Work Text:
“I’ve got a large iced vanilla matcha, there you are, have a good day.” Handing off the drink Rethu scanned the cafe only to find that everyone was settled and content. Well except for that one couple towards the window. “Hey, Bob-”
“I’m keeping my eye on it, and have already thought of a curse, don’t worry.” Elegant as ever, Bob soothed Rethu’s worry while helping J.C. put out the new batch of muffins.
“I told you, she doesn’t even have to look up anymore. Hey is that a thing, like because this is your domain you can just see and hear everything?” Realizing what that could mean, J.C.’s expression went quite pink. “And does that extend to the parking lot?”
Rethu snorted as Bob gave them an unamused patient look.
“I am generally aware of energies and pressences in my domain but it does not work like spy cameras. And even if it did, it would most likely not reach the parking lot. And again, even if it did, I would not trespass on yours and Nicole’s make out session.”
Forgoing the subtle lid on her amusement, Rethu bellowed a short bark of a laugh before teetering off into small giggles as Jenifer Charles got redder before excusing themselves to the kitchen.
“Hey, careful, don’t want to get too far into the spicey. Otherwise Cyrus will start getting squirrely.” she laughed glancing over to their tall fae friend, only to find him staring off into space mournfully while whipping down the counter. “Cyrus, you good.”
“Huh, oh, yeah. I’m… I’m fine, just thinking.” Cyrus assured, still whipping the same spot.
“Thinking about what?” Rethu pushed.
“That patients is a virtue.” Bob supplied.
“What?” Rethu raised a brow.
“It is not, it’s torture.” Cyrus whined.
“What is going on?” Rethu begged. “What happened?”
“One of my favorite authors just released their new book, but the audiobook isn’t going to come out until next month and already I’ve had to disable all my social media accounts because of all the spoilers. I’ve been miserable ever since.” Cyrus moped, slumping against the counter.
“Oh,” Rethu perked up, reaching under the counter pulling out a relatively thick volume. “You mean C.M. Alongi’s new book.”
“Yes!” Cyrus chirped, reaching for the book.
“Nope, hands off.” Rethu teased.
“Aw, I want to know what happens so bad. Boss already has the shelf trophy but trying to read physically gives me the biggest migrain.” Cyrus groaned. “This month is going by too slow. Boss are you sure you can’t-”
“Time spells are messy and cause massive instability to the fabric of the universe. It is not worth it to speed up time so you can read a book.” Bob abashed, leading Cyrus to groan pathetically.
Rethu looked between Cyrus and the book, tapping it a few times- mostly because she liked the sound it made- before nodding to herself.
“What if I read it to you?”
There was a pause, even the ambiance of the cafe seemed to fall into silence, as Cyrus stared wide-eyed at the dragon.
“What?” he finally asked.
“I can read it to you. I mean I can’t promise that I’ll be as good as an audiobook narrator, but I’ll do my best.” Rethu shrugged.
“But aren’t you already pretty far into it?”
“No, actually I just started, so I’m only a few pages in. This week has been really busy. But we both have the next couple of days off, we can hang out at my place or go sit in a park or wherever you’d like and get through the first couple of chapters, maybe more if we don’t stop too much to talk about theories.”
“That… that kind of sounds like a trope in a book I’ve read.” Cyrus said thoughtfully.
“Oh you mean Fangirl by Rainbow Rowelle, I love that book.” Rethu gushed.
“Yeah actually. Didn’t Cath do the same thing for Levi?”
“Yeah, but that was to help him pass a test and later to catch him up on the Simon Snow books. This is because I love talking books with you and Nicole and she’s already started so it would be really annoying to have to cut ourselves off because we didn’t want to spoil you. Plus we could talk as we read. It kind of sounds like fun.”
“Well… I mean, if you’re sure. I wouldn’t want to take up your free time like that.”
“I was already planning on reading the whole time anyway. This way I also get to be social. I do like talking to people, fellow book lovers more so than others.”
Another pause as Cyrus thought about it.
“Okay, yeah let’s do it.” Cyrus nodded, a small smile on his lips. “Yeah, let’s meet around ten at your place. I’ll bring snacks and coffee.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Rethu gave her own little smile. “Can’t wait.”
All the while, both Bob and J.C. were watching, containing their own smiles.
“It’s about damn time.” J.C. chuckled, only to frown a second later. “Except now I owe Husniya twenty bucks.”
“Nothing has happened yet. Give it time.” Bob drawled, with a gentle chuckle. “I’m suddenly experiencing a strong sense of dejavu.”
“Huh?”
“Another time. For now, we need more scones.”
“I’m on it.” Jenefer Charles sighed.
xXx
BING-BONG
“Hey, thanks for coming.” Rethu smiled, waving Cyrus in.
“Well, with the promise of story time and snacks how was I supposed to refuse?” Cyrus smiled holding up the three bags of snacks. “Everything is kosher and vegan so we should be covered on all fronts.”
“Oh, thanks.” They smiled, though it was a bit strained.
