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“I’d like to find a book on removing slugs,” the guest says.
“Regular or arcane?” Ichiji asks, disinterested as he pulls up the search bar on the library’s ancient computer. They really needed to update their technology, but the government had cut their funding yet again and thus Ichiji was left with a computer so old that he’s pretty sure it couldn’t run Oregon Trail without crashing.
“I’m not sure,” the man say, grimacing, “They don’t do anything but eat my plants, but they also glow in the dark at night and sometimes there’s a weird humming noise out there.”
“Sounds arcane but harmless,” Ichiji says, typing the query into the search bar. He ignores the pop-up that predicts his time of death (god, they needed ad-blocker too) and scrolls down the page until he finds something that looks like it might be relevant. He waves a hand and the post-its and pens on his desk jump to life. “Herbology section is down that hall to the right. If you hit ‘the whirlpool of knowledge you’d rather forget’ you’ve gone too far. You’ll want shelf 27B. Here’s the book’s title and author.” One of the pens scrawls down the notes hastily.
“Are you sure I should be checking herbology and not the animal section?” The man asks skeptically, as if Ichiji hasn’t been working there for nearly five years and doesn’t have a degree in Library Science and Magicks.
“I’m sure,” Ichiji says because it’s more polite than ‘fuck off’. “We keep our gardening books back in that section as well.”
“I see,” the man says, taking the post-it as it floats over to him. “Thank you, then.”
“Let me know if you have anymore questions.” Ichiji watches the man depart and sighs as he closes out of the search engine.
“You seem bored.”
Ichiji doesn’t so much as flinch at the unexpected voice, too used to the other trying to catch him off guard. “Ace.”
There’s a chill that sweeps through the air as Ace materializes in front of the counter. When he glances up at the library ghost he can see that Ace is pouting. It’s an unfairly attractive expression for a man that’s supposed to be dead.
“You could at least pretend to be surprised,” Ace grumbles.
“And you could pass on to the other side, but here we both are,” Ichiji says.
Ace clutches his heart, right next to the mass of burned scar tissue in the center of his chest. “You wound me.”
“Clearly not enough to make you stay away,” Ichiji says. Ace doesn’t look offended, knowing full well Ichiji never means it.
The ghost floats up to hover in a lazy position over Ichiji’s head. It kind of reminds Ichiji of a cat sprawling in sunlight. “So, another day of nothing interesting, huh?”
“You know, there are some people out there who would be very fascinated by my job,” Ichiji says.
“Do those people know you still have to use Internet Explorer?” Ace snickers.
“It’s not Internet Explorer.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Magical Internet Explorer.”
“Stop that, you’re ruining the mystique.”
Ace sighs. “You know, back when I realized magic existed I was really stoked. I was so bummed that I died before I got to see much of it. I thought it’d be something super cool and mysterious! Now though…”
“I’m sorry magical society fails to live up to the hype,” Ichiji deadpans, “I’ll be sure to bring it up at the next community meeting.”
“I don’t want a lot,” Ace huffs, “I’d just like if something interesting actually happened-“
“I’m searching for some books on necromancy.”
Both Ichiji and Ace’s heads jerk up at the statement. Ichiji berates himself for being so caught up in his conversation with Ace that he’s apparently completely missed a customer approaching the desk. The man in front of him is handsome in a dark and mysterious sort of way. He’s wearing a long black coat and a fluffy white hat covered in spots. His golden eyes are harsh and severe, and they flick uncertainly between Ichiji and Ace like he’s not quite sure what to make of them, though he doesn’t comment.
Ace is, of course, much less subtle, floating behind the man and mouthing ‘he’s hot’ over the other’s shoulder. Ichiji ignores Ace as he’s become accustomed to doing.
Then that the other’s words register, and Ichiji is thrown for a loop. Did this guy just say necromancy?
“If you want a forbidden text you’ll need a note from the Magical Council,” Ichiji says on auto-pilot, though in his head his mind is racing. He hasn’t had anyone ask for books from that particular restricted section in a good while, and he’s pretty sure the last person that did ended up exiled to another plane of existence.
