Chapter Text
Working in a library just might be the perfect job for Angel. In the library most people are focused on their own work, and are able to understand that other people need silence, just as much as they do to focus, so the main noise he hears all day is that of flipping pages and tapping on the keyboard. Being able to spend most of his day in silence with an entertainment in his hands is a joy he never thought he would be able to experience, but life blessed him when he met the nice older lady who’s the owner of the library. She never really commented on his laziness, and told him as long as he does the basic chores around the library, shelving books and keeping the floors clean, he could stay as long as he wanted.
Going over words, page by page, with the strangers who are in his field of view blurred out and melting in between the rows and rows of books, he’s enjoying what he would call ‘and peaceful evening’ with a side of hot tea he for the first time in a while decided to make. The distant laughter of children is barely audible, but it makes a comforting background noise that he can almost feel a slight smile stretching across his face. Or at least, that’s what he’d like to say.
Just a few tables away from the reception there’s two high school kids playing dominos with books they brought to ‘study’. The constant sharp hissing of “careful!” and “I’ll do it!” Is making it impossible to concentrate, making him groan as he places the book on his face, trying to calm his nerves. Power and Denji — the main reason why he sometimes questions if he was lied to when he took the job 3 years ago. They come here more often than he’d like them to, often coming in with dirty shoes even on the driest of days, and walking around the entire library, searching for their entertainment for the day. Mopping the floors wouldn’t be an issue if they could just be quiet, but oh well life isn’t so nice is it?
Angel isn’t sure why they come here so often, because an arcade or an amusement park seems like something they’d prefer. One of his guesses is that they got kicked out, yes even at an amusement park because the behavior he's seen from them these last few weeks is making him think that they might’ve had legal restrictions against them.
Being the only employee in the library at the moment it was his decision on what to do with them. And the best decision would be to kick them out, not just for his sake, but for all the other people in the library as well. He noticed that most of them put on headphones or some kind of ear plugs because the constant sound of books hitting the table was getting too damn annoying.
With a heavy sigh he lifts the book from his face, and just stares at the ceiling for a good few seconds, before the chair can be heard making a creaking noise as he gets up with no will to do so, and drags himself over to the cause of his headache.
“What are you doing?” He says, he exhaustion in his voice clearly evident.
“Oh! Angel! Perfect timing, can you place that table over there here? We need more space!” Denji said as he was trying to keep a book from falling off at the edge of the table.
“I asked what are you doing.” Angel repeats himself with even more tiredness in his voice.
“We’re creating art.” Power said proudly, stretching her arms out towards the table which was covered in books. He’s got to say it’s pretty impressive, considering how clumsy these two usually are.
“Yeah no, you can’t do that here.”
“Huh?! Why not?! It wasn’t listed in the rules!”
“Yeah! ‘Tis sabotage!” The two gremlins shouted one after another in protest.
“Yeah but being quiet is a rule, and your ‘art piece’ is making a lot of noise.”
“Well, the people here don’t seem to mind!” Denji said in his defense truing his gaze towards a college student who shot him a clearly annoyed glare.
“You sure about that?”
“Ah, well…” Denji rubbed his neck as he slowly tore away from the college student's gaze.
“They didn’t say anything! If they truly had something against our actions they should’ve spoke up, standing tall and proud as they take us on!” Power cut in, speaking in an uplifting tone raising her fist up in the air.
“How is anyone supposed to approach you two?” Angel muttered, mostly to himself, but unfortunately Denji caught it.
“What is that supposed to mean?!”
“We’re nice!”
“What I’m saying is, get out.”
“What?! You can’t kick us out!” That seemed to offend them, since right as they shouted, Denji’s hand swung forward, knocking over one of the many books they spent the last hour arranging, which made several more fall right with it. Angel’s hands quickly came up to cover his ears as he watched the books fall over one by one. Well if the people in the library haven’t left yet, this was sure to make them
“Yes I can.”
“No, you can’t!”
“Don’t you have homework to do or something?” Angel said trying to argue.
