Work Text:
The library is so much quieter at dawn, Lapis told them once.
They came to the realization, sitting there at dusk, that there was hardly a time where the library wasn’t quiet.
As Jade turned the page of the book they currently read, they held their breath. No other sound could be heard, just the delicate noise of the page being turned, the rustling of the paper between their fingers, the dust wavering around.
And, well, they let go of their breath.
"You seem tense, President," a familiar voice called from afar, teasing. Whatever did they want now…, Jade mumbled to themselves.
Jade tightened their grip on the page, suddenly tense, crumpling it slightly. They quickly loosened their fingers, smoothing the paper back right away.
They wished they could say they weren’t, but they just proved them right. They only wondered if Lapis knew they were what made Jade tense.
"You’re not helping. I’m trying to concentrate here."
The librarian didn’t care much for their complaints. Knowing the kind of effect they had on Jade was more than enough to satisfy their ego, putting an insufferable smirk on their sharp face.
The fact that Jade seemed so troubled having them around, that surely flattered them. Of course they’d try digging deeper about it.
"Well well, how am I distracting you now ? I didn’t say anything before that, nor did I bother you. Could it be that, my sole presence, is disconcerting to you ?"
Well, Jade guessed Lapis knew now.
One probably knew better than to give into their little teasing. But, Lapis was more than aware of the fact that Jade was one of the easiest targets for this kind of bait.
"No it’s not ! You’re… You’re just being too noisy," Jade chuntered, but they both knew it was pointless.
"Sure thing."
Calm settled back between the shelves of the library. Surprisingly, they didn’t say anything more…
Jade was starting to have a real hard time making sense of anything that was written on the pages their eyes so desperately settled on. Words became jumbled as they tried reading them, and eventually they gave up at once, taking a second to catch a glimpse of the librarian.
It was weird. They never really liked them.
Lapis stood ever so casually, seated at their desk across the room, just reading too, their gaze wandering the pages they flipped ever so often, eyes flickering between words of each sentence. It seemed so much easier to them, it was kind of infuriating.
But somehow…
Jade couldn’t help feel something of a peace of mind for a split second, watching such an agreeable sight; Lapis had left their hand mid air after flipping their hair behind their shoulder.
It was strange ; they wanted to convince themselves so badly that there was nothing enjoyable about being with Lapis. That nothing was good in them. They were a freak.
Always buried in their books, asking annoying questions all of the time.
In the end, no wonder they became so closed off from everyone else. They were a weirdo, they kept thinking.
"And you’re thinking so loudly that I can hear you from here," Lapis commented just to tease them, interrupting Jade’s thoughts.
Jade almost jumped out of their seat, their face flushing. They had no business being this nosy.
"Whatever you say."
Lapis’ gaze was truly piercing. It felt like nothing could hide from the scrutinizing of their deep ocean eyes, and surely not Jade.
…Nor their thoughts, probably. Geez, when did they learn to read people like open books ? They had enough in their library to stay content, so why weren’t they ?
"You should try closing your mouth when you’re staring. I know I’m breathtaking but this is getting embarrassing for you."
"Shut it !" but Jade still made sure they weren’t actually foaming at the mouth or something.
These days, they had been forced to stick together quite a bit. To tell the whole story, there was this book Euclase was convinced Jade had to read, for some obscure reasons ; something about the appearances of the Lunarians with every passing year, or another thing like that. Not that they could be sure because, they had been trying to read the book for three days now, to no avail. The main reason why was standing right in their field of view, actually.
And to be completely honest, Jade even started suspecting Euclase might have been setting them up.
Perhaps to get rid of Lapis.
Understandably.
Soon enough, Jade came to find out that the only place where they wouldn’t constantly be bothered by their younger comrades for futile things… was the library. No one ever thought they’d be here. Jade took this pretty personally, too. But again, it was understandable. So, there they stayed, whenever they had a bit of spare time.
"You know, I might have a book recommendation far more interesting for you."
