Taekook Oneshots

Read All About It

I walk into the library quietly, trying not to disturb anyone. It's been a while since I've visited the place, and all I remember about is that things are weird in here. It's not your average library. People have met their enemies in here, some people get married in here, and I'm not really sure why. It's not a massively big building, so I don't know what the fuss is all about.

However, I have seen the librarian before, and I know that he's well known in my village for being mysterious, being intelligent, but also immensely kind. There's a sense of justice in the way he deals with those who come to library. Books over their due date, altercations, damage to the library or the books, children, animals.

But as a student who can't afford to buy everything I need, I don't have much other choice. Normally I can just ask my tutor, but she's busy having her honeymoon on the other side of the world and can't help me. I have to go to the library - a place I've not been in since my orientation day.

I don't get far before I see the librarian himself. He's dressed simply, with large square glasses and a white shirt and mint green tie underneath a purple v-necked jumper, the typical garb for someone with that profession. His trousers are a deep navy, and for some reason the colour scheme works. He looks younger than he probably is, maybe in his mid twenties, and there are deep dimples in his cheeks.

He catches my eye before I can look away, and he walks over, offering a friendly smile. "I don't think I've seen you here since the first day of the year. Kim Taehyung, am I correct?" My eyes widen in surprise at the fact that he actually knows my name, and he taps the side of his head, smiling knowingly. "Photographic memory. It helps with many things."

"That's cool," I comment simply, and he chuckles a little at that.
"I'm glad you think so. How can I help you today?"
"My tutor is on honeymoon so I can't ask her for help, but I can't afford to spend loads of money on research, so I have to come here for the info on my project."

The librarian nods in understanding, a sympathetic expression passing over his face for a moment. "The cost of higher education, I suppose, Mr Kim?"
"Call me Taehyung, please, Mr Kim sounds weird."
"Of course, Taehyung. My apologies." He pauses for a moment, and then steps forward. "What subject is the project on? What are you searching for?"

"I'm studying photography, and I have to do a project on experimental techniques of the early days of camera use, looking at how and why certain things were invented and...experimented with?" I say uncertainly, and he nods once.
"We have books on early cameras, and the importance of experimentation for early artists, in our non-fiction section. This may prove helpful?" he offers, and my eyes widen.

"You just know straight away?" He taps the side of his head. "Photographic memory?" I guess, and he chuckles lightly.
"Precisely. It does help with the job. If you need me, just give me a call. My name is Kim Namjoon, and I will hear you, no matter where you are. The joys of working in a library: everyone is normally quiet."

I smile a little at that. "Where would the books be?" He points in the general direction of some shelves near the back.
"You walk down there, turn right at the end, and then head downstairs. Should be somewhere down there."
"Don't you know exactly where they are?"

"I do. But you're here for a reason. When someone goes searching, they find more than what they're looking for. They may also find what they need. If you have the direction and a little advice, sometimes you can stumble across something very special."
"What if I didn't have much time?"
"The library won't take more time than you can spare."

I frown in confusion, feeling a little creeped out, and he must see that. "I know it sounds odd, but I'm a big believer in the idea that things happen for a reason. For some people, they just pop in an out without anything happening. But for others, they find more than they expected. You come here to find what you need. Sometimes people just don't realise what they're looking for, subconsciously."