Work Text:
1 - Recommended 30 pace minimum
Henry first notices the name because it won’t fit on the hold slips he’s printing. They read “Claremont-Diaz, Alexan” and Henry decides he can’t be bothered to fix it. As someone with an absurdly long last name, he feels it’s his right to make that call.
He places the slips in five books on the West Virginia coal wars, as Claire shuffles past with an arm full of new releases.
“That’s an oddly specific set of books,” she says, glancing over his shoulder. “Who do you figure Claremont-Diaz is?”
It’s a game they play sometimes, trying to profile patrons based on their hold choices.
“Retired union buster looking to relive the glory days?” Henry offers, as he slides them onto the book cart.
“Though this one does add a certain twist,” he adds, holding up a copy of The Tea Dragon Society.
“Mmm,” Claire says, nodding. “For his non-binary grandchild, who he supports full heartedly, provided they don’t join any labour movements.”
“Most likely,” Henry agrees and moves on to a stack of YA books for Dixon, Kate.
The second time he notices the name, he’s processing returns and spots a coffee stain on the inside cover of a Hillary Clinton biography. He scans the book, noting it was last checked-out by one Claremont-Diaz, Alexander. He’s just inputting the appropriate fine, when he sees the sticky note at the bottom of the page.
The scrawl is messy but clearly reads, “This was entirely my sister’s fault for mentioning George W. Bush while I was reading. Please ban her from the library and not me. Xoxo, Alex”
Henry still enters the fine (he’s not lawless), but smiles as he pulls the sticky note out of the book and puts it on the bottom of his computer screen. He also deducts about 40 years from his imagined Claremont-Diaz, and reassigns “union buster” to “political junky who self-identifies as progressive.”
The third time it’s because Alex requests a series of shockingly dense books on immigration exclusion laws. They look deeply technical and had to be transferred from another branch. Law student maybe? Or self-punishing weirdo? Henry honestly isn’t sure but he can’t help himself from grabbing one of the hold slips and writing in his well executed cursive, “Recommended 30 pace minimum between hot beverages and library books. For reference please see A Gentleman’s Guide to Etiquette, Hartley (1875). xx, Henry.”
2 - Debauchery and general lawlessness
After that Henry keeps an eye out for Claremont-Diaz. His holds almost always come in the form of incredibly specific research requests, and rarely stay on the same topic twice. There’s also a sprinkling of fiction, graphic novels, and once a compendium of tabloids from the 1990s. It isn’t the weirdest collection of books he’s ever seen, but it is a little weird, and Henry can’t help it if he’s vaguely intrigued.
It’s an entire two months though, before Henry is able to put a face to the name. It happens when he’s on the seventh hour of his shift, having missed lunch and running purely on five cups of Earl Grey. That’s probably why he does a literal double take and drops a stack of books at the sight of a curly haired man leaning against the counter. He’s laughing and declaring, rather loudly, that he needs a new library card because he “lost it in a dare” and, no, he really doesn’t want to go into the details.
The man looks like he stepped out of a GQ spread, and the smile he flashes at Mrs. Chan — the elderly librarian working the front desk, who likes exactly zero people — makes Henry’s knees weak. Or maybe that’s just his low blood sugar.
Either way, when he sees Mrs. Chan giggle, actually giggle, and handover a new card with a neatly printed “Claremont-Diaz” on the back, he’s not entirely sure he’s not hallucinating.
It takes Mrs. Chan snapping at him to be more careful with the books for Henry to recover. Swearing quietly, he picks up the dropped stack and amends his assessment of “maybe law student, self-punishing weirdo” to add “unbelievably hot” as a prefix.
Now that he knows who he’s looking for, Henry starts to spot Alex on occasion, usually holed up at one of the tables on the second floor. It’s by far the nicest part of the library to work in, with high windows overlooking the courtyard, and far enough removed from the children’s section that there’s no chance of over hearing story time. Alex is usually there with a pile of books, papers, and queue cards spread around his laptop. More often than not he’s fidgeting with a pen and staring at the screen with the kind of intensity that Henry personally saves for particularly good romance novels.