“Here.” The man hands over a slip of paper, and Ichiji catches a flash of dark black tattoos shimmering and squirming around the other’s fingers. Some of them spell out ‘DEATH’ across the other’s knuckles before flashing away.
Ichiji takes the paper from the man and glances over it. He casts a quick spell to make sure it isn’t forged and nods when everything comes back confirmed. It looks like this guy actually went through all the proper channels, which actually puts him a step ahead of around ninety percent of their usual guests. A glance over the other’s permissions section reveals that the man’s name is Trafalgar Law and he’s currently employed at the local arcane hospital.
“You’ve been authorized to look in section D,” Ichiji says. He reaches under the desk and pulls out an old iron key with a skull engraved on the top of it. “Up that staircase, then down the staircase on the left. There’s a door at the bottom that the key should open.” He scrutinizes Law then. “How good are you at riddles?”
“What kind?” Law asks.
“Sphinx level,” Ichiji says.
“I should be fine.”
Ichiji nods. “Bookcase should be right behind the door then. Oh, but if you get the answer wrong three times the door knocker might try to eat you.”
“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Law says with the kind of self-assured confidence that bordered on arrogance. It’s also unfairly attractive.
“Good. I don’t want to have to send Yonji down to mop you up,” Ichiji says, and then immediately wants to sew his own mouth shut.
“Thanks, Red-ya,” Law says, waving a hand, “I’ll bring the key back when I’m done.”
He’s gone before Ichiji can even think to question the nickname, leaving Ichiji staring blankly at the spot he’d just been standing. Ichiji’s eyes flash to Ace then, who’s smirking at him in a way that Ichiji definitely doesn’t like.
“Soooo,” Ace draws out the word.
“I’ll have Reiju exorcise you, so help me gods,” Ichiji warns.
Ace cackles. “Please, she’d never do that. She loves me!”
Ichiji really can’t argue with that, but he still wants to. “I-“
“Ichiji!” Niji distantly from the library’s lobby area, “Someone backed up the toilet with a fucking love potion again!”
Ichiji rubs his forehead before calling back, “Did you inhale any fumes?”
“Nah, but Yonji’s professing his love for the paper towel dispenser, so we’ll need an antidote!”
“I’m going to kill them,” Ichiji mutters. “You’re about to have company very soon, Ace.”
“I’ll get Reiju!” Ace beams before fading out of existence. At least the ghost was good for something other than raising Ichiji’s blood pressure.
(He steadily denies any of the other things that he may or may not like about Ace.)
“So necromancy, huh?” Ace asks later, after the toilet potion has been disposed of and Yonji and the paper towel dispenser have had a heartfelt but ultimately amicable break up. “That actually works here?”
“It’s restricted. You need official permission to practice and research it. If you try and raise the dead without a permit you could face a fine and serious jail time,” Ichiji says. “You know, if it doesn’t outright kill you in the process.”
“Huh.” Ace tilts his head. “Could someone bring me back to life then?”
Ichiji’s head snaps up to stare at the ghost. Something in his chest twinges when he sees the other’s wistful expression. “I… maybe,” Ichiji says, “I’m not an expert.”
“Right,” Ace seems to deflate at that, making the squeeze in Ichiji’s chest even worse. “Just wondering.” He tries for a smile again, but it’s half-hearted at best.
“…If there’s something you want that’s within my power though…” Ichiji trails off, not really sure where he’s going with that.
Ace seems to understand what he’s trying to say anyway. “Thanks, Ichiji. I appreciate it.” He gets a mischievous look on his face. “Red-ya.”
Ichiji grimaces at the reminder of the nickname. “I don’t know where that came from.”
“I think it’s cute,” Ace laughs.
Ichiji scowls, ears heating. “It’s ridiculous.”
“Red-ya.”
“You-“
“Ah, hello?”
