Chapter Text
I woke to the sound of my father knocking at my door. I could tell it was him and not my mother because he always led with two firm knocks and then a gentle one. Mother did the opposite. From what I had gathered from my father's frantic voice, the library was bustling with patrons today and he and my mother required my assistance. Usually, I have a slow start, not being a very big morning person and all, but today I had something to look forward to. The thing I had been waiting all my life for.
With this thought in mind, I quickly pounced out of bed and over to my wardrobe. I picked something simple and elegant, seeing as I was working in the library today, and fixed my hair. My room was upstairs along with my parents’ so to get to the library I would have to walk down the stairs and through the kitchen, which would give me just enough time to grab breakfast before I started my work. Once I decided I looked presentable, I hopped down the stairs merrily, grabbed a warm bun off of the table, and made my way into the library area. When my mother saw me, a worried look on her face washed away. I walked to a stack of returned books on the counter and picked them up.
“Thanks for the help sweetheart. I know today is a big day for you so I really do appreciate you helping us anyway.” I was always willing to help around the library so it wasn't a big deal, even today.
“Yeah it’s no problem mom. I don't mind helping out around here, I find it relaxing.” I say while I walk away from the counter. I realize that I can't see over the tall pile of books I'm holding and start to struggle. I feel myself losing balance but just before I drop all of the books on the ground, a stranger in a hood steadies me and takes half of the books off of my pile.
“Are you alright? I'm sorry about that…” The stranger says. I try to get a look at his face but I can't seem to make out any distinct features.
“Oh it’s my fault really. I couldn't see over the books. My apologies…” I try to hide a small embarrassed blush.
“Nonsense. Let me help you put these away.” He says with what I assume is a small smile.
“Thank you very much. I appreciate it Mr…..” I trail off realizing I don't know his name.
“It’s Othello. Othello Von Ryan.” I process his name for a moment. What an odd name.
“Well thank you, Mr. Von Ryan,” I say putting on my best smile. “Do you know how to find where each book goes?” I ask as I realize that not everyone understands the Dewey Decimal System off the top of their head as I do. Living in a library my entire life, it came almost naturally to me.
“Of course. I'm extremely skilled with the system, no need to worry.” I give him a nod and we both head to return the remaining books to their correct spots.
After I finish putting my books away, I make a quick dash to the kitchen and grab another bun. I come back into the room to find him just finishing up with his stack of books. I walk over and bow to him as if he were royalty, offering him the bun, carefully wrapped in a white cloth. He seems to stiffen for a moment, which I find curious, but he ends up taking the bun from me with a soft smile.
“It’s a thank-you gift. Please enjoy Mr. Von Ryan-” I'm cut off by his voice.
“Please just call me Othello. It’s what my friends call me.” He says almost whispery.
“Of course. Then please enjoy Othello.” I am about to turn away before I realize that he doesn’t have a book to check out which I find strange considering that this is a library. “Ah! Actually was there anything in particular that you were looking for? I could help point you in the right direction. I know this place like the back of my hand.”
“Actually,” he spoke, “I was looking for something kind of specific that I haven't been able to find anywhere else…” Curiosity strikes me. “You wouldn't happen to have the 5th edition of The Alchemists Journal would you?” This took me by surprise. I just so happened to have the entire series in my personal collection. A gift from my best friend April at my 7th birthday party. I hadn't seen April in a while, and it was almost all had left of her, so I debated even telling him about the book. In the end, though, he seemed trustworthy.
“Well…I don't believe we have it available down here, but I was able to get my hands on one from a close friend…She won't tell me how she got it but I tend to not question her ways anyway..” He chuckles a little. “Tell you what. If you PROMISE to return the book to me, I can let you borrow my personal copy.”
“Really??” he asks as I can now visibly see his eyes light up. “You would be willing to do that??”
“Of course!” I say in an awfully cheery tone. “Us nerds gotta help each other out right?” A small giggle escapes my lips after my sentence. “Let me just run upstairs and get it for you, okay?” He gives me a nod, and I head off to my room to fetch the book for him.
I end up finding it, still not completely finished, under my bed with the rest of the collection. I dust it off a little and write a small note on a separate piece of paper. The paper reads “Property of (y/n). Please return! Also, enjoy! :)” I slide the note into the first page of the book and head downstairs. I find Othello leaning against a wall near the door and approach him with the book hidden behind my back.
“Here you are! 5th edition of The Alchemists Journal. Take good care of it for me, okay?” I say as I hand him the book with a soft look.
“Of course! I promise not to let anything happen to it! You have my word Ms…” I find it a little funny that he does the same thing to me that I did to him a while ago.
“Its (y/n). (y/n) (l/n).”
“Well thank you again, Ms. (y/n).”
“Of course Mr. Othello. Have a great day!”
And just like that, he disappeared through the doorway, obviously very eager to read his new book. I start to wonder if giving an almost stranger one of my most prized possessions was actually a good idea, but figure that Othello seemed really nice, and would probably return it. With that, I got back to work as usual.