Of course, Henry says nothing to him. Not when he sees Alex pouring over a particularly boring looking legal textbook, and not when he’s staring into space, chewing rather unfairly on a yellow highlighter. Instead, because Henry is in fact a socially incompetent imbecile, the first time he works up the courage to speak to Alex, it’s only to walk past and tell him that he either needs to throw out his coffee or put a lid on it.
All of which is to say that he’s appropriately surprised when he sees Alex approaching the front desk on a Wednesday morning with a smile on his face and a backpack slung over his left shoulder.
“Hey, it’s the coffee police,” Alex says, sliding up to the counter. “You’ll be happy to know that my coffee order is appropriately lidded today.”
Alex leans against the counter as he says it, putting down a clearly closed coffee cup, and winks at Henry.
“I’m so glad you’ve learned how to read the food and beverage signs,” Henry says drily, trying his best to not sound as flustered as he currently feels.
Alex shrugs, and looks a tiny bit bashful, before turning back on his smile and his charm.
“Ok, but they’re in super small print and this place has terrible lighting.” Henry’s about to argue that they have pictures on them when Alex waves his hand and adds, “but I did actually have a question.”
“Sure,” Henry says, in his best helpful librarian voice. He actually is a very helpful librarian.
“I’m looking for some resources on HIV criminalization laws,” Alex says. “Something a little more substantial than just journal articles and the relevant case law.”
“Alright,” Henry says, moving over to the computer and pulling up the search window. “Just let me take a look in the database.”
Henry isn’t sure why Alex needed to come to the front desk for this. He’s clearly a competent researcher and has never had trouble putting in requests for academic sources in the past. This isn’t even the most obscure topic he’s pulled books on. Henry can’t very well admit to knowing that though, not without coming across as some sort of librarian stalker, so he searches the database and jots down a list of titles Alex might be interested in.
“Most of them are at the central branch,” Henry says as he hands over the slip of paper, “but if you put in a hold request for the ones you’re interested in we can get them for you within the week.”
“Ok, cool,” Alex says, his fingers glancing over Henry’s as he takes the proffered paper.
Henry’s still recovering from the slight physical contact when Alex starts to walk away. He stops though, after a couple steps, and seems to reconsider.
“You read anything good recently?”
“I’m currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice?” Henry offers, and phrases it as a question because he’s a dimwit.
“Ya, that checks out,” Alex says, cocking an eyebrow. “But I’m looking for something that’s, I dunno, actually fun. You got any recommendations?”
Alex gives him a smile, like this is just the kind of thing you ask a librarian. Henry supposes that actually, it probably is.
“Right, well, I can probably help with that too.” Henry grabs another scrap of paper, scribbles down The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and pushes it over to Alex. “Since you seem like the kind of person who thrives on debauchery and general lawlessness.”
That earns Henry a laugh, and his stomach swoops slightly at the sound.
“You’ve got me all figured out.” Alex taps the counter once and starts to walk away for real. And then, over his shoulder he adds, “Thanks coffee police!” in a voice objectively too loud for a library.
“Henry,” Henry supplies, helpfully, “also this is a library.”
Alex turns so he’s walking backwards and gives a small wave.
“Thanks Henry!” He yells, decidedly louder than before.
3 - Good feelings only
Henry doesn't see Alex at all the next week. It’s probably not surprising, considering it’s Thanksgiving and most people have better places to be than the library. Still, Henry’s a little disappointed every time he sees the desk by the second floor window empty, or worse filled by someone who isn’t Alex.
On Tuesday though, Henry’s processing the returns and sees The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in the pile. He’s decidedly pleased when he realises it was Alex who checked it out. He’s giving it a quick once over and about to drop it on the cart for reshelving when he notices the sticky note peeking out from behind the cover.
