jack with a crush on librarian david au
I’m trying to put this as my first work ever on ao3 but it won’t let me login I’m not sure why.
Thanks for the super cute prompt, tho! The rest are to come I’m writing these in between cleaning.
Jack thinks he’s smooth. David accidentally flirts. The boys are dumb.
Normally libraries were not exactly Jack’s thing.
The open air was his thing, or an empty theater, a place towork- being on the rooftop or out walking the streets of Manhattan. Those wereall things that were distinctly Jack Kelly.
Jack Kelly was not one to be cooped up in some buildingsurrounded by nothing but books all day until quite recently. It had started ona whim, really, running in to look at some of the art magazines upon Race’ssuggestion. Libraries had free, tangible references; also it had been rainingoutside for the past two days. That was the first time he had seen him.
Him was a veryfrustrating person. Jack’s gaze had drifted over while he was thinking. Hispencil had been tapping against his lips as he forced himself to look away fromhis sketchbook page. The proportions were still off, the figure’s arms were toolong but if he fixed it they looked too short. His current train of thoughtderailed abruptly, the pencil stilling—and immediately slipping out of hisgrip. From that day onward libraries had gotten extremely interesting. In factthey were Jack’s favorite thing.
The second visit got him a name. He had ‘subtly’ walked bythe front counter, his eyes taking a quick glance at the name tag on his wayout the door after staying for hours just sketching in the corner.
Him was apparentlyDavid. That name was committed tomemory in an instant.
It was on his third visit that something finally happened.
Once more Jack had planted himself in the same corner.Tucked away enough with a decent view of the front counter. This time he washunched up, the sketchbook resting against his knees and the portrait that tookshape on the page was very clearly him.The artist wasn’t exactly sure how long he had been there, but apparently ithad been noticeable hours. His eyes flickered upwards to steal another quickreference look—only to land on an empty space. Where had David gone to? Jackfrowned slightly, dropping his legs and sitting up straighter.
“You know, usually people come to a library to study, or tocheck stuff out. I always figured coffee shops were typical drawing and screenwriting places.” The voice caught him off guard, and Jack defensively slammed his book shut,laying it down on the table immediately. How David had managed to get up and bestanding next to him within the short moments Jack had been looking away wasbeyond him, but apparently the librarian had some sort of unknown super powers.Being caught meant time to turn on the charm.
“You’se sayin’ its wrong for a guy to break outta the norm?”Jack tilted his head, grinning slowly. This was a set in the right direction.Talking was a good thing, talking meant doing other things such as….well, otherthings. Hopefully, if the talking went well.
“No, but I could say that if you take a picture it’ll lastlonger.” David turned abruptly, and Jack could have sworn the boy was blushingfrom head to toe, the back of his neck was a bright shade of red. Part of himthought he heard a whispered, ‘I just didthat….’ But it could have been his imagination.
He could have left then and there, but no, that reaction wasencouraging. Jack got to his feet, waiting and watching for a brief moment forDavid to get back to the counter. He made his way up there, a grin plastered onhis face as he leaned against the counter casually.
David glanced up, then cleared his throat, typing somethingat the computer. “Sorry, I didn’t really mean—“ “I wanna get one of dem cards.” Jack cut him off, knowing he had nothing toapologize for, while making a vague waving gesture with his hand.
“….I’m sorry, what?”
“Ya know, those cards? The ones with this place and such.”
He blinked at him for a moment, “….You mean a library card—youdon’t have…you don’t know what a library card is?”
Jack snorted, “Course I’se do. Ain’t never been in herebefore, so I wanna get one.”
“You’ve been in here three times and you stay for hours.”
“Not my point. I’se mean I ain’t never been in here beforethose three times.” Jack wrinkled up hisnose, trying to get to the point with what he wanted to accomplish. “So can Iget one or nah?”
David suddenly smiled, a small tug at the corner of hismouth. He reached into a drawer, pulling out a clipboard and sliding it over. “Justfill this out.”
Jack grabbed a pen, skimming the form. “…So where’s the partwhere I put my number?”
The other man, who had gone back to typing for a briefmoment, looked back up. “….I’m sorry, what?”
“My number. Ya know- phone number.”
“Oh, you don’t have to. We just take an email address that’sfine.”
He huffed out a breath, not sure how to get this across tothe librarian without spelling it out for him. “I mean my phone number for you’se.”
“Well all your information remains private- we just use itto track what books you take in and out and contact you if things are overdue—“
“I want to give you my phone number.”
David fell quiet, taking a moment. It dawned on him slowly,and Jack thought it should be down right illegal how adorable that expressionon his face looked.
“Oh. Well, uh…youcould…write it at the bottom of the page…” He cleared his throat, a faint tingeof red on his cheeks.
Jack did just that with no time to waste. Scribbling hisnumber at the bottom of the page and sliding the clipboard back over to him. “Allset den. See ya later, Davey.” He saluted him, pushing off the counter, but notbefore giving a cheeky wink, and heading for the doors.
“Wait—don’t you want your card??”
“You’se can give it ta me tomorrow, ya know, when I come totake that picture.” He laughed, smiling impossibly wider. Smooth. In thatmoment Jack knew he was the king of smooth. That had just played out perfectlyin every way. A pick up line, a cute boy who just looked so bookish and smart. He could tell David was smartjust by looking at him. Probably knew all sorts of things. Well read and greatat comebacks. This was why Jack liked libraries, he had no idea why he doubtedthem before—
“….Or I could just send you one tonight.”
Jack froze mid step, blinking rapidly.
Oh yes. He reallyliked libraries.
