[Mortal AU]

Tighnari practically lives at Barnes & Noble.

Nearly every day, he goes to the Starbucks cafe in the Barnes & Noble, orders a small black coffee, and puts a creamer in it. Sometimes, he sits at the table next to the window and cracks open his laptop to work on his botany assignments. Usually, it’s just making virtual flower arrangements. Other times, he walks around the fantasy section. He’s been into fantasy lately.

The fantasy section is right next to the dystopian section. Eventually, he makes his way there.

After clearing out the dystopian section, he finds himself in the romance section. Tighnari never thought he would read romance books. But, he thinks, why not give it a try?

He reaches for a book. His hand collides with another person’s.

Tighnari immediately retracts his hand, his eyes wide and his ears flattening. “Sorry,” he mutters, but he falters when he registers the person’s face.

They’re… beautiful. There’s no other word to describe them.

Tighnari sort of blanks. His tail doesn’t even twitch. He just stands there, looking dumb, staring at the person’s face in front of him. God, he must look so stupid. He can feel his mouth hanging open.