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felinefablesFandom: Rise of the Guardians/Guardians of Childhood/Nightmare Dorks University
Rating: R for mentions of violence
Story Summary: As a child, Pitch Black was attacked by a vicious animal while at a summer camp. Ten years later, he returns to civilization.
Author's notes: I haven't updated this fic in a coon's age, but hope you guys enjoy anyway.
-----------------
CHAPTER 1
It had been a beautiful, starry night. The kind of night where you snuck out to go for a walk under the round, glowing coin of the moon, usually with a lover, and in this case a cousin who had ignored any of the rules set for him by the camp, and broke every single one each day and night. And somehow, that had been exactly what Proto had talked Piki into, and together they had managed to sneak out of their cabin, and head into the woods surrounding the summer camp and its small lake, that seemed to gleam like molten silver in the moonlight.
It had almost felt magical, Piki recalled, and the clearing they had found with golden lights of fireflies dancing seemed to emphasize this. Proto had made a comment about the lifecycle of fireflies, but Piki had ignored it in favor of watching the fireflies and the stars in quiet wonder.
A quiet that unfortunately was broken by Pitch, who had woken up alone and had guessed his twins whereabouts. So he too had sneaked out, and had after a desperate search finally found his brother and cousin.
“Why did you leave me behind?” He had asked, or rather demanded. When Piki thought back on it, he could remember how upset Pitch had looked. And how he had looked like this each time that Piki decided to spend more time with Proto than his twin. A pattern that had been uncomfortably consistent that very summer, though Piki had not thought much of it at the time. Children were often selfish like that.
“You would just start complaining like you always do.” Proto had said. “And then we’d get caught and get in trouble.”
“Shut up! I wasn’t talking to you!” Pitch hissed at his younger cousin, and then frowned when Piki stepped in front of Proto.
“Go back to the camp, Pitch. I can’t always drag you with me.” He had said in his best older twin voice. Pitch looked at him with wide eyes, hurt very evident in them, before they narrowed in anger.
“Fine! I didn’t wanna be with you anyway! Not with Proto around, because he ruins everything!” He spat. Piki frowned.
“You’re being childish!” He had scolded.
“I hate you!” Pitch had angrily hissed in return, before he turned and ran into the underbrush. Piki grimaced when he realized something.
“Oh great, he ran the wrong way.”
As much as Pitch could overreact at times, he was still Piki’s twin. And running away in anger and getting lost in the woods would not solve anything. The last thing they needed was Pitch getting them into trouble, because they had all ended up lost in the woods.
“Why must he ruin everything?” Proto muttered, as they followed his trail. “I wish he would leave us alone forever.”
Piki frowned at that, finding his younger cousin’s words to be rather harsh. “Let’s just find him and then-” he was cut off by a scream coming from the woods in front of them. It was loud, ringing and terrified, the kind of scream you might hear from a frightened animal in distress. Or-
“PITCH!” Piki shrieked, before he set off in a sprint, with Proto following suit.
They both stopped when they broke through the bushes to another clearing. Piki’s eyes widening at the sight that met him.
Black. Black with eyes that seemed to glow like gold, with sharp fangs burying into Pitch as it dragged him across the ground, his (little) brother screaming in pain and fear…
“PIKIII! PIKI HELP ME!!”
——
Piki sat up with a choked gasp, and began coughing as if he had been holding his breath, with his lungs now craving oxygen. And for all he knew, that might have been the case. After a bit, his coughing ceased, and he groaned, rubbing his eyes before he looked at the alarmclock on his nightstand.
3:30 a.m.
With a quiet moan, Piki lay back down, covering his eyes with one arm. He thankfully didn’t have classes in the morning, but that didn’t make him feel less frustrated. He knew there was no possible way he could go back to sleep after a dream like that.
He eventually got out of bed and wrapped himself up in a silkrobe, before leaving his room and heading to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
He paused when he noticed there was a light in the kitchen, along with a scent of some kind of baked food. Piki grimaced, squinting his eyes until the moving on until he got to the doorway of the kitchen.
“Proto, what the fuck are you doing in my kitchen in the middle of the night?”