“We will if we go home!”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“If we go home Aki will make is do it.” Power grumbled, crossing her arms and staring at the pigeon who landed in front of the library.
“Who is Aki?”
“He’s a to- “ Power started, but Denji interrupted whit a confident smirk on his face.
“Oh? Is that interest I hear? Y’know, maybe I could tell you, but on one condition.” Brining up his finger and leaning way too close toward Angel than he’s comfortable with, Denji grins evily, acting like those antagonists in cartoons who are always one step ahead.
“I really don’t care that much.”
“Only, and only if you let us stay at the library.” Denji declared his deal.
“Yeah, no, please get out.”
-
How did he get here?
Currently he was in the break room, across from him Power and Denji constantly interrupting each other talking about this ‘Aki’, who, in their words, “Is an abusive father”, as they struggle taking off the wrapping on the muffins he gave them for comfort. If he remembers they started whining about how Aki is going to make them sleep out on the balcony or melt ice cubes with their hands, because they both can’t afford another F in math.
“He made us watch paint dry! Paint dry! Just because we got suspended in school!”
“That is pure abuse!” Power shouted in a defensive voice.
“That seems like too light of a punishment to me. How did you even get suspended?” Angel asked, just to immediately regret it.
“That was back in February I think, it was a Tuesday– No Thursday- “
“Never mind, forget I asked. He doesn’t sound like an abusive ‘father’ to me, you two are just mischievous.”
“Well, maybe, but still, we can’t go home!”
“You’ll be fine, I’m sure he’ll be too tired to deal with you.” Angel said with a sigh.
“How do you know?”
“I would be.”
Denji rolled his eyes “Yeah, what great affirmation.”
“If we end up homeless because of you, we shall come back and take our territory!” Power threatened as she showed the muffin he gave her earlier into her mouth and struggling with the straps of her back pack.
Denji got the signal and got up too, his struggle a little less severe than Power’s. He slapped his hands against his cheeks and gave himself an inspirational speech under his breath.
“Ah, well, if we meet again, I hope you’ll acknowledge our efforts and be more accepting of us.” Denji said as he was looking at him over his shoulder.
“Okay, okay, just go.” Angel said rubbing his temple.
The sound of the front door closing, and their bickering moving further and further away, made him release a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Sinking back into his chair, slumping his shoulders, he allowed himself to relax for minute before dragging himself back to the reception. Peace and quiet at last.
-
Seems his effort only last a day since, they were here, yet again. This time they went straight up to Angel to complain about Aki, and how it’s his fault they had to suffer having to do math until dinner time.
“He even made us have broccoli for dinner!” Power shouted in a voice full of disbelief.
“Hey! Speak for yourself! I’d eat anything!”
“All I’m hearing is stuff a normal parent would do. Who even is he to you?”
“Ah, well, he’s our…. Uhh… Y’know what? Good question.” Denji said crossing his arms and looking up trying to think of an answer.
“He’s our roommate caretaker.” Power stated, proud of her answer.
“Since when do you know big words?” Denji asked, but before Power could give her answer Angel interrupted:
“Does he even know you’re here?”
“No.” They said in unison.
Well, that made sense, if Aki were somewhat reasonable he wouldn’t let them be in a library. His best bet might be letting this ‘Aki’ know they’re here, and hopefully he kicks them out for good. The only problem is; how would he do that?
“This is, like our secret, y’know? So you should, like stay quiet.” Denji said in a quieter tone. If only he could always speak like that.
“Uh, yeah, so what does your roommate caretaker do?”
“Ah, well, he makes us– “
“I meant work. As in his job.” Angel interrupted
“He's a detective.”
Angel surely didn’t expect that “A detective?”
“Ya! He works with the police and stuff, you might want to start acting nicer to us!” Power sang in a taunting voice.
“And he doesn’t know you come here every day to cause chaos?”
“Nahhh, we like that frfr.” Denji chuckled to himself.
“Right. Why did you come back today?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that I don’t want you here.” Once again, Angel states bluntly.
“We haven’t done anything! ‘Tis injustice!” Power shouted defensively.
