled with Pitch's running away, but he seemed to have found a bit of peace now. Tooth wished that she could find that same relief, but for the time being, it made her happy to see that at least North had.
Tooth gave North a small smile, "I'd better go. I hope you two enjoy your dinner," with that said, Tooth dipped down giving North a small nod goodbye before darting to the side and out of the kitchens.
North watched her go with a sad sigh. Those two had a lot to patch up, but he knew Tooth was still feeling hurt over the incident at lunch whether over Pitch's words to her or what had followed, but he could tell there would need to be more than an apology said between the two to get them back on track. Perhaps once Pitch was off his grounding North could try to arrange for Tooth and Pitch to do something together to mend their differences. It was something to think on he decided as he made his way back down to the ceramics shop to pick up the figure.
After North had picked up the finished piece, he brought it back to the wrapping shop and proceeded to prepare Pitch's gift properly as he enjoyed giving all his gifts wrapped, although for Pitch's first actual gift received by Santa, North decided to make it a little more fun to open. North chuckled to himself; he couldn't wait to see Pitch face!
Not wishing to lay down again, Pitch had milled about his room for over an hour after the yetis had finally left. It was starting to get late Pitch observed as he watched the sun fade into night. Had North forgotten or decided he wasn't going to come after all? Sighing, Pitch grabbed one of his pillows placing it as a cushion in the rocking chair and carefully sank into the seat. He rocked slowly now still looking about the changes in his room and letting the presence of the newly brought table and chairs assure him that if North had had the yetis bring this to his room then he surely would be meaning to come.
Just as he was starting to lose hope, a small knock rapped on the door. The knock was an unfamiliar one that Pitch didn't recognize though. It was hard like North's, but it was rapid like Toothiana's. His interest was piqued, and Pitch got up from the rocking chair and moved to the door with an air of curiosity.
Opening the door brought an instant smile to Pitch's face to see Alla in her familiar pink apron, "Why hello!" he chirped as he opened the door more widely for her to come in looking over her and the cart she wielded into his room with interest. Once she had pushed the cart in, Pitch couldn't help but to look out into the hallway to see if North was coming up behind Alla. His face fell a little to not see a trace of the big man lumbering down the hallway. Perhaps he wasn't coming after all, and he'd just sent Alla to deliver him a plate of food since Pitch couldn't leave to get it himself.
If it had been any other yeti, Pitch may have copped an attitude, but he liked Alla (even though he'd never bothered to learn her name!) Pitch turned to face the yeti with a small smile.
Without warning, Alla pulled him into a fierce hug bodily picking Pitch up and squeezing him.
Pitch gasped in surprise as all the air was squeezed out of him, "O-okay! I… I missed you to!" He gagged out barely audible from how tightly she'd hugged him.
Alla set him back down gently giving the top of his head a soft pat as she groaned out a rough string of words that Pitch gathered was an, 'I missed you too.'
Pitch ducked his head shyly holding his hands behind his back as she spoke. He took a small step backwards and peered up at her with a kindness his face didn't often reflect especially in regards to the yetis or elves, "It smells delightful," Pitch offered, "Would… would you like me to help?" He wasn't sure he'd be able to, but he thought he should at least offer since she was bringing him something to eat.
She petted his hair again seeming to fancy how the strands of hair always fluffed back up to its original wave. She settled her hand lightly at the base of his neck giving it a soft rub as she spoke in light reverberating tones that were pleasant before pulling out his chair for him in an obvious show that she just wanted him to sit down and relax.
Pitch was silently relieved since he really had no idea how he'd have helped her without North here to translate for him. He watched her work now as Alla opened up a segment of the cart and began to set out plates for both him and North (which set Pitch's rampant worries to rest to know if she was setting another place, then North must surely be on his way.)
He moved to the chair Alla had pulled out for him looking down with a grimace at the hard wooden surface. He thought to place his pillow in the seat, but there was no way he wanted Alla to even have an inkling about that! Just thinking that she might find out how North punished him had Pitch glancing reticently at the strap on the wall and flushing a deep purple as he carefully worked his way into his seat trying his best not to have the yeti notice how severely uncomfortable he was through his constant shifting. With how forward she was, Pitch would die of embarrassment to have her find out and try to 'help' him in some excessive manner as the yeti seemed prone to.