Proto, looking uncharacterstically tired, just gave a slow blink. “… I couldn’t sleep. And you told me I could borrow your kitchen.”
“In the daytime or on weekends, unless otherwise stated.” Piki retorted a bit sharply, then grimaced, rubbing his temples, feeling a headache try to sneak up on him. Just what he needed. “Ugh, whatever… Just- just clean up after yourself when you’re done.” He strode past the other to get a mug from his cupboard, before he went to find his favourite brand of calming tea.
“… Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Proto asked at sudden. Piki paused in his movements of taking a teabag out of a tin, before he frowned and dropped the bag in the mug from before.
“If you mean ‘am I nervous about meeting my brother, who I haven’t seen since that disaster of a summercamp we went to, when we were 12 years old?’” He grimaced after a moment at that, before he took his electric kettle to pour water into it, so it could get boiled for the tea. “…The answer to that is a very certain yes.”
“So am I.” Proto muttered, earning a surprised look from Piki.
“Why would you be nervous?” He asked.
Proto gave a slight shrug. “I suppose… I wonder if he finds me responsible. I mean…” He ducked his head, again a rather uncharacteristic thing for him, Piki thought. Proto was always practically radiant with confidence. Or at least when it came to outsiders. Piki was the only person he dared let his guard down around, if rarely at that, and even then he always had an air of being well aware of what he was doing, be it his general behavior or whatever crafting project he was cooking up.
Now, however… He almost reminded Piki of that night ten years ago, when the events had been over…
He was distracted by the electric kettle, as it began to bubble madly, as it finished boiling the water, before giving a sharp click. With a sigh, he poured the water up in a mug.
“We were kids,” he finally told Proto quietly. “And while what we did lead to some awful things… well…” He frowned. “If Pitch decides to have held a grudge for all this time, then we’ll just have to work our way through it.”
Rating: R for mentions of violence
Story Summary: As a child, Pitch Black was attacked by a vicious animal while at a summer camp. Ten years later, he returns to civilization.
Author's notes: I haven't updated this fic in a coon's age, but hope you guys enjoy anyway.
-----------------
CHAPTER 1
It had been a beautiful, starry night. The kind of night where you snuck out to go for a walk under the round, glowing coin of the moon, usually with a lover, and in this case a cousin who had ignored any of the rules set for him by the camp, and broke every single one each day and night. And somehow, that had been exactly what Proto had talked Piki into, and together they had managed to sneak out of their cabin, and head into the woods surrounding the summer camp and its small lake, that seemed to gleam like molten silver in the moonlight.
It had almost felt magical, Piki recalled, and the clearing they had found with golden lights of fireflies dancing seemed to emphasize this. Proto had made a comment about the lifecycle of fireflies, but Piki had ignored it in favor of watching the fireflies and the stars in quiet wonder.
A quiet that unfortunately was broken by Pitch, who had woken up alone and had guessed his twins whereabouts. So he too had sneaked out, and had after a desperate search finally found his brother and cousin.
“Why did you leave me behind?” He had asked, or rather demanded. When Piki thought back on it, he could remember how upset Pitch had looked. And how he had looked like this each time that Piki decided to spend more time with Proto than his twin. A pattern that had been uncomfortably consistent that very summer, though Piki had not thought much of it at the time. Children were often selfish like that.
“You would just start complaining like you always do.” Proto had said. “And then we’d get caught and get in trouble.”
“Shut up! I wasn’t talking to you!” Pitch hissed at his younger cousin, and then frowned when Piki stepped in front of Proto.
“Go back to the camp, Pitch. I can’t always drag you with me.” He had said in his best older twin voice. Pitch looked at him with wide eyes, hurt very evident in them, before they narrowed in anger.
“Fine! I didn’t wanna be with you anyway! Not with Proto around, because he ruins everything!” He spat. Piki frowned.
“You’re being childish!” He had scolded.
“I hate you!” Pitch had angrily hissed in return, before he turned and ran into the underbrush. Piki grimaced when he realized something.
“Oh great, he ran the wrong way.”
