Ooooooooo!

Ooooooooo!

I love!

Thank you for drawing me and my fluffy gay arsonist son!!!

My portion for an art trade I did with the lovely @draconicsparkle!!!!!

(Version without text under the cut :P,)

Drawing Mew was super fun!!

I’m flipping the script this time in a way. Snek no longer big. Now smol. Inspired by a pic of me holding a very small green snake I had found while at work. (Psst, let me know if you want to see the pic, I’m fine with sharing it) It got me and @tortadecereji thinking. And then boom! Idea. I’ll return to big snek after this one. Just wanted to get the itty bitty out of the system. Cause I love it.

Btw, if you want to suggest things, feel free. Just send me a message or leave a comment.

Late morning had arrived. A nice time for college students on the weekend. Enough extra sleep to feel satisfying, and enough time in the day to accomplish errands and tasks.

That was Hajime’s opinion on it anyway. He felt himself awaken and he rose to a sitting position on his bed. He stretched his arms above his head and groaned in relief when he felt a few pops. As tempting as it was to simply stay in bed all day, he had plans that he had to attend to. So up he got.

Placing his feet on the floor, he stood and walked over to his dresser, pulling some drawers open and grabbing some articles of clothing for the day. But before he went to the bathroom to change into them, he had one quick thing he needed to do.

Rouse his roommate.

Stepping over to a small table, he scanned the small terrarium-like home he had made in a glass tank, one of the walls having been removed. There were a few plants here and there with flat rocks that were carefully positioned under basking lamps. And on those rocks was his roommate. A small naga.

Hajime tapped the table twice, paused, then tapped one more time. It was a signal they used to help the small creature identify who was approaching. “Hey Nagito. It’s morning. Can you start getting up?” He then braved through the tiny jungle, hand coming in contact with the green scales of the snake tail. In response, the tail curled around his finger, keeping it in place.

“Warm,” the naga sleepily mumbled, moving to hug the human’s wrist as much as he could, almost able to reach all the way around.

Hajime chuckled at the sight and feeling. “Yes, I know. But come on, you need to let go for a little. Otherwise putting a new shirt on and cooking breakfast would be difficult.” Nagito tightened his holds in almost a pouting way, so Hajime sweetened the deal. “You can ride around my neck when I go out today if you let me go.”

“Really?!” The naga let go almost immediately, which the human made sure to quickly retrieve his hand.

“Yes, really. Now go ahead and fully wake up. I’ll come get you once I’m ready for the day.” He stepped back and exited the room swiftly, going to the bathroom to perform his task. It didn’t take long, swapping his night clothes into day clothes. So it wasn’t long before he returned to his room. By the time he did, the small creature was out of his terrarium and on the table waiting for him, wearing one of the small shirts that had been custom made for him.

“All good? And do you want to join me while I make myself something quick?”

He really needn’t have asked, as Nagito always said yes. “Of course! I will go wherever you do.”

Hajime grinned as he extended his arm, allowing the serpent to wrap his tail around his wrist. The tight hold secure, the human raised his arm and held it still as he traveled to the kitchen. “Alright, where do you want to be while I make some toast?”

“Can you please lift me up to your hair? That would do very nicely,” was the response.

And not a surprising one. “Yeah, sure.” The human did so, feeling the coils loosen so that the naga could slither onto his head from his wrist. A happy sigh occurred once he was in place. “It shouldn’t take too long. And one more quick question. You still good on nutrients? Don’t need to feed today?”

“I’m still perfectly fine. I will need to eat in a few days but I won’t need anything for today. Thank you for asking though!” He felt a small hand pat his hair. “I don’t think I will ever fully come to terms with how considerate you are. So nice. I wish the rest of the human race was like you.”

Hajime smirked as he put some bread in the toaster. “First of all, I do appreciate your compliment. But I must say that you would likely find that many humans are caring and considerate. But you need to allow them the chance to show it. Rather than biting them upon first meeting.”

His hair antenna got yanked. “Well excuse me for acting on defensive instincts from being grabbed by someone I didn’t know. You at least waited for permission before trying to hold me.”

Hajime kept up the smirk, knowing that Nagito couldn’t see it. “I am meeting up with him and another friend today. So try to be on good behavior. I’m confident he won’t try again, but don’t scare him. Can you do that for me?”

Cue an over the top dramatic sigh. “I suppose I could try to be cordial.” He then let out a tiny ‘eep’ as the toast popped up, gripping tighter onto the brown hair. The human didn’t mention it, though he did think the sound was adorable.

The cooked bread was slathered in butter and eaten fast. Keys and shoes were grabbed soon after, with the two residents now by the apartment door. But Hajime stood still, recalling the promise he had made. “Time to go. Want to get into position?”

Nagito began moving, slowly sliding down off his head and onto his shoulder. Then proceeded to wind around his neck like a necklace. He was long enough to do a full loop, his human features resting on the left shoulder and the extra bit of tail hanging down on the right shoulder. It was tight enough for the naga to remain in position, but not enough so as to strangle. It was comfortable for them both. “Ready!” he called out.

“Great. Now let’s head out.”

Hajime opened the door, sunlight washing over them both. It was the beginning of spring, the weather getting to a comfortable temperature and the skies being clear. It was a nice day. And an even nicer one to walk.

His destination was a cafe on the university’s campus, where he was meeting up with some of his friends. He lived in a complex near the school grounds, so it meant a bit more legwork. But he didn’t mind. Especially because the route he took was quite scenic. And most importantly, Nagito liked it. He deeply enjoyed seeing the trees and flowers starting to bloom and grow. So the human made sure to go this route frequently.

They passed by some students and casual walkers, everyone glancing at the small creature for a few seconds in awe. Nagas were very uncommon and they were known for their elusive nature. So to see one was unusual and considered an omen of good luck. Nagito didn’t seem to care all too much about the stares, so long as none besides Hajime tried to touch him.

Their walk went undisturbed, making it to their destination in good time. Hajime saw his friends sitting at a small table and headed their way, sliding into the empty seat. “I’m here. Were you waiting long?”

Fuyuhiko shook his head. “No, you’re good. We got here not too long ago.”

Kazuichi’s attention was drawn to the green around his neck. “Wait, you brought him along, too?” He frantically pulled his hands behind his back as if the creature could bite him from a glance.

Nagito didn’t hiss or display any threatening behavior, so Hajime felt it safe to assume he had no plans on terrorizing the pink haired man. “It’s alright, Kaz. He won’t do anything. He promised me he would be on good behavior today in exchange for his attendance.”

Kazuichi slowly brought his hands back out into the open, hesitantly placing them on the table again. “Are… you absolutely sure?”

