19. To PhoNot to Pho
To Pho or Not to Pho
Malachi stared at the flickering neon sign in front of the dive bar on the other side of the parking lot.
It proudly proclaimed that the establishment, The Handlebar, served the coldest beer in town.
He glanced at Jaxon, grimaced, and scoffed, “It’s probably kept that cold to keep anyone from tasting it and realizing it’s watered-down horse piss.
” Silently agreeing with his statement, Jaxon glanced at Malachi and Reena before grudgingly admitting he was grateful Reena was on a simple leash now instead of the carrier from earlier.
The trio was standing in front of a Vietnamese restaurant waiting for Flick and Luna to arrive. He shook his head and shushed Jaxon when he muttered for the third time, “How do I get myself into these kinds of situations?”
“Mal!” a hearty voice called from behind them.
Turning their gazes to the newcomers, Jaxon’s eyes widened as he took in the pair of demons approaching them.
He watched, open-mouthed, as Flick, whose skin was a solid copper color, looped his arm around Malachi’s neck with familiarity before punching his shoulder with his free hand.
He hadn’t bothered to hide his demonic origin, something Malachi was now scolding him for.
Rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous, shaking hand, Jaxon turned his eyes to the other new member of their party.
Luna stared back at Jaxon, her gaze both anxious and curious.
She glanced at Malachi for reassurance and relaxed slightly when he gave a small nod.
Lifting her slender fingers, she gave a quick wave and ducked her head in embarrassment as her cheeks flooded with color.
Her lips turned up in a delighted smile as Reena came over to sniff her shoes.
Slowly letting out an uneasy breath, Jaxon studied her more closely, clearly curious about the timid young woman.
Malachi watched him even closer, waiting to see how he reacted to the hybrid demon.
He crossed his mental fingers that they would bond quickly.
He also hoped she would remember the role she was supposed to play and wouldn’t chicken out.
She’d used her powers before, but she was still very young and timid.
“I guess I should introduce you all,” Malachi stated, his tone short and irritated, as if being the organizer of this gathering was a major burden.
The fact that it was his idea was unimportant.
“But first, go, human,” he scolded Flick again.
“And you, quit playing with the Chuglet and introduce yourself.”
Luna ignored him to give Reena ear scratches.
Reena wheezed out a happy little howl, as usual, sounding like a demented clown. Her whole ass wiggled with excitement, making her curly little tail bounce like a spring.
“She’s so precious!” Luna declared as she sat on the sidewalk, hauling the dog into her lap. Rich laughter escaped her lips as Reena happily supplied her with kisses.
“Absolutely she is! She’ll make a fine Hellhound someday.” Flick agreed, fading into his human form and stretching before his eyes caught on Jaxon’s amused smirk. “Oh, yeah, introductions. I’m Flick. You must be Jaxon, right?”
Jaxon blinked then said, “I’m honestly surprised Malachi bothered to tell you in advance.
” He nodded slowly then held out his hand to shake with the jovial demon.
Glancing at Malachi, he snorted. “You know, I’m wondering for the…
hmm… I don’t know how many times— honestly, I’ve lost count—what I did in life to end up consorting with demons.
My staunchly Catholic mother is probably turning in her grave, saying prayers for me. ”
Flick chuckled and pointed at the woman on the ground. “That’s our friend, Luna. And yeah, she’s ignoring you because she hates you, but don’t take it too personally; she hates everyone. She’s the worst of all of us.”
Luna jolted and stared up at them, her gaze wide with surprise. “What? No!”
“Good for you; everyone needs a hobby,” Jaxon drawled nonchalantly, waving off her protests.
A beat of silence followed his statement before two booming voices cackled with glee. Not wanting to be left out, Reena yipped along too. Luna sat on the sidewalk, her mouth turned down in a cute pout, glaring at Flick for his lies.
“I like him!” Flick declared heartily, clapping Jaxon on the shoulder so hard he almost knocked him over. “Sorry, my man; I forgot to dial that back when I’m topside.”
Malachi nodded approvingly at Jaxon and pointed at him.
