Kay, so remember when I said 'no romance'? Well, that still stands ;) Happy Valentine's Day xx

Guys, we've reached over 200 followers! Aaah I love you all so much :3 *glomps you all*

Disclaimed.

...

Love and Attraction

...

Jack stumbled as he came in to land in the Globe Room, enticing the attention of the other Guardians who had been waiting for him. There was a small frown on his face – not that the others could really tell – as he moved his head as if gazing around the place.

"Hmm… judging from the fact that it was sub-zero a second ago and it's not anymore, plus the added subtle heat of a fireplace, I'm going to take a stab and say I'm in the Globe Room," he said after a moment's silence.

"You couldn't see that for yaself?" Bunny quirked a brow.

Jack turned in his general direction, allowing them to see the scrap of cloth tied across his eyes. "Blindfold's'll do that to you," he smirked.

"Jack, why are you wearing blindfold?" North asked in confusion.

"So there I was, minding my own business, enjoying the last few weeks of winter," Jack began in the tone of a story teller as he started pacing around, using his staff like a cane, "when BAM! Cupid comes out of nowhere, tells me I'm 'ruining his holiday' because I'm not making goo-goo eyes at anyone and embarrassing myself, then proceeds to stab me with one of his stupid arrows."

The Guardians exchanged glances. Sandy made to ask about the blindfold – Jack actually hadn't answered their question – before realising Jack wouldn't be able to see it.

"What does that have to do with the blindfold?" Tooth asked for him.

"I'm wearing it because the first person I see I'm going to – unwillingly – fall 'hopelessly in love with'," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The wind's been taking me where I need to go, so I assume I'm here cause the lights went off?"

"Ya, but was only routine meeting; nothing serious," North replied.

"Okay. I have something I'd like to discuss, then."

"And what might that be?" Bunny crossed his arms, having a very good idea despite his question.

"How long does it take for a love arrow to wear off?"

"No idea."

"Fantastic." And there would be no way to know for sure while the blindfold was still on. "I am going to ice Cupid's wings solid when this is over." A pause. "Then bury his arrows in Siberia."

"Well," North told him, pretending (much like the others) that he hadn't heard that comment, "you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need."

"Thanks, North," Jack smiled where he thought North was standing (but was in actuality a chair). "There wasn't anything important I needed to do, right wind?"

The wind blew in gently from the open window, ruffling his hair reassuringly.

"Shall we start meeting then?" North suggested, moving to sit by the fire. The other Guardians (sans Jack) followed.

Jack tracked their movement with his ears, turning his head in their general direction. He'd made it all the way to the Pole without incident (although he had only the wind to thank for that) so he was pretty sure he could manage to find a seat without killing himself.

Or, at least, he'd thought he could.

Jack misjudged his position in relation to the Globe of Belief, his foot catching on the corner of the console. With a flail and a short cry he fell forward. His staff hooked onto the edge of the blindfold, flinging it off as he face-planted spectacularly.

"Sweet Tooth! Are you okay?!" Tooth's somewhat frantic voice called out to him.

"Fine," he groaned, holding a hand to his head as he pushed himself up onto his knees. He didn't realise his protective barrier against the world was gone until he found himself staring at his reflection in the polished metal of the console. "Never better," he said, his voice lilting to a tone the others couldn't quite identify. "Although… anyone got a comb?"

The others exchanged a wary glance.

"And maybe a better mirror? Not that I really need one; I look great in every reflective surface."

"You sure you're feelin' alright, mate?" Bunny asked.

"I'd reply to that by asking if I look alright but we all know that's true already," Jack smirked.

"He must've hit his head," the Pooka told his companions.

Tooth hurried to help Jack back to his feet. "You didn't hit your head, did you?" she asked worriedly. "What about your teeth? Are they okay?" She shamelessly shoved open his mouth to check and sighed with relief. "Still as beautiful as always."

"Thank you, Tooth," Jack beamed at her, causing some of the fairies nearby to swoon. "They are beautiful, aren't they? Unlike a certain somebody's…" he glanced meaningfully at Bunny.

While Bunny spluttered, Jack waltzed over to the nearest reflective surface and started meticulously fixing his hair.

"There's no bruising, so I don't think he hurt himself," Tooth said, watching the winter spirit work.

"Which do you think is my best side?" he asked them, turning to and fro. "The left or the right? I mean, I know they're all fabulous, but is there one that's a little more fabulous than the others?"

"In that case, can I give him a reason to've gone off his rocker?"

"Bunny!" North scolded, but the smile on his face took the bite out of it.

Sandy examined the console where Jack had slipped, picking up the fallen blindfold as he did so. His eyes widened in realisation and he created a large exclamation mark to attract the others' attention.

"You think you know something, Sandy?"

Sandy nodded, creating what looked to be a picture in a frame.

"I don't get it," Bunny frowned.

"A mirror?" Tooth guessed.

Another nod.

"Oh! You think he saw his reflection and Cupid's magic is causing this?"

Two thumbs up.

