He hadn’t meant to spend this much time reading through the old books in the Obscurus Books, but Gale got caught inside the leather bound bindings of his best memories. He was supposed to meet Chaz nearly twenty minutes ago, but he’d arrived early just to do this. He missed reading endlessly, and though the books of the magical world were often much the same Gale couldn’t help but want to walk his fingers over each inked word. He loved to think of the history behind each page, how it got there, and where it’s been. He loved the stories inside, the tales of days old, and hopes for a future. This was half the reason he wanted to be a teacher, to embellish on the pasts of his students and secure them a brighter tomorrow. It helped to ease his ache for a child of his own, and the want of a family. However, now standing in the empty aisles of the books Gale was going to let his chance slip by.

Nightingale, had worn his better clothes, the hems were all sewn in and were tailored to fit his rather petite frame. He wore a scarf around his neck, had blown out his hair so that it fell with a little more body than normal, and even cleaned off the mud from his boots. The sweater he wore was a soft heather grey, and against the dark color of his jeans it seemed a rather cheerful combination. Gale didn’t wear as much jewelry today as he normally did, and kept it simple with what did grace his body. A silver charm around his slender wrist, and little Jody Coyote earrings that were his favorite.

“Sir?” The keep spoke softly breaking Gale from his thoughts.

“Hmm?” He looked up his dark brown leather patch an ugly contrast to the pretty silver hanging from his ear.

“Do you need me to turn up the light? You are squinting?” He hadn’t realized that he was, but shook his head with a polite smile.

“Oh no thank you. I have my glasses.” To which Gale pulled out from the bag he carried with a cross over his chest a little case that would put the silver frames on the end of his nose. And though the thought of a man with one eye needing a pair of glasses might have seemed ridiculous, they made him look like a complete and total nerd. He should check the time he knew, but just a few more pages…

Chaz paced down the sidewalk a short ways, stopped, then paced back.  He went back and forth in front of the Obscurus Books window with anxious energy.  He and Gale were supposed to meet here over twenty minutes ago but there was no sign on the blonde.  Chaz scanned the people passing by convulsively for a glimpse of white-blonde hair, flowing clothing, pale skin.  But in the wizarding world, pale skin and flowing clothing was pretty much the norm so he had a lot of false alarms.  He begining to be mildly worried about Gale.  What could keep him like this?  Was he hurt or in trouble?  They'd owled to set up this meeting and there hadn't been any indication that Gale was upset with him or uncomfortable with the situation.

Stopping briefly, Chaz bounced on the balls of his feet.  He glanced at the store-front and made the decision to go inside.  A charm on the dorm sounded a short jingle that would alert the proprietor to his entrance.  Chaz smiled politely at the shopkeep and stepped up to the counter, which was stacked high with old books.  "I'm sorry, I agreed to meet a friend here and I thought, perhaps I got the time wrong.  Have you seen a man with long white hair and an eyepatch?  He - "

The shopkeep pointed down one of the aisles of books so Chaz stopped explaining and grinned in thanks.  He craned his neck as he neared the corner of the aisle.  Indeed, there was Gale sitting on a footstool reading an old book.  He was wearing glass, perched on the end of his little nose.  It was too cute to be irritated by.  Chaz leaned against the bookshelf and crossed his arms over his chest with a grin.  He hadn't been spotted yet so he just stood there and watched for a few minutes.  Eventually, though, he cleared his throat and walked towards Gale.  "There you are, stranger.  I was getting worried."

Squatting down next to the man, Chaz looked at the book and then up at Gale.  "Have I been stood up?"  He said it partially as a joke, but another part of him wanted to know if Gale had changed his mind.

"Hmm?" Gale blinked owl like up at him, as if returning from a state of suspension where his mind had left him to join the story while his body remained. The stool wasn't very big, and he hadn't remembered even sitting down. Yet, now his legs were numb and his backside tingled from the poor circulation.

"Rook!" He gasped, seeing how Chaz nearly looked worried, and knew he'd messed up. How late was it? How...wait...my what blue eyes he had. With his glasses he finally got to see what Chaz really looked like. There were no fuzzy spots or blurry outlines. He could really see him with the light pouring in from behind him, and the natural winter light filling their private place. And he couldn't keep the grin from his lips as he studied uncharted territory.

"Hi." He said quietly, and leaned into to claim a kiss. Without thinking he connected with the other man as if they had been doing this for years, but it just felt so natural.  It was chaste and small, but expressed how much he really was excited to see him. He brought his hand to touch Chaz's shoulder, and left it there when he pulled back to confess.

