Chapter Text
there was a thing about the way an old book smelled, an overwhelming damp, and a value of emotions, tangling within each word.
oh, how so dainty.
it even had a pitch to the frailness of each page, as if they were crumbling between trembling fingers. the hard book covers felt tingly across the nonexistent length, embedded in those nimble things. scratching down layers and layers of time which passed by over a semblance of years. they held stories of stories, lives being dwindled in, fiction or non-fiction. sometimes it was the simplest of things, and sometimes it was the most strategic way of confusing a busybody.
they've invested time, months, and years to each sentence licked upon endless pages.
tyler found it an inspiration, as did his grandfather once had.
so, here he was, settled in the most mustard of turtlenecks, engulfing his small frame as a cup of coffee standing by his endless turning. his spectacles were slipping slowly down the bridge of his nose, and his fluttering eyelashes sharp against the pages that told him about a life of a lonely knight, who desperately wanted to save his princess. leaning on his elbows so intently, hunched over in the most uncomfortable position, and trembling fingertips, he could barely notice another figure walking up to the counter.
a little girl, blonde pigtails glistening upon the orange hues of the sunlight, a huge smile that dwelled upon rosy cheeks, much like the dainty boy across from her. she cleared her throat, and the boy's eyes flew open, wide and wary.
"oh dear!" he squeaked, a small bow upon his shoulders. "good morning, your highness."
her smile never dissolved, fairytale upon her creative mind, it only brightened as she pushed the books on the counter towards tyler, and giggled when his cheeks flared up.
"good morning, ty-ty."
"snow white again?" his dainty fingers fell upon the books, writing quickly writing down the title and the number placed on the side of it. cursive licked upon sheeted paper that has seen many years pass by, and money was set on the side as he gave the book back.
"she's beautiful, i wan' a princess like her in my life." there was a hint of cherry in her cheeks, and the fawn-like boy giggled once more.
"she'll come, juniper, and you'll have happily ever after.
there was happiness dizzying in her iris, tiny hands finding the rough covered book, and holding it dearly to her chest.
"have a wonderful day, ty-ty."
"you too, hon'."
souls of yellow, smiling against double-purity, and the world colliding in peace. juniper skipped out of the old book store, and tyler couldn't help but to silently sigh in restfulness.
though, as the boy sat back on the delicate, wooden stool, a creak as his clothing fell upon a mystery, he could hear the jingle of the door re-open. tyler felt the breeze of the cold morning upon his trembling form, spectacles slowly slipping down the slope of his nose, and nimble fingertips finding the fabric his mustard turtleneck, adjusting it higher up his neck.
he didn't bother looking up to see it was, tyler never did, because his mind was always somewhere amongst all these books unless they came to where he sat, to buy a book, or rent it.
"good morning." the voice was low, an orange tang, and the delicate boy blinked up in a surprise of the older male before him. chocolate curls tangled upon his head, and eyes squinted as his smile pulled something so breathtaking in tyler's lungs.
cheeks redden, and nose too. tyler found his own face warming up, quite the opposite of the man in front of his view.
"g-good morning." soft honey in a delicate tempo.
adjusting his spectacles.
a breathy laugh.
"i'm looking to see if you guys have any horror? in for quite a scare tonight, my daughter's request for tonight's bedtime story."
tyler visible shrunk, lip between his teeth before pointing to the left of them because of course, this beautiful man had to be taken in some sorts. nonetheless, he put the best smile he could, eyelashes fluttering and tone light. "they should be through that hall of books, you'll come to-"
"do you mind showing me? i get quite lost, and disoriented at times, if-" he breathed. "if you don't mind."
doe-eyes wide, cheeks budding with red, and the man before him only could chuckle at the sight.
"you don't have to-"
"no!" tyler stumbled quickly, trembling hands shutting his book with a snap, and delicate feet moving swiftly upon the creaky, wooden floor. "i-i do not mind, follow me, please."
the beautiful man did, trailing swiftly behind the petite fawn, and peering around slowly to gaze at all the incredibly old, but also new books. they were beautiful, and the man's gaze seemed to wander. sharp eye's finding themselves at the nape of the brunet's neck, up to the soft, chocolate curls and down to the attire. the mustard yellow making him smile at how adorable this boy was.
tyler seemed to notice a chuckle, and peeked behind him, doe-eyes wide, but once they caught gaze, his view snapped back forward, coming to a slow stop in front of a shelf.