Ichiji startles, nearly banging his knee against the underside of the desk. Gods, he must really be slipping if this is the second time someone’s caught him off guard that day. “Good afternoon-“
He breaks off mid-sentence as he takes in the man who’s standing in front of the desk. The guy has to be nearly ten feet tall, though he’s also hunching over like he’s trying to disappear inside his massive feathery black cloak. For a second Ichiji thinks he might be a tengu or maybe even a Mothman, but reconsiders when he realizes the other is partly translucent.
“A ghost?”
“Hey, buddy,” Ace snarls, a frown crossing his face, “I’m the library ghost here.” He’s puffing out his chest even though the other man has a good four feet on him height wise. There’s a burst of heat that erupts around Ace.
The man’s quick to wave his hands in surrender. “I’m not here to take your spot, I promise! I just wanted to ask if you’ve seen another man come by here. About, this tall,” he holds a hand around six feet, “Big black coat and a spotted hat?”
“I’m not at liberty to tell you about other patrons,” Ichiji automatically rattles off, but his surprised expression must be enough for the strange man to correctly assume that Law’s been by recently.
“Please, he’s my son,” the ghost says, twisting his hands in his cloak in front of him, “I- I said something stupid yesterday, and… Law’s supposed to get an award for his work at the hospital in a couple weeks,” Despite everything there’s a flash of pride in his eyes, “And I said I wished I could be at the ceremony for real. He got this weird look on his face and then… I saw the letter from the Magical Council in the mail pile. He grabbed it before I could look at it, but I know what it’s about.”
“I see,” Ichiji says. The situation is rapidly becoming a more complicated personal matter, and well above Ichiji’s pay grade. Even if he wanted to help the ghost in front of him- and even if the man is who he says he is- Ichiji knows he can get in big legal and magical trouble for breaking one of the library’s polices. “Unfortunately, I still can’t assist you…”
“I can,” Ace jumps in. Ichiji shoots him a bewildered look, but he just shrugs. “I know the direction that guy went.” He turns to the other ghost. “He’s probably inside the actually restricted room at this point, but you can still knock on the door.”
The man in front of him lights up. “Really? Thank you so much!”
“Yeah, sure, follow me,” Ace shoots Ichiji a wink before floating off, the other ghost following behind him eagerly.
Ichiji stares down at his desk, conflicted feelings squirming in his gut. He’ll definitely owe Ace some sort of thanks after this. What would Ace want from him? What kind of things could one even get a ghost?
“Ugh,” Ichiji grunts, dropping his head into one of his hands. How was it that the people that caused the most problems for him weren’t even alive?
“Law, just listen-!”
“I’m going through with it, Cora, so stop trying to stop me!”
Ichiji jolts in his seat at the sound of loud voices arguing in the lobby area. He’s out of his chair and moving toward the sound of the disturbance in an instant, too many memories of breaking up wizard duels fresh in his mind. The last thing he needs is to spend the rest of his shift magicking the entryway back together because of a squabble.
“What’s going on-?” Ichiji breaks off when he sees the man who’d asked him earlier for necromancy books glaring up at the taller ghost he’d just seen.
Ace is standing off to the side, eyes wide as they dart between the two men. His eyes turn to Ichiji then and he repeatedly mouths, ‘HELP’.
“It’s dangerous!” The ghost - Law had called him ‘Cora’ - yells, “And you should be focusing on your work anyway! Not all this,” he waves a hand at the black grimoires under Law’s arm, “Necromancy garbage! I’m fine as I am!”
“You were the one who said you wanted to be at the ceremony!” Law snaps back. His tattoos writhe like angry pythons coiling around his arms and neck.
“It was just an idle thought! I didn’t actually mean it!”
“Yes, you did! I can tell!”
“I didn’t!”
Law scowls. “Are you saying you don’t want to be at my ceremony?”
“I-I didn’t say that either!” Cora splutters, “I mean, that’s an unfair question!”
“How is it unfair?” Law growls, “Either you want to be there or you don’t!”
“Excuse me,” Ichiji finally interjects, grimacing as they both spin abruptly to face him.