“Please direct to Henry:
How dare you. I asked for fun, not to be emotionally compromised.
xo,
Alex
p.s god bless the book people for their boundless knowledge absorbed from having words instead of friends”
Henry laughs at the quote from the book and can’t stop himself from smiling as he tucks the post-it into his pocket. Henry knows it doesn’t mean anything that Alex enjoyed the queer romance he recommended, but it’s objectively not a bad sign either.
A few days later, he’s shelving books in the general fiction section, when Alex comes up beside him and leans against the bookshelf.
“So,” Alex says, looking frankly devastating in a blue button up and chinos, “I’m gonna need another recommendation.”
Henry arches an eyebrow at him, looking up from where he’s trying to place Munro. “If you’ve got another research request, Claire can help you at the front desk.”
Alex rolls his eyes and sighs dramatically, looking down at Henry through eyelashes that really have no right to be that long.
“No, I need a recommendation to make up for the emotional turmoil your last book choice put me through.”
“I see I misjudged the emotional resonance of bisexual disasters,” Henry says, biting back a small smile, “but I’m not sure why you’d trust me with another recommendation if my first one failed you so entirely.”
Alex shrugs and gives Henry a non-committal look. “I like to live dangerously.”
“Obviously,” Henry says, slipping Munro onto the shelf and standing up properly. “So what are you looking for? A warm retreat from a cold and brutal world?”
“You talk like a Victorian street urchin, you know that?” Alex states matter-of-factly, “but ya, basically that.”
“My grandmother would be truly horrified to hear the RP accent referred to as ‘street urchin,’” Henry says as he reaches into the cart beside him. He’s sure he saw The House in the Cerulean Sea in there earlier, and when he finds it he passes it to Alex. “Here, good feelings only, I promise.”
Alex eyes it suspiciously but shoves it under his arm regardless.
“I’m trusting you,” he says, pushing a stray curl out of his face. It looks soft and inviting and Henry desperately wants to touch it.
“A questionable decision,” Henry says, turning back to the books he’s supposed to be shelving so he doesn’t keep staring at Alex’s hairline.
Henry can feel Alex’s eyes on him as he starts pulling out the Murakami books.
“Happy reading Alex,” he says, as he bends to put the books on the shelf.
“Ya, ok, bye Henry,” Alex answers, before walking off with a small wave.
It takes Henry three tries before he shelves Murakami on the right side of Munro.
4 - More kissing
Henry likes quiet mornings in the library. Ones where he can take his time with a cup of tea and spend his first hour at the front desk working on programming ideas. It’s one of those mornings, slow and languid, with the late autumn sun hitting the stacks, when Henry next sees Alex. He’s sketching out the details for their upcoming youth night when he hears someone drop a book on the counter.
“That was fucking beautiful,” Alex says by way of greeting.
Henry looks up from where he’s working to see Alex leaning on the front desk in a grey sweater and beat up looking jeans. He looks needlessly soft and it does things to Henry’s chest.
“Who was your favourite then?” Henry asks, closing his notebook and smiling.
“Lucy, obviously,” Alex answers immediately, then pauses, reconsiders, and adds, “Or Talia. But like, not really a fair question.”
Henry nods seriously. “You would identify with the children with murderous tendencies.”
“They are angels,” Alex cries, visibly aghast. “Why, who’s your favourite?”
“Well I am partial to Chauncey,” Henry says, running a hand through his hair before he continues, “but I think Sal has always resonated with me most if I’m being honest.”
Alex nods. “Tall, brooding type. I can see it.”
“I take it you weren’t disappointed then?” Henry asks, picking up his cup and giving Alex a searching look.
“Ya, you managed alright,” Alex says with a smirk. “Though I would like to lodge a formal complaint that there wasn’t enough kissing.”
Henry chokes slightly on his tea before coughing out, “Noted.”
“I’m not going to have time to read anything fun for weeks though,” Alex says, pouting like it's the end of the world, as he leans on the counter and fiddles with his sleeve. “I have, like, a million exams and papers due before the end of term.”
Henry quirks an eyebrow, pleased to know he was right about Alex being a student. “What are you studying?”
“Oh, I’m in law school,” Alex says, and Henry silently congratulates himself for calling it. “But you know, if you have any recommendations for Christmas break I wouldn’t say no.”