"th-this is our horror section, uhm-" he swallowed with nervous tingles rushing through his veins. "i'll be at the counter, if you need anything else, just-"
"actually," the man grinned. "do you mind recommending me something to read to her? she really loves anything horror, and i wouldn't mind your opinion."
tyler felt hypnotized, his bones chilling as he stared into the gaze of the older, brunet male, but smiled wearily nonetheless. "i don't mind at all," he breathed softly. "the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde by robert louis stevenson, as well as vladimir nobokov, personally one of my favorite writers, is a really great read."
the older man stared in awe as the fawn continued, cheeks rising up in heat, and plump lips slick as he smiled so prettily.
"though, if you're going for an oldie, dracula by bram stoker is quite the classic, or even the phantom of the opera by gaston leroux, that one is beautifully written." once those doe-eyes met the gaze of a sharp pinch, his chest ached, smile twitching and cheeks becoming red as a tomato. tyler quickly looked down, hands lacing together in nervousness, but continue to spew words in a heavenly tone. "anything by edgar allan poe is really beautiful, as well."
"all these recommendations sound wonderful, how about i go with the vladimir one? you stated it was your favorite author, and i trust your judgment." then, the man was smiling, ever so heavenly, and tyler could feel his head turn into mush itself.
with trembling hands, though, his doe-eyes searched the shelves for the book, and spoke in a honey tone, "ah, there you are."
the smell of sweet peas.
tyler kept the book to his chest, turning to the older man with a nervous twitch in his trembling figure. "you-you either can buy the book, or rent it."
his lavender voice hummed in his throat, and as he thought, he conjured up a beautiful smile. "renting would be a perfect way of coming back to see a certain angel, wouldn't it?"
if you thought tyler's cheeks couldn't light up with more fire, it is now. blood boiled down to his trembling fingertips and his doe-eyes widened, plump lips separating in a delicate gasp. tyler didn't know what to say, he was frozen in his spot, gaze meeting the older man, but he chuckled, making tyler's chest ache even more.
"i'm sorry-" lavender breath as he rubbed the back of his neck, his coat making his toned body even warmer than before. "i didn't mean to scare you-"
"y-you didn't!" tyler said suddenly, making the older man brows raise curiously, and a soft honey tone ensued. "i don't mind."
his smile was enthralling.
"well, i'll rent it then."
and as they gathered themselves at the wooden counter, tyler finding his respective spot on the squeaky stool, and glancing at the handsome man ever so often. his tongue finding the words of protocol when it came to renting books, tyler could barely notice how the man before him was entranced by the fawn's beauty.
his mustard turtle neck began growing too hot for his delicate limbs.
"the date of return is stamped inside, and..."
"my name is joshua, by the way."
tyler peaked up at joshua, and smiled, his heart beating faster. he pushed his slipping spectacles back upon its rightful place upon the bridge of his nose.
"my name is tyler, it was a pleasure to meet you, joshua."
joshua sighed heavenly, grasping the book that was within those dainty fingertips, and taking one last look at the angel before him. "i'll see you then, petal."
mellifluous.
those deep, dark eyes stared into his soul, and he smiled so sweetly.
"oh daisy, he was so beautiful, i wish you could've seen him."
tyler was on his back, petting his adorable samoyed who was huffing up a stone with her cold nose nudging against his tan, pure skin. the fawn scratched behind her ears, leaning up to kiss between her eyes, and getting a huff from her.
"i'll take you to work from now on, how does that sound? that way if he returns, you can meet him."
daisy made a happy sounding whine, nudging her chin even more against his chest, and he giggled so highly.
"i'm taking that as a yes." he curled towards his lovely dog, kissing her once again before shutting his eyes peacefully. "goodnight, daisy."
see, tyler lived alone, in the home that was once owned by his amazing grandfather, but now was in his own hands. the brunet absolutely adored each room, each corner, each crack that semblance a wonderful time.
he missed his grandfather so dearly.
tyler hugged his dog even tighter that night, letting the tears fall so carelessly as he tried so desperately to think of the handsome man that visited his shop that day.
joshua.