"I'm so very sorry. I didn't realize how late it was. I was...well reading?" He raised the book that had settled on his lap to offer the evidence, and blushed. With a grin he continued, "I might have to buy this one. It's really good. And it's been a really long week." How tired he was already showed, but with midterms around the corner everyone was on edge. "But I'm so happy to see you. And to take you to dinner, maybe a movie?"

Carry me home and just put me to bed?

It was a quiet moment, filled with promise and unspoken feelings.  Despite the worry and fear of rejection that had motivated Chaz into the store, he was happy and content to just crouch here in a dusty old bookshop and let Gale stare at him because, frankly, Chaz was staring right back.  As Gale studied the nuances of Chaz's face for the first time,  Chaz studied the nuance of Gale's.  The incongruencies of fine jewelry and old leather, playful clothing and prim glasses.  Non of it really fit together but it was endearing none-the-less. 

The kiss was given without warning or context but Chaz inhaled in deep contentment when it happened.  Worries gone, end of story.  He just reveled in the moment.  In fact, he was so wrapped up in it that when Gale pulled away and apologized, Chaz had to remind himself what the man could possibly have done to apologize for. 

Chaz offered a sweet, forgiving smile and rubbed Gale's cheek with the side of his thumb.  "Long week?" he commiserated.  "Perhaps I can persuade you to forget about it for a little while.  There's nothing like a bit of time with someone outside the activities to rejuvenate your spirit."  Chaz stood up and helped Gale stand as well by holding on to one of his slender hands.  He seemed unsteady, probably from sitting on the footstool for so long reading his book.  "We can certainly do either one of those things, if you want.  However you want to relax or have fun."

Pale winter sunlight streamed through the stacks of books.  The air was warm in here and heavy with the must of generations of parchment and leather.  "What about showing me some of these books?  I'm afraid I've not read anything older than 50 years since I was in school.  Perhaps you could recommend something?"  Chaz  had always possessed a mild professional curiosity about history but it wasn't something he'd ever seriously pursued in favor of modern, forward-thinking design.  But Chaz had already stated that he'd love to see the world like Gale saw it.  Even old, musty books.

The weather was cold he knew, but he couldn't feel it. He couldn't stop feeling as though he were walking on the sun. He felt so warm and welcome next to Chaz, but more importantly he felt cherished. So soon, and he already felt that he couldn't remember a time when there wasn't a Chester somewhere in his life. He realized that in this entire week, Arthur's memory hadn't been in the forefront of his mind. Or when he found himself sobbing into his pillow at night, Chaz's letters would reach him, and he'd forget all about his heartache. Gale smiled more, especially to other people--strangers even. He told his therapist about Chaz, he told his shadow, and he told himself each morning that he was worthy of his affections. It was so soon, but Gale was hooked.

"Very long week." He sighed, and leaned into the touch, "All I could do was look forward to this. To seeing you." He smiled against the inside of Chaz's palm until he was pulled to his feet. He held the book he was reading to his chest, as if afraid Chaz would take it and not allow him to purchase it.

"Oh..." He seemed confused, "You want to read a few? I have a whole library in storage." He smiled with his confession, but turned Chaz towards the rows.

"What do you normally read? Or do you read? I hope so. That's rule #1." He stood on his toes and bent into to whisper, "If you walk in a man's bedroom and there are not books on the shelves. You don't fuck him. You don't pass go. You just leave." He grinned while putting his hands in his own front pockets to lean against the shelf long enough to just let Chaz take that in. It was rather cute to watch the other blush.

A smile tugged on Chaz's lips when the dirty word slipped from Gale's mouth with such ease.  He certainly seemed proud of himself, that was for sure.  Chaz moved in lightly braced his hands on the shelf to either side of Gale's shoulders, bracketing the other man in close.  "Well, you've been to my flat," Chaz responded with raised eyebrows like he was conversationally pointing out something obvious.  "So you know I've got plenty of books.  Just because most of them are about architecture doesn't make them any less... bookish."

Chaz grinned at his failure to find a better word and pulled back with a shake of his head.  Rubbing the back of his neck, he ambled slowly down the aisle and said, "I used to only read when I had to for homework but since I'm terminally unemployed, I borrow quite a few.  A lot of fiction, I'm afraid.  I like a good mystery."  He slid a pointed smile towards Gale, clearly implying that he thought Gale was a mystery and he enjoyed that as well.

"Nothing like this though.  What kind of books do you find in a place like this?  They're all so old it's hard to imagine it's anything I could relate to.  What about this one?  What is it about?"  Chaz rapped the cover of the book Gale clutched to his chest. 

