Gorgon Girlfriend: Meleda 2 (complete)

Male Reader (cis himbo) x Female Monster (cis)

I’ve found out through the rumor mill that Meleda’s mother obtained her land and house by gambling. She won big, and it’s hinted she might have done so by cheating. Apparently, the land had once belonged to Mayor Cobble’s family, so a lot of resentment has been built up between him and Meleda’s family. I suppose the pavilion was built more out of spite than confusion over property lines, because if that land once belonged to Mayor Cobble, he would know every inch of it.

I’ve been able to protect Meleda and her home, although I’m having a hard time coming up with stories for why it’s taking so long to ‘kill the monster’. I guess Mayor Cobble and his associates figured I’d have her head lopped off by the end of the day, but it’s been a month now. I’ve been able to fend them off with lies about hidden traps all around the property and pavilion. I suppose I’m not making Meleda sound good, and perhaps I should be working towards that instead.

I do like Meleda, though. She’s been so nice all this time, and she’s a really good cook. I hate to admit that I have put on a little more weight, even with all the work I’ve been doing to the house. My fiancée won’t like it at all, but I’m happy. I’ve been writing letters home to my fiancée, telling her that my mission is taking longer than expected and very dangerous. Sometimes she writes back, but not often. I’m actually grateful she doesn't, because I’d hate to hear about how worried she is. She really doesn’t let it on. She seems to have a new friend, and I’m glad she has someone around the place to keep her company while I’m away.

I’ve started a garden for Meleda, which isn’t my strong suit, but my sister who works on a farm and sends me a lot of letters about growing her pumpkins. I figured a garden would help Meleda in the long run, so she could grow her own produce and wouldn't have to worry about going into town as much. I’ve also tried reaching out to Meleda’s family, and have received a letter from her father, but it only contained money and not a word otherwise. I haven’t heard back from her brother, Nectarios, at all. Maybe he’s busy, although Meleda thinks he’s dead.

I really like it here, though, and sometimes when I think about heading home I get very sad. But I cheer myself up with the knowledge that Meleda still needs me. I won’t go until Mayor Cobble and the rest of Plumstone give up on wanting to kill Meleda as a monster.

One afternoon as I’m finishing some work in the garden, I see Meleda sunning herself outside. She gets cold, so one of her favorite things to do is sit in a sunny patch. She’s small, but she has really nice legs, and scales that look like sugar-coated amethysts in the sunlight. She really is beautiful, with her snaky hair, pretty scales and sweet voice. “You keep working hard like that, you’re not going to be any good to the lady you have at home,” Meleda says.

“My fiancée?”

“Yeah, her.” She sits up and pulls her legs into her chest. “You plan on giving me all your good years?”

“Not years,” I chuckle. “And I don’t mind it. I’ve always been a hard worker.” I pull up my shirt to wipe my face.

“Yes, but paradise isn’t going to last forever,” Meleda sighs. “Let’s face facts, the villagers aren’t going to buy your stories for much longer. They’re going to get fed up and probably burn the place down to get rid of me.”

“I won’t let that happen!” I protest.

Meleda shrugs. “It’ll be fine. I’ll just head home to dad, the jerk,” she grumbles.

“You could always come back with me,” I offer. I would rather have her with me than have her be somewhere she is unhappy.

Meleda’s smile is all too brief. “I don’t think your fiancée would appreciate you having me there.”

“I think it would be okay. She has a friend staying with her right now.”

Meleda bites her lip and nearly sucks her chin into her mouth. “Your fiancée has a friend with her right now?”

I stoop to pick up my tools. “Yeah, his name is Hansel.”

“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think…” She stops and straightens up. “I don’t want to be the one to do this. But I actually like you, and that doesn’t happen much. I like my mom and my brother - kind of - and that’s it. The way you talk about your fiancée and the way she treats you, I don’t think she likes you!”

I frown at her. “But she’s my fiancée.”

“Her dad pawned her off on you!” Meleda puts her hands on my arms. “She’s using you, and I guarantee that. She calls you stupid, makes fun of your apperance, and demands money from you! I’ve had sugar daddies I’ve treated nicer! She’s a loser, Sebastian, and you deserve someone who actually likes you and sees what a sweet, adorable guy you are.”

I sit down, taking in what she’s said. “I’m sorry,” she says gently as she sits down beside me. “I just hate everything about her.” She looks apologetically at me as I’m still turning the rocks of my brain around. “Has she ever kissed you? Said she appreciates you?”

“No,” I grumble. “She says she’s saving that for marriage.”

“Affection isn’t just for marriage,” she huffs. “It’s for... lots of things.” She places a soft kiss on my cheek, and I swear I could have taken off to the moon even in daylight. “No one has ever been this kind to me before, or at least not in a long time.” She smudges away the lipstick she left on my cheek. “You have a very kissable face, too. She’s an idiot.”

