AUTHOR'S NOTES: Just a little AU. I'd really like to write more of this and broaden it out into a proper series, so feel free to tell me your opinion!
...
Jemma's never really aspired to be a librarian. If you'd asked her as a little girl what she wanted her job to be, she would have said something terribly exciting, like a scientist or a doctor or even an astronaut (extraterrestrial topics are terribly exciting, even at that young age - even though that may have partly been inspired by ET). Certainly not a librarian, at any rate. But her scholarship for the Academy's run out, and she's come to realise that studying at such a top-notch school is rather tolling on the bank account, especially when you live in an entirely new country all together.
So part time jobs it is. And really, it's rather fitting that she's managed to get herself a position as a librarian. She's always surrounded herself with books even as a child, whether it be getting lost in tales of fairies and dragons and nights in shining armour, or whether it be detailed, scientific novels of discoveries.
(Sometimes, she'd even resorted to stealing the newpaper from her dad when he wasn't looking.)
And to be honest, Jemma doesn't actually mind it. Sure, she could be partying with her friends (not her forte anyway, thank you very much Skye) or studying or even calling up her parents to see how they were doing, but she finds enough time in the day for those things as well.
Besides, she rather likes the company and atmosphere of the time library. Her boss is a friendly man with a shiny red car (also known as Phil Coulson, Skye's dad), the general over-seer's are a group of three identical triplets, all of which go by the name Koenig, and a grumpy British co-worker called Lance who claims he's only there because of his she-devil ex-wife.
It's a strange mix, to say the least. But she likes it. She likes starting friendly conversations with the customers, bickering with Lance over which book goes where, and laughing behind her hand as the Koenig's try to explain the scratch on Mr Coulson's car.
And while she likes stacking away books and helping little kids back to their parents, she enjoys manning the front desks best, chatting to people and building connections. For the most part Lance lets her take the bulk of that job, but he'll suspiciously take over when there's an attractive woman asking for help.
Fortunately, four o'clock on a Wednesday evening doesn't particularly seem to bring about any pretty girls, so Jemma's on duty, working away quietly behind the desk. No point in doing nothing when there's no one there, so she often brings her assignments with her and works while she's waiting.
This does mean she gets rather absorbed in her own little world, so it does take an awkward mumbled hello before she finally realises someone is standing at the desk.
Leaping up immediately, she shoots the person in question an apologetic smile, shoving her papers aside and snapping to attention. "Sorry! I was just doing some studying. Can I help you?"
"It's fine," he responds, and now she finally gets a chance to see who the customer really is. He's a curly-haired, blue-eyed man with a symmentrical face and she can't quite tell but she's certain she's seen him before somewhere. When he speaks, she's hit with another sense of familiarity as well. Hearing an accent like his is like another reminder of home again (although she should be used to it, Lance is a perfect example). "Can I.. uh, issue this?"
She peers at the book he's set on the desk and grabs it with another nod. "Of course," she tells him in a friendly fashion. "Do you have a library card?"
He blinks. "No."
"Would you like one, then?" she prompts gently, grabbing one from the desk and waving it at him. "It's free, I promise."
"I guess so," he says, scratching the back of his neck. Offering him another smile, she switches on the computer. If she was one to judge by first appearance, she'd either say he's very sullen or very shy. Unfortunately, neither are particularly easy to work with, but she's patient. It's just a good thing no one else is waiting in line at the moment.
It takes a moment for the computer to start up (it's an old one with probably less power then her phone), but when it does she hands him a pen and a form. Leaning over the desk, she points out various gaps for him. "Just fill in the blanks. Your name, birth date, etc. Shouldn't take too long, then I can just put your information into the computer and scan your book. Easy enough?"
"Yeah," he nods, and there's silence for a moment before she catches herself watching him scribble his details down, and turns away quickly to focus on the computer screen. When he's finally done, she grabs the paper from him with a curious smile.
"Thanks... Leopold."
He winces and she's afraid for a moment that she's struck a nerve, but then he just shrugs apologetically and explains. "I go by Fitz, actually. My mum thought it would be a wise idea to name me Leopold, of all the names."
She can't help but laugh when he wrinkles his nose, and she stows his form away for filing later. "Fitz it is, then." Tugging his book closer to her, she clicks impatiently at the computer, wishing that it went faster. Unfortunately, it only beeps at her in response and continues to load in an agonisingly slow pace. "Sorry," she tells Fitz. "My boss could scrape up a better computer if he tried, but he's too busy looking after his fancy red car."
It's not said with malice, of course. She loves Coulson, even if he does bore everyone with his dad jokes and fret about his car far a little (a lot).
Fitz looks faintly surprised at this. "The Corvette is your boss's car? Is he rich?"
