By the time Pitch reached the top of the stairs, Tooth had already done some reconnaissance. The stairs had led them to the doors leading to the stockrooms of the stores on that floor. The one leading to the back of the record store wasn't hard to find.
There were piles of boxes all labelled with Cupid's symbol beside it and 'emergency stock' written on labels in marker. CDs already signed in advance no doubt or surplus merchandise just in case the store ran out. From the size of the crowd Tooth had seen outside, she was pretty sure the store would need it.
Pitch came up beside her and tested the door handle. The door opened easily, already unlocked for the staff to reach the 'emergency stock'.
The darkened stockroom was deserted but past it, Pitch could just make out the bright interior of the store itself.
He slipped inside for a closer look, edging behind shelves packed full with CDs and vinyl records.
Tooth followed but stopped flying when Pitch glared at her.

'That's exactly what we need on a stealth mission: a noise that sounds like a giant bluebottle', he whispered sarcastically, 'Not to mention an outfit more suited for Mardi Gras'.

'It's not like anyone out there can hear us! Besides it's not an outfit and you know it!' Tooth snapped.

'You might have painted your feathers black or something', he groused, peeking into the record store.

Tooth made a face at his back and was instantly relieved that Pitch hadn't seen it.
He always brought out the worst in people!
She was the Guardian of Memories, not a stroppy teenager!
She let the matter drop and joined Pitch at his surveillance point, taking up position on the other side of the door frame.

The entire store was festooned with pink heart shaped balloons. Bowls of candy hearts perched on tables draped with white cloths with rose petals scattered decoratively amongst them. The store staff (even the bearded, tattooed manager) had donned pale pink t-shirts with Cupid's symbol on the back. A little bit ahead of their hiding place, there was a small stage set up with a microphone. Beside it was a table with a pile of CDs placed on it and a permanent marker ready for action. Even the spotlight had a pink filter. A couple of large red curtains had been hung up and were blocking the view beyond the store's main doors and display windows.

'I think I'm allergic to this amount of femininity', Pitch said, gritting his teeth, 'It's so…'

'Sweet', Tooth deadpanned.
The amount of candy on offer with 'free!' signs stuck in it was making her teeth ache sympathetically.

Then all of a sudden, their target appeared.
Cupid had chosen to wear white for the occasion instead of the pink she usually wore, most likely to avoid blending in with the environment. Her hair was done up in curls with glittery streaks running through it. She was talking animatedly to a couple of security guards, laughing and patting one of their arms. The man's granite like face melted into a goofy grin as she winked at him. As she walked over to talk to the store manager, her unseen observers noticed her high heels had built in LED lights that flashed as she walked.

'We have met the enemy', Pitch sneered, a look of utter disgust on his face, 'And she is adorable'.

'We're still not sure she is the enemy', Tooth reminded him.

'Anything or anyone that looks that harmless is not to be trusted. Look at Sandy'.

'Fair point. But we can't just go in and start wrecking the place. We have to get her side of the story. She was always so happy making other people smile. I find it hard to believe she's doing this out of spite'.

'Fine. What do you propose?'

'We wait 'til she's done then talk to her. She doesn't know we're here. Let's just see what she does okay?'

Pitch was about to respond but he was interrupted by Cupid's song starting up over the store's loudspeaker system. She was clapping delightedly as the manager showed her the system and demonstrated the lights for her stage.

Tooth turned to Pitch. He could hear the song but now it was the moment of truth to see if he would fall under the spell. When his scowling expression did not change, she took it as a good sign.

'What do you hear?' she asked.

Pitch knew better than to admit what he heard.
Guardians were too inquisitive by half.
To him, the song was a gentle female voice singing a child's lullaby. It was joined by a man's voice as he listened.
He tried and just barely succeeded in keeping his astonishment from showing.
How could the witch have known that song?! Even he only half remembered it!

'Nothing', he lied, 'Just white noise'.

Surprisingly, Tooth felt a stab of sympathy for Pitch.
Cupid's musical spell played on memories of what made its listeners happy.
Did Pitch really have no happy memories? No person he had ever cared about?
She had never sensed anything happy from his teeth. Then again their dark aura was so unpleasant she hadn't looked very closely. Even though they were no longer attached, Pitch's teeth still had the power to bite.
Tooth had been able to hear Jack and North's versions of the song but with at least ten people in the store listening, it would be impossible to pick out the tune Pitch was hearing. Especially since she was determinedly ignoring her own personal version of the song. Her auditory filter could only cope with so much.

'You really don't hear anything?' she asked.

'I don't know much about music', Pitch shrugged, 'Besides this proves your theory. I really am immune'.

'Good to know', Tooth said, 'Oh! Looks like it's showtime'.

At a click of the fingers from Cupid, the curtains were pulled back and the crowd waiting outside the store was revealed. It seemed to stretch the whole way through the mall.
The security guards began to creak open the front doors but the crowd surged forward, spilling into the store.

'Oh goodie a riot', Pitch smirked, recognising the hints of desperation and greed that always accompanied humanity's worst instincts.
He had always enjoyed the melee of Black Fridays or January sales. So many lost children and fear that the shopper would not get what they needed. Such idiotic fears but so easy to feed on. Humans were always at their worst in a crowd. This was no different and Pitch was enjoying the frantic sensations. Until they were abruptly halted.

'Hey!'

The entire crowd stopped squabbling and looked up at the stage.
Cupid's voice held a commanding tone that belied her delicate appearance. She was speaking into the microphone as she waggled her finger disapprovingly.
'Stop pushing! There's enough Candy for everyone but only if you're good!'

The entire crowd looked shamefaced. It was as if the group's collective consciousness was a naughty child, shuffling from one foot to another.

'Now what do we say?' she prompted patronisingly.

'Sorry Candy', came a staggering amount of voices in response. It seemed to echo around the mall. Tooth even saw the people outside the store (who hadn't pushed anybody!) mouth their apologies.

Pitch shook his head in disbelief as the security guards apologized as well for no reason! The sensations had totally vanished. Every single person was suddenly utterly calm and happy. This was what Tooth had warned him about. And he truly did hate it when she was right!

'Aww it's okay!' Cupid laughed, her voice like a tinkling bell, 'I know we're all excited. So whaddya say we all get in line, get some nice stuff and get along? Are ya with me?!'

The crowd whooped and cheered as they got into a strict single file queue. Cupid put the microphone back in its stand and turned away.

Pitch and Tooth got a good look at her face from their hidden position.

Cupid's blue eyes were narrowed and her grin filled her entire face.

'That's what I thought', she giggled darkly to herself.

Then the dark look was gone. She flicked her hair behind her shoulders and settled into the plush chair prepared for her.

'Now who's first?' she called and beamed at the little girl who ran up to her, poster in hand.

Pitch looked at Tooth and raised an eyebrow.

'Okay, maybe not so harmless', Tooth conceded, 'We'll wait 'til the people leave, then we put a stop to this'.

Pitch looked at the length of the queue and made a decision.
He focused, pursed his lips and whistled. Tooth tilted her head at the odd face he was making but felt a strange tingling down the back of her neck feathers.
No sound came out but the invisible frequency made every single speaker on the stage blow at once. The song was choked out by the hissing of static. Cupid's mouth became a thin line for the merest moment before resettling back into her smile. She simply laughed the technical failure off and continued signing.
As the staff hurriedly bustled about, trying to find the cause of the problem, Pitch settled himself down.

'No reason we have to be miserable while we wait', he said, amused by Tooth's shocked expression.

'I didn't know you could do that', she said.

'Like I said, I don't know about music', Pitch smirked, 'but I do know how to spoil other people's fun'.