Thankfully Alla didn't seem to take note of his suffering or the strap on the wall continuing to swiftly set each spot and set out covered trays of food to keep the contents hot. She brought out a pitcher of iced lemonade and poured him a glass while he was waiting for North to show up.
Pitch smiled fondly up at her, "I appreciate you bringing such a lovely spread. You always treat me so well, for whatever reason I can't fathom, but I thank you."
The door had been left open knowing Alla would have to remove her cart, and also because Pitch had been expecting North.
North had been approaching Pitch's door and slowed stunned to hear Pitch speaking so tenderly to one of the yetis. He'd never heard or seen Pitch treat his furred friends with anything but indifference or disdain, and to hear him speak so nicely to anyone but especially to one of the yetis was like music to his ears. The smile he wore broadened as he made his way through Pitch's door.
Pitch perked immediately upon seeing North enter, "North! You made it!" Pitch beamed, "I was starting to think you got lost," he teased.
North had hidden the present artfully behind his back as a further surprise and now pulled the gift from behind him presenting it to Pitch, "Eh, it took time to wrap present for you," he gave Pitch a toothy grin as he watched the Boogeyman's eyes grow impossibly big.
Pitch swallowed a lump that rose in his throat as he pointed at the present, "You… you brought that …for me?" Pitch couldn't understand why the Cossack was being so nice to him especially after everything he'd recently put him through. His face fell as he averted his eyes to his empty plate, "I… I don't really deserve all these kindnesses you're giving me."
North frowned to see that Pitch was still obviously feeling guilty, "Pitch, if I give to you, then you can believe that I think you deserve it. Why do you think you do not?"
Pitch glanced back up at North with uncertainty before his eyes drifted back down. He paused a long moment before answering, "I …I figured after what I did…" he trailed off feeling it to be explanation enough.
The Cossack studied Pitch for a long moment his eyes softening as he placed a large hand on the nightmare lord's slumped shoulder, "What you did Pitch, you were punished for; clean slate now remember? We are not holding on to past anymore. You see, I realize now, much of our time these past two months has been spent dwelling in past. We get angry, we fight, these feelings, they stay, lingering like bad ghost, no? I think it is finally time we leave past where it belongs, in past, so we can move towards future."
Pitch's eyes flitted up to meet North's as he searched his face for doubt in the words the man had spoken, but North's countenance showed conviction, and Pitch nodded lightly a small smile breaking out on his face to think of truly being able to leave all their previous baggage behind. Pitch brought his gaze back up to North now in all seriousness, "I'm sorry I've given you so much trouble. I …I know you've been trying to help me, and I've been atrocious to you at times and to the other around here. I guess I just wanted to say thanks for …for putting up with me."
North squeezed his shoulder lightly giving Pitch a satisfied grin, "Thank you, Pitch. Your apology is heartfelt, I can tell you truly mean it."
Pitch gave him a quirky smirk now as he saw the proud smile that North reflected back at him. He felt unburdened to have had the chance to apologize to the man while not being under some form of duress. Now he felt like he could truly move on legitimately.
Alla who had largely been forgotten during their talk blubbered on the verge of tears at the happy shared moment.
Pitch immediately blushed feeling bashful by the tones she expressed in her barks.
North laughed giving Pitch's back a hearty pat, "She says you are sweet! What did you do to this woman eh?" North teased.
Pitch couldn't help but chuckle lightly as he rolled his eyes at North, "Stars knows the only time I'm sweet is when I've overdosed on sugar," he turned a deeper hue of purple knowing what she had said about him. He couldn't help but to smile wider liking the compliment.
North's laughter died down as he looked from Alla to Pitch having an idea, he turned to the yeti, "Alla, Pitch here is interested in learning yeti language, do you think you could come by maybe help Pitch learn language?"
Alla gave an affirmative and clearly joyous muttering of syllables.