"Well, that would explain behaviour," North shrugged.

"So how long until it wears off?" Bunny turned to the larger man, glancing briefly at Jack who was still staring longingly at himself.

"I do not know."

"Wonderful. If you'll excuse me, I've got eggs to paint," and with that he promptly disappeared down a hole.

"I can't believe he just ditched us!" Tooth gaped.

"He doesn't know what true beauty is," Jack informed them without looking away from his reflection. "Such a shame."

The three remaining just stared at him.

"Maybe we should look for Cupid," North suggested. "Jack, where were you when you ran into Cupid?"

Jack barely glanced at him. "I was spreading snow over Burgess."

"Then that is where we go. To the sleigh!" he bellowed, marching out of the room.

"Whoa, wait, what?" Jack gaped, hurrying after him. "You want me to go on the sleigh? Do you have any idea what that kind of wind-sweep will do to my hair?! What if we hit a swarm of bugs?! They don't make good face masks, I'll have you know!"

Sandy and Tooth rolled their eyes, heaved twin sighs and made to catch up. It was going to be a long day.

...

...

Surprisingly, Cupid was still hanging around; perched on a roof and surveying the couples going about their day in satisfaction.

"You!" Jack cried, pointing at the spirit accusingly. The wind gently lifted him up and deposited him on the roof beside Cupid. "Because of you, not only is there a small red mark on my beautiful body but my hair is now a mess and I don't have a comb!"

Cupid, who was essentially a young chubby boy with angel wings, stared at him. "You're right, that is a tragedy! Here, let me fix that for you; how can you possibly hope to be attractive with hair like a bird's nest?" he reached up and expertly rearranged Jack's hair.

The other Guardians, who had finally caught up, didn't really know how to react.

"You could also try a more fashionable outfit," Cupid suggested. "I mean, the 18th century and the 20th are both good in their own rights, but you really shouldn't mix them."

"Excuse me," Jack huffed, "but it doesn't matter what I wear; I can pull off any outfit."

"Okay, this has gone far enough," Tooth interrupted. "Cupid, we came to ask you to remove the effects of your arrow on Jack."

"You want me to… to remove love on Valentine's Day?!" Cupid whispered in horror. "No. Uh-uh. Absolutely not."

"This is not love you were intending," North reasoned.

Cupid shrugged. "Love is love; narcissistic or not." He turned to Jack. "Just make sure you don't end up drowning yourself like Narcissus did."

Jack winced.

Sandy mimed checking his watch, then made a question mark.

"How long?" Cupid guessed. "Well, I should think the effects will wear off by midnight."

"I suddenly feel like Cinderella," Jack muttered. "So long as I don't have to wear rags and ride in an enchanted pumpkin, that's fine."

"Then we're all good, then. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a timid young couple in the next town over who require my assistance," Cupid farewelled, flying off.

"Okay, well, I'm gonna go spread some snow so perfect they'll still be thinking about it when spring comes," Jack said casually, heading off as well.

"Should we really be letting him go off alone?" Tooth asked nervously.

"Bah, he will be fine," North reassured her.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he has caught sight of reflection," he pointed down at where Jack was admiring himself in the window of a bakery. "He will probably stand there until sunset."

Tooth bit her lip, but nodded. "And after sunset?"

"I will send out lights and get him to Pole, yes? We set up big mirror to keep him occupied."

Sandy shook his head in amusement, drifting up into the air. With a wave to his friends he went off to resume dream-delivery. Tooth was quick to follow.

"Bah, Valentine's Day," North muttered to himself as he headed back to the sleigh. "Such a silly holiday. Nowhere near as important as Christmas."

Heads up, Guests, I've decided to name you. Hopefully the names will stick or inspire you to change them :P

Guest Review Responses:

poiuytrewq: Thank you so much!

Guest (who shall henceforth be known as Count Guestula): (Ch.23:) All the feels :3 (Ch.24:) I think the phrase still works either way :P (I'm a madam, though) By the end I shall crush your heart with my words ;) Who said words would never hurt you? XD (Ch.28:) Thank you so much! (Ch.29:) *glomps you* (Ch.41:) (I don't know if this is still you, if not, please tell me QwQ) I'm such a sadist... (Ch.45:) I think it's like a nervous tic kind of thing - a way of releasing pent up frustration without actually releasing it :P (Ch.47:) :3 Fluffy feels (Ch.48:) I both apologise and feel flattered ^^; (Ch.53:) It was just a small prank-y thing - like moving someone while they're sleeping to confuse them later (Ch.58:) Yes sir/madam *salutes*

Guest (who is now Maguestic Unicorn): Naaaaaw thank you so much!

Fandomcrazy: Of course! You're allowed to have your username be whatever you want it to be, I just wanted to keep it as something identifiable that wasn't 'Guest' :P Haha yep, I think I identify a lot with Phil XD

pipalina: Very clever :) That's exactly it!

WEast: Hahaha omg :') It's... kind of fitting, actually XD Heh, he has to have the last laugh, of course ;)