Nagito let out an almost offended huff. “I am not a barbaric animal. I only react in defense. Humans don’t always have the kindest of touch. So sometimes instinct takes over.”

Kazuichi pointed at the brunette. “But you let Hajime touch you all the time with no complaint! What’s up with that?”

Nagito leaned his human half up against the full human’s neck, voice raising back to his happy tone. “Hajime is special. The only one for me.”

“How did you come across him again?” Fuyuhiko inquired, speaking up after watching the interaction.

“He fell through one of the ceiling vents in my place. Landed right on my head. He was taking shelter from rain and got lost, somehow ending up where I was.” Hajime raised his hand and gently began scratching the naga’s hair, earning him a happy noise. “He wasn’t the biggest fan of me initially. But he grew to trust me over the course of the week-long recovery. And now, he is attached. And I don’t think he wants to leave anymore.”

“Nope!” Nagito chirped. “I want to stay with Hajime forever.” He again relaxed, comforted by the human’s touch. Hajime could feel the coils around his neck loosen from it, though not enough for the naga to slip off and fall.

Fuyuhiko smirked. “That loyalty must do wonders on your confidence levels,” he commented to Hajime.

“Man! I wish someone would fawn over me like that. It would boost MY confidence for sure,” Kazuichi complained, taking an annoyed swig of his drink.

Hajime reached over and patted his shoulder. “Maybe one day. But enough about that. Let’s talk about something more interesting.”

That made the pink haired man squawk in indignation. He began to whine about it more, to which the blond and brunette smiled in a teasing fashion.

The conversation carried on naturally, entertaining all the while. Hajime kept up the head strokes to Nagito the whole time, pampering the snake while he talked. Everything about this was fantastic. And nothing could change his mind.

Masterpost

Another one!

This time, it’s a prompt requested by @tortadecereji. To which I am happy to deliver!

Especially since they actually drew a few scenes from my last drabble. And my goodness they are wonderful! I love them so much.

Here, check it check it!

Hajime and Nagito were excited, though one was visibly more so than the other. Makoto and another person were coming to visit. And this time, they were staying the night.

It was the younger man’s celebration on getting a promotion and Hajime wanted to give him a unique gift in the form of a quiet retreat in the woods for a night. To which he happily accepted. And Hajime even offered for his girlfriend to come along. He knew Kyoko was trustworthy and could keep secrets, so he was not worried about Nagito being around.

And when he told the naga that he was welcome to attend, well… he was very happy to say the least. Hajime was sure the hug lasted a whole half hour.

But that is why he was present at the house when a nice, fancy car pulled up into the house’s driveway, the couple stepping out. Kyoko was the daughter of the CEO of the company’s partner, so it wasn’t a surprise that she had access to such options. But other than the car and professional clothing, Kyoko didn’t flaunt her position. She worked hard at her job in her father’s company and was respected by all. But none could beat Makoto in respect, as he thought his girlfriend was amazing in everything she did. He liked her a whole lot. Which was good, considering they were dating.

The respect went both ways, as the cool headed woman also admired Makoto’s optimism about life and his drive to be friendly with everyone. They were a good match, and Hajime couldn’t be happier for them. Hence his extension of the invitation to her as well.

The two walked up to the house, Kyoko’s only visible reaction to the large creature being a quick raised eyebrow. “I see we have extra company. I take it he lives nearby?” she inquired.

Hajime nodded, patting the scales next to him. “Yes, he does. This is Nagito. He will be joining us for the evening.”

The naga dipped his head in a nod. “Nice to meet you!” The reptilian eyes shifted over to Makoto. “Hajime told me that something really good happened for you and that this is a celebration. So I wanted to give a gift as well!” He lowered his hand down, extending it to the shorter male. “I hope it’s good enough. I can’t exactly go shopping, as you are well aware.”

On his large hand was a green scale, shining bright like an emerald. Makoto gasped as he took it in his own hands. “You… you are giving me one of your scales? Are you absolutely sure?”

Nagito smiled, happy that his gift had been received with positivity. “Of course! I have plenty so it’s not like I will miss it.” He moved the lower half of his body, displaying the glistening green that covered his snake tail. “I know having a naga scale in your home is considered good luck. So this is my gift to you, in hopes that your future continues to shine bright.”

“That’s so thoughtful! Thank you! We shall treasure it!” Makoto exclaimed, delicately handing it to his girlfriend. “Isn’t it really pretty?”

Kyoko inspected the scale. “It is. We should place it in the office. It would help inspire motivation.”

The two continued to discuss the interior decoration of their office space. Hajime tuned out as he leaned back against the snake tail, glancing up to the naga’s face. “I think they like the gift. Good thinking.”

Nagito leaned down, resting on his own coils. “I’m glad!” He peered down at the human, poking him in the side with a claw. “The thing I was worried about most, actually, was you getting jealous of me giving a scale to someone else besides you. Don’t worry! You are still my favorite human! You can have as many scales as you want! Would that perhaps prove my loyalty to you?”

Hajime snickered. “No, that’s not required. I am very aware of your devotion.”

The naga let out a breath of relief, ruffling the human’s hair. Another grin and a pat, and then Hajime rose again to stand straight. “Alright. I have food and drinks set out on the outdoor patio table. We can sit out there so that Nagito can be with us. If you want to follow me around back.”

The couple nodded and did so, settling down in the two chairs that were set out. They also watched as the naga slithered around the backside of the home, curling his tail and laying his human half on his stomach, arms crossed and content. Kyoko did question one thing though. “There are only two chairs. Where do you plan on sitting?”

Hajime didn’t move as he felt a large hand lift him up and place him on a pale forearm, his back resting against the soft cheek. “I think someone wants me to sit by him. So this is where I’ll be.”

The woman simply nodded in understanding, not making much further comment about it. And thus, socialization began. The topic of discussion varied from minute to minute. Lots of different things were talked about. And it eventually landed on how Hajime was liking his life in this home.

“It has been nice living here. My one neighbor and I figured ourselves out and have been doing well. I get to see many unique things in the woods thanks to this guy,” Hajime said, causing a pleased hum from the naga. “We did have one incident that was less than ideal a few months ago, but we dealt with it quickly and efficiently.”

“Huh? You did? I don’t think I remember you saying anything about this. What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” Makoto asked with curiosity in his eyes.

“Oh, it wasn’t too crazy. Just a few trespassers with firearms that wouldn’t listen to reason so Nagito had to scare them away,” Hajime casually retold, feeling Nagito nod slowly in agreement.

“Excuse me… did I hear that correctly?” Kyoko asked, expression serious. “Two armed men intruded and refused to leave. So your naga had to get involved in their departure?”

“Yes, that’s what occurred!” Nagito answered. “They left the forest with no injuries and broken weapons. They are fortunate that I didn’t resort to violence.”

