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Clack
A gentle sound accompanied Tooth Fairy’s motion, her hand placing a black piece upon the board. Z’s face held a gentle smile.
“I’m impressed, Tooth Fairy. You’re a fast learner.”
In response, the woman sitting opposite the scientist simply gave her a look. It wasn’t accompanied by a smile - rather, despite its neutrality, it was almost like a pout.
“You’re much too kind. And lulling me into a false sense of security. Aren’t you?”
Tooth Fairy didn’t smile often. Yet as Madam Z gave her a subtle, unashamedly guilty smirk in return, she saw that little twinkle in her eyes.
“Sharp, too. Suppose I shouldn’t let my guard down either.”
A relaxed atmosphere had settled between them. The day was calm, relaxed, as if the sun shining overhead wasn’t too keen on following its path either, simply content to hang overhead in the clear blue sky. Idle birdsong, the occasional passerby. The bench that they’ve chosen for their game of Go stood a bit tucked away from the rest of the park, giving them a little more privacy. Both women had taken off their coats, hanging them onto the bench near where each of them sat; the game board between them, with a cup for each, for holding their game’s yet-unused pieces.
Clack
Madam Z deliberated idly for a little less than a minute, before placing her white piece, putting more pressure on the defense Tooth Fairy was establishing in one of the board’s areas. This was met with the lightest of furrowed brows, and a little more thought. Tooth Fairy’s hand would reach for a piece, though she was still deliberating on the right move. The other arm was still hugged around the mason jar of fairies, who seemed to be a bit less unruly than usual. Their faces turned towards the game, a little band of spectators.
Z’s eyes, however, were not drawn to the board; rather, to the face of the woman opposite of her. That calm, focused expression. The lock of hair that just about kept out of her field of view. The braces that she could never imagine her without - not that anyone could, at this point.
Yet they made her no less beautiful.
Z looked towards her coat, feeling a bit of anxiety well up. Her eyes focused onto her pocket, in uncertainty. What she was about to do…
“Z?”
Tooth Fairy’s voice made her head turn back towards her opponent, a little faster than expected. She’d already placed her piece down. Tooth Fairy seemed to have even had enough time to trace her gaze.
“...you’re not expecting a call, are you?”
Madam Z simply shook her head. “Not unless there’s an emergency.” Her attention turned back to the game board, refocused on the conversation as well as their game. “I’ve announced my time off in advance according to protocol. I’ve received no calls yesterday. Hopefully that’ll last.”
Of course, she kept her communicator with her, and of course, emergencies could always happen. But save for a “Storm” alert or something of similarly high importance - which was fortunately unlikely, at the moment - nothing should disturb them now.
“That’s good. I’m glad Constance is above breaking labour laws.” the tiniest dusting of sarcasm covered Tooth Fairy’s words
Clack
When Madam Z looked up after making her move, she paused. Finding herself looking into Tooth Fairy’s inquisitive, brown eyes.
The question was clear. ‘What was it, then?’ , she wondered. But it remained unasked. After a couple of seconds, Tooth Fairy turned her eyes back down to the Go board, to look over the state of it, to plan her next move. And to ease off. It either wasn’t important, or Z wished not to talk about it, she’d probably thought.
Not just yet .
Clack
The game would continue. Madam Z relaxed. A cool wind blew, the birds chirped.
A serene sense of calm, a precious moment. As if, for a while, they lived in a world where a “Storm” meant nothing more than rainfall and strong winds.
The game would end within an hour, taken at a leisurely, unhurried pace, with small talk amidst. Madam Z ended up the victor, after a good show of Tooth Fairy’s. The two began to clean up now, each taking the pieces one by one to their respective containers.
“I’m happy…what I mean to say, is, thank you, Tooth Fairy. For taking this time off with me.” Madam Z eventually spoke, her fingers slowing as she grasped one of her pieces. Their eyes met again, and Tooth Fairy’s gained a bit of softness to them. A slight curve to her lips.
“Of course. I’m glad you’re taking some time off work yourself. It’s certainly well-deserved.”
Z took the last piece off the board, and cast a glance at the coat slung over the bench. Brief, yet Tooth Fairy just barely caught it in her peripheral this time. She kept cleaning up the pieces, though, as Z adjusted her glasses, to focus.