“What?!” Law snaps, only to flush when he spots Ichiji. “Um…” His tattoos immediately become more subdued, wrapping around his wrists in a series of thin lines like they've been scolded.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you two to keep your voices down in the library,” Ichiji says. There’s an awkward pause as they all stare at each other. “If you want I can check those out for you and you can continue your conversation somewhere else.”
“Shit, yeah, I’m sorry,” Law says, letting out a slow breath. He shoots a side glance at Cora. “We’re still talking about this at home.”
Cora narrows his eyes. “Oh, you bet we are, young man.”
Checking Law out is exceedingly uncomfortable, Cora continuing to sulk and grumble behind Law as Ichiji scans the books. At one point one of the grimoires jumps up and tries to bite him, making Law cry out in alarm, but Ichiji slams it back down onto the counter. He pulls out a book clamp from under the desk and slips it over the book’s edges in a smooth, practiced motion. Law and Cora both gape at him while Ace shoots him a thumbs up.
“Hot,” Ace says, wiggling his eyebrows obnoxiously.
“Shut up,” Ichiji blurts, momentarily forgetting about the guests still in front of him. He feels his cheeks heat. “Sorry. Your books are due back in fourteen days.” He pulls the receipt off the register. “The date’s on the receipt as well. Did you need anything else?”
“N-no that’s good,” Law mumbles, taking his books and not quite meeting Ichiji’s eyes, “See you, Red-ya.”
“Red-ya…?” Cora repeats eyes wide.
“Be quiet!” Law hisses before hustling out the doors with Cora hot on his heels.
“Law, are you-?”
Is all Ichiji manages to hear before the doors swing shut behind them. He stares at Ace then and says, “Was that enough excitement for you?”
“Oh, that was more than enough,” Ace laughs, “I hope they come back soon.”
Ichiji rolls his eyes but mutters. “Yeah, me too.”
It ends up being exactly ten days before Law returns. He has the grimoires he’d checked out tucked under an arm, and it appears Cora hasn’t accompanied him this time. Ichiji wonders absently how their discussion had gone. He hopes they managed to reconcile, odd as it was to be invested in a stranger’s relationship.
“Law,” Ichiji greets without thinking.
“You remember me?” Law asks, looking surprised.
“You and your father made quite the impression,” Ichiji says, making the other grimace and flush.
“Ah, yeah, you know,” Law scratches the back of his neck, the tattoos on his arms squirming uncomfortably, “He’s… he can be protective.”
“Oh hey, you’re back!” Ace floats down from the ceiling to land next to Law.
“You’re…” Law frowns, “I never caught your name.”
“Portgas D. Ace, at your service,” Ace gives a mocking bow.
Law’s eyes widen. “Fire Fist?”
“You know him?” Ichiji asks, glancing between the two of them with a frown.
“You don’t?” Law asks, “He was all over the newspapers after he got caught in a fight between Whitebeard and Blackbeard’s covens. Apparently he was just some regular human before, but he got hit in a blast that activated his latent abilities. Nearly burned down the whole east side when it awakened.”
“And then I died,” Ace huffed.
“To be fair, they did have to send a top warlocks from the Magical Council to stop you,” Law says. “They didn’t want someone as powerful as you allied with Whitebeard.”
“I swear to the gods when I see Akainu again…” Ace mutters.
“What, you’ll haunt his coffee maker?” Ichiji asks skeptically, “You know all the council have serious wards on their houses. You won’t get within a mile of the guy.”
“I know!” Ace grumbles, “But I can dream, can’t I?”
“I guess,” Ichiji says noncommittally.
Law snorts. “Could never have imagined you’d start haunting the library. I would’ve thought you’d stay with Whitebeard.”
“Eh, I still visit from time to time,” Ace says and, oh, Ichiji finally knows where Ace goes when he disappears for a few days every so often. “I like it here though. It’s quiet, I get to mess with people, and…” He glances at Ichiji and then away, “It’s just nice.”
“That so?” Law drawls. “Well, anyway, here are my books.”
