Chapter Text
Blind in a Bookstore.
(y/n)= your name
(f/n)= friend's name
You listened to the familiar hushed noises surrounding you as you entered the atmosphere of the little bookshop you’d fallen in love with. Walking the same route you always take with ease, you reached the table that you claimed every time you visited the lovely store. Your best friend, (f/n) met up with you every Sunday to chat and catch up there, mostly she just worried for your well-being and wanted to check up on you, yet you enjoyed her company no less. You tapped your stick against where she normally sat her bag, and felt it bounce off, usually she’d start the conversation so you knew she was there but today (f/n) must have been immersed in her novel. Before waiting for a response you sat yourself in a chair and leaned your cane beside you.
“What novel this time? Don’t tell me you’re still reading that horrid romantic comedy. Books don’t get much worse than that, (f/n).” You stated in attempt to catch her attention but to your surprise a deep chuckle filled your ears from the seat across from yours.
“Actually it happens to be Shakespeare, and I believe you have the wrong person, sorry darling.” A man replied kindly, though his soothing voice sounded oddly familiar, maybe he was a regular customer here as well. His voice was highly distinct though, and you would remember someone like him usually. A blush flooded across your cheeks as you stood quickly, grabbing your white cane.
“I am so sorry to disturb you sir! I thought you were someone else, apologies!” You hurriedly replied still red in embarrassment. It was then that he fully noticed your condition, and you turned to walk off quickly to a different area in the shop.
“Wait, um miss-” You turned back to where you heard his voice coming from, and at times you would frighten people with your ability to look exactly where they stood. Though your eyes never quite made direct contact with theirs. You heard a chair squeak a little, and assumed he had stood. “Would you like some help finding your friend?” You thought for a moment, and kept yourself from snapping a ‘no’ back at him rudely. Most people thought you were helpless, always needing to be guided, always needing to be led around like a stray puppy dog, you hated it. But his offer could prove useful since (f/n) had seemingly gotten distracted, and he was just trying to be polite.
“That would be quite nice actually.” You admit and hear him walk over towards you, the whooshing of movements were caught by your highly sensitive ears, and you heard him stand next to you. He gently hooked one of your arms in his, and began to lead you slowly from the table. You were weary of each move he made, for all you know he could’ve been some weird psychopath, but knowing the layout of the store you could tell if he began to lead you away. “Thank you.” You told him sincerely as you both went towards the vast amount of shelves inside the building.
“What does your friend look like?” The man asked and you went into a description of what your best friend’s appearance was as he glanced at all the customers around the store. While you both wandered around the place you decided to at least attempt sparking up some sort of conversation.
“Which Shakespeare book were you reading?” You inquired as you both slowly strode through the vast amount of stories.
“Titus Andronicus. I’ve read the play before, but needed to brush up on it.” He replied. You grinned and began reciting your favorite lines from it before thinking twice, you always loved Shakespeare, and you had performed as Tamora once.
“Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?
These two have ticed me hither to this place,
A barren detested vale you see it is;
The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
Overcome with moss and baleful mistletoe.
Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,
Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven:
And when they showed me this abhorrèd pit,
They told me, here, at dead time of the night,
A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,
Would make such fearful and confusèd cries
As any mortal body hearing it
Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale
But straight they told me they would bind me here
Unto the body of a dismal yew
And leave me to this miserable death.
And then they called me foul adulteress,
Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms
That ever ear did hear to such effect;
And had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed.
Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,
Or be ye not henceforth called my children.” You finished reciting it happily and realized he had stopped walking during your recitation of the monologue. You turned to look where you assumed his face would be, and after a second he began to walk again slowly.
“That was wonderful. You act?” The man asked after complementing you. Your smile faltered a little at his question.
“I used to, but it seems that directors and production managers prefer people who won’t risk messing up a play because of landing their places wrong. That and people who can audition by reading straight from a script.” You replied a little harshly, not towards him, but towards the people whom denied your abilities because of your handicap.
“I’m sorry.” He replied softly knowing he’d struck a nerve, you felt badly for ranting about it now, he hadn’t meant to ask such a personal question.
“It’s not your fault, don’t be.” You tell him with a reassuring smile, aiming your gaze to where you believed his eyes face to be once again. “My names (y/n) by the way.”
“Benedict.” The deep voice answered back kindly. “And I’m regretful to say that I’m having difficulty finding your friend.” Your thoughts drifted to thinking about what had happened to (f/n), she had never missed a meeting, at least without notifying you she couldn’t make it. Maybe she just forgot, but that wasn’t really something you believed (f/n) would do.
“She must not have made it to the shop today, no worries. Thank you so much for helping me, I really appreciate it.” You tell Benedict and he gently releases your arm.
“No problem, (y/n), I was glad to be of some help.” You smiled brightly at him and just barely missed his eyes in your stare, holding your gaze more at his nose.
“I best be off, thanks again.” You told him and made your way towards the entrance of the store with ease. You didn’t know it, but his eyes followed you until you were no longer visible and making your way down the sidewalk outside. The man hoped he would be lucky enough to run into you again, he really enjoyed spending time with you.