“It’s certainly helped. Moreso with you here. You’re a good friend to me, and I…cherish the time we spend together.”
Her words were a bit more cautious now - or unsure. She was about to take a rather bold step. Yet she was met with welcoming eyes. Did they see what she was doing? Or was Tooth Fairy simply waiting, perhaps nudging her along. Letting her go at her own pace. Her last piece cleaned up into the vessel too, she leaned back a little, but kept turned towards Madam Z. Both her hands were upon her jar of fairies now, her eyes only briefly left Z’s, to check on them - perhaps to compose herself too. She looked back thereafter, a smile in her eyes.
“The feeling is mutual, Z. I care about you. Beyond my duty as a doctor of the SPDM.”
That she was not wholly prepared for. Those simple, yet earnest words, spoken from the heart. Another small moment of silence followed, Tooth Fairy patiently waiting, while Z took in her words.
Soon, though, she’d nod. “I do, too. And I…would hope for us to become even closer.”
“Oh.”
A little surprise. Not an unpleasant one. And Z wouldn’t let it sow doubts within her. She set aside the Go board and pieces previously between them, eyes aimed down, focused upon the task. She then turned towards her coat, and reached into her pocket; she made sure to let this side with the one that she needs be closest to her. Tooth Fairy simply watched. It was unusual to see her surprised, yet Z did not think to savor the look.
Instead, she focused upon her search. And her hand that ruffled the inside of the pocket stopped, having found what she was looking for. She allowed herself a moment of composure, of gathering her thoughts, and a quiet exhale, before turning to Tooth Fairy, hand still within her pocket.
“Tooth Fairy. Could you extend your hand, please?”
She didn’t even think about it. Tooth Fairy simply nodded, keeping a hand upon the fairy jar’s lid, as the other one extended.
Z took her own hand out of her pocket. What she held was hidden from sight, deliberately, as she moved it into Tooth Fairy’s open palm. Both their gazes converged onto one spot, as Z’s closed fist rested in Tooth Fairy’s hand. Both of them opted to not wear gloves today; Z could feel the soft skin of the dentist’s kind hand. And it gripped her closed hand back, gently; fingers slightly curling, her thumb finding its way upon the back of Z’s hand, brushing over her knuckles.
She took her time. Both of them basking in this moment just a little. Madam Z’s other hand came to join in, from below, to help hold Tooth Fairy’s. Emphasizing what she wished for the other woman to hold. Emphasizing the touch between them. She looked into Tooth Fairy’ eyes. Ever so slightly, both of them were leaning forward, closer to each other.
“Whether you accept my feelings or not…I want you to have this.”
Slowly, gently, she opened her hand. The moment that the little object within it touched Tooth Fairy’s palm, the woman’s eyes widened with a little spark, and Z could just barely hold back a fond smile. Of course she’d know what it was, just from touch. She’d expect nothing less.
Once her arms retreated, Tooth Fairy found herself looking at a small tooth within her palm. With interest, though a little differently than the way she’d stare at teeth usually. When she would help the children of the foundation, or others requiring the services of her dentistry, she’d always examine the teeth with an expert, yet curious look. This time, she seemed a little differently enthralled. As if she knew there was something she was missing about this tooth. About this gesture.
She held it between her thumb and index finger, her palm still held below it; she could not afford to risk its loss. “This is…a baby tooth. Molar…number 4, lower left.”
Z nodded. Her eyes were glued to Tooth Fairy’s face, that expression. Enthralled; captivated and captivating.
“Yes. It’s one of mine.”
Tooth Fairy’s eyes shifted from the tooth to Z, who continued.
“According to tradition, you throw your lower teeth onto the roof, and bury your upper teeth, or just toss them down onto the ground. To make sure they grow right. I did it with most of mine, but this one fell out at an…inopportune time. I tucked it away and then…I forgot about it.”
She smiled a little. Tooth Fairy watched her, with interest, with a growing…understanding?
“I’d only found it again a few weeks ago. When I did, I thought of you. You have quite an impressive collection, so I wasn’t sure if you’d be interested. But then I…became aware of my feelings. And I’d realized, what I wanted to do with it. To show you, give you this piece of me.”