“I’ll think on it,” Henry says as Alex pushes off the counter, “More kissing though?”
“You heard me.” Alex gives him a meaningful smile, before turning and heading for the study space.
The next few times Henry sees Alex he’s deeply focused on his textbooks or his computer screen. Occasionally he’ll say hi to Henry on his way into the library, or accost him with an unasked for rant on his way out, but for the most part he’s too caught up in his work to acknowledge the existence of other humans.
The hours Alex spends at the library get slowly more erratic the later it gets in the term, and so do his hold requests. Henry tries not to pay an inordinate amount of attention to what Alex is reading (now that they’ve spoken it feels slightly invasive), but it’s hard to ignore the decidedly intimidating tome on gerrymandering and also the series of books on political sex scandals. Then there’s the essay collection on bisexual experiences, a compendium of queer history, and the memoir of a bisexual lawyer. Henry tries not to read too much into it.
It’s getting well into December before he talks to Alex again. Henry’s offered to cover a colleague’s evening shift and it’s been snowing, so by the time he’s doing his closing rounds the library is almost completely silent. Henry’s a little surprised then, when he hears papers shuffling on the second floor. He turns the corner to see Alex in his usual spot, looking like a bomb of paperwork went off around him, leaning dejectedly on his arm while flipping through a textbook.
“You surviving?” Henry asks, as he comes up beside the table.
Alex looks up, a little bleary eyed, and a small smile hits his face when he sees Henry.
“Something like that,” he says, just barely covering the yawn that escapes his mouth.
“Well, you look terrible,” Henry says, noting the bags under Alex’s eyes and the general state of his hair. Terrible, of course, is relative but at the very least he looks decidedly overworked.
Alex narrows his eyes slightly.
“Thanks,” he bites out, before turning back to his textbook.
“I just mean,” Henry says, feeling a bit like he’s kicked a puppy, “that you look like you could use a break.”
Alex rubs a hand over his face and gives Henry an annoyed look. “Have you been talking to my sister? Because you sound like my sister.”
“You sister sounds wise,” Henry says, giving him what he hopes is a kind smile.
“If by wise you mean meddling, then I agree with you.”
Henry hums and props himself on the edge of the table.
“You know I also have a meddling sister, and infuriatingly she’s almost always right.”
Alex groans and leans back so he’s looking at Henry properly. Even sleep deprived and clearly overworked he’s beautiful, and Henry thinks it’s deeply unfair.
“Listen, like I told June, I enrolled in law school to get a degree, not for the mental health benefits,” he says. “Besides, I am not letting Hunter get a better grade than me on this paper. It’s not happening. I’m willing to kill people to make it sure it doesn't happen.”
“Well so long a you don’t kill yourself,” Henry says and then wonders if he’s coming across as a little too fond. “Who’s Hunter?”
“No one. The worst human. My arch nemesis.” Alex flaps his hand around as he says it, as though that will get the point across more clearly.
“Arch nemesis? That’s a tad dramatic, don’t you think?” Henry asks.
“Listen, if you met him, you’d understand.”
Henry isn’t entirely sure he would, but he settles in as Alex goes on a tirade. He’s vibrant and profane, and has Hunter’s faults broken down into an itemised list of wrongdoings.
“And number 15 is the fact that he’ll play ‘devil’s advocate’ on social justice issues as though this is just some fun philosophical exercise, and not something that, you know, maybe impacts the lives of actual real human beings.” Alex is leaning in towards Henry, as though proximity is necessary to get his point across.
“Alright, so a proper wanker,” Henry agrees.
“That’s what I’m saying! Like he made some big stand against the use of gender neutral bathrooms last week and then walked right into the gender neutral bathroom on the third floor after class like that wasn’t a thing that just happened!” Alex is flushed from how worked up he’s getting, and Henry is embarrassed by how much he likes it. “That’s not number 16, for the record, just a clarifying example.”