Kyoko met his large green eyes. “Would you resort to violence?”

Nagito firmly looked back. “I will do anything to keep Hajime safe. He is the most important thing in the world to me. Nothing else comes close. And I shall protect what I hold dear.”

A few beats of silence followed the declaration. Hajime himself was trying to fight the redness that was wanting to color his cheeks. Once he managed, he cleared his throat. “Well, hopefully it will never come to that. Anyways, let’s move on to something else.”

Everyone was fine with that and the subject line changed. The group continued until late into the evening, when the sun was about to disappear. It was about then that Hajime guided his guests inside and up to the bedroom. “You may take this room for the night. It should be big enough for you both.”

“Oh! But isn’t this your bedroom? Are you sure it’s okay for us to use it?” Makoto looked unsure.

“Positive,” the taller man told them. “I shall stay on the couch for tonight. It’s quite comfortable so I will be just fine.” There was also the fact that it was close enough to the patio door that he could see the naga, who wanted to stay close by tonight. But they didn’t need to know that. “Well then, have a good night.”

He returned to the living room, the last bit of sunlight hitting the green scale on the mantle. It was a very pretty sight. It inspired him to return outside, where the large creature was waiting.

“They are staying in my room for tonight. So don’t even think of disturbing them,” he commanded, pointing right in between the reptilian eyes.

The naga’s expression screamed innocence. “I would never! Such honored guests deserve the best treatment.”

Hajime crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? And I do deserve to be disturbed and awakened early in the morning?”

Nagito simply scooped up the human, nuzzling him as they moved slightly away from the house. “You know you like me! So you will always forgive me.”

Hajime grumbled a bit. “You having this information is dangerous. You utilize it too much.” But he didn’t struggle in the creature’s hold, allowing him to place him on a soft bit of grass. Nagito then proceeded to curl up around him, until all he could see was green coils and the naga’s upper torso. “Are we sleeping here?” he inquired, already knowing there was no possibility of leaving now.

“Yes, that was my plan. And don’t worry! Even if some people drive by, I’ll just look like a small grassy hill. It’s all fine,” Nagito assured, getting closer to snuggle as best he could. His nose ended up nestled next to the human’s stomach, him sighing happily once in this comfortable position. “Goodnight, my little Hajime. May you have pleasant dreams.”

Hajime closed his eyes as the warmth around him began sinking in. “I hope you do as well.”

And so the two drifted off, lulled into slumber by the sounds of nature.

But it didn’t last.

About two hours after, something pulled them out of their sleep. A car engine, approaching the house and then cutting off. Both the human and the naga stayed still and silent, listening in for any more clues.

“Oh, dude! Look at that baby in the driveway!”

“What the heck!? This guy must be loaded. Got such a fancy car and all.”

“Bros. What if we, like, went in to borrow the keys to this. And help relieve him of the burden of some other things?”

“Oh yeah! We would totes be doing ‘im a favor by doing this. I’m game!”

“Me too! Let’s check it out.”

Three guys. And by the sound of it, ones that were intending to break in and steal his things.

The low beginnings of a hiss rumbled in the tight space in the coils. Nagito was very much not happy about these people. “Filthy intruders. They will regret their decision tonight.”

“Shhh. Don’t let them hear you,” Hajime frantically told the creature. “But yes, they need to be stopped. Makoto and Kyoko are still in the house. They are also in danger.”

He remembered that the patio door was open, so he got a bit worried. “Okay, I need to go in and get something to defend myself with and make sure everything is secure. Keep an eye out and make sure they don’t sneak up on me from behind.”

Nagito hissed again. “I don’t like that you are willingly putting yourself in danger again.”

Hajime met his eyes. “But it’s necessary.”

After a few seconds, the naga uncoiled enough for there to be a gap. Hajime managed to squeeze through, looking back to see the green eyes staring out of the gap. “I’ll be careful. And you do the same.”

And with that, he silently and quickly made his way to the patio door. He had no idea if these men had anything dangerous on them, so he didn’t want to startle them. It was best to strike first and knock them out with a single blow. That was his line of thinking as he went into the kitchen and grabbed something he thought would be useful. A heavy frying pan, solid and sturdy. This would work well.

His next move was to check the front door. It was locked tight and would not budge. He heard the men try the doorknob soon after, a few bangs as they tried to ram into it.

“This thing is solid! Won’t move at all! Let’s try another door,” he heard one say, and the footsteps retreated to go around the house.

He knew he had only the patio door left. And that one was not as secure. So that one needed more defending. So that was his next destination, maneuvering around his household furniture with ease in the dark. He was next to the door soon, pan at the ready.

The intruders approached not long after, jiggling the door handle and making excited noises as it opened. “We are in, boys! Now, let’s see what we can fi-”

*BONK*

The man crumpled to the ground, knocked out cold by the heavy metallic appliance. The other two stared dumbfounded at their companion, not understanding what happened.

The sound of crunching metal also stole their attention, whipping their heads around to try and see what was happening. And their eyes bugged out at the sight of a huge naga constricting their car, destroying it completely. And they flinched as the green reptilian eyes locked onto them. With speed none were prepared for, the creature lunged forward, slamming the intruders onto the ground and knocking them out as well.

“May your mind be filled with nightmares for daring to threaten my Hajime,” he coldly told their unconscious bodies, gaze piercing.

It shifted immediately upon seeing the human in question. Concern now filled his eyes. “You are okay?” he asked quietly.

Hajime nodded. “Yes. I got the first one before they realized I was here.” He peeked around the large body. “And I see you took some anger out on their car.”

The naga smiled smugly. “I did. And I am glad I did.”

The human nudged one of the bodies with his foot. “Well, we should deal with these guys before they wake back up.”

And dealing with them consisted of Hajime taking pictures of their faces and IDs again, Nagito gathering the limp bodies in a tarp, and carrying them and their destroyed car far away from the property. They were dumped at the edge of the forest, close enough to civilization that they could walk. Hajime made sure of this, riding along on the naga’s shoulder to witness the creature placing them down in a more gentle way. He didn’t want them to be tossed aside and get further brain injuries. He didn’t need that in his conscience.

It was mostly quiet on the way back, though Hajime did speak up at one point. “I’m having a gate built. So that no one but those I invite can get in. And perhaps some signs and cameras. I don’t want a repeat of the last two instances. And if they try to get in through the forest, well, they will be at the mercy of the wildlife.”

Nagito peeked over at him, a mischievous grin present. “Am I included in the wildlife category?”

The human shrugged. “I suppose you are. But I will make the request that you try to not seriously injure anyone that tries. Just scare them off or knock them out. That should do just fine.”