As much as Pitch could overreact at times, he was still Piki’s twin. And running away in anger and getting lost in the woods would not solve anything. The last thing they needed was Pitch getting them into trouble, because they had all ended up lost in the woods.
“Why must he ruin everything?” Proto muttered, as they followed his trail. “I wish he would leave us alone forever.”
Piki frowned at that, finding his younger cousin’s words to be rather harsh. “Let’s just find him and then-” he was cut off by a scream coming from the woods in front of them. It was loud, ringing and terrified, the kind of scream you might hear from a frightened animal in distress. Or-
“PITCH!” Piki shrieked, before he set off in a sprint, with Proto following suit.
They both stopped when they broke through the bushes to another clearing. Piki’s eyes widening at the sight that met him.
Black. Black with eyes that seemed to glow like gold, with sharp fangs burying into Pitch as it dragged him across the ground, his (little) brother screaming in pain and fear…
“PIKIII! PIKI HELP ME!!”
——
Piki sat up with a choked gasp, and began coughing as if he had been holding his breath, with his lungs now craving oxygen. And for all he knew, that might have been the case. After a bit, his coughing ceased, and he groaned, rubbing his eyes before he looked at the alarmclock on his nightstand.
3:30 a.m.
With a quiet moan, Piki lay back down, covering his eyes with one arm. He thankfully didn’t have classes in the morning, but that didn’t make him feel less frustrated. He knew there was no possible way he could go back to sleep after a dream like that.
He eventually got out of bed and wrapped himself up in a silkrobe, before leaving his room and heading to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
He paused when he noticed there was a light in the kitchen, along with a scent of some kind of baked food. Piki grimaced, squinting his eyes until the moving on until he got to the doorway of the kitchen.
“Proto, what the fuck are you doing in my kitchen in the middle of the night?”
Proto, looking uncharacterstically tired, just gave a slow blink. “… I couldn’t sleep. And you told me I could borrow your kitchen.”
“In the daytime or on weekends, unless otherwise stated.” Piki retorted a bit sharply, then grimaced, rubbing his temples, feeling a headache try to sneak up on him. Just what he needed. “Ugh, whatever… Just- just clean up after yourself when you’re done.” He strode past the other to get a mug from his cupboard, before he went to find his favourite brand of calming tea.
“… Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Proto asked at sudden. Piki paused in his movements of taking a teabag out of a tin, before he frowned and dropped the bag in the mug from before.
“If you mean ‘am I nervous about meeting my brother, who I haven’t seen since that disaster of a summercamp we went to, when we were 12 years old?’” He grimaced after a moment at that, before he took his electric kettle to pour water into it, so it could get boiled for the tea. “…The answer to that is a very certain yes.”
“So am I.” Proto muttered, earning a surprised look from Piki.
“Why would you be nervous?” He asked.
Proto gave a slight shrug. “I suppose… I wonder if he finds me responsible. I mean…” He ducked his head, again a rather uncharacteristic thing for him, Piki thought. Proto was always practically radiant with confidence. Or at least when it came to outsiders. Piki was the only person he dared let his guard down around, if rarely at that, and even then he always had an air of being well aware of what he was doing, be it his general behavior or whatever crafting project he was cooking up.
Now, however… He almost reminded Piki of that night ten years ago, when the events had been over…
He was distracted by the electric kettle, as it began to bubble madly, as it finished boiling the water, before giving a sharp click. With a sigh, he poured the water up in a mug.
“We were kids,” he finally told Proto quietly. “And while what we did lead to some awful things… well…” He frowned. “If Pitch decides to have held a grudge for all this time, then we’ll just have to work our way through it.”
Wolves Chapter 3
Date: 2018-12-04 09:15 pm (UTC)If he hadn’t been with his uncle and brother, however, he would probably have gone bounding off to investigate every single thing. As it was, Zachariah kept him grounded with stern looks, while Piki talked his ear off about everything that had happened the past ten years in the family, at least until they got to the administration offices of the area. After that, Piki fell behind a bit, as Zachariah and Pitch went inside to speak to administration.
