The Seventh | A Dark Matter Fanfiction | Two (Portia Lin)

Chapter 12

Seven pushed open the doors of the bookstore, the sound of a gentle bell announcing his arrival. The interior was cozy, shelves stacked with books of every genre imaginable. He approached the counter, where a woman's voice called out from the back of the store.

"Yes! Be right there!" the voice said.

Seven nodded and waited patiently, placing his box of books on the counter. As he waited, he scanned the shelves, his eyes lighting up as he spotted titles that piqued his interest.

Moments later, a woman emerged from the back of the store, introducing herself as Ailey.

"Hey, sorry about that," she said with a warm smile. "How can I help you?"

"Yeah, I've got some books here," Seven replied, gesturing to the box. "I was wondering how much I can get for them."

Ailey's gaze lingered on Seven for a moment, her eyes seemingly captivated by his unique appearance.

"Ailey?" Seven prompted, breaking the silence.

Ailey blinked, snapping out of her trance-like state. "Ah, yes, sorry about that. White hair, huh? Unique."

Seven chuckled, running a hand through his long white hair. "Long story."

Ailey examined the books, her fingers tracing over the titles and spines. "Ever consider cutting it?" she asked, glancing back up at him.

"Nah, I like it long," Seven replied with a grin.

Ailey smiled in return, nodding in understanding. "Fair enough. Let's see what we can do about these books." She began to assess the value of each one, tallying up the total as she went along. Ailey carefully examined the books, her eyes lighting up as she took in the vintage titles and well-loved pages. She glanced up at Seven with a knowing smile.

"These are pristine, but I can tell they're well-loved," Ailey remarked, admiration evident in her voice. "Rare and vintage titles, most from old Terra Prime."

Seven nodded, his interest piqued. "How much can you give for them?" he inquired, eager to hear her offer.

Ailey paused for a moment, considering the value of the books before her. "7000," she stated, her tone firm yet fair.

Seven raised an eyebrow at the unexpectedly high price, but quickly composed himself, ready to negotiate. "Come on, you said it yourself, these are rare and vintage titles. Is that really the best you can do?" he challenged, his voice laced with a hint of playful skepticism.

Ailey chuckled, recognizing Seven's attempt to haggle. "Fine, only because it's for you," she relented, a mischievous glint in her eye. "10000."

Seven couldn't help but smirk at Ailey's concession. He extended his hand, sealing the deal with a firm shake. "That's more like it," he said, a sense of satisfaction evident in his tone.

Ailey's smile widened as she handed Seven the money, her curiosity piqued.

"So, who are you here with?" she inquired, leaning over the counter with genuine interest.

Seven returned her smile, appreciating her friendly demeanor. "I'm here with my crew, of which I should be getting back to. Still have some more shops to visit," he replied, glancing towards the door.

But before he could make his exit, Ailey stopped him with a gesture. "Hey, before you go," she said, reaching behind the counter.

Curious, Seven paused, turning back to face her as she retrieved a book from the shelves. He glanced down at the title, "Prince of the Snow," feeling a sense of intrigue.