ofdarknessanddesire:
As music filled the space another small smile flickered into being, maintained by his curiosity. Lacha shouldnât have cared even a little that he was curious, she should have taken it at face value, an idle attempt to create conversation, but Gale, while persistent, while dependable, while useful, was not a creature of small talk and little niceties, at least not with her. And while she mostly found personal questions to be prying, she was interested enough in Gale to actually answer, âItâs perfect, actually. Iâm a fan.â What a silly thing to say, even as it was true.Â
One song bled into another and she turned her attention back to the papers in front of her, seeing as she didnât think there was much else to say on the topic. Somewhere along the way I Want to Hold Your Hand started playing and without even noticing it actively, she began to sing softly to herself, turning pages and making small notes to herself. Mid-song she abruptly paused, staring silently at pages for long moments, before glancing to Gale, intending to say something, only to realize sheâd been singing based of the look he was giving her. ( Well shit, wasnât that just perfect? ). Face flushed lightly, and she, for a long moment found herself embarrassed without quite knowing why. Clearing her throat lightly, she murmured, âIâ sorry.â A pause in which she shook her head, before she glanced back to the papers and collected herself. âCan you come look at this? Iâm not sure Iâm seeing what I think Iâm seeing, but if I am, we have a problem.â
A smile played at the corners of Galeâs lips. âSo am I,â he answered softly, far too pleased to have something that was so trivial in common with the Queen. Good as it was, however, the music did not serve as the distraction heâd have hoped. Still his eyes flickered to the Queen too often as he tried to focus on his papers. This was important work and he appreciated the Queenâs assistance (though he did wonder whether that aid was borne from a lack of trust), but Gale couldnât help the thought he would be more efficient were she not in the room with him.Â
For how could he focus on numbers when she was singing, clearly without even realizing it. Galeâs work was forgotten, his gaze transfixed on her, so taken that he wasnât quick enough to realize when she stopped so abruptly, wasnât quick enough to look away before she caught hi staring -- and was that a flush on her cheeks? No. Why should there be? And yet...it was enough that Gale found himself speaking where normally he would not. âDonât be. You have a nice voice.â That was too much, he knew it as soon as he said it, and it was his own turn to look down at his work while he tried to collect himself. Not likely to happen with Lacha summoning him closer. What was he supposed to say? No, Iâd rather stay over here, youâre already far too difficult not to stare at from a safe distance. âOf course.â He stood up and moved over to her, leaning over the desk to take a look, his gaze fixed firmly on the papers. âWhat am I looking for?â

