“Of course,” Henry says, glancing down at his watch. It’s partly so he can check the time and partly so he doesn’t think too hard about how close Alex has gotten to him while speaking. “As much as I’d like to know the rest of Hunter’s misdeeds, the library is closing in 15 minutes and I still have rounds to finish.”
“Shit,” Alex says, sitting up and closing his textbook. “I guess I’m finishing this at home.”
“Probably a wise choice,” Henry says, not unkindly.
He stands up, stretches, and gives Alex a small smile. “Good luck on the essay.”
“Thanks,” Alex says. And then, as Henry’s walking away, “you still haven’t given me another book recommendation!”
“Right, working on it,” Henry calls back.
He’s just started down the stairs when he hears Alex shouting, “more kissing!”
Henry spends a lot more time fretting over his next book recommendation than he’d care to admit. It’s just, “more kissing” is so vague. There’s a couple truly smutty books Henry considers suggesting, but that feels a bit too forward. Not to mention mortifying if Alex doesn't like them. Then there are cute books, like Cemetery Boys and Aristotle and Dante, but those feel not smutty enough? Henry really isn’t clear on the appropriate porn level for book recommendations for your not-at-all-inappropriate work crush.
He gets called out by Mrs. Chan at least three times for not paying attention before he finally gives up, walks over to the hold shelf and grabs one of the books waiting for Alex. Henry pulls out the hold slip and writes on it before he can restart his overthinking.
“For one Claremont-Diaz, Alex,
In response to your request re. more kissing, please see The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
In the spirit of full disclosure, yes it does follow the original myth. Prepare yourself accordingly.
xx,
Henry”
And then, because apparently he’s still worried about Alex’s study habits, he jots down a quote from The House in the Cerulean Sea.
“p.s. people suck, but sometimes, they should just drown in their own suckage without our help.”
5 - A new family
Christmas comes and goes without much fanfare. Henry doesn’t go home for the holidays but he does spend it with his friend Pez and Pez’s cousin’s family. It’s loud, and extravagant, and results in a very serious hangover, but Henry begrudgingly admits that he had a good time.
Henry also spends a good part of his shifts over the holidays wondering what Alex is up to. He’s noticed that Alex lets a slight drawl slip out on occasion and he figures home for him is somewhere farther south. Maybe Alex is there, wherever there is, with his family for the break. He’s certainly not in the library. He also hasn’t checked out The Song of Achilles, and Henry tries not to feel any particular way about it.
It’s early January before he sees Alex again. The first thing he notices, though, is two take-out cups placed on the front counter, appropriately lidded.
“This is a thank you,” Alex says, pushing one of the cups towards Henry. It’s tea, Earl Grey. “I didn’t put anything in it, because I don’t know how you like it, but I’m almost completely sure I’ve seen you drink this before.”
Alex sounds, flustered maybe? Henry’s probably imagining it.
“Alright,” he says, taking the tea. “What exactly is this a thank you for?”
“For breaking my heart, you absolute asshole.”
Henry quirks an eyebrow at him. He has no idea where this is going and he’s not sure he likes any of the possibilities.
“For The Song of Achilles,” Alex clarifies. “I listened to the audiobook on the flight down to Texas and I cried in public, Henry. It was horrifying.”
Henry smiles. The idea of Alex crying over his book recommendation is admittedly appealing.
“Oh, I didn’t think you’d checked it out.”
“Nah, the wait was too long so I just bought it.” Alex gives him a suspicious look. “Wait, why would you know that?”
“I’m a librarian Alex, it is quite literally my job to know what books people check out.” Henry prays it’s believable that he just casually memorises all his patrons’ book histories.
“Right, well, it was good.” Alex fidgets slightly like he’s about to say something else but seems to come up short.
“Did you have a good time in Texas?” Henry prompts.
“Eh, it was fine,” Alex says, non-committedly.
“Don’t get along with your family?”
“No, they’re great. Individually. But like, my parents are divorced and insist on reminding us why every time they get together.” Henry nods sympathetically. “Also it turns out my sister is dating my ex, who is also my best friend, and it’s kind of a whole thing.”