The one they spoke to, was one Manfred Lunanoff. He was a small and peaceful-looking man, but there was something about him that made Pitch feel alert. Mostly, Mr. Lunanoff smelled of peach blossoms, but there was something… other, underneath it all. He was friendly however, and showed no signs of hostility, as he welcomed Pitch to the university and explained about classes and living arrangements.
“Now keep in mind, we have a few teachers who prefer a slight dressing code, so it would be appreciated if you would be able to… well, cover up your tattoos.” Mr. Lunanoff commented, glancing at Pitch’s arm. “I understand that it is covering some scars from… the incident?”
“Certain wolf bites can’t be covered up by ordinary medicine.” Zachariah said gruffly, “th’ tattoo was a birthday gift.”
“I don’t have a problem with covering it up, however.” Pitch added, “not if it’s going to be a bother to someone.”
“Not to everyone, just some and most likely only in certain classes.” Mr. Lunanoff said kindly, “I’ll make a note of it on your schedule, which you can pick up once you’ve settled in. Now, I am also aware that you have family on this campus, but are they aware of your special situation?”
Pitch grimaced, feeling uncertain on how to respond. He glanced to Zachariah, who just gave a slight nod.
“My brother and cousin are here, yes, but they are unaware of my situation.” Pitch finally told Mr. Lunanoff, “but I hope to be able to inform them at some point. At least, when the time is right.”
Mr. Lunanoff nodded, and shuffled around a few papers before picking a specific page. “Well with that out of the way, I just need you to sign your name here, and here and you will officially be a student. Oh, and so you know, your living quarters have been prepared especially for your condition. We have had a few students in the past with similar problems, and I hope they will fit your needs as well.”
Pitch nodded, as he signed his name on the documents. “I hope so, Mr. Lunanoff. I appreciate your help.”
Mr. Lunanoff only smiled, and Pitch once again had the feeling there was something specific about him. “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Black.”
———-
“Lunanoff is an ally of your second half, boy.” Zachariah rumbled, once they had left Lunanoff’s office. Pitch blinked at that, looking to his uncle, but didn’t ask how he knew in case it was a foolish question.
Zachariah Black knew many things, and you didn’t always want to know the answers to your questions. Pitch had learned that the hard way in the ten years he had spent with him.
“Comes from this area. Lots of old connections.” Zachariah grunted. “Now let’s go get your suitcase, so we can get you settled in.”
“Yes, uncle.” Pitch agreed, as they got back out into the sunshine. Piki had been waiting for them and smiled when he saw them, getting up from the bench he had been seated on.
“How did it go?” He asked, seeming honestly curious.
“It went fine, I’m starting classes next week and I’ve got a place to stay.” Pitch said. “Maybe you know the place? It’s in the “Campus D” area, wherever that is.” he offered the papers about that information to Piki, who glanced them over. Piki nodded, handing the papers back. “I know that place, I pass it to my own area. But why there? I thought…” he paused, halting himself and seeming to think of something. “Of course, how silly of me, mine is a single abode, not one for extras. And Proto already has a roommate, though I don’t know if he could squeeze in a third.”
“It’s fine, I’ve got a place to stay and that’s what’s important.” Pitch said, “besides, it’s… specially arranged. I’ll be taking special classes, and some of them are late, and I wouldn’t want to bother anyone who would be my roommate.”
“Boy, we ain’t got all day.” Zachariah cut in with an annoyed grunt. “We’re wastin’ light, and I want to be on the road soon. Y'know how the engine gets after a drive this long, so let’s get your things.”
“Of course, sorry uncle.” Pitch replied, and both he and Piki followed the other man quickly to his truck back at the parking lot.
As they went, they passed by a group of well muscled younger men, who Pitch figured could only be described of as ‘jocks’. They were running around and doing what looked like some sort of Lacrosse game, and Piki nudged Pitch slightly, pointing at one of the players.
“That there is Pitchiner, he’s Proto’s roommate. I’m sure you’ll get introduced to him at some point, in one way or the other.”
Pitch just nodded, though he wasn’t looking much at Pitchiner. Instead, he was paying attention to some of the other players running around, though some of them had taken notice of him too. For the most part, they were still focusing on their game, but those not in the middle of fighting for the ball were standing to the side, watching Pitch and the others from a distance.
