Chapter Text
It was a nice day.
Really.
There was bookselling to be done, bookshelves to dust, and books to read secretly in the corner. The sun was up and bright, he could almost imagine her wearing sunglasses like how she's always drawn in children's books, however silly that may sound. Everything was feeling cartoonish, and not in a ‘trapped doing the same thing over and over again’ cartoony. More ‘all rainbows and sunshine’ sort of afternoon cartoon. It rained, too. Oh, yes it rained, but when did it ever not? However, there was just enough rain to water the plants of the neighboring shops, not drown them, so not too much. Overall, it was a fine day just like any other.
And then Derek walked in.
“Asa Fell, you forgot to put on the ‘We’re Open, Come In!’ sign again.”
Asa let out a frustrated sigh, in defeat as he was forced to come back to reality and face his arch enemy slash good friend slash last metal straw.
“With you in charge, we will never sell any of the books.”
That's the plan, old man.
Now, see, Asa Fell had been working in Derek's bookshop for quite some time now. Though the whole job-applying business was now mostly forgotten, he still remembered the feeling of absolute adoration that fought its way into his heart when he first set eyes on the inside of the shop – and the smell. Oh, the smell, and the complete opposite emotions that washed over him when Derek, the owner, opened his mouth and started talking. For no particular reason whatsoever.
He should've taken that as a warning.
But more importantly, it only took about two days of working there for him to realise that perhaps, bookselling was not really for him. Oh, he loved the books, yes. Letting go of them to inevitably end up in a stranger’s apartment where they will most likely not be taken care of, or even dusted? Nopes.
So, yes. Every weekday when Asa is in charge of the opening up of the shop, he, on purpose, does not put on the ‘We're Open, Come In!’ sign. He does not simply forget his duties. Oh, absolutely not.
“Oh, dear. Derek, forgive me. I always forget. Don't worry, I will make sure it's on the very top of my to-do list for tomorrow.”
“Asa, You don't have a to-do list.”
“You don't know that.”
“No, I most certainly do.” Derek made his way to his desk that is facing the front of the shop, and put his things down. One by one, from the inside of his satchel. Like a floaty head maniac.
He went on. “Just as I know you went by ‘Azira’ for most of your teenage years, causing people who knew you at that time of your life to still be calling you ‘Mr. Azira Fell to this day. And that you secretly like it-”
“Hey now…” Asa tried to interject.
Derek ignored him and continued on. “- despite your shy reaction every time you get called that, with me inside the room.”
Asa had stopped listening. Well, he tried to. “I also know that you did not in fact sell any book yesterday,” A gasp left his mouth. “Only that you drove away potential customers with your nonsense babbling, and took five of those books home yourself.”
Asa flushed red and quickly offered explanations. “They were being reckless with the books! You should have seen how that one boy handled our prized copy of ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes Collection’,” terror creeped in his eyes in recollection. "He very nearly broke the spine!”
Derek went on still. Unnecessarily. “And I know that for someone your age, you should already be seeing someone.”
His jaw dropped at that. But. Oh, well. That's at least a record. One minute and thirty-four seconds, it took him to finally mention Asa’s non-existent romantic relationship status. It has always been this way with them; one acts insufferable by ignoring shop duties and the other… reminds him that he is single. It's a healthy relationship between the two of them and no one has ever walked out on anyone. Ever.
“I am seeing someone.” Asa tried to say, smiling sheepishly. “His name is Gabriel.”
Derek stared at him blankly, looked at the clock above the shop’s entrance, sighed, and once again redirected his gaze on Asa. “Gabriel is your psychiatrist,” he finally said to him in a deadpan tone. “And I know for a fact that you stopped seeing him a while ago.”
Asa’s smile faltered as he dropped the act. “Well, he is a terrible psychiatrist.”
“As you always say.”
He mostly just talks about himself anyway. And his partner.
Derek was just about to go on berating him when the door chimed, signaling that someone had walked in. A customer, Asa’s mind supplied him bitterly. Please be a decent book handler or I might just implode on the spot.
He turned around to spot a red-haired man with a black trench coat standing awkwardly by the door. If his head had been even just a little bit wonkier than normal, he would have thought the man was lost and was about to ask for directions.
“Erm. Hi.”
Derek coughed discreetly, and Asa knew it was his turn to entertain. Isn't it always? Why own a bookshop if you don't do any of the work?
“Hullo! What can I help you with?” Right. This is good. Stick with the script. Derek is watching. Why is he watching?
Red-hair Man walked slowly towards him. Which felt wrong. Asa had a feeling he should be slithering over instead. Must be the tea. “Yes, I was wondering, do you have any books on Astrophysics?”
God, do we?
“Astrophysics, um.” Asa looked over to ask for help. “Derek, do we have any books on Astrophysics?”
Derek looked up from whatever he was pretending to be doing on his desktop and sent Asa a look that said no, no this one is on you. Still, he answered kindly. “Yeah, it's in there, beside Gardening, opposite Philosophy.” Pointing to the shelves past the big divider wall.
Why on earth would that be in there?
“Right. I knew that.” The man looked at him expectantly. “Um, this way please.”
The two of them walked and turned until Asa spotted the one bookshelves accurately and necessarily, he might add, labeled ‘Space Stuff’.
(Right. In his defense, it was not him that did the labelling of some of the shelves. A lot of them were Derek and a good few were Pepper, who apparently did not know nor cared about shelf labels.