“I suppose that is an acceptable request. Though there usually isn’t much that comes into the woods. It should be undisturbed for a while after tonight,” Nagito commented, looking up to the stars that were visible through the trees. “But there is one good thing that comes out of these incidents.”

Hajime was very curious about this. “Oh? What is it?”

Nagito returned his gaze to him. “They have solidified my trust that you have this forest’s best interests in mind. You want to protect it as much as I do. And I am eternally grateful.”

That was heartwarming to hear. And it certainly boosted the human’s spirits. He leaned against the creature’s neck, closing his eyes. “You’re welcome. I don’t plan on going anywhere. So I shall do my best to maintain this forest with you.”

A comfortable silence followed, all the way up until the house was in sight again. Hajime made an observation. “The lights aren’t on. Did they sleep through that entire thing?”

Nagito seemed a bit surprised at this too. “That is astounding. I wasn’t exactly quiet back there.”

The human shrugged again. “Well, I think it’s for the best. Let’s not ruin their weekend.”

No more was said as they returned to their previous position, falling asleep quickly. They went undisturbed until the morning, when Makoto and Kyoko walked outside and called out to the naga.

Hajime emerged from the coils, waving to his guests to signal his position. “Sorry. I know I said I would be on the couch, but the snake got needy.”

Makoto shook his head. “It’s fine! It’s fine! But did you at least get a good and full night’s sleep?”

Nagito and Hajime exchanged a look. “Yup, it was a nice night.”

Masterpost

Another smol! Surprise!!!

A very unique suggestion from Kirbytin249! I certainly don’t think I would have come up with this. But it was super cute so I had to!

Big snek, smol snek, we love them both!

Btw, just a reminder that you are free to leave suggestions if there’s anything you want to see.

Storms were a weather phenomenon that were not the greatest, in Hajime’s opinion. He much preferred sunny and partially cloudy days. And he knew that Nagito felt the same.

As he was partially a snake, the small naga loved basking in the warm rays. He had told the human that while the basking lamp did its job, it couldn’t compare to the actual sun. So Nagito regarded the dark clouds in the distance with disdain.

Hajime joined him in watching the bad weather approach. “Looks like we are staying in for the night,” he commented, idly stroking the smooth scaled tail.

Nagito hummed in appreciation and agreement. “Yes, indeed. Here’s to hoping that it isn’t a bad one. It would not do if the power was knocked out. I would have to find a new source of warmth.”

The brunette glanced down at him, a smirk on his face. “Oh, I’m sure you and I both know exactly where you would go to find warmth.”

Nagito returned the smirk, not a hint of shame on his face. “You can’t blame me. Resting under your shirt, in direct contact with your skin, is practically heaven.”

Hajime rolled his eyes with a hint of a blush. “You really are certain on what you want in life. And bold enough to make it known to all. I wish I could have that level of confidence.”

There was a minuscule pat on his hand. “The key is to not care what people think! And then your filter will be loosened quite a bit!”

“Not to care what others think, hmm?” His strokes stopped in favor of scooping the naga up and into his hand. “If that’s the case with you, then what is the point of loudly announcing to everyone that you are heavily attached to me? And making sure they hear you?”

The white haired creature tilted his human half to the right. “Well, how else am I supposed to spread the word of your greatness and amazing soul? Most of your species are oblivious to this clearly obvious fact.”

Hajime laughed, the contradicting viewpoints being a staple for Nagito. He had grown used to it, even a little fond of it. It was something unique that made Nagito different. “Well, regardless of that, I need to go get the mail before it starts heavily pouring. Do you want to go under the lamp or come with me?”

The tiny emerald eyes sparkled. “With you please! I’ll stay on your wrist. That way I won’t be in the way!” The scaled appendage got to work, wrapping around his arm and tightening its hold. Soon, he had a living and sentient bracelet.

Hajime made sure to be smooth with his movements, lifting his arm and his rider off the desk. “Alright, that’s fine with me. We may get a little wet, so I’ll warm up some towels after we get back in.” With that, he traveled to the apartment door and opened it, a gust of wind blowing its way inside. He shut the door behind him before any droplets could get in as well. Quickly and carefully, he made his way over to the mailboxes, checking his and grabbing the contents as the first raindrops began falling.

“Ah!”

A sudden small and unfamiliar voice sounded nearby. It was incredibly strange. “Did you hear that, Nagito?”

The naga on him was alert too. “I did. And I think I can smell where it is. In the grass. I think… it’s one of my kind.”

“Huh? Another naga?” That was very unexpected. He didn’t think he would ever come in contact with another of Nagito’s species. But the marvel on the matter could wait. If there was another naga close by, they might be subject to the cold rain and get sick. Or worse. It was imperative for him to help.

Slowly, he stepped over to the grassy yard, kneeling down with his arm outstretched, letting Nagito search around. “Hey, if there’s someone here, please know that we just want to help. I swear no harm will come to you. I just want to provide a warm shelter through the storm. You can leave after.”

He heard something that sounded like a breath hitch. So his words had been heard. That was a step forward at least.

He lowered his hand to the ground fully, letting Nagito uncurl and slither further into the taller grass. He knew that there was a better chance of something happening if he let the nagas communicate with each other.

And indeed, he was able to barely hear a muffled conversation between the two. He wasn’t able to make out many words, but he did catch a few. Mostly Nagito assuring the newcomer that this human was extremely safe and trustworthy. He did his best to shield the grassy area with his body, trying to minimize the amount of moisture that would surely be pelting the small reptiles.

Finally, after a few minutes of convincing, Nagito called out louder. It helped identify their positions to the human, who reached his arm down into the grass next to them. He felt two sets of coils tighten on his arm, cold and shivering. Well, that would be fixed momentarily.

He lifted his arm once Nagito gave him the signal, again moving carefully to not jostle anyone. He moved his limb close to his body, still trying to protect them from the rain. He took a couple seconds to glance down at his passengers.

The new naga was smaller than Nagito and appeared to be female with dark hair. Her scales were a different shade of green. If Hajime had to guess, they were more olive green. But her small shirt was ragged and soaked, her whole body trembling from both the cold and fear. But even though she was clearly scared, she was still here. It was very admirable.

“Thank you for trusting me. Now let’s get you inside and warmed up,” he reassured, turning and quickly walking back to his apartment. The door was opened and shut fast, not allowing many raindrops access to the interior. He removed his boots and made his way to his bedroom, extending his arm over to Nagito’s terrarium.

Once his passengers disembarked, he drew his arm back over to his side. “I’m going to go get some towels. Nagito, you can lend her a shirt once you are both dry.”

Hajime exited the room after those sentences, going to do just that. He also stuck some chunks of steak on a plate, putting it in the microwave to heat up. Who knew when the last time the poor naga had eaten? And he was sure the white haired one could use a meal as well.