"No," Jemma laughs, letting out a noise of triumph as the computer finally loads and she grabs for the scanner. "Someone just owes him a lot of favours, apparently. And his wife is a pretty famous stunt double."
She scans his book in one easy motion, taps a few buttons, and then hands the book back to him with a friendly smile. "Here you go."
"Thanks," he smiles in return, and fleetingly she thinks that he looks much nicer when he's actually happy.
"No problem, Mr Fitz," she returns, and soon all that's left of him is the door swinging closed and his form sitting under the desk. Seemingly out of nowhere, Lance appears with a ridiculous cowboy hat perched atop his head.
"Who was that?" he queries, slinging himself lazily over the counter.
Jemma pulls a face at him. "What are you wearing?" When he opens his mouth with an affronted look, she shakes her head and stops him before he can continue. Honestly, she'd rather not know. "Nevermind. Don't tell me please. And he was just a customer. A new one, I think. Rather sullen, though."
"Sullen?" Lance snorts, flicking at a board and jumping in surprise when he swung back to almost hit him in the face. "Seemed more like he was starstruck to me."
"Shut up," she says, but she's blushing all the same and scribbling furiously at Weaver's assignment to hide it. As if recalling someting important, she pauses to shoot him a look. "And take off that horrible hat!"
"Aw, c'mon," Lance pouts, tipping the brim of his hat and smirking at her from behind it. "I think it suits me, actually. What're you gonna do about it, Miss Prim and Proper? Make me take it off?"
"I'll tell Coulson about the time you took Lola for a joy ride," she calls threateningly after him as he retreats to the other end of the library.
"Oh, you're cruel."
...
She's looking after the little kids when he returns the next day, at the exact same time. Four o'clock, on the dot.
"It's okay, Seth. I'm sure the book will be there tomorrow, or next week," she soothes the little boy, who's staring grumpily at her and kicking his legs back and forth on the seat. Beside him sits Callie, who looks nonplussed as she reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Donnie, who's busy trying to build something with lego, pencil lead and a book about dinosaurs.
"But I want it now," Seth whines. Jemma tries not to get flustered and gives him a reassuring smile instead.
"I know, Seth, I know. Look," she plucks up a random book from the shelf in haste, "how about you read this for now? Where the Wild Things Are. It's very exciting, I promise."
"But-" She doesn't hear the rest of the child's complaint, because suddenly she's caught sight of someone entering the library. Without even pausing to check who it is, she tucks the book under Seth's arm, pats him swiftly on the head and shoots a glare over to Lance.
"Oops, I've got something to do. Mr Lance will help you guys, okay? I'll be back in a minute." She's scurrying off before the kids can start a riot, although she does catch Lance's horrified calls for help as she leaves him to deal with the troublesome trio with a satisfied smile.
To her surprise, it's not a regular like Audrey Nathan or Mike Peterson and his adorable son Ace, but the blue-eyed man from the day before, with a book in his hands and looking terribly awkward.
"Hello," she chirps cheerfully, scurrying behind the desk in a flurry. "Sorry for keeping you waiting again. Don't worry, I've used you as an excuse to escape a tantrum."
"I saw," Fitz grins - a rather rare sight, but it's nice all the same. "You're.. uh, you're good with kids."
"I wouldn't say that," she laughs, waving off the compliment, but she's smiling broadly and she's pretty sure her cheeks are tinged pink. "But thank you. Did you want to issue anything, or did you just stop for a chat?"
"Oh, right." He jolts like he's just remembered something, and hurriedly throws a book up onto the table like his life depends on it. "Here," he says, looking terribly embarrassed (or at least, she imagines he does. She can't really tell).
"You must be new around here," Jemma comments as she waits for the computer to load as per usual. After all, this is the time she normally uses to chat with people. "I haven't seen you before," she explains hurriedly when he looks slightly confused.
"No," he says sheepishly. "Not really. I've been here for a while now. I've just been doing some.. some studying."
"And you only thought to visit the library now?" Jemma retorts teasingly as the computer finally loads and she scans the book through with a wave. "I'm disappointed in you, Fitz."
He shrugs and she decides that he really must be quite shy. "Have fun with your book," she tells him. "Have a nice day. I'd better check to see if Lance hasn't made anyone cry yet." He hesitates for a moment, and then grabs the book and leaves. She's left running back to Lance and the kids she'd abandoned, fully expecting to see chaos. Instead, Seth and Donnie are building blocks quietly, and Callie's attempting to out-build the boys with her own creation.
"How'd you do it?" she asks Lance in wonder, who's slumped on an armchair with his phone in his hands and his hat perched on his head.
"I just have a way with kids," he smirks cockily.
"You bribed them with ice cream, didn't you?" she accuses.
"Miss Jemma?" She whirls to find Callie tugging at her dress and peering up at her with wide eyes. "Was that man your boyfriend?"
Lance snorts.