Pitch took in her name, Alla, it was good to finally have a name to place to the face. He beamed up at her deciding he'd be more than willing to learn the language with her teaching it. It would be worth the time spent to be able to understand and communicate with Alla, "I'm sure you'll be a fine teacher, Alla," Pitch encouraged smiling brightly in her direction.
Alla cooed obviously flattered before patting North on the shoulder and grunting out quite a few long phrases all while the Cossack nodded with a smile.
"Yes, yes, that sounds just fine, Alla. We can start tomorrow after lunch rush," North affirmed.
The yeti walked around the table giving Pitch another pet as she rested her hand on his back and spoke something that felt tender before she turned to wave her goodbyes and head out the door.
Pitch watched her go before turning to North and asking in a conspiratorial whisper, "What did she just say to me?"
North chuckled, "She said that she looks forward to teaching you tomorrow and to have good night."
"Oh, okay." Pitch stated simply with a nod of understanding. The smile was still present on his face as he now thought about being able to actually understand her.
North nodded, "Alla is good woman, and I can tell she is good for you to, Pitch. I have never seen you react to yeti in such a way. It does my heart good to see." His smile grew, "Now that that is settled, here!" North proffered the gift to Pitch once more.
Pitch couldn't remember ever receiving a wrapped present in his very long life, and to have North give him one now had him giddy with anticipation to see what was inside. He moved the large gift into his lap just staring at the shimmery blue paper speckled in silver flecks. A festive splash of frills decorated the top of the box, and Pitch ran a finger through the twirl of ribbon playfully just admiring the artful display of the wrapping. He almost didn't want to open it so as not to ruin the lovely presentation.
After several long minutes, North shook his head with a loud laugh, "What are you waiting for? Tear it open, Pitch!"
Encouraged by North's words, Pitch cautiously ripped a finger though the paper. He enjoyed hearing the satisfying cut and crinkle of the paper sliding away, and as he removed the wrapping, he opened the box it had covered to reveal another box lying within.
This box was a large silver box that was finely decorated with a black-lined flip top lid; Pitch pulled it from its resting place onto his lap and placed the trash at his feet seeming perplexed that North had given him …a box? That was …different he supposed. It was useful, he could find something to put in it, "It's… a nice box," Pitch said sounding a bit confused by the reasoning North would gift him a box. It was his holiday, and some of the customs were definitely strange from what he'd read in North's books.
North ran a hand down his face, "Pitch, I did not give you box as gift; I thought eh, you don't do Christmas before, so I give you a little bit more surprise in your surprise. Open, keep opening!" North chuckled.
Realizing his mistake, Pitch chuckled himself as he creaked open the lid to see another wrapped present inside. This one was black with gold and silver streamers. Pitch smiled noting that all the various wrappings had been in his favorite colors. He tore into this wrapping paper quickly feeling that he'd come to the final box as he'd opened it to see that inside this big box there was a mass of tissue paper obscuring an object in the middle. Pitch began tearing the tissue out energetically having worked up enough suspense to want to see what his actual gift was now.
"Be careful with it," North gently warned seeing that Pitch had been getting excited and not wanting the ceramic figure to get broken in Pitch's zeal to see what he'd gotten him.
Pitch nodded heeding the warning as he immediately slowed down and cautiously reached inside the box wrapping his fingers delicately around the object to pull it free from the box and then unwrapped the item from the tissue paper.
He stared in amazement, slack-jawed, and admiring all the fine details North had expertly carved into the statue from the rippling muscles to the fine lined mane and tail. The mustang was carved in the motion of a gallop, and the base contained wispy blades of grass like what would be seen in plains land fields. Pitch could almost envision the hot breath flaring from the nostrils because the figure was so life-like.
So awestruck was Pitch that North wasn't sure now how he'd felt about the gift, "Do you like it, Pitch?" He asked inquisitively.
Pitch blinked; his eyes shifting over to North and shining brightly, "It …it's beautiful! Thank you! I love it!" He exclaimed; his exuberance laced his words as he gaped a huge amorous smile back on the object unable, in his glee, to keep his eyes from drifting back to his gift to marvel at its splendor.