Ichiji glances down at the pile and nods, scanning the books back in. They vanish into clouds of smoke as soon as he scans them, returning to their original shelf. “Did those end up working for you?”
Law sighs. “Yes and no. I figured out how to raise the dead, but it’s going to take a lot more work than I thought. Definitely more work then I can handle before the ceremony.” He looks a bit put out as he admits it.
“Well, you know that just means you’ll have to be so impressive that they hold another ceremony for you then,” Ace says unexpectedly.
Both Law and Ichiji stare at him.
“Huh?” Law says.
“You know, do something else to make them give you a medal or certificate or something,” Ace says casually, “Then your dad can come to your next one!”
Law stares for a beat longer before laughing. “Guess you’re right, Fire Fist-ya. I’ll just have to do something so big they can’t ignore it and keep collecting the ingredients I need in the meantime.”
Ace grins. “Easy!”
“I don’t know about that, but it’s worth a shot,” Ichiji says, “Feel free to come back if you need more reference materials.”
“Oh, I certainly will,” Law says, grinning at Ichiji in a way that makes his blood heat. His tattoos twist into jagged heart shapes before unwinding once more.
“Or if you just want to visit us,” Ace adds cheekily. “This guy isn’t the best at conversation, but I’ll make up for it!”
“Hey,” Ichiji protests half-heartedly.
Law glances between them once more. “Are you two…?”
“He’s a pain in my ass,” Ichiji says immediately.
“I’m wearing him down so that I can get his permission to start haunting his shitty car,” Ace says.
“That will never happen, and my car isn’t shitty,” Ichiji huffs.
“It’s a piece of junk.”
“I will banish your ass to the depths of hell.”
“You always say the sweetest things, babe.”
“Call me ‘babe’ again and see what happens.”
Ace opens his mouth, only to be cut off by Law, who at this point is staring at them both with wide eyes. “Oh…kay. I’ll just assume it’s complicated.”
“It’s not really, we’re just stupid,” Ace says cheerfully. “You’re free to jump in and be the brains for us though!”
“I thought I was the brains,” Ichiji mutters. But then he shakes his head. “We just go with what works. We do mean it when we say we’d like to see you again though. You’ve made this place… a lot more interesting.”
Law looks embarrassed by both of their attention on him, and coughs awkwardly. Ichiji tries not to be amused how the other's tattoos retreat under his shirt sleeves like they're trying to hide. “Ah, right. See you both soon then.” And then Law’s gone once more, leaving a somewhat stunned Ichiji and Ace in his wake.
“Man, that guy is something else,” Ace says, letting out a low whistle.
“You’re interested?” Ichiji asks, raising an eyebrow. The thought bothers him less than expected.
“Don’t act like you aren’t!” Ace laughs.
“Hm.” Ichiji neither confirms nor denies it.
“Hey, do you think he might also… you know since he’s studying necromancy…” Ace bites his lip.
“Maybe,” Ichiji says, “We might be able to ask him some other time.”
“You’d do that for little ol’ me?” Ace asks, aiming for teasing and coming off a hair too vulnerable.
“I would,” Ichiji says, smirking as he sees red spread across the other’s cheeks. “But for now we’ll just have to wait.”
Ace sighs. “Seems like most of what we do here anyway.”
“It can’t always be necromancy and handsome men,” Ichiji says, “Sometimes it’s just-“
“Ichiji!” Niji yells, as if on cue, “Someone left a feral chupacabra in the men’s room!”
“Again?!” Reiju exclaims from behind the customer service desk. “Who the hell is finding all these chupacabras?!”
Ichiji groans and massages his temples as Ace laughs.
“Yeah, have fun with that,” Ace cackles as he floats back from the desk.
Ichiji glares at him. “I’ll exorcise you one day, I really will.”
“You wouldn’t, you looooooove me,” Ace laughs right before he vanishes.
Since Ace isn’t around any longer, Ichiji doesn’t bother to deny the other’s words. At least, that’s his excuse if anyone asks.