Work Text:
‘What to do, What to do…’
Book scanned the open plains in search of anything to cure her boredom. It was a bit after the third challenge of BFDIA, something the contestants, Book included, were eager to move on from. During the contest, she and Ice Cube had tried to join Pencil’s alliance and while technically let in, being called ‘alternates’ felt like they were given the cold shoulder. Above all, Book wanted to socialize and make friends during the competition and being slighted like that made her feel like an outcast.
“Talking to someone…” Book whispered to herself as her eyes fell on the ground below. It…wasn’t a bad idea. Talking to more people surely couldn’t hurt her, and since Ice Cube didn’t seem to be around, she would have to look elsewhere. Finding her resolve, Book turned her head up and began searching. Most of the remaining contestants were either dead or already grouped with someone and she wasn’t in the mood to talk with Pencil and her friends, thus limiting her options. After a bit more time of aimless searching passed, something glinted under the sun and caught Book’s eye.
Needle laid under a tree, splayed out against the trunk. She stared off listlessly into the distance, not noticing Book approaching until she was nearing the tree. Book offered a small wave to her, which prompted Needle to give her a once-over and a raised eyebrow. “What do you want?” Needle said bluntly, the harshness of her tone causing Book to stop. An awkward silence hung over them for a few seconds until Book came up with a response. “Well, I was wondering if we could…chat? I want to make more friends here,” Book said with a shaky smile. Needle gave a huff and crossed her arms before giving a small nod.
Book sat herself a few feet away from Needle, leaning against the same tree. “So, you’re Needle, right?” Book said, opting to start the conversation. “Yeah,” Needle stared ahead before turning and inspecting Book again. “…Dictionary? Was that your name?”
Book shifted her eyes to the side. “Either works, but I usually go by Book,” She corrected quietly. Turning her gaze back to Needle, who wore a frown. “Sorry, Book,” Needle repeated the name to herself, barely audible to the object beside her.
A couple more seconds of quietness followed before Needle spoke again. “I should be better with names, considering I hate it when people call me…that.”
“Right,” Book said in acknowledgement. Needy. Slapping people for calling her that nickname was her most obvious trait. Thinking about it further, Book couldn’t help but feel a bit sad for her. It had to be awful being called something you don’t like by everyone everyday. No wonder she decided to sit on her lonesome. That got her thinking…
“Are you…doing okay?” Book questioned, abruptly changing the subject. Needle jumped at her words and shot a glare her way. “Excuse me?” Needle said in a tone that bordered between confused and agitated. Book put up her hands in a defensive posture. “I was just wondering- You got dragged off the team by Coiny, you lost the challenge and now you’re sitting here by yourself…you seem…” Book’s voice trailed off as she looked towards Needle.
“I’m fine. I don’t need help and not from someone I just met,” Needle said with a scoff.
The two fell into a tense silence. Needle was now looking away from Book, focusing her gaze on anything but her. Meanwhile, Book continued to really think and choose her next words carefully. After a few minutes of quiet, Book cleared her throat, drawing Needle’s glare.
“I’m worried about you Needle. You really seem like you could use someone to talk to.”
Needle opened her mouth to retort, but nothing came out. Book shot her a smile to reassure her, hoping that Needle thought something similar. Needle’s eyes turned skyward. “I don’t like having other people worry about me. It’s not fair to them when I can handle it myself.”
The air still tense, Book moved closer to Needle and put her hand directly next to hers on the grass, looking at Needle with a soft yet stern expression. Needle could pick up on the unspoken words between them.
Should you?
Needle sighed and Book spoke again. “I’ll be here to listen to you and you’re not burdening me, Needle. It’ll help you, I promise.”
Needle’s eyes were now trained on the grass in front of her. “I…guess it would be nice to have someone listen to me, for once,” She said quietly, her voice practically a whisper. “I feel like nobody actually wants to be around me, with all the slapping. And even if someone does, I can’t bring myself to trust them. I feel stuck.”
Seeing her broken expression, Book cautiously scooted closer to Needle, making sure she could be heard. “I can relate to that. Pencil hasn’t been the most…welcoming to me, but I was able to become friends with Ice Cube by spending time with her! You’ll find someone who appreciates you in no time!”
After Book said that, Needle turned her eyes to her and for a few moments, the two stared directly at each other. Even if brief, Book felt her heart flutter. Needle was the one who broke her gaze first, turning it to a point beyond Book in the distance. After another few fleeting seconds of tranquility, Needle spoke, high-pitched voice soft. ”…I appreciate you talking to me, if that means something.”
Book couldn’t help but smile. “And I appreciate you listening to me,” Book assured her, suddenly noticing that their hands were brushing together. Before she could process what to do, a voice cut through her thoughts. “So, you do appreciate me, right?” Needle questioned with a smile forming on her face.
Book gently placed her hand on Needle’s palm, eliciting a small gasp from her. “I…do, yeah,” Book said with a small chuckle.
“Book…”
As Needle clasped Book’s hand and they interlocked their fingers, the fluttery feeling in Book’s chest returned tenfold. ‘Oh my word I’m actually holding her hand,’ Book thought to herself, not able to muster up the courage to actually look at Needle.
“Thank you, really,” Needle said, drawing Book’s eyes to her. When she was smiling, Book couldn’t help but think she looked pretty. Enough so that it took her a couple seconds to readjust to reality after Needle stopped speaking. “…Of course, Needle!” Book stammered out as she looked away, silently hoping that Needle didn’t notice that her face was burning.
The two continued to hold hands for the next few minutes, content with each other’s presence. Book’s mind was focused on her…newfound feelings. So much so that she didn’t flinch when a new voice entered her and Needle’s vicinity.
“Book! There you are!” Ice Cube shouted. Needle had to break the embrace and awkwardly cross her arms again, which made Book confused until she spotted her alliancemate. “Oh, Hi Icy,” Book greeted, “Where have you been?”
“I should be asking you that question. I’ve been looking for you for a while now…” Ice Cube said, exchanging glances with Book and Needle. “Speaking of which, what are you do–”
“Just talking!” Book shot up, a nervous smile plastered on her face. Ice Cube narrowed her eyes at the two before deciding to let it go and continue her point. “Well, I was sent by Pencil to look for you. Something to do with the alliance,” Ice Cube said as she motioned to a point in the distance. “It’s been a while now, so we should get going.”
“Right, alliance…” Book repeated to herself. Considering she had just gotten her ‘membership’, it would be best to follow Ice Cube. Before she left, however, Book turned back towards Needle. “Sorry I couldn’t stay longer. We didn’t even–”
“It’s fine, Book,” Needle interrupted, still wearing a smile. “We can always talk later.”
Book smiled at Needle. “Right, tomorrow?”
Needle smiled back. “See you tomorrow then!”
The two stayed locked looking at each other before a tap from Ice Cube broke their shared gazes.
“Bye, Needle,” Book said as she waved and turned away from the tree, still feeling warmth on her face.
“Thank you again, really,” Needle replied, causing Book to look back and give her a small nod. “…Of course, Needle.”
Book and Ice Cube walked in silence for the next few minutes before the latter spoke. “…Is she your girlfriend or something–”
“Nope! Not at all, don’t be ridiculous Icy!” Book replied, taken aback by the question. “Riiight…” Ice Cube rolled her eyes at Book’s lackluster response. Book awkwardly laughed which got Ice Cube to smile as the two continued walking. “How do you feel about her then?” Ice Cube asked.
Book thought for a few more seconds before settling on something simple.
“…She’s cool.”