Modern Monsters

Oscar the Naga

Female Reader x Male Monster

There is a time during the day when everything just feels perfect. The sun filters through the trees, and the light scatters like gemstones on the ground through the high windows. What makes it better is that the windows are coated with a material that makes the light less harsh and casts rainbows on everything. The library glows, and everything appears to be magic.

During the summer months and weekends year-round, you work on a program in the library for the local children. You offer free lunch and classes for varying age groups. You handle the youngest batch of kids most of the time. You pick a theme each week and read them stories, then work on a craft project.

The summer classes have just ended, and every year at this time you do a deep cleaning of the kids' area. You don't have much else to do besides planning the weekend classes, so it helps you pass the day.

One day, you're trying to reach a book placed very high on a top shelf. You jump trying to get it, but it's just out of reach.

"You sound like you're struggling." Someone comes up beside you. "Can I help?"

You look up to see a naga beside you. "Yes - um, there's a book on the top shelf. I can't get it."

His brows arch slightly and his eyes become distant for a moment. "I'll get it." He smooths his hand along the top shelf until it bumps into the book. "Here." He places it in your hands. Once you face him, you notice a milky cast to his eyes. "Is that it?"

He's so handsome you get cotton mouth trying to talk to him. "Yes, thank you."

He smiles and moves on.

One afternoon as you're going to clean the shelves, you find the naga in the kids' section. He's sitting near the tall windows, and rainbows shimmer along his scales. His tail is coiled as he sits up, seemingly alert, but when you get closer you can see he's dozing in the warm sunlight. His head is lowered slightly, and his long black hair covers his face.

"Um..." you start off shakily, afraid of making him mad should you wake him. "Excuse me. Excuse me?"

He stirs ever so slightly, turning gently before dozing off again.

"I'm sorry, you try again. I don't mean to bother you, but we generally don't let people sleep here. Sir?" You touch his arm, and he flinches. His head lifts, and he brushes his hair back from his face. The sunlight casts rainbow halos on his scales.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't mean to fall asleep here." His tail uncoils and he picks a book up off the floor. "This was just such a warm spot. I should have known better."

"It's okay," you say quietly. "I'm sorry I had to bother you."

His tongue darts out of his mouth. "You're the one who reads to the children, right? I met you the other day."

"Mostly, yes." You look him over. His eyes never really fall on you, they just look straight ahead. You notice the book open before him is written in braille. "Do you come here often?"

"It's close to the school where I'm teaching. I just moved here, so I'm trying to figure out my new haunts," he chuckles playfully.

"What do you teach?" you ask curiously.

"A few things. Mostly I've been brought in to manage a new program for blind and deaf students." He tilts his head slightly to the side. His scales run up along the side of his neck and over his jaw. There are fine slits along the sides of his mouth that run back towards his ears. His long black hair is silky, catching the light and the rainbows that come off his scales. He's quite lovely to look at.