“Indeed.”
“I mean, we only dated for like five minutes and they’re obviously good together, but I can’t believe it’s been six months and I didn’t know! Also, it’s like, kind of objectively weird right?”
Henry laughs, imagining Bea dating one of his exes. “Yes, I could see how that might be strange. I can’t imagine my sister with anyone I’ve dated.”
Alex nods like that’s a foregone conclusion. “Is your sister also into women?”
“Oh, no, not that I’m aware of. I’m just extremely into men.”
Alex smiles, like this is news to him and Henry has no idea how this could possibly be news to anyone. “Oh, cool. Well if you can think of any replacement families for me, let me know.”
“Maybe of the literary variety?” Henry offers.
“Ya, I’d take that.” Alex grabs his own cup and smiles. “Anyway, the law calls. I’ll see you around?”
“Every Tuesday to Saturday.”
And then Alex is gone and Henry’s left with his tea.
It isn’t actually hard for Henry to think of recommendations for found families. The problem is more sorting out which one to give Alex. Most of them aren’t quite gay enough (listen, he was never being subtle), and a few are just too depressing or too serious. Ultimately he pulls out The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, because it still counts as sapphic if one of them’s an alien, right? Also, it seems like the kind of thing that would make Alex laugh.
He has to wait a few days before Alex is back in the library but when he is, Henry makes a point of stopping by the second floor and sitting down across from him.
“Busy?” Henry asks.
“Probably,” Alex says, before glancing up and shutting his laptop. “Why, you going to bother me?”
“Only if you’ll let me.” Henry smiles guiltily and glances over at Alex’s open textbook. “What are you working on?”
“Contract law. Which, for the record, is the most boring of the laws. But, like, apparently a requirement.”
“Mmmm,” Henry nods. “Is this where you talk me into some sort of contract to steal my soul?”
Alex smiles ruefully, in a way that does things to Henry’s stomach. “What makes you think I’d stop at your soul?”
Henry can feel something like a blush starting to creep up his face and he pulls out the book he brought in an attempt at distraction.
“New family, if you still want one,” Henry says, sliding The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet over to Alex.
“My parents apologised and June bought me pizza so I’ve mostly forgiven them,” Alex says, picking up the book. “I will read this though. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Henry says, fidgeting awkwardly before deciding to stand up. “Anyway, work, etcetera.”
“Ya, me too.” Alex opens his laptop and gives Henry a smirk. “I promise to treat your soul really nicely though, when you do give it to me.”
And god, if Alex only knew how much of him he already had.
+1 Something more
Life gets busy for Henry for a while after that. He’s started volunteering a couple times a week at the shelter Pez runs and he’s been working on improving the LGBTQ+ selection at the library. It’s hectic, but satisfying, and he’s maybe neglected some of his more typical duties.
So it’s Claire who goes through the returns on Thursday and hands him the sticky note.
“I assume there isn’t another Henry working here who’s flirting with cute boys?” She says, sticking it deliberately in the middle of Henry’s monitor.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Henry says, grabbing the note and pretending his ears haven’t gone a rather violent shade of red.
He recognizes the now familiar scrawl as Alex’s handwriting.
“Dear Henry,
I have found my people. The petition for Kizzy and Jenks to adopt me is already under way.
xo,
Alex
p.s. I want you to know that if you should want something more… I’d like to give it to you
p.p.s this is my way of saying I’m getting you the next book”
It could also be a way of saying something else, Henry thinks, reading over the quote one more time to make sure he’s not imagining it. But that would be… Well it would be a lot of things and Henry’s not totally sure what to do about it.
Saturday is a day. Pretty much the worst kind of day. They’re out of milk in the staff fridge so Henry’s tea tastes terrible, some parent got mad about the diversity display in the YA section, and a kid threw up during circle time. Just, on the whole, not a winner.
Henry uses the lull towards the end of his shift to take off early, because honestly he’s about five minutes away from losing it, and it’s not something he’s proud of. Somehow though, probably because the universe has conspired against him, he manages to collide with someone right in front of the exit.