Hot plate and towels in hand, he returned to the bedroom, seeing the female naga partially hidden by some of the terrarium plants. Nagito was near her, seemingly trying to coax her back out. But Hajime understood. This was not an easy thing to do, trusting a stranger who was so much larger than you.

He knocked on the wall, drawing the attention of the smaller creatures. “Here, I warmed this up for you. And some of the heat transferred to the towels. I’ll leave these here and give you two some privacy.” He set the plate down and handed a corner of the towel to Nagito. “I’ll be back in half an hour,” he told him, backing up and leaving them be. Though the male naga did reach out towards him as if trying to convince him to stay.

But Hajime still left, knowing that it was necessary. He was hopeful that Nagito’s presence would help calm the new naga down. Thankfully, he had remembered to grab a change of clothes before leaving, switching out his wet ones for dry ones. Then he set off to the other rooms.

His ringing phone awaited him in the living room, buzzing on the table he left it on. Grabbing it, he saw it was a classmate of his. And so he answered. “Hey Makoto. What’s up?”

“Hi Hajime! I know we were supposed to meet up at the library, but the weather looks bad. Would it…?” Makoto’s voice trailed off, shyness creeping into his tone.

Hajime couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “Yes, it’s fine if we don’t meet up there. If you really want to go over the materials from class, you can always come by my apartment. We live in the same complex so it isn’t as far as the library,” he offered. “I know Nagito likes you. But even then, he’s preoccupied at the moment. So I doubt he would distract us.”

“Oh? If you don’t mind me asking, what has him preoccupied?”

Hajime sat down on the couch, relaxing while he talked. “Well, we found another naga. She was in the rain and looked starved and freezing. So we managed to convince her to let us bring her inside for the night. Nagito is currently with her.”

“Wow! Another naga? You are extremely lucky! What color scales does she have?” his classmate asked with excitement.

Hajime thought for a second. “Olive brown, a bit darker than Nagito’s.”

“Olive brown? That’s… an interesting color.”

The brunette noticed the shift in tone. “Makoto? Is something wrong?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. For some reason the color brought back feelings of nostalgia. But… I don’t know why.” He went quiet after that, probably deep in thought.

After a minute, Hajime spoke up again. “Well, the offer still stands. I have plenty of snacks.”

That seemed to get Makoto out of his funk. “Uh, yeah! If you don’t mind me being there, that sounds good! I’ll be over in a few minutes.”

The call ended. Hajime put his phone back down at the table and began to think. Makoto definitely was acting a bit off after hearing the detail about the color. Would could it possibly mean?

He spent so long trying to think of theories that he almost didn’t notice the knocks on his door. That was speedy. As quick as he could without falling, he ran to the door and opened it just as fast. “Here, come in quick.”

He ushered his classmate inside, who had a huge raincoat on to protect himself from the rain. Miraculously, he and his possessions were pretty dry underneath the coat.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect it to be this bad!” Makoto exclaimed as he hung his coat on the stand near the door. He then followed Hajime in, setting his bag on the floor near the table. “Thank you for letting me come over! I really appreciate it!”

Hajime waved a hand. “No problem. I could use some help with this week’s material. I swear, our professor is as sharp as a fifty year old worn knife.”

Makoto laughed. “Yeah, that’s pretty accurate. He definitely could explain things better.”

But before either sat down, Hajime happened to glance at the time on Makoto’s phone. “Oh crap! I told Nagito I would check back in on them. Sorry, this will be really quick. Do you want to come say hi to him?”

An excited nod. “Sure! But I’ll be sure to keep some distance between myself and the new naga. I don’t want to scare her.”

Hajime returned the nod, taking the lead back to his room. Nagito was eagerly awaiting, tail tip practically wagging like a dog when he caught sight of the humans. “Hajime! You’re back! Thank you for the food. We both ate and are quite satisfied.” He gestured behind him. “Our guest is taking refuge in the plants. But she did accept the new shirt!” The tiny eyes then spotted the other human. “Oh! Welcome Makoto! It’s been so long since we last saw each other!”

The shorter human waved. “Hey Nagito! I stopped by to study with Hajime. I hope I’m not intruding. And I hope your guest is doing well, too.”

The white hair was practically a blur as the naga shook his head rapidly. “You are never a bother! You rank highly on my ratings of humans I have encountered.” He straightened and clasped his hands together. “But our guest is doing well! She even told me her name! It’s Komaru!”

A loud thump and gasp was heard behind him. Hajime whirled around to investigate, only to see Makoto with an intense expression of confusion with his back against the door and a hand on his forehead. “Ko-Komaru? And… olive green? Wait… it can’t be…”

“Makoto? What’s happening?” Hajime almost demanded, hands gripping the other human’s shoulders to keep him steady.

“This… this is going to sound crazy… but I think your guest might be… my sister.”

A blink. And then another one. Finally a reply. “Huh? Your… sister? How is that possible?”

Makoto scratched his cheek. “Well, I just got a flurry of memories from when I was really young. I remember clearly playing with someone named Komaru. Someone I thought was my sister, though her full appearance is hazy in my mind. And the color olive brown is associated with these memories. Though I couldn’t remember why.” He paused, taking a breath. “But if she is in fact not human and is a naga, then things would make sense. Such as why my parents didn’t know what I was talking about when I told them about her. And why one I viewed as my sibling isn’t prevalent in my adult life. I recall moving away from this area around that time, and that’s when the memories of her stop. Perhaps… she is a reason why I desired to attend this college. An unconscious desire to see her again.”

Hajime turned this information over in his head. It was certainly something he had never heard of happening, but who was he to say it was impossible? “Alright, the logic makes sense. But I guess there is only one way to know for sure.” He stepped aside and released his classmate, who managed to stay steady on his feet. Together they glanced over to the terrarium, where the nagas were. Nagito, as well as Komaru. She was staring up at Makoto with wide eyes, looking very similar to how he had appeared moments earlier. Like a rush of memories were flooding her brain.

“I… I remember you. My lost big brother. You came back,” she said with much emotion evident in her voice.

She didn’t flinch as Makoto stepped forward, slowly reaching down towards the table. Nagito read the mood and slithered off to the side, closer to Hajime.

“Who knew this would happen? What a lucky coincidence,” the emerald green naga commented, curling up on top of his human’s hand.

Hajime smiled as he carefully raised his hand, moving it closer to his collarbone. “I agree. I certainly did not expect to see this happening.”

Nagito gladly took this opportunity to move onto his shoulders, curling around his neck and settling there. Once Hajime was sure that he was steady, he looked back over to the other two, seeing Komaru in Makoto’s hands, raised to his chest and them embracing. Tears were visible and they both had smiles.

