If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
- Take a Chance on Me, Abba, watch?v=PSQiGa0sGe8
Tooth spun as she shot off directions to her girls, her mind spinning as fast as her body as she planned, able to shoot off directions to her girls even while so distracted.
She didn't think human courtship rituals – especially those she'd grown up with – really counted in this situation. Besides, quite a few of those involved the parents of the couple working out dowries and the details for the ceremonies. Neither of them had parents anymore, so it wouldn't really work.
Well, North would probably love to stand in as Jack's father, but until Jack said North was his father and not coworker...sorry North, not going to happen.
But...there were rituals the Sisters of Flight had used when choosing a mate, to show interest. Her parents had skipped more than a few steps, but...her father had died to save her mother, before they'd even spoken. He'd gotten better, but still. That sort of thing rather justified skipping a few steps until after the wedding, since it covered quite a few in one act.
Her wings nearly stalled as she realized...Jack wasn't going to recognize any of it as courting. He didn't realize when spirits were flirting with him, and that was human style flirting, nothing as 'other' as a Sister of Flight.
Baby Tooth paused long enough to chirp encouragingly and rub her tiny face against her mother's cheek, and Tooth's face firmed as all her fairies added their encouragement. Jack might not recognize it at first, but he'd clue in sooner or later.
A cool breeze wafted through her palace, and she grinned. Jack, just on time as if summoned. And if he was coming...may as well have some fun.
Giggling as the idea hit, Tooth darted upward, hiding against the roof of the control center. A proper Sister of Flight courtship included showing off your flying with lots of dive-bombing and acrobatics – may as well have some fun with it.
She waited until Jack peeked into the command central, clasping hands over her mouth to stifle her giggles. It was tempting to reveal herself as he looked around the area, but she held out, waiting as he slowly made his way into the command central.
He inched his way into the main area, looking around warily. "...Tooth?"
With a mock roar Tooth shot down from the ceiling, pulling up at the last second to lightly brush against Jack's hair. He yelped, ducking as Tooth zipped up to the ceiling again, laughing.
She laughed again as she got a good look at his face, diving down again to hover by his side. "Thought to sneak up on me, did you?" she asked, cocking a hip and hovering in front of him, grinning crookedly.
"Can you blame me for trying?" he asked, leaning on his staff with a ducked head, exaggerated puppy eyes looking up at her as he practically sparkled with excitement.
Tooth smirked back, ignoring her swooning fairies and pretending she wasn't inwardly giggling. "Well, then, did you need something?" she asked instead.
Jack brightened, eyes sparkling with fun and mischief. "Yes, yes I do," he said, pretending at seriousness. "I need iyou/i," he took Tooth's hand, tugging her away from the command central, "to come play with ime/i," he finished with a huge grin.
"Jack, I have to direct the fairies," Tooth protested, pulling back. Baby Tooth spun up between them, a few of her sisters accompanying her, all of them chirping excitedly and begging to be allowed to take over.
...they'd been training for it, but...it was supposed to be for emergencies, not so their mother could goof off. But she did want too...sensing victory, the baby teeth unleashed their ultimate weapon – the puppy eyes. Jack didn't stand a chance against them, and though Tooth was usually immune, with Jack grinning at her, adding his own pleading eyes to the onslaught, and her own wavering, she had no choice but to give in.
"All right," she sighed, pretending to still be unwilling. "I'll let you girls take over for awhile, but come get me the instant there's a problem."
Jack's laughter almost drowned out their eager promises, the girls shooting into Tooth's former place as Jack tugged her hand, urging her into the sky. "C'mon, Tooth! Bet you can't catch me!"
And oh, if that didn't hit another set of courtship rituals without realizing it – the chase and catch, showing off your flying skills, and the silly contest to prove you were serious about this. Winning wasn't the point, trying was. Now if only Jack knew...
Tooth had no idea what kind of contest she'd have to try to 'win' Jack, but Jack had just set his one of his own without realizing it – probably the easiest he would, until he knew what was going on. One of the others would probably set something up once they realized what she was doing...and oh, wasn't that going to be interesting.
For now, she laughed and launched herself after Jack. He whooped and took off into the sky, dipping and twisting, showing off for Tooth.
With a flash of a grin he shot towards the sky, climbing as Tooth followed, laughing. She had nearly caught up with him when he winked, closing his eyes and falling like a stone.
Tooth's cry of alarm was drowned out by the screaming wind as she dove after Jack. They sped toward the water, the wind ripping past them as they plummeted downward, Tooth's desperate hands just missing Jack's legs with each shocked grab.
He cocked his head, opening his eyes just long enough to wink at her again. Seconds before he hit the waters his eyes shot open, snapping out of his dive to shoot across the water, kicking it up in a high, arching spray in his wake.
Jack laughed as he streaked away, Tooth gaping after him for a brief moment before giving chase. Now that was a dive bomb!
They laughed as they dashed across the sky, dipping and twirling, dancing through the sky as if Tooth had always been free to dance this way, spinning around each other in dizzying circles.
They waved at Sandy as they passed him, the small dreamweaver beaming as they shot past, still partially playing, partially dancing, neither close to being tired yet.
Tooth grabbed Jack's hand with a burst of speed, swinging them around as they laughed harder, trailing off as they slowed down and realized that somehow, during their twirling, her hands had landed on his shoulder and waist, his on her waist.
Jack's face frosted over as they sank towards the ground, landing on a rock outcropping overlooking more water. They parted as they sank, Tooth's hand sliding down Jack's arm until her hand laid on his, smiling to herself as he hesitantly turned his hand to lace his fingers with hers.
They didn't speak, just sat looking over the water quietly. After a time, Tooth leaned her head against Jack's shoulder, feeling him stiffen in surprise. Finally he relaxed and Tooth sighed.
Hopefully even Jack was going to get a hint after that.
A/N: So...two week hiatus. Sorry about that. First week was because I was still writing this chapter. Then that night...my gramma passed away. I just didn't have the heart to work on fandom things at all that week, so I had to take a second one off. Her passing has caused a lot of problems around here we're working through – not the least of which is just plain missing her.