Work Text:
The Old Bailey Library witnessed the entire judiciary walking between its shelves. Many lawyers used to met there. From a prosecutor who had just returned to work after a long hiatus, to a lawyer who was temporarily suspended.
When Barok and Ryunosuke passed by each other, they remained silent. They didn't share a greeting, not even a look. The prosecutor was going to work on his cases, while the lawyer collected as many books as he could and sat at a table to study. That was how he spent the months of suspension, trying to improve his knowledge of the law, determined to be a better attorney.
The weeks went by. At some point, Barok stopped going to the library alone. There was a shadow that always followed him. A disciple without a face or a voice, who sat next to him, who brought him the books he requested, who from time to time pointed to a paragraph or added a note to his writings.
There weren’t many things he could do. But the disciple fulfilled his role as best he could. The silence that always filled the library made him feel somehow comfortable, as if it were easier to feel that he belonged there.
One afternoon, he found himself waiting for Barok to complete a report, with nothing to do. Everything concerning the case had already been discussed. He found his mind wandering.
Then, he felt a glare behind him. He was used to that, both because of the mysterious look he knew he had and the fact that he was always accompanying the Reaper of the Bailey.
He found himself following that gaze. And then he noticed the young man who was sitting a few tables away from them. The stare from him was not threatening or frightened, like the ones he used to receive. It seemed that there was nothing in his eyes but curiosity.
As soon as their eyes met, Ryunosuke lowered his head nervously, and went back into his book. He looked like a child who had been caught doing something wrong. And, somehow, the disciple found it adorable.
Barok finished his work soon after that. He stood up and told the disciple that they were leaving. Thus ended the day in the library.
As they were going through the door, he couldn't stop his gaze from drifting, once again, towards the young lawyer, who was still studying fervently. The disciple had the feeling that he hadn't taken his eyes off him.
***
Barok and his disciple only visited the library from time to time. Ryunosuke, on the other hand, seemed to spend his days there. Whenever they came, he could find him there.
Sometimes, the disciple felt his stare again. Sometimes he looked back. He knew that the sight of those golden eyes, hidden behind his mask, was not pleasant. But those looks were all the interactions they had. He was too curious about that lawyer.
One day, Barok gave him a short list of books and told him to go and get them while he began to work. The disciple went to fulfil his task.
That mask, that cloak and its hood, they were not comfortable. It was not easy to move with them, let alone see. Maybe that's why he ended up bumping into Ryunosuke. Or maybe the lawyer was carrying more books than he should, or he was too distracted.
The silence of the library was broken by their hit, and several gazes fell on them.
The disciple's first impulse was to check the hood and the mask, and he was relieved to notice that they both had stayed on their place. It was then that he noticed Ryunosuke, who was trying to pick up the excessive amount of books in his arms. There was an apology on his lips, just a whisper, because he didn't dare say anything out loud.
He seemed nervous about that scene he was making. The disciple approached, taking two of the books that were left on the ground, and carrying them himself.
Ryunosuke was surprised, as if he was suddenly aware of the man he had bumped into. He stared at him, as if he had forgotten his books.
In the end, the disciple picked up the remaining books, and stood up. Ryunosuke followed him.
They left the books on the table, Ryunosuke still didn't pay too much attention to them. His gaze was on the disciple. He wanted to thank him for what he had done, even though he couldn't speak out loud. In the end, he expressed it with a bow.
The disciple answered with an almost identical bow. Ryunosuke didn't stop looking at him as he did, as he returned to the table with Barok.
He couldn't get his head on the books at all that afternoon. He couldn't stop looking at that hooded apprentice.
***
One time, he found Ryunosuke in front of one of the bookshelves, digging through its books. He seemed desperate to find a volume that wasn't there. The disciple recognized the shelf where he was, because that same morning they had taken a book from there.
He noticed the books that Barok had spread out on the table. He seemed to have already finished working with one of them. The disciple took it, holding it up for Barok to see.
Barok stared at him, blankly, until the disciple pointed his chin at Ryunosuke. After a few seconds, he understood.
It took him a few moments of hesitation. But finally, the prosecutor got up and went to take the book to Ryunosuke.
The disciple remained seated, witnessing that interaction from the distance. Barok approached silently, and this made Ryunosuke jump in surprise. At first he didn't know how to react, and he looked nervous in the presence of the prosecutor, almost scared. Barok almost seemed to forget what he had come to do there, until he held out the book in his hands. When Ryunosuke saw what he was doing, the shock left him, turning into a genuine surprise. He even gave him a smile and a grateful bow. After that, the nervous one seemed to be Barok, who turned his back on him and returned to his table.
Something seemed to change in the prosecutor's attitude when he sat down again. Although the disciple did not know what. Maybe he looked a little uncomfortable, maybe there was a little joy that was not usual to see in him. Maybe both. He was still a difficult man to read.
***
That visit to the library had been brief. They only had to return a book that Barok had taken a week ago. The disciple could have accomplished that task on his own, but Barok did not like making him wander alone. The disciple could understand why. He had reasons to fear the streets, and as his apprentice he could be a target too.
So they both went through the library. And, during his brief visit, the disciple was able to see Ryunosuke once more. Now he was trying to get a new book, which was not within his reach. He was tiptoeing to the shelf and extending his arm as far as he could, but it was still not long enough to reach that shelf.
The disciple exchanged a look with his master. They were passing by that bookcase on their way out, and Barok had seen it, too.
It was a small detail, an action that Ryunosuke might have missed by blinking. Barok walked past him and approached the bookcase. He extended his arm, and reached for the book with no difficulty. So, he handed it over to Ryunosuke. Barok did all of this without looking at him, without even turning to him.
Ryunosuke opened his mouth, but was unable to utter a response. He remained standing, with the book in his hands, while Barok and his disciple left.
Only when he saw them walk through the door, he gathered the courage to follow them.
He hurried, running as fast as he was allowed in that place, to the exit. He found them on the stairs leading to the library.
“Thank you so much!” he exclaimed, making them turn at him. After that, he tried to calm his voice. “Thank you for your help. And it's… it's nice to see you in the library once in a while.”
Those words brought warmth to the disciple's chest, and made him want to smile, sensations that he had not felt for a long time.
He looked at Barok, waiting for him to respond in the way the disciple couldn't. After a few seconds, the prosecutor crossed his arms.
“It honours you to be devoting your suspension to the study of the law. I hope you can show your progress in the courtroom soon.”
Ryunosuke blinked, and it took him a few seconds to assimilate that he had received a compliment from Barok.
“Yes! I also hope to be able to see you again in court” he looked at the disciple out of the corner of his eye and, after gathering enough courage, he added: “Both of you.”