croissant happy hour

[herr_bookman]

"...but still will keep"--and here a pause--"a bower quiet for us, and a sleep," Autor recites. "Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.*"

The boy pats Bar, bidding her a goodnight before he hops over the counter. He takes a few moments to take secret things out of his sylladex and to review his list. Then he writes a message on the blackboard in neat, flowing script:

Croissants with Surprise Fillings
All Vegetarian
Unfilled Also Available
He sets his blue, twenty-sided die on the counter, and waits for the first customer.

*Endymion: Book I, by John Keats

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

"No, I can't," she admits, searching his face with her gaze. "I don't know that person, and I don't know that I'd want to. I'm glad I don't."

"I want you to be like you, Autor, not like him. My friend, who's clever and sweet and kind, who mocks bad movies and is amazingly awesome at alliteration, who knows when tea is needed, who helps his friends when they're hurting, who finds ancient recipes for legendary burn ointments, and loves stories and finding out new things. And who shushes people in the library when they need shushing, even if the books in question deserved to be laughed at."

"But I worry that he'll continue to try and capitalize on your curiosity, and influence you to believe that you are like him, in the way he influenced you to believe you were paranoid, and tried to influence me to believe the same. You mustn't... seek him out."

[herr_bookman]

Autor dips his head during her praise, staring at his shoes. Color steals across his face, tinting his cheeks a dusky rose. He indulges in his tea, wetting his throat before he speaks again, though his voice still comes out as a warm, whispered croak. "You sure know how to complement me, Rae. Thank you."

But he nods. "You are right, though, in that he'll try to capitalize on my curiosity. I won't seek him out, I promise," he says, running his thumb across the rim of his cup. "I admit he has a hold on me. I was thinking about him the other day, and I think... No, I know that I sort of... I kind of think of him as a father figure." The boy glances at his knuckles. "He's what I'm used to."

[sunbaked_baker]

Impulsively, Rae reaches out to touch the back of his hand, her fingers warmed from mug of tea. "But you deserve so much better, Autor. Better than either of them."

[herr_bookman]

Autor jumps, surprised by her quick movement. He turns his hand and grips her fingers tight. "Yeah," he starts, unsure where he's going with that. "Yes. Neither of them can control me, no matter what their presence in my life. Thanks. Thanks, Rae."

He swallows, and withdraws his hand to retreat to his tea. "I don't know what I'd do without you, you know that?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Likewise," she assures him, smiling slightly. Rae squeezes his hand, reassuringly, but she can still feel Dr. Lecter's attention like a weight upon her back. This won't do.

"Hey, come with me a moment?" she says, leaving what little is left of her tea and croissant on the bar and stepping towards the kitchen doorway.

[herr_bookman]

"Sure, but I--" he starts, about to say that he can't leave the bar for a second time, but then a kiss-marked napkin pops up. Autor reads it, and nods.

"All right," he says, hopping over the bar again and following. He takes her hand, and squeezes her palm.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae waits until they are out of sight of the rest of the bar room, the kitchen door having closed behind them, before she envelops Autor in a massive hug.

"I wouldn't know what to do without you, either," she says, chin resting on his shoulder. "I don't want you hurt."

[herr_bookman]

The hug surprises him, but more surprising is how much he sorely needs it. He enfolds her in his arms firm but gently, and rubs her back.

"Thank you, Rae," he whispers, clinging to her. "I wouldn't want you hurt either. Stay with me?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"You know I will," she answers.