"It must be good.  You seemed awfully entranced when I walked in.  Hardly even noticed I was there."  Chaz placed his hand on his own chest and leaned back in mock hurt.  His face had a soft smile on it though, to lessen the impact and make it clear that he was only joking.

Gale grinned up to Chaz when he spoke of books, and rather liked that they seemed to fit so well together. It made him feel like they truly were a couple, and comfortable with one another. He felt that he could be himself around the blue eyed boy, and for the first time in a very long time could just breathe him in.

"I have been to your flat you are right. And there were books. Suppose I shall have to give in to your seduction." It wasn't really like him to be so forward, but Gale enjoyed the banter. He enjoyed how much Chaz smiled, and that when he did the whole world opened up.

"Fiction is my favorite too. Though I'm such an avid reader. I'll read the back of a cracker box just to see words printed on paper. This one isn't fiction. You really won't find much of anything other than text books here. But this is about the history of wand lore. It's very entertaining." He pushed from the shelf to follow Chaz, chirping about the book as they went, but he stopped when Chaz jested about the book being more important. The smile did help, but Gale became quiet and thoughtful.

When your eyes were the color as his, the silver in them reflected nearly every surrounding element, but as Nightingale watched the pages burn the fire seemed cold on the surface. He'd loved that book, read it a thousand times, and even marked a few passages. But now there was nothing left of it, and he fought back tears.

'And I'll burn every one of them, when you don't come when I call. You ignore everything when you are reading, Gale. Let that be a lesson.'

"Nothing is more important than you." He smiled, and put the book back on the shelf. With a loop of his arm through Chaz's he pulled him towards the door.


"Come, let's get out of here." When they passed the shop's keeper Gale lowered his hand long enough to smile to the man, "Have a good evening."

"Thank you Professor. I'll see you next time." The keep smiled back and gave a nod to Chaz before turning a blind eye to the happy couple, who was he to judge? The cold air hit Gale hard, who had been in such a hurry he forgot his coat, and he quickly put his hands in his pockets. The nerves of those first few dates were something he'd never had the chance to know, but walking beside Chaz now on the busy streets he felt his heart flutter. Of course he was afraid, but it wasn't the fear of the outside world--he was worried of messing something up. Worried he'd let Chaz slip through his fingers.

They'd been having a nice, engaged, and relaxed conversation about books.  They could both offer something to the topic and share a relative amount of passion.  Chaz truly enjoyed hearing the way Gale described things as mundane as words printed on a cracker box.  No one Chaz knew spoke with so much poetry about the world.  He'd been enraptured almost from the very start.

But he felt like he lost Gale a little bit for a moment as he became very quiet and introspective.  But when Gale put the book he'd been so absorbed in back on the shelf with a shallow smile, Chaz knew he'd lost him for a moment.  He frowned at the book as Gale tugged him down the aisle and out of the shop.  He wondered what Gale had been thinking about that had changed his mind so severely about that book.  Was it something he said? 

He'd joked about the book being more important but that had only been what he thought was a very obvious joke.  And yet, Gale had abandoned the book and proclaimed Chaz more important.  Did he think that he had to choose?  Chaz's forehead burrowed into a small frown as they exited the small shop.  "Did you want to buy that book?" he asked with a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder as they paused on the street.  "You seemed pretty interested in it."

That's when he noticed how incredibly cold it was outside and how miserable Gale must be for not having a coat.  "Merlin!" he proclaimed in shock.  He shrugged out of his wool coat and quickly placed it over Gale's shoulders.  Chaz was wearing a shirt and a sweater underneath his coat and they were far from wind-proof but he couldn't stand to see the slight blonde man shiver.  "Why don't you have a coat?"  Chaz asked worriedly.  "It's freezing out here.  Come on, let's go find someplace warm."

“Um…” He bit his bottom lip nervously as he curled into Chaz’s coat, and wondered through his answer. Yes. He wanted that book. Badly. But how could he when he knew he’d spend most of the weekend reading it. He looked at the door of the store, worried someone (that other rare and strange wizard who liked reading old dull books) would get to it before he returned, but looked back at Chaz.

“No.” He said with a smile, “I don’t need it. Not like I need my coat.” He laughed and pulled out his wand for a warming charm. “I was in such a hurry to get to you. I forgot it. I didn’t feel the cold until I got here. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend all week.” Oh how he enjoyed Chaz’s coat, and the way the warmth surrounded him. He loved how that sweet rich earthy scent the artist carried completely overwhelmed his senses. It made his heart flutter, and his knees weak.