Jade didn’t even look up, somehow still persuaded that they could eventually make out anything of this page they’d been staring at for the past twenty minutes, if only they could ignore Lapis.
Sure, they never liked them. And they probably still didn’t, actually. But the thing was, they could sense something new was starting to settle in. Curiosity, perhaps. Interest, maybe.
Lapis didn’t like being ignored.
"So, I think you could learn a thing or two from this," they announced as they dropped a heavy book on the table Jade was sitting at, making the thin layer of dust covering said book fly around.
This time, Jade had to lift their eyes from their reading, so they could at least see what they were bugging them with.
How I fell in love.
Well, older books went straight to the point with the titles.
"Um, I think I’ll pass. I need to finish this book, it’s for work."
But Lapis wore their infamous shit eating grin. They weren’t stepping down.
Here we go…
"I know Euc wants you to read about mathematical stuff and probabilities but please, don’t tell me you’ve actually processed or understood anything you’ve read these last few days."
Being downright insulting, but fair. Jade didn’t budge at the remark.
"I’m telling you it’s for work. Do you think I got time to read about romance ?" they asked, annoyed.
"Oh, so you need to read books to do your job now ? As far as I’m concerned, you didn’t need to until now, yet you’re still the spokesperson…"
"Get lost, seriously."
And they smiled. What an insufferable guy. There was definitely nothing to like about them…
"Look, I get it, you want to impress Euc, reading and all… Let me tell you, they don’t care. They’re just driving you away by giving you stupid tasks that’ll keep you busy."
And well, that was enough to set them off.
"Alright, I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re gonna have to stop that quickly ‘cause I’m getting really tired of you," Jade spat at them, slamming their palms against the table to prop themselves in a standing position. "I can only stand your stupid remarks for so long, alright ? So leave me alone."
Now that they were at eye level with them, they didn’t seem all that intimidating anymore. In the end, they were just a nerd.
"Oh, getting upset at me for telling you what you don’t want to hear ? But it’s only the truth."
It was easier remembering what they hated about Lapis now that they actually started getting on their nerves, they thought. And yet, something in them couldn’t get mad the right way. They wanted to be mad at them so badly, but they only appeared annoyed at best.
"What you need to do is to stop minding other people’s business."
It was a lot to ask of them but, it was worth trying.
Lapis didn’t seem impressed in any way, raising their eyebrows in disdain, as if they were superior in a way Jade couldn’t even grasp. And it felt like it.
What was it that they knew that Jade didn’t ?
"Alright, I guess I’ll consider it."
…Really ? That easily ?
They shoved the book against Jade’s chest.
"I’ll start minding our business. And for starters, you read this book. When you’re done with it, or if you have questions… You’ll come to me."
Seeing that Jade didn’t move at all as the book was pressed against their torso, Lapis took it for themselves to reach for their hands and help them grasp the item, curling their gloved fingers around theirs.
When Jade finally realized what was happening, their face shone a bright green all over again as they had the strength to hold the book in their hands.
"What do you think you’re doing ?" they barely managed to babble, almost whispering.
They were really too easy to fluster.
It made Lapis smile a less annoying smile.
"Putting a little fun in both our lives, if you will. Now," they let go of Jade’s hands as they delicately put one of theirs on the green gem’s lips. "You’ll be thinking about me instead."
Jade had trouble registering what they did when their face got so close to theirs, almost touching, yet refrained by the barrier of Lapis’ hand.
"Euc is out of your league. Do you really think they’d like another battle nerd ?"
They truly had a thing for ruining seemingly nice moments. But Jade’s head was spinning, they couldn’t say anything about it even though they wanted to.
"Well, I would. Euc, they only like percentages and numbers… But I believe you aren’t either of those, correct ?" they still had that shit eating grin but, maybe it wasn’t too bad.
"…Get lost."
"Say you’ll be thinking about me," they asked nonetheless.
And they probably would. Jade could feel it coming; they wouldn’t sleep for quite a few nights now.
"I guess I’ll think about the idea."
"Good," Lapis stepped away from the table. "Try not to lose your head over it," they chuckled.