So sneak-show it was.
He was careful to lock the front door without making a sound, and he didn’t even take off his jacket to avoid unwanted rustling. He crept across the kitchen, exhaling in relief when he found it empty and the house quiet.
He made it all of five steps across the tile before Belial stepped around the corner and blocked his path. The grumpy bastard had his tree-trunk arms crossed and his baby-blue eyes narrowed to slits.
“Where have you been?”
Meph played it casual. “Who says I’ve been anywhere?”
“You’re wearing a coat.”
Oh, yeah.He quickly abandoned that avenue of lying. “I was just out for a walk.”
“At six in the morning?”
“Maybe I like walking at that time. Maybe I’m a morning person.”
Bel shook his head. “You have that look about you. You’ve had it a lot lately, actually.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
Raum trudged into the kitchen wearing only a pair of baggy sweatpants, and Meph groaned inwardly. Looked like he was facing the inquisition this morning. He’d be fine as long as Ash didn’t show up.
“He’s right,” Raum said, casting Meph a sidelong glance as he fired up the espresso machine. “You’ve been sneaking around, acting weird.”
This time, Meph went with self-righteous indignation. He huffed in a haughty manner that would make Iris proud. “What is with you two? Can’t a guy go for an innocent walk in peace? Why you gotta go all Sherlock Holmes on me?”
“Where were you?” Bel asked, not buying it.
“Out.”
“Out where?”
“I know you weren’t partying,” Raum said.
Meph shot Raum a glare. They had an unspoken bro-code agreement that Raum wouldn’t mention Meph’s no-touchy problems to anyone. Except, apparently, they didn’t, because the asshole was about to blurt it out in front of Belial.
“Why?” Bel said, glancing between them.
“Because he’s been having issues,” Raum said.
“Fuck you,” Meph said. “I’ll remember this next time you have shit you want to keep secret.”
“What are you talking about?” Bel’s eyes suddenly widened, and he pinned Meph with a very serious look. “Are you having trouble... you know?”
“Trouble with what?”
“Getting it up.”
Raum barked a laugh and covered it with a cough.
Meph’s mouth dropped open. “Fuck no! I’ll still be able to get it up when I’m fucking dead and in my grave. Lot more than I can say for you, old man. How’s the celibate monk routine going? Did it shrivel up and fall off yet?”
Belial’s clenched jaw could cut steel, but he said nothing. In truth, Meph didn’t know if Bel was still abstaining. He did know, however, that Bel’s six-month vow of celibacy had ended, and he hadn’t seen any evidence that his brother was partaking again. Something Meph would have ribbed him about to no end if he hadn’t been hiding a few things himself.
“Well, what else am I supposed to think when Raum says you have ‘issues’?” Bel finally asked.
“Thanks a fucking lot,” Meph snapped at Raum. “I’ll have you know I don’t have those ‘issues’ at all anymore. I’m cured.”