You reached your flat, and placed your white cane in its usual spot by the door. At home you were highly familiar with your surroundings and didn’t need the device. You decided to call (f/n), reaching her voice mail the first time. After a few long minutes, your phone rang at the tune you had chosen for her.
“Hello.” You stated into the phone, not sure what was going on with your best friend.
“(Y/n), I am so so so so sorry for standing you up like that! Rick got in a small accident on his way to work this morning, and I rushed to the hospital as soon as I heard. I forgot to tell you with all the commotion! But he’s fine, just a beat up car.” She stated into the phone, you could hear she was upset about missing your meeting in her voice.
“It’s okay, I’m glad Ricks’ alright. We can make up the time next week.” You replied reassuringly, which calmed her down like you had hoped it would.
“I have to go, still dealing with the incident, I’ll talk to you soon!” (F/n) hung up before you even had a chance to say goodbye. You let out a sigh, and spent your weekend like you normally did after speaking with her.
The rest of the week flew by, and you looked forward to your break from working that weekend. You grabbed your cane about to head out to meet (f/n) at the bookstore when you heard the familiar ringtone on your phone. You answered and she told you that she would be a few minutes late, apologizing profusely on the other side of the line. You smiled walking down the few blocks to the shop and decided to take a seat at the table and wait for her there. This time you were a bit more reluctant in approaching the table, worried someone would already be seated there and an embarrassing moment would be shared once again like last week. You decided to risk it and you sat down silently, not even attempting to feel for someone else’s foot underneath with your cane. A familiar chuckle filled your ears causing you to jump a little after a few minutes of you being seated in silence.
“Fancy meeting you here (y/n).” The deep voice stated and you blushed realizing you had just made similar mistakes, twice. Though, a part of you was glad you would be speaking to the man again, he was very considerate and entertaining to chat with.
“And you, Benedict.” You added laughing lightly. You heard him place whatever book he held in his hands down on the tabletop.
“So I’m assuming you’re here to meet up with that friend of yours.” He said and you nodded back towards what you believed was his general direction.
“Yeah, she’s running late today. Believe it or not, she isn’t usually like this.” You responded smiling. “Last week her fiancé got into a small car accident, so that’s why she couldn’t make it. He’s doing fine, but the car…well not so much.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, I’m glad no one was injured badly.” The profound voice replied sweetly, and you realized that one of the reasons you enjoyed this man’s company was his highly distinctive speech.
“So what brings you here?” You asked him, sitting more comfortably in your chair.
“Actually, I was wondering if you would come to the performance of Titus Andronicus I’m in, that is if you’d like. I just presumed since you enjoy the play maybe you would want to attend.” You can tell he was behaving more shyly, his voice hesitating ever so slightly, most people wouldn’t notice but you definitely could.
“Of course, I would love to. When is it?” You couldn’t keep a large grin from forming across your face. He stated the date of the production and you made sure you wouldn’t forget it in your mind.
“Judging by the description of your friend I believe she’s just arrived.” Benedict said rising from his seat and grabbing his book. “It’s been lovely chatting with you again, I hope to see you there.”
“Have a nice rest of the day and I’ll see you soon.” You told him smiling, your gaze met his for a split second, and he stood still for a moment in shock. You heard his movements which soon faded into silence before you could hear (f/n) striding over to your table.
“And who was that handsome fellow?” Your best friend asked alluringly causing a blush to appear on your cheeks.
“Someone I met the other day, we spoke last week, thought he was you when I sat down. His names Benedict.” You replied and she grinned happily.
“Did you get his number?” (f/n) prodded.
“What?! No…anyways I’m not looking for that.” You huffed causing her to laugh at your reaction.
“Hmm well he is very good looking, and by the looks of it you were enjoying speaking with him.” She commented knowingly. And you crossed your arms stubbornly looking away. You both caught up with each other after that, spending hours just speaking to each other.
The performance was amazing, never had you been to a professional production so well casted, and Benedict had surely taken you by surprise with his highly talented acting skills. You decided to wait at the backstage door to complement him on his stunning performance. As tradition you held a bunch of flowers, trusting that the lady at the shop had told you the true color and type the plants were. You hoped they suited him, but you weren’t sure since neither of you had really shared such personal preferences.
“So, enjoy the show?” You heard Benedict ask you and you nodded enthusiastically.
“It was brilliant! Much better than any other performance I’ve seen, you did an amazing job.” You told him and held out the flowers in the direction of his voice, you felt his hand graze over yours before he grasped the beautiful plants.
“Thank you (y/n) these are splendid.” He thanked you sincerely and you felt arms wrap around you in a gentle hug. You took in his sent for a moment, wrapping one arm around him as well. “Care to join me for dinner?” Benedict asked and you nodded your head with a bright smile. He slid one of his hands in yours as you both began to walk down the sidewalk together. Okay, maybe you wouldn’t mind a relationship as much as you had thought. At least with Benedict that is.
Monologue was written by Sir William Shakespeare, taken from the play 'Titus Andronicus', and said by Tamora. I do not own that piece of writing, the rest of the story however, I do.