fandomhigh | Library, Thursday (2/18)

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Library, Thursday (2/18)

Cosette was not going to let this week keep her from showing up at the library for her shift, not at all. She took her job very seriously, thank you.

She just . . . might keep disappearing into the romance novel section intermittently all day, though. It seemed to be more in need of organization this week for some reason . . .

(Not literally disappearing. That had to be clarified.)

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"Jaysus," Edward bellowed - at most certainly a louder volume than was entirely proper in the library, but he had a heavy delivery package in his arms that had most certainly not been intended for the library.

His feet seemed to have a mind of his own this week. "I'm going 'round the bend," he muttered, hoping beyond hope Cosette hadn't heard him.

Cosette had to scurry out of the stacks and head toward the source of the yell, so she just missed anything Edward might have said after that.

"I'll thank you not to --" Most of her stern tone and disapproving look dissipated in favor of a slightly breathless laugh when she saw who was standing there. "Oh! Did the library have a parcel coming in? I don't think we were expecting anything, but I can't say I'm sorry to see you."

Not even a little bit.

"... Ah, no," Edward had to admit, holding up the parcel. "It was bound for somewhere in the dormitories, I simply... thought I would take the opportunity to visit you, while I was able."

He cleared his throat. "You're a sight for sore eyes, you are."

"And you are a welcome distraction indeed, very pleasant to look at," Cosette replied, "so whoever really is expecting a parcel can wait a little while longer."

She tapped on a nearby tabletop and nodded toward the parcel. "But you must be tired, carrying that all this way! I'm afraid I must insist on you taking at least several minutes to rest."

"If you insist," Edward sighed, a smile playing on his lips.

He put it down in the indicated position, then turned back to her. "How do you fare? I hope you haven't too much of a hard day's labor behind you."

"No more than usual. Even going back and forth to put books away all day, I haven't got stairs to climb like you do." Cosette sidled closer and reached out to trail a finger along his cheek. "I hope you haven't tired yourself out too much? You ought to come and sit and rest a while, if you have. I'll see it's worth your time."

"I have been about town, making deliveries," Edward agreed. "Haven't even had a chance to sit still at the office itself."

And he was going to be too distracted to do that all day. Whoops.

He tilted his head into her touch, unconsciously closing some of the distance, himself.

Well, some of those books were just going to have to go unshelved for a while longer, so they were even.

"In that case, I shall have to insist upon you having a moment to rest. No, there isn't any point in arguing about it --" not that she had occasion to consider it a possibility just yet, but it was a preemptive disclaimer. "My mind's quite made up. I'll convince you, see if I don't."

Cosette gave him a playfully stern look, then stretched up to kiss him, apparently intent on taking her time about it.

Edward had planned to tease her, and perhaps stretch it out some, but by God, she was being forward today.

He liked it.

He slid his arms around her and went along with it. Who was he to argue, truly?

Cosette knew what she wanted, what could she say? And to tell the truth, while she was perfectly capable of playing coy she didn't have the patience for it today.

Pulling back just far enough to make sure she'd be heard but sliding a hand up to the back of his neck just so it was clear she didn't plan to move further away, she murmured, "Have I convinced you yet, monsieur, or must I be more persuasive?"

"You are-- quite convincing when you put your mind to it," Edward said, with a breathless laugh. "I ain't sure I'd survive a greater intensity."

"I'm quite sure you would. I've more faith in you than that," Cosette told him, and moved back in to nip lightly at his lower lip.

"I always spire to live up to your expectation," Edward promised, but she was distracting him now, and he gave up on it; his hands slid over her back and he kissed her back firmly.

Cosette made a small, not-all-that-soft pleased noise against his lips and began to run her fingers up through his hair.

"I can't say your efforts displease me," she informed him, and dropped her free hand to his waist in an effort to pull him closer.

"Ah, then I'm blessed," Edward said, and now it was his turn to nip - albeit at her jaw, not her mouth. "You are a harsh taskmaster, after all."

"But not --" Cosette inhaled sharply at the nip and tried to hook her fingers into his waistband, to pull him just a little bit closer. "Not unpleasantly so, I hope."

And suddenly his hips were brushing up against her hips. When had that happened?

You'd have to excuse Edward, then, if his next breath came out in ragged surprise. "--No unpleasantness I believe needs mentioning," he said.

Cosette wasn't sure when exactly that had happened, but she certainly wasn't objecting. She didn't seem in the least inclined to pull her hand away, for one.

"That would suggest there is some," she said, sounding a bit more flustered than usual, "but . . . oh, I don't care about it, if so. There are much nicer things to be concerned with at present, don't you think?"

"I-- well. Yes," Edward said, and at last, he flushed. "--I. That may be considere dishonorable?"

Like you would care in the not-so-distant-future, Ed.

"Not by this time's standards, it would seem," Cosette said, equally pink-cheeked but somehow matter-of-fact despite that. "Or so radio reports would lead us to believe . . . oh, I don't know, I can hardly think clearly this week. It isn't fair of the island to cause us all such distraction."

Was she pouting? A little bit.

"Are you all right with this?" Edward said, pressing his forehead to Cosette's.

"Only so long as you are," Cosette told him, more serious now. "You mustn't feel obligated on my behalf."

"I don't," Edward said, and he reached and cupped her cheek. "But I'd rather be riddled with stab wounds than do anything you may regret."

Cosette leaned into his hand -- although admittedly, it looked closer to a cat responding to being petted.

"I much prefer you whole, and not full of holes," she said, and couldn't help a laugh at the unplanned pun. "Well, we shall see where the evening leads us, shall we? After you're done with your deliveries, and I'm finished here . . ."

Because nothing was going to dissuade her from fulfilling her library duties, even if she sounded far less enthusiastic about the prospect than might be expected of her.

"I'll stop by again," Edward promised.

He leaned in to kiss her again; it wound up somewhat less gentle than he had been planning.

That was a pleasant surprise, and Cosette kissed him back with equal fervor. "See if I don't come find you, if you don't," she said with a smile that made it more of a promise than a playful threat.

"I consider myself greatly warned," Edward said.

He pulled away. With difficulty.

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Library, Thursday (2/18)

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