fandomhigh | Library [3.14]

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Library [3.14]

Karal wasn't alone when he opened the library this morning. Altra was walking ahead of him, Evey was walking beside him, and he was grateful for their company.

He made sure Evey was happily settled in the stacks with a pile of books and a cup of tea, then set about opening the library.

[ooc: Evey modded with permission]

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Evey's hand in turn slipped up to gently touch his shoulder, trying to soothe as she could. "That doesn't sound terribly difficult," she said lightly.

"Once you master the intricacies of the Dewey Decimal system, everything else simply falls into place." Karal turned his head to kiss her temple, smiling a little against her skin. "You're not too bored?"

"Hardly," she promised, leaning into him. "But I don't like feeling helpless or useless."

"I know. Which is why I'm going to ask you to help me reshelve those, and then look through the shelves, and the catalogue, for any books that might be useful. We can put them out for the other researchers, to help speed the process." Karal held her a little closer. "There is one other thing you could do before that, though, if you don't mind."

"I won't know if I mind unless I know what it is," Evey pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

"This is true." He glanced sideways at her. "You could tell me that you don't mind if I kiss you, even though we're in a library and there are people out there, because I very much want to right now."

She had to grin at that, in spite of everything. "You always ask me to do such difficult things," she teased, tsking and shaking her head.

"I am very demanding and wholly unreasonable," he teased, grateful for the lightness, the silliness. He moved so he was facing Evey and pressed his palm against her cheek. "I am lucky you're so patient with me."

"You are," she agreed, reaching a hand up to smooth his hair. "I'm very patient and forgiving. Really."

His smile got wider, and then he was kissing her, because he wanted to, because he needed to, because she was Evey and it made him happy.

She was rising up on her toes to meet him partway, craving the closeness. Her arms slid around his neck, and she knew it couldn't be a long kiss, or one she could lose herself in, but today she needed to forget -- even for a moment -- about reality.

It - no, Evey, was exactly what he'd needed, to forget the outside world, to remember there were things as important as what was going on in it. He delicately stroked her back, settling his hand between her shoulder blades, his other still light against her cheek.

Knowing they didn't have much time, he tried to put everything he felt, everything there were no words for, into the kiss.

Eveys fingertips grazed his back, her arms providing a semblance of stability. Part of her wanted to move further into the shadows, against the books, and just forget everything in lieu of this, of Karal. For the moment, that part of her got a voice, at least. It would be squashed and silenced as soon as the kiss broke.

Which wasn't going to happen soon. Or at least, Karal didn't want it to happen. He wanted to push forward, to pull her closer, to never let it end.

He was almost thankful they were in a library, where it couldn't happen. Almost, and he slid his hand to the small of her back, fingers curling against her shirt.

Library. People. He'd pull away, he really would, just not quite yet.

The simplicity of the moment was soothing, the quiet was welcome, and she could focus on the gentle sound of their combined breathing, or the soft noise of her shoes on the floor as she maneuvered on her toes to stay closer.

Right now, there were no angels, or statues, or puzzles she didn't understand. She had all the pieces: there were just two, and they were named Karal and Evey.

It was perfect and simple and it had to end, or Karal wasn't sure he'd be able to.

He lifted his head the barest amount, sliding his other arm around Evey, breathing just a little bit quicker than it had been. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to, just held her, wrapped up in this tiny pocket of peace.

Evey's eyes stayed closed as she drifted back to flat feet, nudging her nose lightly against Karal's. She clung to the quiet and the peace, suspecting that moments like this -- as they had been before -- were just the colloquial calm before the storm.

Finally, reluctantly, Karal spoke. "We should probably get to work." Not that he was moving.

"Probably."

Evey was also not moving, not just yet.

He smiled and ran a hand across her hair. "Will you stay with me again tonight?"

"Again with asking the impossible of me," she teased softly, smiling. "I suppose I can be persuaded."

He glanced down, then moved away, just enough to catch her hand. "I would try and persuade you, but somehow I think the library isn't the place."

And, glory of glories, he actually didn't blush, even though he wanted to.

Evey did, though, because it was so unexpected. "Oh. I...consider me persuaded as it is, then," she said, smiling shyly and feeling her cheeks flame up.

Evey's blush was enough to set off Karal's, and he had to glance away, suddenly shy. Glory. "I'm glad," he said, a bit amazed at himself.

"Though I may need to be persuaded to stay once I'm there and we're alone," she added, looking at him. She was still blushing, but her shock had worn off and her flirtatiousness had returned.

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