Monstrophy, Vol. 1

The Librarian

You were a few years into your graduate program, and the volunteer hours you'd spent helping the university librarian had turned into an internship. Ahmad, the librarian, had managed to convince the university that he needed an assistant, and had maneuvered you into the perfect position to be offered the job by the dean. Now you had a paying job that didn't cut in to your academic work, one that you genuinely enjoyed.

Over the last few years, you and Ahmad had become good friends. Unlike the other undergrads, his deer skull head and brusque demeanor hadn't intimidated you. He seemed surprised the first time you had stayed after hours to help, ordering delivery for you both and making conversation over book carts as you reorganized the thaumaturgy section. He started leaving books he thought you'd like on your station behind the circulation desk.

"Hope you're in the mood for curry!"you say, brightly, as you slip behind the circulation desk and head through the open door into Ahmad's office, two plastic bags full of food containers in your hands.

He glances in your direction before returning to the heavy tome on his desk, his massive antlers casting shadows on the wall that look like haunted forest. "As long as it's from Priyanka's and not Indian Summer."

You perch on the corner of his desk,crossing your legs, your skirt slipping up slightly and flashing a little more thigh than is strictly professional. His eyes flick sideways toward you for the briefest second.

"Priyanka's was already closed and I wanted samosas. I'll eat yours if you don't want it..."

Ahmad grumbles and reaches over for the plastic bag.

"How's the translation coming" you ask, mouth full.

"Awful." he replies after a heavy sigh. "It appears to be a combination of a few dialects of ancient Phoenixian but there's something else there, too. It's almost...Aqarianish, but that's impossible."

"The dean still doesn't know you have that?" You gesture toward the book with your fork.

"No, and he can't. What he'd do with this kind of power...I shudder to think." Ahmad's glowing ember-filled eyed redden and smolder. You think it's devastatingly sexy.

"We'll figure it out, Ahmad." you say, softly. You reach over and cover his bony hand with your own. He looks at you in that way you've come to identify as affectionate, having learned to read his emotions despite the fixed bones of his face. Leaning forward, he rests his smooth forehead against your own.

"Thank you." he whispers.

Outside, you hear the loud bangs of fireworks. You'd almost forgotten.

"Happy New Year." you say, before pressing a chaste kiss to his sharp teeth.