Zachariah had noticed them as well. He took a good, long look, before he snorted softly.
“From up north, just like yourself.” He grunted, then gave Pitch a slight pat on the shoulder. “Come on. Truck now, looking and conversing later.”
Pitch said nothing, but followed. Piki had watched the entire exchange curiously, but didn’t ask any questions as he followed along himself.
——————————–
The house was small and as ordinary as they came. When Piki thought about it, he had never had any reason to really pay attention, but that was to be expected when he lived in an entirely different area. But it looked comfortable at least, with a tiled roof and shutters that had been opened, where they before had been closed, now that Piki thought about it. Probably to prevent vandalism from rowdy students, which sounded sensible enough.
Zachariah took a look over it and grunted, giving a nod. Then he motioned for Pitch to follow, getting out a key that they had probably gotten in administration, before he went up a small flight of stairs and unlocked the front door. Pitch hoisted up in his suitcase and followed suit, pausing only at the door to look back at Piki.
“Want to come have a look?” He asked, and Piki followed quickly.
Inside was as ordinary as it came. There was a large room which functioned as a livingroom and kitchen, with an island separating the kitchen from the livingroom, and a couple of doors. One opened up to a single bedroom, where Pitch set his suitcase, while another had to be to a bathroom, Piki guessed. The third was revealed to open to a set of stairs leading down, and Zachariah went to examine it. He returned moments later, grunting something about it being a washing room and a special made pantry.
“This is it.” Zachariah then told Pitch, standing in front of him, and Piki noticed curiously how Pitch was just a little taller than Zachariah. “I’ll be leaving you to it, boy. But if anythin’ should happen, call me. I’ve got some contacts in the area, who might drop by, or who’ll come if any trouble arises.”
“Yes, uncle.” Pitch said in a quiet, respectful tone.
“Just remember, keep an eye on the sky and yer feet on the ground.” Zachariah added, “you’re strong an’ healthy, but don’t be afraid t’ show your throat if someone seems stronger than you. An’ there’s folks here from up north. You’ll get along just fine.”
“I will remember, uncle.” Pitch replied.
“I’m sorry, but what do you mean with ’from up north?’” Piki interjected cautiously, flinching just a little at the dirty look he got from Zachariah. “Not that I mind Pitch making acquaintances or anything, it just seems an odd thing to say?”
Zachariah merely glanced at Pitch, who shrugged.
“He just means, that there might be some familiar faces around here. I got to know some different people where I stayed.” He said, “and I might run into some of them here. Some are freshmen like myself, a few are seniors.”
Piki was tempted to ask why Zachariah hadn’t just said so in the first place, but decided not to. He felt himself start to faintly sweat under the hard glare of his uncle, until the older man gave an annoyed grunt, looking to Pitch.
“One last thing: Remember what I taught you. Don’t let the rest o’ your family get to you.” He said sternly, as though Piki wasn’t there at all. “With your brother an’ cousin being here, you can’t be certain about how they’ll react t’ certain things.”
“I know, uncle.” Pitch replied sincerely. “I am who I am. One thing first, and a Black second.” Zachariah nodded satisfied at that, before patting Pitch on the shoulder.
“Atta boy. I’ll hit the road then. But keep me posted if somethin’ happens, a'right?” He then gave Piki one final hard glare, before turning and heading out the door.
Piki swallowed slightly. He wasn’t quite certain how, but the older man’s gaze had spoken volumes.
‘Don’t screw this up.’ it had seemed to say, though Piki couldn’t say for certain what was meant with it. Was it somethign related to the accident years ago, or something else?
“So…” He said slowly to Pitch, “would you… like me to show you around some more, or…?”
Pitch shrugged. “Sure. Maybe we could find something to eat? I’m hungry like a wolf.” He flashed a strange little grin at that, as if he’d made some kind of inside joke. Piki just blinked slowly, but nodded.
“Sure. Students around here don’t eat out much, but there are some decent places around when it calls for it.” He said.
“Then by all means, lead the way!” Pitch replied cheerfully.