10. A Knight-with-wild-orange-hair
Prompt: Helping Hand
Setting: College AU
Genre: General, Humour
858 Words
Rukia sighed and leaned back in her chair. She rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms, being cooped up in the corner of the library, bent over books and study notes, was doing no favours to her muscles. She knew that as soon as their study session was over for today, she would run to the dojo. There was no better way to de-stress than running through the familiar katas.
"Getting tired?" her study partner asked from across the table.
"A little," she admitted, then her lips quirked into a teasing smile. "Not as tired as you, though."
"What does that mean?" the man demanded.
"You were as good as snoring, Renji. For the last thirty minutes, ever since our lunch break, you've been hiding behind that book but haven't made a single note."
"Alright, fine, I might have dozed off a bit," Renji agreed sheepishly. "I get sleepy after eating."
"I've noticed," Rukia chuckled and reached for the next book in the pile, pulling it to her.
She glanced at the title and went to open the book, when she stopped and took a closer look at the title.
"Renji, you brought the wrong book," she informed her friend.
"What? Lemme see." He turned the book over and leaned in to inspect the cover. "No, this is it, 'The Introduction to Cognitive Childhood Development'. It says so right here," he insisted, jabbing at the book title on the suggested reading list their professor had handed out to them.
"Yes, but it also says it should be the sixth edition," Rukia argued, pointing at the unapologetic number five on the cover of the book Renji had brought.
"Well damn, I completely missed that," the red-haired male grumbled. "I'll go get the right one."
"It's fine, I'll go," Rukia offered. "I need to stretch my legs anyway, you can go back to your nap."
"Oi!" he yelled indignantly after her, but Rukia was already walking away from the desk.
She walked between the towering shelves, enjoying the peaceful mood of the library. Finally arriving at the right section, Rukia quickly located the correct, sixth edition copy and put the wrong fifth edition back into its place. She paused for a second, then pulled out the suggested reading list from her pocket. Since she was here anyway, she could as well grab a few other books. She easily located a copy of a book she had underlined, focusing on children's social development, but couldn't find the third book on the list she had underlined. When her eyes finally landed on the right title, she cursed under her breath.
Of course it had to be on the top shelf.
Gritting her teeth, she stood on her tiptoes and reached her hand, fingers desperately stretching towards the book, when suddenly someone behind her spoke.
"Need a hand?"
She turned around, to find a young man with wild, spiky orange hair scowling down at her. He must have been at least a foot taller than her.
"If you won't mind," she replied, stepping aside and watching as the man easily plucked the book off the shelf.
"Thank you," she told him as he handed the book to her.
He noticed the pile of books already in her arms, and his scowl deepened.
"Aren't those heavy?"
"They're text books," she replied dryly, "they're supposed to be heavy."
"Let me carry those for you."
"Eh, it's ok, I can manage."
"Give them here," he said and then pulled the topmost book off her hands.
She stared at him, but gave up, shaking her head. The books really were not so heavy that she wouldn't manage the short walk back to her desk, but the young man seemed insistent and she didn't feel like wasting her time arguing with him.
"Fine," she said, handing him the other books. "This way."
He trailed obediently after her, and Rukia was starting to feel more than a little amused by the whole situation.
Renji looked up when he heard their footsteps, and his eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
The orange-haired man stopped in his tracks when he noticed Renji.
"Who's that?" he asked Rukia.
"My study partner," she replied as she slid back in her chair.
The scowling man put the books down on the table and then crossed his arms across his chest.
"What the hell, man? You were here but you send her out to get all these books?"
"Why're you getting on my case, kid? I offered to go get the book, but she said she wanted to stretch her legs, who was I to argue."
"It's common courtesy."
"Sorry, but I ain't such a gentleman as you. Besides, I happen to know this woman here, and let me tell you, she is both stronger and tougher than she looks. Sure she's all petite and shit, but she packs one mean punch."
"Shut up, Renji," Rukia told him, then turned to her knight-with-wild-orange-hair. "Thanks for all your help."
"No problem," the man scoffed. The silence stretched a few seconds, and then he stuffed his hands into his pockets, and walked away.