Tooth Fairy’s eyes turned back towards that tooth, which braved oh such a journey.
“...It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She closed her fist, feeling the molar now hidden within it, and looked back up to Z. Only now, the latter realized how tightly Tooth Fairy clutched her ever-present mason jar. Or was it but for a moment?
“Z. You’re tense.”
She hadn’t even realized how tightly her hands held onto the bench. How rigid her raised shoulders felt. She could at least now amend that.
“I’m alright. It’s just…nerves.”
She was a scientist, not a romantic. She knew Tooth Fairy, and Tooth Fairy knew her, but she had little past experience to draw on. Yet she hoped she had done this right. She hoped to see the answer on Tooth Fairy’s face.
And Tooth Fairy smiled. Sweetly. With just a little bit of mischievousness to her.
“I know just the thing.”
She carefully set her jar of fairies aside, against the park bench’s backrest so that it doesn’t tip over and break. She stowed away the tooth that Madam Z gave her, carefully, almost with reverence. And then she reached for her own coat’s pocket. It didn’t take more than a few seconds before she pulled out a piece of toffee candy. She always carried them around, even when not on duty. One may never know when it will come in handy. Like right now.
“A proper dose of sweets helps calm the nerves. Please, hold out your hand, Z.”
Z understood, and did as asked, without question. She couldn’t tear her eyes off Tooth Fairy’s face though, as she leaned ever so closer. She felt the hand caress hers, with that gentle prickle of the candy’s packaging in her palm. Two hands, soon, cradling hers.
“I know this can’t compare to what you’ve given me, but it’s the best I have on hand…it’s the best way, in the moment, that I can reciprocate.”
Z’s mouth was ever slightly ajar now, yet no breath was drawn in or out, for a moment. She could swear Tooth Fairy’s eyes, at least for a brief moment, fell to her lips.
Her hand, her body didn’t move, as something blossomed within her. A warm, light feeling, spreading throughout her body. This was no raging fire; the result of her spark was a gentle hearth of the heart.
Tooth Fairy’s hands retreated; only then did Z think about chasing them. Yet they did not leave her completely. The doctor looked down, as she’d grasped both sides of the wrapped toffee, and pulled, slowly. Unwrapping the candy, and letting it fall into the warm palm of Z’s hand.
She brought it to her lips, watched by gentle eyes. It tasted just like this feeling inside of her. Sweet. A melting sensation, upon her tongue and her heart. And soothing. Tooth Fairy was right yet again.
A few moments of silence followed, Z’s eyes closed. When they opened again, no more candy remained in her mouth.
They stared at each other for a moment more. Then, Z moved. Carefully, slowly, closing what little distance existed between the two of them on the bench.
“Then you feel the same?” She couldn’t stop that little bit of eagerness, that hope to be right.
“I do.” Tooth Fairy gave the lightest of nods. “I wish to be closer to you, too. To know each other better. To cherish each other’s company. To care…more than a doctor, or even a friend.”
As Z was close, within arm’s reach, their knees brushing against one another, Tooth Fairy’s arm closest to her moved. Her hand was an inch from her back, though she waited.
“May I…?”
“Yes…”
Z’s answer came as an exhale; a slightly shaky one at that. Tooth Fairy noticed. Her hand brushed over the other woman’s back and travelled upwards, diagonally. Towards her shoulder, as she’d pull her in - matched by Z’s own hand reaching for Tooth Fairy’s side. The slightest of localized shudders met it, though she was emboldened as the dentist, too, leaned into her.
They stared into one another’s eyes. Another arm each now joined the embrace, emboldened, as their foreheads met. It took just a little care and angling, for Z to avoid the braces, but she’d not complain about her position, not in a million years. Her eyes closed, while Tooth Fairy observed this face of hers. She was reminded of the time Z had passed out at her desk one time. Yet though she looked similarly peaceful - the joy upon her face now could not be compared.
The birds chirped. The sun shone. And two women sat upon a park bench, within each other’s embrace, for minutes on end.
“...Would you like to get some tea next, Tooth Fairy?”
“Yes. I think I would.”
“We still have the rest of the day to enjoy.”