“Calling it ‘Chick Flick’ has to be sexist.”
“Sure, dear.”)
“Ah here we are.” Asa reached down and pulled out a book, and proudly presented it to the man with a grin, “Astrophysics For Everyone: From the Big Bang to the Pillars of Creation. We've had this for years.” I think.
He looked up at him, waiting for a response. Only to see the man’s lips start to quiver, in a way that made him question whether he was just struggling to keep himself from bursting into a fit of giggles or is literally fighting off tears. Asa is not sure which one he prefers. No actually, scratch that. He would prefer it if he did not accidentally offend or upset a customer this early in the morning.
“Hmm… you have no idea how much that hurts me.”
Well, damn it all.
Asa was just about to stand there and wait for an explanation when he suddenly noticed a gray haired head peaking out in the corner of one of the bookshelves. Nosy old man. Right. Customer service. I can do that.
“Um, did I say something wrong?” Nice one, As. You're a natural.
Red-hair Man seemed to have finally regained his composure. “No, I shouldn't have said anything, sorry.” He answered, smiling kindly. “No, um…
“I wrote it.”
What the fuck?
“Oh!”
‘Oh’? That all you got?
“Well, right. Um. Yes- you don't want your own book.” They both flushed red, one significantly redder than the other. “Probably already got a copy.”
No shit, Azira- I mean Asa Fell.
“Two boxes in the garage.” The man laughed, and he laughed back, albeit more awkwardly.
Asa doesn't know where the want to impress and actually serve this man a book came from but one thing is sure now: he was definitely not going to let this man leave the shop without a book in his arm. After all, he is an author. He must know how to properly keep them. And actually friggin read them.
And there is still a man in the corner, he can just feel him.
Asa reached at the book next to the slot he just emptied, dedicated now. “Um, well, how about this? It's not exactly cutting edge, but…”
“Oh, this is, erm, Arthur Eddington’s book on Relativity.”
“Second edition, I'm afraid.” Asa winced.
Red-hair Man shook his head reassuringly, “No, I have always wanted a copy of this,” he smiled as he looked at the book in his hand, almost in disbelief. “Oh, wonderful, this is my lucky day.”
“Oh, good. Mine too.” What.
“How so?”
“Because I, um, have a book you want.” What. What. Asa heard a laugh come from somewhere within the shop and had to mentally hold himself back from revoking everything he had just said, driving the stunning man off, and stomping to Derek’s table to make him eat his pen.
That didn't work well last time.
But the man smiled so sweetly at him, he suddenly forgot why he was mad in the first place.
“Fair enough.”
“That'll be 20 pounds, I believe,” he smiled back.
Red-hair Man nodded and started making his way back to the counter – oh, that's what they call Derek’s desk –
Good god. Derek.
For a split second, Asa’s brain flooded with paranoia and memories of his friends’ mindless annoying jokes about his inability to charm strangers. They don't usually bother him. He knows he can. However, said jokes were often made without real backing. Now, he was sure that he would never live this interaction down, since Derek was indeed here to see it. No. The old man was insufferable enough already.
He would a hundred percent regret his next action in a later time, but his funny clouded mind often makes him do stupid stuff on a whim and the man was attractive, in a way, so-
Asa reached down to the man’s arm and pulled back gently. “Wait-”
Oh, yes. Good regret. Nice to meet you again.
“What, is there something I forgot?” The man asked, confused at his action.
Asa held up a copy of his Astrophysics book, “Would you-” he cleared his throat. “Could you sign this for me?”
“Erm…”
For another split second, he was sure the man was about to straight up tell him off. He hated how part of him was relieved at that.
“I don't have a pen.”
Oh. He reached into his breast pocket. “Here’s mine.” He handed the pen over, grateful that the other ignored how his hand was shaking embarrassingly hard. He watched as the man flicked the pen cap off and scribbled something on the first blank page.
Gee, Azira, you're actually doing it.
“And your Twitter handle too, please.”
“Excuse me?”
Wow, yeah… where did that come from?
“Err, well.” Asa tried to recover, simultaneously scrambling for a way to save himself from total humiliation and praying that earth swallow him down and then spit him out a solid block of salt. Or something.
“Twitter handle? Yes, that's what kids use now, I believe.” He attempted a giggle, “No more of that telephone number or address so one can send letters…” more half-giggles-half… sobs?
“Right. Yes. Twitter handle.” Red-hair Man chuckled, “Good thing I remember mine. Matter of fact, I just created it. Nice for promotions, so I was told.” He looked back down at the book once more and started writing. And there it is again. That stupid smile.
Stoplookingatmelikethatyouhotdemon
“There.” Red-hair Man handed the book back, their hands brushing ever so slightly. Asa had to be imagining things because he swore he just saw two very electric bolts tying their hands together as though they were ribbons signifying - yes, he was imagining things. And now the smile was directed at him. For a moment, he actually considered the possibility that he might not survive if their conversation went on even for just a little bit longer. So he needed to put a stop to it. Though, he was unsure how.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Red-hair Man to notice that the bookshop keeper in front of him had rapidly turned beetroot-y in colour, and backed off slightly. “I should pay for this.”
“Yes.”
The two stared at each other for a second longer until The Man finally spun around fully and, chuckling to himself, sauntered his way to the counter at the other end of the shop, leaving Asa to shuffle his feet silently while reciting Latin prayers inside his head.
Bloomin Astrophysics.