Nise Reality

[ 4| A Day in the Library ]

"SAY, WHAT ARE we doing here, Mali-Mal?"

    Malachi didn't glance up from one of the many books he was looking through. Y/N sat on the opposite side of the table, her chair backwards. The library around them was painfully quiet, aside from the turning of pages. Honestly, who wanted to be at a library reading books when they could be doing something fun?

    "We need to know what we're dealing with," Malachi said flatly. "These creatures are obviously drawn to you and we need to know why as well as how to deal with them." He slid a book over to her. "Is this the creature?"

    She spared the picture a glance. The thing in the book looked like a giant worm of some kind with teeth. No visible eyes. However—

    "Nope," she said popping her 'p'. "Wrong teeth and this thing has no legs."

    Malachi's jaw clenched as he took the book back. "So it's not a death worm..." he mumbled to himself, running a hand through his straight hair. "Maybe an aqrabuamelu?"

    "What's that?"

    "A scorpion man—"

    "Wrong again," Y/N said. "I'm bored. Can we go swimming or something?"

    Malachi sighed heavily, "You're not exactly helping, Y/N. We need to figure out what this thing is."

    "I drew you a picture."

    "It looks like a kindergartner drew it."

    Y/N's mouth dropped. "Rude!" She said. "I'm a excellent artist."

    "It's a horizontal line with legs, Y/N."

    She scoffed. Some people just couldn't appreciate good art when they see it. She rose from her chair and sauntered over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling the muscles beneath her palm.

    "Let's go drinking at my place," she suggested, "You need it."

    "No," was his answer. Quick and firm.

    "Come on," she groaned. "It'll be fun. We can even do some karaoke."

    "No."

    "For me, Mali-Mal? Pretty please?"

    His lips thinned, resulting in Y/N to smile. He can't say 'no' to that. She is his weakness, after all.

    "Later," he said finally. "Let's just try to focus on our research right now."

    Later?! She pouted. "But I'm bored now!"

    "Then help me look," he gave her a book. "We'll get done a lot faster and you're the only who's seen this thing so you're the only one who can confirm what it is."

    She scowled. Grumbling to herself, she took the book and began scanning through it. They'd been at the library all day—searching through every book—but found nothing concerning the creature she'd been seeing. To say Malachi was disappointed was an understatement.

    Now, they were at her place, drinking on the couch while her wonderful music blasted in the background.

    You better take it from me

    That boy is like a disease

Y/N glanced at Malachi, who sat silently. He stared into nothingness as he took a swig of his wine. She knew so many things were going on inside his head, both related and unrelated to the matter at hand. However, what those things were, she wished she knew.