It brought a smile to his own face, reaching back up to stroke the small white fluffy hair. “What a nice family reunion.”

Nagito leaned into the touch, happy for the attention. “Yes, a very nice one.”

Masterpost

How many drabbles of this au am I going to do? The answer is: yes.

So here, take this.

Inspired from @tortadecereji

They actually did a drawing of Naga Nagi and Haji being cute. Go check it out here!

When traveling through the woods with a naga, there were several ways to accomplish it, as Hajime had discovered. The least effective way was him walking on the ground with Nagito slithering next to him. That method resulted in little ground coverage, so it was not one that was utilized often.

Which meant that he was carried in various fashions. Sometimes on a shoulder, where he held onto the white hair for balance. Other times, in the naga’s hands, which was the creature’s favorite. And on other days, such as today, Hajime rode around in the white hair.

The naga’s hair was extremely soft and fluffy, almost unusually so. Especially given the fact that Nagito lived in the forest. But he didn’t try and fry brain cells thinking about it. All he needed to do was hold on to it and enjoy. Which was fairly easy to do, as the naga’s movements were slow and practically graceful. Hajime never worried about falling.

“We are almost there,” Nagito announced cheerily, continuing steadily through the trees. The human hummed in response, indicating that he heard. But other than that, he really didn’t move much from his position. This one was very nice, in his opinion. It was like he was on the world’s softest bed. He was sure that he could easily fall asleep up here. He was even tempted to try.

But a certain someone needed attention. “We are here! It’s really pretty today!” A large hand rose up and poked the human’s back. “You like it?”

Hajime patted the finger and rose to a sitting position. He took in the sight in front of him. An absolutely stunning waterfall. The sunlight hit the spray just right and created a rainbow midway down.

Nagito paused near the edge, looking around himself. But then he continued forward, much to Hajime’s surprise. “Hey! Wait! What are you doing?” he shouted, grabbing tighter to the white locks.

“Huh?” Nagito inquired with an innocent tone. “It’s warm today, so I wanted to cool off. Don’t worry! I won’t put my head under! You won’t get wet!”

The human relaxed, tension leaving his body at the words. So he didn’t protest as the creature went deeper and deeper into the water. The pond beneath the waterfall was deeper than he expected, enough so that Nagito was able to get in up to his shoulders. He sighed in contentment, but made sure to keep his head still. “This feels so nice. You should try it with me one day!”

Hajime leaned back on his hands, staring up at the roaring waterfall. “Perhaps. I’ll need to wear swimming trunks if we do.”

The head underneath him vibrated from the giggle. “I look forward to it.”

Together, they enjoyed the sounds of nature. The rushing water, the croak of frogs, and the wind rustling the trees. Peaceful and beautiful. And something Hajime was growing to appreciate.

After a half hour, it occured to the human that he had never properly thanked the naga for showing him these sights. He had been too caught up with being annoyed at being snatched away from his home with little input. But since their talk a week ago, things had gotten better. Nagito still had moments, but still, it was better. So he figured now was a good time to express his appreciation.

He patted the hair, hard enough to get its owner’s attention. “Hey Nagito. There’s something… I want to tell you.”

“Oh? Whatever could it be?” the naga said excitedly.

Well, here goes. Might as well come out and say it. “I just wanted to th-”

A loud sound interrupted him. And more followed after the first one. Hajime knew that sound. Gunfire. Someone was shooting in the woods.

He felt himself get angry. Whoever was shooting, they were not supposed to be here. Let alone use firearms. “I’ll tell you later. This requires our attention more.”

Nagito began creeping forward, towards the bank. “I agree,” he replied in a cold, flat voice. “It seems there are trespassers in our woods. And they have brought along objects that I strongly dislike. They need to be dealt with.”

If not for the fact that he knew they were on the same page, Hajime would have been worried and maybe even scared. He had never heard the naga talk like this. It was clear that Nagito was ready to chase these trespassers out.

“Let’s sneak up and see what we are dealing with first. If things look relatively negotiable, then I shall go and talk to them. If they get hostile, then you may come in. Does this work for you?” Hajime asked as the snake scales met dry land.

“Yes. But do know that I shall swoop in the second I feel you are in danger.” Nagito raised a hand up to the top of his head, offering a platform for his passenger. Hajime got on, feeling himself being lowered. Nagito put him on the ground when they were closer to the sound’s origins. Which turned out to be near the waterfall’s edge.

The naga had placed him towards the top, so he didn’t have to climb much. Meanwhile, the creature himself remained hidden, the cliff obstructing the sight of him. With one last silent confirmation of his location, Hajime walked forward.

He came across two men, both about mid twenties and each kneeling over their own firearm. They were both excitedly blabbering to each other, counting out the magazines of bullets next to their weapons. It appeared to be safe to approach.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, tone stern. It freaked the trespassers out, them scrambling back a few steps from the new voice.

“Wh-where did you come from!?” one asked.

“That is not important. What is is that you are on private land. You cannot be here,” Hajime stated.

The two glanced at each other before turning back to the angry man in front of them. “Well, we just got these and wanted to try them out! Surely it’s fine to shoot a few rounds and maybe bag a buck! Come on, you can let us do that right?”

“No. Please leave.” Hajime spoke firmly, wanting to give no indication that he could be bargained with. “I wish for this forest to remain untouched and untainted. Take everything you brought and go back.”

But instead of listening, the brunette could see the stubbornness and frustration begin forming in the trespassers’ eyes. Not a good sign. “You know, you are not being super smart right now,” one commented.

Hajime crossed his arms and retained his unbothered expression. “How so?”

The other gestured to the weapons on the ground. “You are interrogating two armed men. You are unarmed and alone. You better choose your next words wisely. That is, if you don’t want to get hurt.”

Hajime raised an eyebrow. “Who said I was alone?”

He could both hear and feel the movement right behind him. Nagito had heard the threat and was none too pleased. He ascended from his position, towering over the humans. All the while glaring and hissing, fangs exposed.

The blood in the trespassers' faces drained at the sight and sound. They were now terrified beyond belief. And they screamed when Nagito brought a fist down next to them, destroying the firearms. Their legs collapsed under them, the terror rendering them temporarily immobile.

Hajime took this time to step forward, phone camera unlocked. He took a few pictures of their faces while they were distracted. “Show me your identification,” he requested.

The two scrambled to do so after their inactivity made Nagito hiss louder. They handed their driving licenses to the more relaxed human, who took pictures of them as well.

He handed them back. “I have your faces and information now. I could potentially report you to the authorities for trespassing and threats. But I shall refrain on two conditions.” He held up a finger. “One, that you never return to this forest.” The second finger joined the first. “And two, that you do not tell anyone about my naga. He is to remain a secret. Do you understand?”