He boomed a laugh of joy, "I can tell you do! Good, Pitch! This pleases me greatly." North didn't think he'd ever seen Pitch this enamored before. Pitch's level of merriment was much more than the Cossack had expected from the nightmare lord; it was a pleasant surprise to say the least.
Pitch ran his fingers over every groove turning it over in his hands unable to get enough of soaking in all the details. All the while he wore a goofy elated grin.
North smiled warmly enjoying the delight Pitch was getting from his gift, "You like to paint, so I thought maybe I will make you a gift that you can also paint. It will give you something to do while you are grounded to room. Once you finish painting, I can take down to kiln and have glazed, so it will not chip your paint job. After glazed, you can put as centerpiece for table da?"
Pitch nodded vigorously liking the idea as he stood and moved one of the trays of food to test out where on the table he would place the statuette. Once he'd decided, he gingerly slipped back into his seat to take in the full view. He was of course beaming with pleasure, "I think that's a fine idea! I might get started on it tonight!"
North nodded, "Might I give suggestion?"
Pitch turned his attention to North now, "Of course."
North smiled pointing at the figure, "Wait until tomorrow, and before I start day, I will bring you special primer paint to put on first. Ceramic does not hold paint as well without base coat first. It is a spray, so I will show you how to apply properly. If you like painting figures, maybe you would also like to try hand at making them eh?"
Pitch grinned, "That sounds interesting. Maybe …maybe we can make something together? …if you're not too busy of course." Pitch was excited at the prospect of creating something like the horse that North had made for him. He had no idea how to go about making something like it, but he was sure North would give him pointers to guide him.
North thought it was a marvelous suggestion, "When I bring primer tomorrow, I will also bring clay and supplies for sculpting. I will not be able to do this with you until after dinner tomorrow night, but I'm sure you can occupy self with painting horse or other activity. After lunch rush, I will be here with Alla to start teaching you Yeti, so you will have much to keep you busy tomorrow."
This all sounded like a good day to Pitch as he nodded happily, "I'm sure painting my statue will take up most the morning if I am able to finish by the time the two of you come to begin the language lesson. Today was a little… hard to get through."
North nodded, "Yes, I think tomorrow will go more smooth for you with so many new things to take up your time. Is grounding though, so it is expected that there will be times you will have hard time. Is punishment, but I will do my best to help make it not as bad as could be for you."
Pitch looked down giving a small nod in regrettable understanding. "I… I know. I do appreciate you making it a little less painful to endure," he stated demurely.
"How's bout we see what Alla packed for us to eat no?"
Pitch shifted uncomfortably, he was grateful that North changed the topic as he watched him lift the lids of the trays as steam billowed out showing what lay beneath. Alla had packed some tuna casserole, carrots, spinach, and a salad as well as a side of buttered rolls. It was of course an enormous amount of food that he would in no way be able to come close to eating (even with skipping the greens and the carrots that Pitch had no interest in eating!) Pitch stood scooping out a small spoonful of the tuna casserole and grabbed a roll where North made up for the both of them and portioned huge amounts on his own plate.
The two ate in relative silence making a few remarks about the tastiness of the food where North suggested he at least try the greens and carrots since Alla had brought them, but Pitch was in no way interested. North didn't push the subject only seeing it as an excuse to indulge a little more by the time they were finished. Alla must certainly be quite pleased with her efforts to feed North Pitch thought with a smirk.
Sandy popped in before their meal had concluded giving a surprised wave to North and Pitch as he spun about taking in the new furniture and the redistribution of the old furniture. He gave a nod and a thumb's up to Pitch.
"Sandy! Come! Sit! There is still plenty of food if you are interested. I think Pitch and I have about had our fill," North said jovially as he patted his stomach as if Sandy needed further confirmation.
Sandy was more than happy to join in on the meal especially after looking at the seating and slipping into the chair that was clearly designed for him. He licked his lips as North scooped a serving of each item onto his plate to pass over to Sandy.
"I am sorry my friend, we only had the two plates, but Pitch did not use his salad fork," North reached over to grab the clean utensil for Sandy who wasn't demotivated in the least by the news.