Angel scrunched his eyes, already feeling the headache from these two coming. He can almost swear that they only come here to make his life harder, but he just can’t prove it. He’s got to say, Aki’s got to have a lot of inner peace to be able to deal with these two every day, he just might be jealous.
“You two are going to leave this literary with no customers if you continue being so loud.” He says, trying to act like he cares about the numbers of customers, he doesn’t really, but if there are no customers the library would most likely shut down and he have to get a new job, which, would most likely involve talking to people.
“So? Not our fault they are weak!” Power said
“Ugh…” Angel put his head down in the table, genuinely over this shit.
“Can you just go in the back? Just Don’t. Touch. Anything.”
“Wait, really? Sick!” Denji said as both he and Power quickly scrambled into the back, leaving the rest of the people in the library alone.
Angel isn’t stupid enough to leave them alone in there, for the little time he has known them, he’s learnt that they can’t sit still for the life of them. And so, his only option is to go inside, and hope nobody is going to need him at the reception.
-
For once, the library is quiet. Power and Denji said something about running a marathon in school today, and so they won’t be coming. It was hard to hide the excitement and relief he felt when he heard them say that, maybe life wasn’t so bad, huh? It’s late in the evening the sun setting slowly giving him a nice glow on the book he’s finally continuing. Apart from a few college students scattered across the library, he has the library mostly to himself.
The peace and quiet might’ve been exactly what he needed because when he finally lifted his eyes from the book he was reading, he noticed that there was someone who he hadn’t noticed before sitting two tables away from the reception. Power and Denji must’ve left permanent scars on his brain, because how did he not notice someone that gorgeous walk in?
Mister handsome guy was wearing a white button up with a black waist coat and had his long black coat hanging on his chair. Who dresses so formally to a library? Dark blue hair that matched his eyes was tied in a stupid high ponytail that he somehow managed to pull off, his bangs were in his eyes as his gaze was focused on his laptop. Well at least he can ogle him without worrying about being caught. He had a nice toned body, Angel would guess he goes to the gym frequently, and it looked like he was quite tall too. Now, what was Angel supposed to do? This man was totally his type.
Angel could approach him, yes, but he does not remember the last time he approached someone willingly. Angel decided to not shoot his shot and just admire from afar, since talking to him seems like too much effort.
-
The moonlight is seeping through the window, shining over the last few pages of the book he’s reading. Angel closes it and stretches out with a small yawn as he forces himself to get up. He’s once again left alone in the library, well, actually there’s one more person left, Mister handsome guy. He seems just as focused on his work as the first time he saw him, he’s got to say he’s impressed, he probably wouldn’t be able to do that.
It seems as if fate did not respect his opinion of not talking to him, as handsome man has yet to realize how late it’s gotten. And so, he moves away from the reception and towards him, who’s yet to notice him.
He clears his throat to pick up his attention.
“Ahem. Excuse me, but we are closing now.” Angel states as nonchalantly as he can.
The man who seemed to finally come back to reality, moves his eyes away from his laptop as they land onto Angel.
“Huh? Oh— My bad I didn’t notice.” He says with a slightly raspy voice, his eyes landing on one of the windows on his right. He quickly closes his laptop and stands up to put his coat on.
Shit. Even his voice is hot.
“No problem, you seemed quite focused on. You working on something important?” Angel says as small talk.
“Something like that.”
The sound of him adjusting his coat and packing up his laptop fills the silence between them. He averts his gaze towards the exit, and in the process his eyes landing on a certain sparkling back pack on one of the chairs behind the reception desk.
“Cute backpack.” He says as he walks towards the exit.
“It’s not mine. Someone left it behind yesterday, just holding onto it until they come back for it.” Should he have just taken the compliment?
“I see. They should be more mindful of their things.” He said suspiciously, before putting his hand on the door knob, and giving Angel one last goodbye.
The sound of the door closing echoes for a few seconds before Angel blinks to bring himself back to reality, and decides to get back to work, so that he can get home as soon as possible.
Well, Power really should be more mindful of her things.