I smile softly. “You think so?”

She smiles in return. “I do. She’s stupid.”

“Don’t say that. It's mean.” I place my hand over hers on my shoulder.

“Then why let her say those things about you?”

I can almost see her eyes through the glasses, and I just smile at her. “I guess I never noticed it. I only wanted to make her happy.”

She presses her lips together. “You can’t, that’s just it.”

I want to say something else, but I hear a noise from behind the house. “Sounds like someone is at the pavilion. Go inside and stay low.”

“Be careful,” Meleda whispers before slipping back inside.

I walk around the house, picking up a shovel as I go. When I get to the back, I see someone standing on the other side of the stream. “I told Mayor Cobble to make sure this area stayed clear,” I call to him. “It’s dangerous.”

The man is dressed all in purple, and like Meleda, he wears a hat that covers his hair. “Dangerous enough to wield a shovel? Must be scary!”

I scowl at him. “Big brute, huh?” He steps over the stream. “Wouldn’t happen to be the guy who messaged me?” He pulls my letter from his jacket, and before I can speak, he raises his hand. “Don’t talk. I don’t want my sister to know I’m here. Just be aware I’ll be taking care of things in Plumstone, and having her know wouldn’t be any fun.”

“What?”

The man chuckles. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Everything will be taken care of in, I’d say…” He trails off and counts on his fingers. “A week, at the least. Two at most.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Just keep your mouth shut, big guy.” He slashes his finger across his lips. “I’m only telling you because you asked for my help.”

“Oh, okay.” I’m still not sure about this, but he’s asked nicely.

He lifts up his hat just a bit, and I can see snakes under the brim. “Good job then. I’ll come back when it’s done.” He steps back across the stream, then disappears down the path heading back to the village.

I go back inside, finding Meleda sitting on my bed, which is actually the couch. She perks up as I come into the room. “Is everything okay?” she asks, hushed and urgent. She has my pillow clutched in her arms.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I come and sit down beside her. “Nothing to worry about.”

She breathes with relief. “Good. I know you’re used to fighting monsters and stuff, but I don’t like it. Just thinking about someone laying an ill hand on you scares me.”

“I’m tough! They barely hurt,” I laugh.

She scowls at me, then lays her head on my shoulder. “Good thing you’re so sweet.”

Something about having Meleda this close makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over, and she always smells sweet and fruity. I want to touch her, to rub her back and comfort her, but I feel so nervous about doing it. “Y-you really don’t have to worry about it, Meleda! I’m protecting you. It’s what I do.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “So don’t get so upset. Nothing even happened.”

Meleda lifts her head. “I know. I was also kind of worried you’d be mad at me for what I said about your fiancée. I was afraid that our last words together might not have been so kind.”

“I’m not mad about that,” I murmur. “I’m not sure, but maybe you’re right. I think she might be really mean.”

Meleda places another soft kiss on my cheek. “I won’t say anything, because I can’t say anything nice.” The snakes all move to one side of her head as she snuggles her cheek to my shoulder. “But you deserve better.”

“I know, but, where would I ever find it?” I chuckle.

Meleda groans and shakes her head. “I don’t want to call you stupid, but sometimes it’s like I have to turn your head to get it! Me!” she snaps in my face. “It’s me! I’m pointing myself directly at you with a welcome sign and an all you can eat buffet! Me!”

“But you’re way too pretty.”

She screams into the cushion, then glares at me, grabs the sides of my head and pulls me down, kissing me until I can’t help but kiss back. As soon as I am swooning and all completely warm, she pulls back. “Do you get it now?” she whispers to me.

I swallow and nod shakily. “I, uh… I think. Maybe.”

Meleda kisses me again, and her long tongue slides into my mouth. She tickles me and, with a giggle, kisses my jaw and down my neck. “I like you a lot, you silly man.” She looks me in the eyes through her sunglasses. “So, if I have to, I’ll fight that… fiancée of yours for you.”

“Please don’t.” I’m still trying to catch my breath. “She doesn’t deserve that.”

Meleda giggles and goes to kiss me again but I stop her. “I need to end it, though,” I tell her. “I don’t want to move forward until she knows.”

Meleda pouts. “You’re a good man through and through, Sebastian. Alright. I’ll keep it in my pants until then.”

“You don’t wear pants.”

She inhales sharply. “Seriously, stop it. I want to kiss you so badly!”

I send word to my fiancée - or well, ex-fiancée, I suppose - that I want to end things.. Once I hear back from her, I can pursue Meleda in earnest. I wouldn’t want anyone to go behind my back, so I wouldn’t go behind my fiancée’s. Ex fiancée’s.