Pitch rose excitedly to lift up the statuette for the golden man to see, "Sandy look! Look what North made for me!" He was still quite excited about his gift and wanted to show it off proudly.
Sandy stopped eating to look up at the horse curiously. Once he'd taken in the details he gave a wide smile and a vigorous nod to both Pitch for his gift and North for making it.
Pitch placed the horse carefully back in the center of the table and began quietly clearing the empty dishes to place them onto Alla's cart while North leaned back looking on the verge of a food coma and Sandy ate looking quite comfortable on the chair that elevated him up into the air high enough for the star to actually sit at the table over having to stand.
Pitch smirked then thinking he was grateful to not be that short where almost everything in the world they lived in was made for people twice his size or more. Pitch had most of the table outside of the dishes Sandy was using piled on the cart, and seeing a bucket with a cleaning rag in it, Pitch wiped his new table off liking to see the shiny finish of the amber sap once cleaned. He paused noticing Sandy was watching him with a smug smile that Pitch couldn't help returning, "What is that smirk for you little imp," Pitch teased.
Sandy for his part smiled wider taking another couple bites of food before motioning around the room and pointing to Pitch giving a satisfactory nod.
Pitch gathered Sandy was remarking that he was smiling at him because Sandy could see Pitch's new furniture had made the nightmare lord happy. Pitch also smiled wider looking around his room once more thinking that this was really nice, all of this.
North began snoring lightly, the food had obviously been enough to lull him and Sandy's particles of dreamsand dust had likely drifted North's way and had been enough to do the trick.
Sandy of course liked to see anyone resting well enough to sleep, and he blew another sprinkle of dreamsand North's way, and the man's dreams came alive pulling up an image to show Christmas presents dancing around his head with elaborately flowing bows.
Pitch chuckled clearing Sandy's now empty plates and wiping off the rest of the table, "That man's creativity is impressive," he regarded both the table and the statue fondly as he said this.
Sandy nodded in agreement and pointed at all the paintings scattered across the room before pointing back at Pitch as a note that he was creative too.
Pitch blushed at the compliment, "Thank you Sandy, although I feel a bit like a one trick pony compared to North's talent," Pitch was quite amazed by what the big man could do in so many different venues. It was intimidating to even be compared in the same breath creatively. He did have his painting, which everyone had told him he was very good at, Pitch thought proudly. It hit him then, out of all the guardians, Pitch had never given Sandy the painting he'd made for him. He would now Pitch decided as he walked over to the far wall and took the painting down.
Sandy looked on curiously watching Pitch take his painting down off the wall silently wondering what the nightmare lord had planned.
Pitch examined the piece again once more revisited by the images of the constellations long destroyed. He'd painted it as an apology for what he had done long ago when the fearlings were much more influential in his decisions. The island landscape and the dream dolphins, from the nightmare where Sandy had saved him, was the smallest part of the canvas. The rest, covering four fifths of the canvas, was the best recollection that Pitch could remember of a once grand map of stars. These stars would mean even more to Sandy he knew as they represented so many lives lost in the great battle and fall of the Golden Age. Now, Pitch worried if giving it to Sandy would only serve to hurt him all over again.
It was too late to go back now Pitch thought with a grimace as he approached Sandy, who was still sitting and watching him intently. Pitch closed his eyes a moment taking a deep breath, "I …I made this for you Sandy," Pitch started.
Sandy's head tilted, and he looked surprised. He had never really looked at this painting because Pitch had kept it in the back corner of the room. Sandy had not been one to wander about Pitch's room inspecting its contents, and Pitch unbeknownst to Sandy had purposefully kept this painting to the side because of its triggering content. Pitch hadn't wanted the little man to see it without an explanation. Sandy's face lit up now with a smile as he held out his hands to receive his gift.
Pitch did not pass the painting to him though and instead knelt on the floor, shifting Sandy's chair to face him fully with one hand and still clutching the painting to his chest with the other. He peered up at Sandy with a somber expression.
Sandy was confused by this action signaling a question mark over his head and looking slightly worried.
