Stuart Twombly x reader

12

 Humming idly to yourself, you flip through the books you are supposed to be putting back on the shelf with interest, your head moving slightly in time to the beat playing in your head. An unsure cough from behind you snaps you out of your mind, and you turn to see Stuart leaning against a book case 'casually', though his darting eyes and pink cheeks scream otherwise. Your eyes widen and a smirk breaks out on your face.

 "Ah, visiting the library again, are we?" you giggle, placing Your Placenta And You onto the shelf. Stuart nods and slips his hands into his pockets, palms sliding over the denim of his jeans slowly. You raise your eyebrow and say teasingly, "You just couldn't resist seeing me, could you?" Stuart sighs and frowns at you, straightening out of his leaning stance.

 "Well, if you don't want me here, I can always go," Stuart says sharply, rolling his eyes, and you scoff, adding more books onto the shelves of the pregnancy section neatly.

 "I was only joking, Stewie, don't get your beanie in a twist."

 Stuart throws you a dirty look at the name but chooses to ignore it, instead leaning his arm onto the bookshelf and watching you arrange the books. "You need something?" you offer helpfully, hands distracted, and Stuart shrugs, sticking his lower lip out.

 "Nope. Just thought I'd come here," he replies, taking a few steps forwards and pulling a book at random out of the trolley. "It's peaceful in here."

 "It is," you agree. "It can get boring though. Sometimes I get so desperate to get an air horn and freak everyone out for fun."

 Stuart sniggers. "Why don't you?"

 "I'll get fired, dumbass," you giggle, shaking your head. "I wouldn't have the guts."

 Stuart flips open the book as he chuckles to himself and suddenly looks disgusted, throwing the book on the floor and groaning. You jump and look at him, startled.

 "Sorry, there was diagrams," he complains, wiping his hands on his trousers. You pick it back up and look down at the graphic photographs of childbirth before slamming it back onto the shelf, shuddering.

 "Never thought you'd be that sickened by a biological process," you note, taking hold of the trolley to take the books to the next section. Stuart steps aside and follows you so close your clothes brush. You ignore the swirling in your stomach and put your head down, concentrating on the gardening section.

 "Oh, yeah, I'm perfectly happy to see blood and gunk and an entire baby's head coming out of a woman's...thingy," Stuart replies in a disparaging tone, his expression one of repelled. You can't help but chortle at the final word, and have to bite your tongue to keep from the volume increasing.

 You glance at the other interns sitting together in a corner, all poring over books and talking in practically noiseless voices, the only sign they are speaking being the slight quiver of their lips, and look back at Stuart, bewildered.

 "Why are you trying to be nice to me?" you interrogate lightly, pressing your fingers against the edge of Gardening For Dummies to keep your eyes steady, focused in his. Stuart just looks down at you, a smile hinted from his lips, and raises his shoulders, letting them drop as he says, "There's only so many stupid jokes I can make and I've used them all up."

 "Can't you Google them?" you fire back with a grin, trying to break away from the intensity of the moment - standing at such close proximity, the mingling of breaths and body heat evident, and talking in such low, hushed tones.

"Sure, if you want to hate me again."
"I never stopped, D-bag."

"Ouch." Stuart looks at you, amused, and you both jump when he gets a notification on his phone, bringing it up to his face immediately. Your eyes raise upwards in exasperation and you take hold of the trolley again to find the science fiction section. Stuart looks down at you, his phone held tight in his fist, and says almost carelessly, "Gotta go. Catch you later, bookworm."

 You watch him stride away quickly, head bent back down the screen against his palm, and sigh to yourself, wondering why 'using up stupid jokes' isn't a good enough answer to your question.

What an abrupt exit.