Frantic nods. It was clear they had no intention of breaking these conditions. So Hajime felt confident in letting them go. “Now please leave.”

They obeyed quicker than Hajime thought possible. They were gone in all of a minute. Once he was certain they were far enough away, he let out a heavy sigh. “This is not how I expected the day to go. Life is full of unexpected turns, I suppose.”

The sense of vertigo began as he was grabbed and raised. The naga was no longer threatening. Only worry was evident. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they touch you? I heard them threatening you. I responded as soon as I heard it. Was I fast enough? Are you still scared? I can comfort you if you are! You did so well and were so brave. I’m so proud of you!” All of this was said as the creature nuzzled him delicately.

Hajime patted the large face near his. “I’m fine! I’m fine! Everything is okay now!” he assured, slightly exasperated. If he was being honest, the naga’s instant shift from terrifying to endearing was a bit mind reeling. “Honestly, I don’t think that they would have made good on their threat. I think they were just trying to scare me into compliance. But I am still grateful for your help.”

“I’m glad! Now our forest is peaceful again!” Nagito cheered.

The human took notice of something. “You said this earlier, and just now. You consider these woods… ours? Not only yours?”

Nagito nodded. “Of course! I may not fully understand the details on owning property, but I know this forest technically belongs to you. And you have allowed me to remain its guardian. So I think it is appropriate to consider it ours!” His green eyes then squinted as he smirked. “And do not think I didn’t notice what you said earlier as well. You called me your naga. Oh, it is such an honor that you consider me yours.”

Hajime blushed, having momentarily forgotten exactly what he had said. But he didn’t deny the words, which made Nagito even happier.

He hugged the human against his cheek. “You truly are the greatest human. I am so glad we met. And I hope for so many more years together.”

Hajime felt his face flush even more. “Yeah, yeah. I’m glad to have met you, too.” He smiled and leaned into the embrace. “And thank you, for everything.”

Masterpost

Welp, I ended up enjoying writing the first Naga Nagito drabble that I wanted to do another. And so I did! Cause none can stop me. I HAVE THE POWER OF WRITING!!! Anyhoo, this is again based off artwork by @tortadecereji. Hope ya like!

Hajime looked around his living room another time, making sure things were fine. The room was neat and clean, vacuumed and dusted. His kitchen was stocked with all kinds of food and drink, a variety just in case. The room temperature was nice, not too warm and not too cold. And most importantly, the absence of a certain individual.

Hajime’s coworker, Makoto Naegi, was coming to visit his home. It would be his first visitor to his new place, his parents living much too far away. So he found himself working hard to make sure the visit was a comfortable one. And that included more factors than one would usually worry about.

See, Hajime’s “neighbor” had a tendency to pop by whenever he felt like it. The forest’s naga, Nagito. And on his most recent visit, Hajime had stressed and repeated multiple times that he was going to be busy with company and to NOT drop by. He didn’t want one of the few people willing to visit him to be scared off.

The giant creature had mulled it over for a few seconds, before giving a half answer that wasn’t very clear if he understood or not. But this was all he could do. And so far, from his multiple glances out the window, he hadn’t come by. No reptilian eyes visible at the forest’s edge. Good.

His phone buzzed, indicating that he got a text. And glancing at the message revealed that Makoto had arrived. So he went to the front door and opened it. “You made it. I hope it wasn’t too confusing of a drive.”

Makoto shook his head. “Not at all! It was a very nice drive! So many trees on either side of the road. It must be very peaceful out here!”

Hajime couldn’t help but laugh a little. His days were anything but peaceful. But his coworker didn’t need to know that. “Well, come on in. I can give you a tour of the place.”

And that’s what the next ten minutes were dedicated to. Hajime took Makoto all around the house, showing every room and how each was decorated. His coworker seemed impressed, eyes sparkling and clearly interested.

When they reached the living room, something specific had caught his coworker’s eye. On the mantle above the fireplace was a single emerald green scale, about the size of a cutting board. Makoto had walked over and admired it. “This is beautiful! It looks like a scale. Where did you find it?”

Hajime kept his cool. It wasn’t all that rare for people to have naga scales in their homes. They were rare creatures and were not often seen. But most knew they existed. And having a scale in one’s home was said to be a good luck charm. Whether or not it was good luck in Hajime’s case, he couldn’t definitively say yet. “Someone gave it to me. He said it was a housewarming gift.”

Makoto looked over, curious. “Oh wow! They must be a good friend to give you this.”

Hajime shrugged, a half smile on his face. “I suppose we are more or less friends. But enough about that, let’s get something to eat and drink.”

His coworker looked like he had wanted to ask more, but thankfully read the tone and didn’t say any more. And after one last glance at the scale, he joined his host in the kitchen.

Soon enough, they were sitting on the couch with their plates and drinks on the coffee table in front of them. They had several lines of discussion while they ate. Some about work, and others about their own lives. Eventually it came to how living in the house had been going.

“It’s a nice house, that’s for certain. It’s quiet at night and it can feel so tranquil. It’s great for focusing on work, no distractions. And for the most part, the wildlife keeps to themselves and don’t bother me.”

Makoto raised an eyebrow. “For the most part?”

Hajime sighed and leaned back. “Yeah. There’s been one creature that has been… an attention hog, shall we say. He has been coming to my home at all hours, though he loves dropping by in the mornings. That’s why I’m sometimes a little late to our online meetings.”

“Really? What kind of animal is he? I’m assuming he’s a large o-” Makoto’s words cut off as the sunlight from the patio doors was blocked, a large shadow darkening the room. And his eyes widened in surprise and slight fear, locked on something behind him.

Oh no, Hajime thought as he turned around. And he saw the naga’s large eye peeking in through the glass. He got to his feet and stormed over, throwing the door open. “What did I tell you yesterday!? To NOT come around! Now go back!” he shouted in frustration.

But Nagito didn’t appear to really take in the words, instead smiling. “You came out on your own! I didn’t even have to snatch you! And I see you have a little friend with you. He should come out to say hi too, don’t you think?”

Hajime stalked forward more, finger sharply poking the skin under the eye. “No. Listen to me for once. Go home.”

But again, the words were useless. Nagito reached a hand up and positioned it behind the human. Fingers curled and he was soon locked in the naga’s grip. Both he and the human part of the creature rose off the ground. “Someone sounds grumpy. I know! I think we should go have fun! And your little friend can join in too! Let me get him!”

Seeing the naga’s other hand begin to move to the open patio door, Hajime saw red. His rage grew too high. And he exploded. “NAGITO!!! THAT’S ENOUGH!!! STOP THIS INSTANT!!!”