“There you go, see? Getting better already! No more moping; can’t stand that shit.
Let’s get some pho, and then we can cause some chaos next door.
” He jerked his thumb toward the dive bar that was now steadily pumping out the questionable sounds of a jukebox with wailing classic rock music and men yelling at each other.
Studying the long line of motorcycles parked in front, Jaxon shuddered. “Malachi, remember, cop.” He pointed at himself, stabbing a finger in his chest. “Can’t commit crimes. Don’t start anything I have to finish. I’m off, and I’d like to still have a job later.”
Waving his hand, shooing the concerns like he would a pesky fly, Malachi shook his head, hair flitting around his jaw. “You worry too much, Jaxxy. Would I betray you like that?” He placed one hand over his heart with a dramatic gasp.
“Yes,” Jaxon replied without hesitation, “and don’t call me Jaxxy. I will shoot you.”
A small, choked sound came from Luna, who had regained her feet. Jaxon glanced at her as she tried to contain her laugh. “That’s a cute nickname; he must like you. But… please don’t shoot Malachi. I need him!” she begged, twisting her fingers together and biting her lower lip nervously.
Flick held no such restraint and squeezed Jaxon’s shoulder companionably, giving him an enthusiastic shake.
“Oh, please shoot him! I would love to see that! Right in the ass cheek if you can manage. I owe that fucker two, actually! Once for his girlfriend, and one for the time he put a crucifix down my pants. Burned my junk so bad I could barely walk for a week!”
“That was payback for you making me eat brimstone last century. That damned rock is still in my gut!” Malachi declared hotly, slapping his stomach.
“I dared you; I didn’t force it!”
“You triple dared me on the tip of Lucifer’s horns; that’s pretty much forcing me!”
Jaxon watched the two male demons insulting each other back and forth, then turned his eyes down to where Reena was yawning as she scratched her ears. “Reena’s not a service dog.”
Pausing in their argument, Malachi turned to him, his forehead wrinkled with confusion, his finger still pointing in Flick’s face. “Huh?”
“Reena,” Jaxon repeated, gesturing at the small dog now staring at him curiously as well. “She’s not a service dog. So, you can’t take her into the restaurant or the bar. Health code. Chuglet or not, she’s not allowed. How do you plan to get around that?”
Ducking her head and whimpering, Reena huffed out the saddest little doggy whine ever and lowered her body to the concrete. If she could have become part of the walkway, she would.
“Fucker! Absolute monster! You hurt her feelings! And you call me a demon!” Malachi snapped as he leaned down and scooped Reena into his arms, cradling her in a protective embrace as he held her close.
He stomped toward the door of the restaurant, sailing in as if he owned the place without a backward glance.
“Asshole, abusing defenseless little dogs,” seethed a voice filled with hate and menace as Flick slid past him and followed Malachi inside. Unlike Malachi, he glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes ran over Jaxon disdainfully before his lips curved in disgust.
Pausing inside the door, Malachi hid behind a Ficus tree like a budget film noir spy and watched to see if Jaxon would follow.
Shaking his head, Jaxon stuck his hand in his pocket, pulling out his keys. Then, his chest heaved as he sighed. He yelled at the door, “Malachi, if I leave, you’ll just come back and pester me until I give in, won’t you?”
Malachi grinned and fist-bumped Flick, who was cackling over his shoulder. “Told you.”
Jaxon stormed over, fury in his eyes as he flung open the door. He was about to give them a piece of his mind when they heard a soft voice call, “I’m glad you stayed. Malachi must really like you.”
Whirling in surprise, Jaxon studied Luna, clearly having forgotten the other demon was still there. “That’s him liking me?” he blurted incredulously, gesturing to the demon smirking at him just inside the door.
Flick grinned and called over Malachi’s shoulder helpfully, “Yep! He speaks to you and is voluntarily in your presence! This is the start of a beautiful friendship.” His beaming smile had a definite quirk of mischief to it.
Sighing again, Jaxon snorted out a laugh as he stared warily at the trio of demons surrounding him. “Great. This is going to be a long night.”