Every Universe

‣ bookstore AU

pairing ‣ Harrison Chang x Quinton Aoki

prompt ‣ bookstore AU

notes ‣ this AU is me trying to experiment with a new style, but I really like it and the idea (as this is somewhat based on true events) so enjoy!

* * *

"I'm sorry, but unless you give me a title of the book, I can't help you. James Dashner has written a lot of books." Harrison's fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure what to type in, before eventually typing in "James Dashner" and pressing enter. The catalog listed over one ninety results. That was not helpful.

"Well, my daughter really wants this book for her birthday, like she's been wanting this book for months. I know for sure the book was the first in its series. It had a green cover, I think, when she showed me."

Harrison showed the man his computer screen. "Do you mean The Maze Runner?" The man frowned, looked at the title, and shook his head. Biting down on his bottom lip, Harrison held back his anger. If another customer complained about him, his pay would be docked. He said that his strengths didn't lie with other people when they suggested customer services, but they wouldn't relocate him. You'll be fine, they said. It's really easy, they said. You're pretty smart, they said. You'll catch up, they said.

Now Harrison was scrolling through the catalog, looking at all books James Dashner ever wrote.

"No, it was something else. Something to do with time or something."

He still had to study for his physics exam tomorrow. Instead he was helping a man figure out what the book he wanted to buy was called. "Are you possibly thinking of another author?"

"No, no, I'm sure it's James Dashner."

"Maybe you should ask your daughter."

"She's at lacrosse practice right now."

Of course she was. Harrison thought about directing the man to someone else, but would that get him a good evaluation? Licking his lip, Harrison was trying to figure out what to do when he heard a slightly squeaky voice blurt out, "A Mutiny in Time."

Harrison and the man turned to the boy who spoke, except that it wasn't a boy like the voice had suggested but a male teenager in blue jeans and a grey sweatshirt and the prettiest hair Harrison had ever seen. "It's, um, by James Dashner, and it's also the first in a series." The teenager gulped down a lump in his throat, cheeks a little pink. "You might be looking for that, for, um, A Mutiny in Time."

Typing the title into the search bar, Harrison clicked on the first result and showed it to the man. The customer grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! That's it!"

"I know where it is." Harrison helped the man find the book, sent the man a smile, and then walked back to the customer service counter. The teenager was still there, tapping his finger on his thigh. "Thanks," Harrison said to the boy, who looked up from the carpet.

"Oh, um, it's, well, no problem." The high schooler looked back at the ground. "I just know a lot about books. Plus, the guy was giving you a problem, and you were giving out 'please help me anyone please help' vibes. I don't really know why, um, he would go buy a book and not know the title."

Harrison wanted to thank the high schooler again but instead cleared his throat. "Do you need help?"

"O-oh, no. Well, I was just browsing and happen to eavesdrop, so I actually don't need anything. I already know what I'm going to buy." He laughed and scratched the back of his neck. "Anyway, I'm glad I could help. I worked as a waiter in high school"- Okay, so this guy wasn't a high schooler. -"and people can really suck sometimes, so yeah."