“I didn’t realize how much I’d like to have something to look forward to. It’s been a while.” He confessed, and with it grinned again. He’d practically made his students crazy this week with how he seemed to bounce around the room, and the staff? If they hadn’t thought him crazy before? Ha. But it wasn’t just Chaz Gale had to celebrate, at least not just the weekend he looked forward to.

Nightingale, hadn’t had a single breakdown or bad dream. Hell, he’d hardly even thought about the Slytherian boy who haunted his very being. Gale spent his free time writing Chaz, or thinking of him. He hardly had time for anything else, and with midterms coming up?

“I even brought a toothbrush.” He’d regretted the words the moment they slipped from his lips, and his face flushed with proof. “I mean…you know…just in case.”

Chaz almost pointed out that there was a big difference between needing a book and wanting book.  In the end, though, he just shrugged off the whole topic, stowing the image of the book in the back of his mind.  He'd come back tomorrow, or maybe the next day, and buy it for Gale.  It could be a Christmas present, perhaps.  He'd most likely be eating lean for a while but it would be a worthy sacrifice to see Gale's face light up with pleasure.

Happy confidence gave him a little bit of a bounce to his walk as they made their way down the street.  Gale didn't keep it a secret that he enjoyed spending time with him and that tickled Chaz greatly.  "I know exactly what you mean," Chaz added, facing Gale with a reassuring smile.  "I haven't had much to look forward to these days except being turned down for yet another job.  This is entirely the best my days have been for quite a while and I have you to thank for it."

Chaz already spent almost every second he spent with Gale wanting to reach out and touch.  The other man had an ethereal quality to him, especially in the winter air which matched his coloring so nicely, that Chaz had a hard time believing his luck and constantly want to reassure himself by brushing his fingertips on that pale skin and carding his hands through the soft strands of hair. 

When Gale confessed to have brought a toothbrush with him in hopes of spending the night, Chaz almost couldn't stop himself from pulling Gale into his arms.  Peals of laughter from the crowd out shopping for Christmas kept him from doing so.  The public... someone might see and talk if they saw the Charms Professor molested by another man.  Chaz shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and hunched his shoulders up in an effort to contain himself.  His smile, however, brightened considerably and showed off his pearly white teeth.  His eyes crinkled at the corners and twinkled with pleasure.

"Did you really?  Well, you're certainly welcome stay at my flat.  Whether it's to enjoy my company or avoid the stress of traveling back to the school after such a short time, you're more than welcome."

Gale hadn't realized he still had his glasses on until they were outside and his vision was clear, but he quickly pulled them off to tuck them down inside his shoulder bag. Listening to Chaz he had to frown. Turned down? Again? This wasn't the same he was excited about was it?

"Why do you think they are turning you down? What reasons do they give?" He'd help him get to the bottom of this. Gale spent his time in the pains of politics in the Wizarding world. He'd helped the Ministry, and worked as a hired hand for as long as he could remember. He knew the struggles of employment, and the downfalls of those who went too long without it. Chaz seemed to weather the news well, but Gale could tell that it wouldn't be for long.

"Do you think it's because you are so young? Inexperienced?" He touched Chaz's back gently to direct him in the way of their coffee shop, and vowed to get to the bottom of this. Even though he took off his glasses, Gale slipped into his role of Professor...Role Model...Adult very easily, but he did his best to not speak to Chaz like one of his students.

Ordering their lattes and cakes he listened to Chaz's answer while he paid. He had a good amount of money saved, Arthur may have been a total prick, but he at least took care of his own. Gale wasn't certain the amount down in that vault, but he knew it to be enough that he could retire on. Hogwarts paid really well, but some old habits of his heritage never died. He wouldn't dream of paying full price for anything, nor would he always eat at the finest places. But tonight he wanted to make sure Chaz had a good time, and didn't worry about his finances. For now he let the topic of his toothbrush die, as it was now he'd found a bit of self-doubt in newly found affection, and the Professor in him wouldn't let that go. He would even carry their food to their table, and continued to listen.

The tone of their conversation changed dramatically after that as Gale latched on to the topic of Chaz's inability to find work.  Chaz smiled uneasily at his companion, wanting to participate in conversation but uncomfortable discussing his failures.  He was so used to keeping this to himself.  His parents just told him that they'd known all along this is where he'd end up when he'd decided to move to London with a boy to make his name.  So Chaz had just gotten used to keeping this kind of thing to himself and working on it as best he could.

