Chapter Text
The restaurant was dim, candles spread across various tables. They were the only two around, all other tables empty save for the glowing lights. She sat across from him, a velvet dress hugging her curves. Her copper hair was in a bun, much like the one she wore to his first class. Her eyes were staring into his very soul, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. A slender glass of sparkling wine was held in one of her dainty hands, her fingers wrapped seductively. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her even if he tried.
“I hope your dinner was satisfactory,” He heard himself say. She continued to stare at him, continued to hold her lip with her teeth.
“It was wonderful. I hope dessert is just as good,” She purred back at him, the wine glass coming to her lips. He spotted the light dusting of red lipstick that stained the glass when she placed it back on the table.
When his eyes travelled back up to her face he found his breath caught in his throat when he glanced her radiant smile staring back. There was a playful teasing in her eyes as if she were thinking of a joke to tell. He felt his entire body heat up he wondered what it would be like only move to the other side of the table. To touch her bare arms and claim her lips with his own. To finally run his fingers across her array of freckles. He wanted to-
“Knock knock. You busy?”
With an undignified jolt he was broken out of his daydream and found himself once more behind his desk on the third floor of the humanities building. Standing in his open doorway was the lead in his rather unsavory daydream herself: Tavia Windwyck. She was not wearing a velvet dress, but rather a casual pair of blue slacks with a ruffled white shirt. Today her hair was piled into milkmaid braids along the crown of her head, though based on the amount of little hairs that had broken free it appeared to have been a r ather busy day for her. He couldn’t help the small smile that graced his face as he silently remarked how she had been very much dressed to handle the day to day needs of a college library. However, he quickly realized he had not yet responded to her inquiry, rather had been seized by her radiant beauty before him. With a quick throat clearing he berating himself for not only being caught daydreaming, but to be caught by the very person it starred.
“Not at all, how can I be of assistance on this rather uneventful middle of the week?” He answered and realized how raspy it felt, as if he were suddenly very parched and in desperate need of water. Mentally he slapped himself yet again in hopes of shaking the visions from his mind.
“Well a couple of us are getting together this Saturday if you’d like to join. Karlach’s off so we thought we’d just do a sort of little reprieve from midterm purgatory and everything. You’re invited, obviously. I mean, everyone would totally love it if you came but Karlach and Wyll will probably be extra insufferable now that they met with a realtor and are starting to tour places.” Tavia answered, her gaze moving down to her shoes. Gale’s eyes automatically moved towards the barely there scar on her nose and found it empty. In fact, her entire face seemed devoid of Tavia’s usual constellations.
“I was under the impression they had decided to wait in regards to co-habitating.” He answered however his focus remained on her face and how strange it looked without its typical distinctive details. His eyebrows unconsciously scrunched together and he began to think back if the freckles and scar were possibly just makeup she adorned, an aesthetic of sorts.
“Well I guess they realized they should just do it. But yeah, like I said the usual group’ll be there and Wyll’s cooking but don’t feel bad if you’ve already got plans or-” She babbled on as she raised her gaze back towards his face. They locked eyes he couldn’t help but search for the ever-present delight in her irises. However, just like with her cheeks she seemed to be missing the usual radiance. Instead, he found a cool neutrality, as if shielding herself from any chance of emotions peeking through.
“I will certainly consider that and check my schedule, thank you Tavia.” Gale responded though his mind focused on the puzzle her face had presented. Usually if she were nervous or bashful he could see the spark in her eyes, the biting of her lip or the wrinkle of her nose. However now she looked away as if praying no one would watch as a tick appeared. Her eyes were guarded, as though willing herself to hide what naturally came out.
“Don’t feel like you have to, I know you must be super busy so don’t, y’know, just feel like you have to it. Especially after Wyll dragged you out to Alfira’s.” She continued and Gale reminded himself that her personal life were none of his business. Perhaps she was simply having an off day.
“Nonsense, I believe Wyll was correct when he advised me all work and no play is a dull way to live life. Was there anything else you needed my help with,” He asked in hopes she would perhaps divulge what caused the demeanor change with her.
“Oh yes, Arabella was seeing if the library had a certain document on the Moonshae Isles. I’ve got the request for a loan in but I’m not sure when it will arrive. I just wanted to give you the heads up in case there was some deadline she was trying to have it by.” She responded with a small smile however her eyes remained steady as before.
“Duly noted. I believe her final paper for one of my classes pertains to it so we should have ample time. Thank you for the heads up though. It’s quite nice, how much everything is intertwined at this school.” He continued, a part of him now wanting to end the conversation while something was obviously on Tavia’s mind.
“What do you mean?” She asked, as if she were reluctant to end the conversation as well.
“Well, take my last job at Blackstaff. Because there were so many students you ended up only seeing the same people in the same field every day. And general education classes were more lecture than discussions so you only really knew a student’s name when grading a test or paper. Here though, here students are constantly speaking to others outside their disciplines. Even students who I’ve never had the pleasure of teaching in class will still come to me if they feel I might be able to assist with something. It just feels nice.” Gale continued and found himself happy to share this tidbit with the librarian. He waited with baited breath, to see if she would not divulge something herself.
“Yeah, it really is, isn’t it? Anyway, I’ll leave you to whatever you’re working on. See you Saturday.” She finally answered easily, and for the first time in the entire conversation he saw a small spark of joy break though her defenses.
And thus Gale watched her leave, trying to ignore the ache in his chest rising. As he reran the conversation though his head he realized he had left his gaze directly on Tavia’s disappearing backside. He once more felt the dusting of a blush on his cheeks, his mind reminding him of the way she looked in the library archives as she placed boxes down.
“Do not fall for the librarian who is already in a relationship,” He muttered to himself, turning back to his computer to check his emails, "do not fall for the gorgeous woman who doesn't deserve to end up with someone with a ton of baggage like yourself."