One Evening at Beelzebuddies

Becky kept up her assault on the seeds. Her head was going front and back, devouring the seeds quickly, as she stopped for a second, her head twitching, and then pulled the soft drink to herself, adjusted the straw, and sipped.

She then looked at Nagana, seemingly reading her mind, and said "Pulses are seeds that are a staple food across many places. Easy to eat, easy to digest, very nutritious. The preferred food for many avians."

She then resumed devouring the pulses.

Nagana’s curiosity must have been plain as day on her scaly face, because Becky commented on what exactly her order was. Nagana had no idea that the seeds were common enough that they were a main food source for Avians and yet she still hadn’t seen them. Sure, Naga’s didn’t eat seeds. But Nagana lived outside of Tsubar in the woods outside of town. She knew how to forage and hunt, but also shopped at the market inside the city and never even noticed them. Nagana couldn’t help but scratch her cheek as she shamed herself for being so unobservant. Becky seemed to be eating them like they were good, which made Nagana a little jealous. She had never experienced a meal that made her feel as good as Becky looked like she was feeling.

Nagana lazily tore off a hunk of her meal and popped it into her mouth, swallowing the piece of meat without much thought. She couldn’t taste the meal, simply eating to sustain herself for the moment. Protein was a natural choice for a fighter like her, and with a single gulp she swallowed the egg yolk drink. It didn’t occur to her that something like that could be offensive towards Becky. Thankfully, Becky seemed more into her food than anything else, and so Nagana subtly tried to hide her glass behind her arm. Afterwards, she cleared her throat and continued to rip and swallow pieces of her meaty meal.

“I-I’ve never heard of them. I…really don’t get out all that much.”

Becky had already eaten half of her bowl, taking a breather. She looked at Nagana in curiosity.

"Do people in public make you uncomfortable?"

She then shook her head and raised a hand.

"Because next time if they do, anyone who wants to give you grief is gonna fish for their teeth in the sewer when I see them."

Nagana was a fierce and intimidating Naga. Even for her species, she was considered bigger than most. Paired with her combat prowess and sheer muscle power, she was a force of sheer terror and intimidation. The way Becky seemed to see through all of that and still look at Nagana as though she were a smaller, non-serpent species was rather new for the large serpent. Naga’s were Avian’s natural enemies, but Becky treated Nagana with a smile and a friendly disposition. The fact that Nagana offered to protect Becky earlier seemed to be brushed off as a simple joke, but Becky seemed to mean her own promise of defense for Nagana’s comfort. The thought that Becky would fight for an enemy species, and one that was so naturally threatening was mind boggling to the snake. The Serpent Striker had almost seriously hurt Becky in their fight, and yet Becky still delivered her offer without a hint of irony or malice. She was genuine.

Nagana scratched her cheek, hiding her yellow eyes as she did so. Snakes were solitary by nature, and Nagana had never really had a friend like this after she grew up. It had been years since anyone looked at her as anything more than a scary threat or something to be used. With surprising subtlety, Nagana rubbed her eyes before getting control of herself.

“Yeah. Absolutely.” The snake muttered gratefully. “Lets…let's watch out for each other. If anyone messes with us, let's have each other's back! If it's Hathiya, Croo-El, or even the Overseer!” The serpent smiled, her face suddenly much lighter and beaming than before.

Becky lifted her soda can, her eyes beaming with happiness at her newfound comrade. It was, yes, strange, but frankly? Right now, she didn't care.

"Heck yeah!"

------
Half an hour later

The doors of Beelzebuddies opened, and a strange sight walked out. A big muscular naga, in a cute sweater and dress, with an avian sitting on her shoulders behind her neck, holding the sides of her head, both chatting to each other.

"And honestly, I'd just build my own car, of course. But I don't know anyone yet who can make a car fitting my size."

Wandering outside after the hearty meal, Nagana couldn’t help but notice that people were once again staring at her. But unlike all of the other times, Nagana didn’t mind everyone's stares. Because this time, Becky was with her, perched comfortably on the snake’s deceptively powerful shoulder. The feeling of having someone with her, a silent pact between them to take care of one another no matter what, made all of the stink eyes and wayward glances palatable. It wasn’t just Nagana anymore, and so now it was easy for the Serpent Striker to be on her best behavior as the two happily chatted along with one another as they slithered down the street.

“Y’know, I knew a guy once who read me a book about a mouse driving a car. They put an engine in a children's toy and it seemed to work out. I bet you could find someone who could enchant something like that and you could drive something like that?”

The two continued to chatter with one another, laughing at each other's silly ideas and sharing experiences. People stared, but they stopped noticing in hardly any time at all. The two were friends. And as unlikely as that was, that made their bond near unbreakable! Two natural enemies and two loners uniting and solidifying a bond despite what the world thought.

What adventures might they experience? What opposition might they face? Neither could know for sure. But they would take them on together. No matter how tough, no matter how difficult the situation. They would always have each others backs.

To be continued…