"I'm sure it's a combination of things," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck as he waited for Gale to pay for their coffee and cake.  Chaz reached out to take their items but Gale beat him to it so he withdrew his hands and smoothed them down the fabric on his thighs.  They sat.  Chaz flashed a smile, his default expression, but it lacked some of the warmth it usually did because Chaz started feeling that familiar bitterness associated with his inability to do the things he'd always dreamed about.

"I'm young, I haven't had a whole lot of work experience but I can't get work experience until I have more experience.  It's a bit ridiculous some times.  When you add to that how different my opinions are from the client's, I'm usually at the bottom of everyone's list.  People have a clear idea of what they want sometimes and they're not very receptive when some kid tries to tell them that there's another way of doing things."

Chaz waved his hand like he was saying 'what can you do?' and then took a sip of his coffee.  "I haven't given up yet, but I'll need to soon.  Or get a job in a shop.  Money is a rather unfortunate reality."

Gale listened very intently. He listened to the way he carefully walked over the topic of his employement, and knew better to let his concern show. He cared very deeply for him, and didn't want to make him feel worse. However, he'd grown up poor, and was married (as much as he could be) to a man of great fortune.

"You know..." He started in lightly, and perched on the edge of his chair. "Someone once told me that the longer you wait between jobs, the more it makes you look lazy." Of course it wasn't said as nicely.

"My Arthur came from wealth. Sickening wealth. So much so that he could have paid for my books one million times." Gale touched his fingers together as he kicked his feet under his chair, "But I still worked all summer for them. I cleaned mostly. They provided me with shelter, a small room in the estate, an fed me. I cooked, cleaned, and sewed mostly. I didn't care. I got to spend my summer's with Arthur." Gale smiled just saying his name, but let his whole attention fall to his mug.

"It taught me how to save. And I guess what I'm getting at is...well it's there if you need. I have little use for it." He looked up at Chaz, through his hair that had fallen over his face.

"It can't bring him back."

Chaz leaned back in his chair and scratched at his forearm, suddenly uncomfortable.  "I'll be fine," he rushed to insist.  The very thought that he needed to be supported by someone he'd just met had him silently resolving to get any job that came his way.   Chaz smiled through his discomfort and sipped his coffee.  "I get by and, like I said, I'll probably just get a job somewhere until I can get an architecture job."

"I'm sorry to hear about your... Arthur."  Chaz had no idea how to describe the man any other way. "It must have been hard to lose him like that."  Wincing on the inside, he berated himself for prompting further discussion about this.  Today was going downhill fast.

To the skin exposed on Chaz's wrist Gale touched his fingers gently, his thumb brushed over the tender skin that exposed the little blue veins that fueled his artists passions, and he lowered his head to catch Chaz's gaze again. His free hand wrapped around his mug, but he held the small contact for as long as he dare before returning that hand to the warmth of the cup.

"I," He started, but stopped to try and fight away a flush, "It was, but I found out how much easier it was to deal with a death than it was to see another man's hands on you." He hadn't wanted to confess it as quickly as it came out, and it was clear he was very embarrassed by how that night went. His lips curled into a crooked embarrassed little grin as he searched the room to make sure no one was listening, and finally looked at the surface of his coffee to make sure the cream was stirring in fine.

"I can't explain it, how much I'm attracted to you. How much I think about you, or how I can't wait to see you again." He grinned, the sort that brought a life to his skin and painted a pale pretty gold. However, when he finished stirring his coffee he took a deep breath that brought him back down.

"But..." He bit his lip before looking up at Chaz sheepishly, "I've been meaning to talk to you about that night. Something..." His jaw tightened when he tried to find Darian's name in his voice and without such venom, "Darian said that I want to address." Gale came undone with the just the idea of Chaz's honest answer. His shoulders started to shake as slightly as his hands did, and he quickly drew his fingers up through his hair to try and calm them.

"You don't think I'm abusive do you?" Gale learned a long time ago that it was easier to talk about his feelings and emotions if he simply jumped right into them, but anymore that good practice so many professionals helped him build came tumbling down and he spoke without thinking.

"I mean..." He looked up at Chaz again, "I said a lot and did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but..." He breathed as he closed his eyes to calm down, "I know what people think about me," He hadn't meant to start crying, but tears built up in his silver eye that he couldn't stop.

"And I don't want you to think that. He just did all the fighting, he always fought my battles. He fought me. But he never fought for me. And I'm just not like that." Gale let go of a nervous laugh as he cleared the salty stains from his cheeks, and stopped the overflow of emotion, "Not anymore." The room suddenly felt very small, and he glanced around it again.

"I'm sorry...can we get out of here?"