The large creature paused, having never heard the human sound like this. “Hajime? Is something wrong?”

If his arms had been free, he surely would have thrown them up into the air in exasperation. “Oh!? Is something wrong!? Let me think! How about the fact that you ignored my direct request and did exactly what you knew I didn’t want you to do!? And how you disregard everything I say?! All of the time?! And to top it all off, you were planning on grabbing someone who doesn’t know you! Think of how terrifying that would have been for him!”

Nagito looked upset. “I…” he tried to speak, voice tiny in comparison to his earlier one.

Hajime stared directly into his eyes. “Put. Me. Down,” he commanded.

And the naga did so, slowly moving his hand down and releasing him on the ground. Nagito’s expression was sad as he slithered away from the house, slower than usual. He knew he had messed up. He had made the human actually mad. And so he was removing himself from the house’s perimeter.

Hajime watched him for a few seconds before returning into the house. He had an explanation to give. “I’m so sorry about this Makoto. I tried to tell him that tonight wasn’t an option. But he doesn’t like to listen to me.”

His coworker still seemed a bit frazzled, but not nearly as much as earlier. “I’m okay! Just… didn’t expect that. Does… that happen often?”

Hajime ran a hand through his hair. “Way more that you think. Practically every day.”

“I… have never heard you get that angry. It was surprising. You usually are so even-tempered,” the shorter man observed.

“Crap, you heard? I’m sorry again. I don’t like getting angry. I feel so guilty about it afterwards. Even now, when I had a legitimate reason,” he said, glancing out the patio door.

Some silence occured as he stared outside. But Makoto broke it with a question. “So… is he the one that gave you the scale?”

“Yeah. Plucked it right off his body. He wanted to give me a gift of some kind. He says that no one really comes around these parts. And that I’m the first person to live here in a while.”

“Really? Sounds like he’s lonely,” Makoto commented. “Is that maybe why he comes around so often? Because he has no one else to talk to?”

“If that’s true, then that explains some things. Namely his lack of social cues and awareness,” Hajime replied. He groaned a bit. “Guess that means I can’t really fault him for his actions. But I do need to establish some firm boundaries. Namely to not scare any of my guests.”

Makoto laughed a bit at that. “If you are worried about me not coming back, don’t fret! I would be more than happy to come over another time! As for your naga friend, if he isn’t threatening and dangerous, then I wouldn’t mind interacting with him.”

The taller man raised a brow. “Huh? You wouldn’t mind? No offense, but I didn’t think you would want to be close to something like him. You get terrified at the Halloween decorations at the office parties.”

Makoto’s cheeks flushed a bit with embarrassment. “Well, this is a different situation. And seeing as you are free of wounds, I’m assuming he’s careful when holding you, as he demonstrated earlier.”

Hajime crossed his arms and closed his eyes for a few moments, thinking. He reopened them once he came to a decision. “Alright, I’ll go talk to him.”

His coworker looked a little surprised. “Huh? Right now? Didn’t he go back into the forest?”

He pulled the patio door open again. “I have a feeling he didn’t actually leave. That he’s still close by. Feel free to come if you want, just stay a little distance away to be out of the snatching zone.”

“O-okay!” Surprisingly, Makoto actually did come with him, following behind as they walked around the house and towards the woods. And just as Hajime had thought, the naga was still here. He was laying on the ground right on the forest’s edge, moping. He was absentmindedly pushing a stone around, small for him, but an enormous boulder for the humans.

He twitched when he heard the footsteps approaching, but didn’t look over. Not until he was directly addressed.

“Nagito. We need to talk.”

The large creature flinched, as if afraid. But he still slowly turned to face the human. He instructed Makoto to stay where he was as he approached the naga. He got very close, close enough that he could be touched. But Nagito didn’t move, too worried to try.

“First of all,” Hajime began. “You do realize why I am upset with you, right?”

Nagito looked like he was trying to melt into the floor. “Because I came by when you told me not to.”

“Correct. And do you understand why I wasn’t happy with this?”

“Yes,” the naga whispered.

Hajime moved so that they made eye contact. “So what drove you to do it anyway?”

Nagito looked sheepish, a vast contrast to his usual attitude. “Well… when you told me that another human was going to be coming here, I was overjoyed. I don’t get to see many, as I live so far away from your kind’s typical civilizations. I guess… I forgot how jarring the size difference can be at a first interaction. I grew used to your reactions. So part of me thought it would go well. But I can see that I was foolish to think that. And also, thinking about you having a guest made me long for your attention as well, I suppose.”

Hajime walked up more, reaching out and placing a hand on the large creature’s cheek. “Listen to me. I don’t dislike your company. And I know you like mine. But you need to understand and accept that I can’t spend every second with you. I have things I need and want to do that require us to be apart. But that doesn’t mean I will forget about you and leave you alone for good. So can you respect my wishes for time by myself? And to follow instructions if I give any to you?”

A few tears gathered at the corner of the naga’s eyes as he gave a small, wobbly smile. “Yeah, I can do that.”

The human saw Nagito’s hands twitch, subtly indicating what he wanted. He sighed and relented. “Fine. You can do it,” he said.

Nearly squealing with happiness, the naga happily obliged. Hajime felt his feet lift off the ground again as he was hugged against the large cheek. Clearly, he was back into positive spirits. And hopefully he would be more responsive to instructions in the future.

But then Hajime recalled his guest. He turned as best he could and peered down to the other. “Alright, things are fine now. Nagito will be respectful to you.” He turned back to meet the reptilian green eye. “Right?”

Nagito laughed a bit. “I will, I promise.”

“Umm… okay!” Makoto took some steps forward, still a little cautious. But he did approach despite some lingering concerns. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Makoto Naegi. I work with Hajime.”

Nagito smiled wide, exposing his fangs. He leaned down a bit and extended a finger out, raising the human’s hand up and down to best simulate a handshake. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Please do come around some other time. If you want, I can show you around the forest! There are so many beautiful areas hidden in there. I would be happy to share them with you! Oh! We could even go now if you want!”

“Nagito,” Hajime said in a warning tone.

To which the naga deflated a bit. “Ah, my apologies. I got a bit excited.”

But Makoto didn’t seem wary or uncomfortable. “That’s a generous offer. Maybe not tonight and probably not next time. But perhaps I will accept at one point.”

Nagito nodded. “I understand. I shall respect your wishes.” He began nuzzling Hajime again. “In the meantime, I’ll devote my attention to you. Aren’t you glad?”

Hajime rolled his eyes but let the naga do what he wanted. The evening had not gone exactly as he had planned. But, he found that he didn’t mind the change. Perhaps this was a good start to something. Better communication? If so, he looked forward to the results.

Masterpost