“Christ, sorry,” Henry says, bending down to pick up the book he just dropped.
“Yep, that one was definitely on you.”
Henry looks up to see Alex, smiling at him with windswept hair and cheeks flushed from the February cold.
“Just really not my day,” Henry says, standing up and offering Alex an apologetic smile.
“Well I’m here to make it better.” Alex gives him a look, like he’s up to something nefarious, and pulls a book out of his backpack.
“What’s this, a return?”
“No, dumbass, this is the book I promised you.”
Henry takes it, and sees it’s a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice.
“Alex,” Henry says, smiling indulgently, “I was an English major and am currently a librarian. I have, in fact, read this.”
“Ya, no, I know,” Alex says, rolling his eyes like Henry’s the dense one, “you mentioned. But June made me go thrifting yesterday and they had this copy at one of the stores. It’s a nice edition and I thought you’d like the note someone left on the front page.”
Henry looks at the book again. It is a nice edition, from the 1870s apparently, and there’s a quote in the front in loopy old timey cursive.
“Dear Thisbe,
I wish there weren’t a wall.
Love, Pyramus”
“Huh,” Henry says, reading it over. “That’s depressing.”
“What, why?”
“Well, because Thisbe and Pyramus both die,” Henry says. He notes Alex’s slight look of horror and laughs. “But it is very romantic in a star crossed lovers kind of way. Hopefully the person who penned it had better luck.”
He flips through the book and takes in the smell of old pages.
“This is a very nice edition,” Henry says with a smile. “Thank you.”
And then, because apparently he can’t help himself, Henry asks, “Why did you get this for me?”
“Because you’re a very good librarian,” Alex says, mock serious and stepping just a little into Henry’s personal space.
“I’m adequate,” Henry admits, his breath hitching slightly at Alex’s sudden proximity.
“Besides I thought it was fitting.”
“How so?”
“Well you’re clearly the pretentious Mr Darcy type, all stuck up and rule following, and I’m fun and cool like Elizabeth.”
“First of all, I somehow feel like I should be offended. Second, are you really comparing us to one of the greatest romances in the English language?”
Alex flushes a little, but shrugs. “What if I was?”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” Henry says, his heart beating in a way that’s probably not good for his health.
Alex smiles and leans just a little bit closer. Henry can officially tell that Alex’s hair smells like citrus.
“Ok, because also, I like you,” Alex says, as though that’s just the kind of thing you say to a person.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Henry offers, and he doesn’t stop Alex when he takes another step forward, more or less closing the space between them.
“Ya?” Alex asks, close enough that Henry can feel his breath.
“Definitely.”
Alex leans up, and Henry can smell a hint of coffee and cinnamon, before his lips are on him. It’s soft and deliberate and everything Henry’s been thinking about for the better part of six months.
He lets his hand go to Alex’s back, as Alex’s own hand finds his neck. All Henry can think about as he kisses him is the soft graze of finger tips in his hair and the feeling of Alex’s tongue along his lips. He tastes like coffee and mint and Henry can’t help but pull him closer. The feel of it is warm and inviting and very specifically everything.
“Oh my god,” Henry says, slightly horrified as he pulls back and realises he’s still within viewing distance of the front counter.
“Wait, what?” Alex asks, slight panic in his voice. “Did I completely misread that? Because I’m going to need to talk to Nora about her numbers.”
“Nora?” Henry asks distractedly. He’ll come back to that one. “No, that was lovely. More than lovely. We’re just, very much in my place of employment.”
Alex laughs and grabs Henry by the arm.
“That is an entirely solvable problem, sweetheart,” he says. Henry chooses not to feel anything about the pet name as Alex pulls him out the door.
They stop once they’re outside, and no longer blocking the entrance, and Alex walks back into Henry’s personal space. “You wanna get dinner?”
“Yes, definitely,” Henry says, pushing a stray curl out of Alex’s face and leaning down to grab Alex’s lips with his own. “Just, in a minute.”
Dinner, it turns out, can wait.