Wow, I actually forgot I was writing this AU. So uh, here you go. Here’s the next part.
Jacob stared down at the clippings book, completely mystified. “So, this book tells you everything-”
“No, you wanker, it tells me about wrong goings in the world,” Ezekiel cut off Jacob. “Or, one wrong going powerful enough that it needs me, the librarian.”
“And me?” Jacob asked, following Ezekiel as he moved through the annex.
“And you. Guardians follow the Librarians and keep them out of trouble,” Ezekiel told him, grabbing a hoodie and putting it on over his button up shirt and throwing the previously worn lab coat aside.
Jacob nodded. Right, keep him out of trouble. How much trouble can a twenty-five year old get into?
It turns out that he can get into a lot of trouble. Ezekiel is a sneaky bastard and likes to disappear at a moments notice.
“Jones, you better show yourself right now! This is not a game,” Jacob shouted, spinning a bit to look for the librarian in the trees.
He spun around, hands flying up to guard his face hearing a twig snap behind him. His eyes narrowed. He was ready to fight. He was relieved seeing it was Ezekiel.
“Don’t do that, Jones,” Jacob growled. “Don’t do that to me. I’m pretty sure Charlene would’ve killed me if I had lost you or you had gotten killed, so please, Ezekiel, don’t do that again.”
Ezekiel looked upset for a moment, but shook it off. “I found where the artifact is, Stone.”
“Good. Let’s go. Don’t disappear on me this time, yeah?” Jacob suggested.
Ezekiel nodded and broke off in a spring in the direction he must’ve come in. Jacob hurried after him, grumbling to himself.
Jacob grumbled to himself as he sat on a stool in the annex, nose bloody, shoulder dislocated and ankle sprained; all because Ezekiel decided to disappear again
Ezekiel handed him some bandages and an ice pack. He looked upset and very apologetic. He pressed a tissue he’d been hiding somewhere into his nose.
“I-”
“No,” Jacob growled. “It’s my turn to speak.”
Jacob paused for a moment to see if Ezekiel was listening. He was.
“I told you no more disappearing acts. If this is going to work, you’re going to need to listen to me too, ‘Zeke. Okay? You can’t just disappear on me like that.”
Ezekiel failed to make eye contact with Jacob, busying himself with putting the ice pack on Jacob’s ankle. It was swelling a bit, but he’d be able to walk on it no problem.
“Look at me man. It’s not you-”
Jacob was cut off by lips pressing against his own. His eyes were wide before they shut for a moment.
“I was scared,” Ezekiel said. “I was falling and I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to be there to catch me.”
Jacob smiled, a slight shade of pink on his cheeks. “I’ll always be here to catch you.”
Jacob kissed him again, this time a little passionately.
Ezekiel remembered the day he became the librarian. He was maybe, fourteen or fifteen. He remembered the day he was assigned his first guardian. Eve was kind-hearted and practically his mum.
He also remembered the day she died. Stabbed by Dulaque as they tried to mend the Loom of time. He remembered mourning for days.
Ezekiel sat at a desk in the Library, when a man with a plaid shirt came strolling in with a white envelope and Charlene in tow. She seemed flustered with this man. Ezekiel stood, grumbling.
Already he had a new guardian? Wasn’t he allowed some time to mourn his old one?
“It seems you have a new guardian,” Charlene said, sounding unnamused.
“We just lost Eve,” Ezekiel shouted, yelling up to the ceiling. “You couldn’t wait?”
“What’s he doing?” the man asked, turning to Charlene.
“Talking to the Library,” she answered.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I’m upset I’m stuck with you until one of us dies. Most likely me, but I went ten years with my former Guardian. It’ll probably be you before me.” Ezekiel says. “What kind of training have you had?”
“Training?” the guy asked, southern accent coming through in his speech.
“Like fighting training. Have you had any?” Ezekiel was becoming annoyed. Not to mention he wasn’t a fan of the accent, either.
“Uh... i mean, I get into bar brawls a lot. But I always come up on top.”
Ezekiel rolled his eyes. “Right, well, I’ve got work to do.”
“I’m Jacob, by the way,” the man said, ignoring Ezekiel’s last statement.
Ezekiel stared at him for a moment before grabbing his books and scampering off to his office.
Jacob sighed and looked at Charlene. “Get use to the layout of the place. He’ll come find you for a mission. or if he wants to talk.”
Jacob nodded and looked around as he wandered off to get use to the place that would be his new home. He was glad to be out of Oklahoma. away from his dad.
Ezekiel found Jacob studying in the Annex. Jenkins seemed to enjoy the company, though it was silent. The southerner seemed to be enjoying the book.
“What are you reading?” Ezekiel asked, sitting down across from Jacob. What was the harm in getting to know his new Guardian.
“Stephen Hawking’s last work,” Jacob said, looking up at the Librarian. “‘Soft Hair on Black Holes.”
Ezekiel stared at him, eyebrows raised. “Uh...”
“You haven’t read it?” Jacob asked, sounding astounded.
“Well, I haven’t had the time to. I’m always off finding some artifact, or trying to save the world. I really don’t have time for reading,” Ezekiel shrugged.
“Well, when you do get the chance to read it, it’s a great read and I think you’d enjoy it.”
“I’m probably too dumb to understand it,” Ezekiel said, shrugging a bit.
“You’re the librarian,” Jacob said, smiling and looking up at him in the eyes. “Give yourself some credit.”
Ezekiel’s cheeks heat up slightly. “Well, I’m not a strong reader. Dyslexia.”
“Well, I can help you.”
The clippings book freaked out besides them.
“Duty calls,” Ezekiel said, standing. “Maybe later.”
~TBC~