Pitch looked back down at his painting hesitating a moment before finally looking Sandy in the eyes fully before speaking, "Do you remember that night when you pulled me from my nightmare with your dream dolphins? You created an island to bring me to safety."
Sandy smiled and nodded, of course, he remembered that dream well; it was the first dream that Sandy had ever turned the tide of Pitch's nightmares within Pitch himself. It was a monumental accomplishment and victory for the Sandman.
Seeing the golden man was on the same page, Pitch continued, "This painting… I made it from that dream that you created for me, and within that dream, …you shared with me something I'd long since forgotten, or maybe I just tried to hide from it," he handed the picture to Sandy then as he continued to talk, "All those stars that were extinguished by my hand so long ago…" Pitch paused as Sandy now studied the picture.
Sandy's soft features moved from inquisitive to grief-stricken as he took in the detail of every star. Kozmotis Pitchner had sailed many vessels before he'd become Pitch, and that memory was one that had never faded especially knowing what he'd done. Pitch had painstakingly painted the picture to the best of his and Sandy's recollection from what Sandy had presented to him in his dreamscape's night sky.
Sandy brought his now glassy eyes up from the painting to look down at Pitch. He didn't need to mime how he felt; it was a simple question splayed across his face, why?
Pitch swallowed finding it hard to meet Sandy's intense hurt-filled gaze as he continued slowly, "I …I can't take it back Sandy. I can't give them back, so… so …I wanted to give you the most that I could in the capacity I have available. There's not enough I'm sorries in the galaxy to make up for what I did."
Sandy slid the painting slowly onto the table his expression unreadable for a moment before like a calm before a storm the silent tears rolled in rivulets of golden light down Sandy's cherub cheeks.
Pitch felt horrible now. What had he done? He lowered his gaze to the floor in his shame, but he was met by strong arms suddenly wrapping around his neck in a hug. The surprise passed quickly as Pitch brought his arms to encompass Sandy tightly as he felt the little man's shuddering tears soak his shoulder. Pitch hugged him tighter wanting to comfort Sandy more than ever as he spoke his voice coming out slightly frantic, "Please know, I …I never meant to hurt you with this painting. I… I just thought after so long a memory of them might be worth something to you." Pitch felt an ache in his heart not for himself but for Sandy now. He didn't like seeing the dreamweaver so distraught.
Sandy finally quieted letting himself pull away from the hug, but the two's arms were still entwined. Sandy was kneeling in Pitch's lap, and Pitch was watching him with concern. Sandy touched the side of Pitch's face then and smiled.
Pitch felt relieved to see Sandy's face reflecting happiness again, and he smiled gratefully back at his little golden friend.
Sandy took in a deep breath taking the other side of Pitch's cheek and floating up off of his lap raising in the air to plant a light kiss on Pitch's forehead at the bridge where nose met his brow. This of course sent trails of dreamsand to coat Pitch's face.
Pitch blinked saying in what felt like slow motion, "You're …I'm not going to be able to stay awake…" Pitch's eyes fluttered as his body started to swivel in an unbalanced jarring motion as Pitch's slowly fading waking mind tried to keep his body upright.
As Pitch's body began to collapse, Sandy expertly maneuvered his dreamsand around Pitch's limbs to lift him and guide his body in a fluid motion towards his bed. Sandy peeled back Pitch's sheets to gently lay him down and tuck him in. Once the nightmare lord was settled, Sandy worked his power of dreams to send Pitch into a pleasant dream as he proceeded to lay next to Pitch leaning against him for a small time just watching Pitch sleep before deciding to take care of North as well.
Sandy wrote in his dreamsand, tiny print upon Pitch's new table that said, 'Thank You, Pitch.' The nightmare lord would know when he woke in the morning that Sandy had forgiven him and even if it hadn't seemed so, Sandy also appreciated the gesture Pitch had made to assuage the hurt he'd caused him so very long ago.
Sandy whipped a cyclone of gentle sands around North lifting the man's bulk with ease to rest on a cloud of dreamsand that would carry North to his bed. Another strand of dreamsand carefully lifted the painting as well, and Sandy guided both out of Pitch's room as he too exited the room and softly closed the door.