19. CHAPTER #3
“Aw, sweetie cakes.” Gammy hugged Indy close and rubbed his back. “Don’t worry. Even if it was, we have many more years for plenty more mushy moments, hmm? But we have to make sure you’re going to be around for them.”
“Yeah.” Indy hugged her back, trying to hold on for as long as he could before he felt her slipping away. “I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s getting worse. Like, a lot worse.”
“It’s going to be okay, sweetie cakes. We’ll figure it out together, all right? I’ll make the potion again,” Gammy said with a firm nod. “There has to be a way to increase its potency.”
“I know a way!” King declared in a little singsong voice.
“And?” Gammy gestured expectantly.
“You told me to shut me hole ’bout that.” King wiggled a bit. “You gave me this cushion, didn’t yeh? I believe I’ve been bribed.”
“That is not—” Indy growled. “Okay, how about this? You can help to make sure I don’t die! How’s that? Hmm?”
“Can I get another cushion?”
“I will give you all the pillows you want if you can help us! Can we do that, please?”
“Only because you said please.”
“Please what?” Mr. Heiss asked from the doorway.
Indy cringed. “Uh—”
“Please don’t discuss secret things like skull-sicles and brain freeze!” King declared. “Also, I bit Indy. That wasn’t part of the secret, but I thought you ought to know.”
Mr. Heiss, thankfully, did not seem the slightest bit interested in King’s nonsense. “There have been no meaningful updates in our searches. I’m afraid we are back to waiting.”
“Okay, so.” Indy strolled over to Mr. Heiss to take his arm. “How about we leave Gammy to her witchery and we grab a big plate of donuts, watch TV, and cuddle? I think we could both use a nice, relaxing day.”
“We’ve barely done—”
“I had to change out of comfy clothes, leave the house, and then kick a severed head. I need a nice, relaxing day.”
Mr. Heiss’s lips twitched up in a small smile. “As you wish.”
To the couch they went, and Mr. Heiss did indeed summon a plate of colorful donuts. He didn’t eat any, seemingly content to sit and hold Indy close while he put on the next episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. As tense as he was, Indy figured Mr. Heiss could use some relaxing too.
He was clearly upset about Misingno trying to pry open his carefully crafted armor and reveal something Mr. Heiss didn’t want him to. He had secrets of his own, painful ones, though maybe some weren’t so bad.
After all, Mr. Heiss had not hesitated to jump on the offensive when it appeared that Misingno was going to threaten Indy. It had happened so quickly that Indy was left questioning if it had been real to begin with but…
Maybe he really did care about Indy.
And maybe he needed someone to talk to.
Indy turned to snuggle in closer against Mr. Heiss’s side, murmuring, “Hey.”
“Hi,” Mr. Heiss said softly. “The donuts not to your liking?”
“Huh? What? No. It’s fine. So, I know that you’re not big on chatting or anything else to do with not being an asshole usually, but…
” Indy hesitated. “There isn’t any pressing mobster business right this second, you’re probably not in the mood for hot steamy sex because you’re grumpy as shit, and I thought that maybe you’d… wanna talk?”
“Talk?”
“Yes, the communication of words and feelings.” Indy squeezed Mr. Heiss’s arm. “That is, you know, if you wanted to. Kinda felt like Misingno got to you a little bit and maybe you, I dunno, wanted to share or something.’Cause if you did, I’d be willing to listen.”
“Ah.” Mr. Heiss swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
Indy leaned his head on Mr. Heiss’s shoulder.
“That’s it?”
“What?”
“Normally, wouldn’t you be pestering the fuck out of me? Dragging me across the coals until you got what you wanted? Annoy me with your endless innuendo and provocative teasing?” Mr. Heiss snorted. “Giving up so easily doesn’t seem like your style.”
“Well, we can take turns being the asshole, I’ve decided. And right now, it’s your turn. I’ll bug you about it later.” Indy shrugged. “Right now… Just doesn’t seem like the right time. That’s all.”
“All right.”
“Now. Drag queens! I’ll give you head if you guess who wins correctly.”
Mr. Heiss smiled, but he didn’t offer up any guesses to win any potential fellatio.
He was quiet for several minutes, so quiet and for so long that Indy was in danger of dozing off.
He was warm and comfortable, a dangerous combination for staying awake, and the next episode started before Mr. Heiss spoke again.
“When you’re an angel—” Mr. Heiss sighed. “Shit.”
Indy stirred and lifted his head to meet Mr. Heiss’s gaze. “Hmm?”
Mr. Heiss was still staring at the television screen, and his brow was scrunched up in an awful scowl. He seemed uncertain, tense as a spring about to pop, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have not talked about this in a very, very long time. It is not… easy.”
“Hey, we got time,” Indy said softly. “Whenever you’re ready, remember?”
Mr. Heiss nodded and then took a deep breath. “When you’re an angel in the Light, you have no idea how full of shit anyone is until…”
“Until?”
“It’s too late.”