“Oh come on, I’m not a complete asshole. I’m gonna make sure you can eat whatever I bring. Also some soda, and hot coco cause I wasn’t sure which you wanted. But I stopped by the shop for some snacks from JC and your favorite drink.”
“Oh thank you.” Rethu purred taking the cup with their name and sipping at it happily. “Nothing beets the cafe’s coffee.”
“We do try. Now where are we setting up?” Cyrus asked looking around- and quietly admiring the several bookshelves stuffed with volumes tattered and pristine alike.
“I only have a recliner and a loveseat, my apartment isn’t big enough for anything else, especially with all the books. You can set up on the love seat and place the snacks on the coffee table.” Rethu smiled, taking tir seat in the recliner as Cyrus spread out the snacks. “Do you want me to play any music in the background? I prefer having something usually without words playing, it helps me focus.”
“If you want. As long as I can hear you I don’t really mind, besides you’re doing me a huge favor by reading this so whatever makes you more comfortable is fine with me.”
“Sounds good.” Smiling they hooked their phone up to the bluetooth and started a lo fi playlist they cleverly called ‘shut up I’m reading’. “You ready to start?”
“Hold on.” Cyrus smirked, wiggling his but into the cushion and grabbing a muffin and his coffee before nodding. “Okay, go.”
Rethu snorted, rolling their eyes then opened the book.
“Chapter one…”
It was odd how well this worked. Rethu had a rhythm to their reading that immediately captured Cyrus. It all flowed like a song. Every now and then they would stop to talk about what was happening. Yet it didn’t interrupt the flow. It was all so natural.
At some point, Cyrus wasn’t even sure how it happened, They both ended up on the love seat. Cyrus was leaning his head on Rethu’s shoulder as he listened. Rethu in return was resting their head on Cryus’s curly blue hair. Again it was just extremely natural. Like they didn’t even have to think about it.
It was a safe feeling, sitting with each other like this.
“Rethu,” Cyrus interrupted gently. “Do you need a break? You’ve been reading out loud for two and a half hours.”
Rethu paused to think about that and seemed to finally realize that his head was resting on Cyrus’s.
“Yeah, at least just to use the restroom and get a drink.” Rethu cleared their throat awkwardly.
Quickly they got up and rushed to the restroom. Leaving Cyrus to sit there and wonder- not for the first time since they’ve met Rethu- if they should come clean about their feelings.
They’ve been at least interested in them after finding out they were a book-nerd and into the same books he was. Then after the dragon egg incident that got updated to a strong crush.
Being there for Rethu who was comfortable enough with him to be vulnerable, definitely made the little ember in his heart burst into a full flame.
But he was worried about a few things.
Thing one; Rethu being demi meant that hitting on them was not something they would appreciate.
Thing two; after they were loved charmed the idea of coming onto was pretty much harassment in Cyrus’s book.
And honestly, he didn’t mind this.
Being close with Rethu like this, sharing a passion and space, satisfied something intimate in him.
Adding to a happiness he was already comfortable with.
But still, maybe it was time for him to come clean.
Worst case scenario, Rethu says no.
Which would maybe make things awkward for a while… and maybe they would lose this… maybe they should wait until after Rethu finishes the book.
“Cyrus?” Rethu called, like they’ve been calling for a minute. “You okay?”
“I like you.”
…
What did he just say?
Why did he say that?
Shit!
“Um…” Cyrus gulped. “Look, if you don’t feel the same way that’s fine. I’d rather keep you as a friend and not lose what we have. So its perfectly fine-”
“I like you too.” Rethu murmured, a small shy smile on her face.
“Really?” Cyrus asked, pretty sure he was hallucinating.
“Yeaah, I mean… It's easy, being with you. And I feel safe. Like no matter what happens you’ll have my back.”
“And I will.” the fairy insisted, standing to his full height now. Smiling like a kid in a toy store. “No matter what it is.”
“And I’ll be there for you.” Rethu promised, reaching for Cyrus’s hand. “For as long as you want me.”
They sat there smiling at each other for a while. Basking in the butterflies fluttering in their bellies. Letting their new status settle in their minds.
Before Cyrus started to get antsy, swaying ever so slightly and glancing to the book they left on the arm of the loveseat.
“Um… can we go back to cuddling and reading now?” He asked, his voice taking on a near whining tone.
Rethu snorted, rolling their eyes while pulling Cyrus down on the cushion.
“Oh, I see how it is.” She snarked. “The flags fly so early. We’ve only been dating for like two seconds and you're already using me for my reading capabilities.”
“To be fair,” Cyrus snorted back. “You were the one who offered. And that was before we were dating.”
“Yeah, because I liked you, dork.”
“So who’s using who? This was clearly a shifty attempt to get close to me.”
“Oh hush.” Rethu laughed, using what space they had on the love seat to lounge so his head was in Cyrus’s lap. “Besides, it worked. Didn’t it?”
Cyrus chuckled, running their fingers through Rethu’s hair.
“Yeah, I guess it did.”