I am now aware of Meleda’s intentions, and the fact that all this time she has been secretly flirting with me. Okay, it wasn’t so secret, I’m just not the sharpest nail in the shed. I suppose her flirtations worked, because I notice my thoughts about her have already become romantic in nature, I just never realized it. I am hoping her brother will return with good news about whatever it was he is doing to help Meleda. Maybe by then I’ll have heard back from my fiancée, and then, perhaps, Meleda and I could have some time together as partners.

One evening I’m awakened by a loud banging on the door. I get up, wiping the sleep from my eyes, as the banging angrily persists. Meleda comes out of her bedroom with a concerned look on her face, but I gently push her back inside. “Stay there for now. Let me handle this.”

She appears to want to argue, instead she kisses my palm. “Just be careful.”

She goes back into her room, closing the door behind her. I march forward, steeling myself and grabbing a poker from the fire as I approach the door. “Who goes there?” I boom.

“Oh, wow, big boy can get scary,” a familiar laugh rings. “No harm here, buddy. Just coming to say hello.”

I glare at the door. “That wasn’t funny!”

“Oh, come on, it’s my sister. I get to pick on her.”

Meleda comes out of her room. “Did I hear that fucking right?” She comes up behind me and tries to tear the poker from my hand. “Open the door. Let me say hello back!”

I open the door and let Nectarios inside. He smirks as he glides into the hallway, while Meleda is still trying to wrench the poker from my grasp. “I’m surprised you’re not happy to see me.” He carefully plucks off his glove a finger at a time. “Been a long time, baby sister.”

Meleda tries to direct my arm to make the poker strike him. “You fucked up!”

“Calm down,” I try to soothe her. “He’s here because of me.”

Meleda frowns, then looks back at Nectarios. “What’d you do?”

He chuckles and takes a piece of paper from his pocket. “The Cobble family hasn’t changed in all these years. Mom really hit the jackpot with those losers.” He hands the paper to her. “They’re still a bunch of chumps for a pretty face.”

Meleda snatches the paper, and her mouth opens as she reads it. She stares back at Nectarios in disbelief. “This is the deed to the town, with your name on it.”

“You’re welcome!” He snatches the deed back. “That idiot got so drunk he didn’t know what he was signing. He thought he was giving me his house, just like Mom.” He looks over his winnings and smirks back at me. “Once morning comes and he realizes what he’s done, I’ll have the leverage to protect my sister, just like you asked. Now, mind if I lay down for a while?” he goes over to the sofa and stretches out where I was.

I sigh. “Oh, good.”

Meleda scoffs. “Figures,” she grumbles.

“I know you told me not to contact him, but I didn’t know what else to do, since you didn’t want to go back to your father. I’m sorry.”

She tilts her chin up and sighs. “Come to bed, since he took over your spot.”

My chest grows hot and tingly. “It’s okay, I can sleep in the chair.”

She scowls towards me. “I don’t get to kiss you but I will cuddle you!”

My heart is going so fast, it feels like rabbits running across my chest. I follow her into the bedroom and onto the bed, where she takes off her sunglasses and sets them on her bedside table. In the dark, I can’t see her, but I do see the purple glint of her eyes. She snuggles up beside me, curling against my back and wrapping her arm around me. “I knew you’d be warm,” she sighs dreamily.

I touch her hand on my belly. It felt so nice, so comfortable that I fell asleep right away.

Nectarios certainly has Plumstone scared. He keeps the deed, saying he’ll sell Plumstone to the highest bidder amongst his father’s people, whoever they are, if Meleda’s property isn’t restored and she isn’t left alone. Right away, amends are being made, which would have been so easy before, but now it feels like pathetic groveling. Which Meleda seemed to enjoy.

I receive word from my ex fiancée, who just says ‘That’s fine’, and that’s the end of our engagement. I tell, Meleda and I finally got to kiss her. I’m afraid I do get a bit excited, though, which she also seems to enjoy.

I stayed with Meleda, making a promise to Nectarios to protect her and adding that I would love her, too. I build her a cart from which to sell her candy, and even though people in the town still don’t like her, she becomes very popular with the kids. They like her because she isn’t liked by their parents, and they all want her special ‘witch’ candy.

One evening, as she cuddled against my back, pressing kisses to my shoulder, I sigh deeply. I love her so much, and I have to show her. “I know we aren’t married,” I tell her as I stretch out beside her. “But will you accept me now?”

Meleda grins and wraps herself around me. “I’ve been waiting for this all this time. I’m ready, sweetie.”

I know this is not the typical romance I was told about as a child, but I’m happy with the way things are. I love Meleda, monster or not.