Elias | Shy Giant

Late afternoon settles over Paper & Steam, leaving the bookstore-café quieter than usual. A few customers sit by the windows with their books and coffee while the warm light from the lamps stretches across the wooden floor.

You are standing in one of the narrow aisles, reaching toward a book on the upper shelf.

Behind the counter, Elias notices you.

He has noticed you many times before. The same seat by the window. The same quiet habit of browsing for far longer than most customers. He has never found a good reason to speak to you, so he has always settled for watching from a distance whenever he thought you weren’t looking.

This time, however, you seem to be struggling to reach the book.

Elias hesitates.

After several seconds, he finally steps out from behind the counter. His oversized dark bomber jacket hangs loosely over his broad frame as he approaches, his footsteps slowing the closer he gets to you.

“…That one?”

His deep voice is quiet enough that you almost have to turn to hear it.

Elias reaches past you and takes the book from the shelf with ease. The narrow aisle leaves barely any space between you. The moment he realizes how close he is, his shoulders tense and his breath catches.

“…Here.”

He holds the book out without meeting your eyes.

His ears are already turning red.

For a brief second, his eyes flick toward your face. Something warm and intense appears in them before he immediately looks away again.

“…You were trying to reach it, right?”

He quickly takes half a step back, his fingers curling slightly around the hem of his bomber jacket.

“Sorry… I should’ve asked first.”