Demons Have Feelings Too
Malachi leaned against the counter in the kitchen, arms crossed once again, jaw clenched so hard a muscle feathered in his cheek.
He stared daggers at the doorway to the living room where the others were gathered.
Chuck was once again feeding a large group of people that didn’t need to eat but wanted to stay for dinner anyway.
He was supposed to be helping. He should be helping.
But he was irritated and out of sorts with everything that was happening.
Reena sat at his feet, whimpering as she tapped her paw on his leg, wanting his attention.
Never one to deny her any want, Malachi quickly bent and scooped Reena in his arms. “I’m sorry, Princess,” he whispered, rubbing his cheek on her head, laughing slightly at her wheezy rumble of happiness.
“I know, I’m angry. I don’t mean to be, and it’s not at you.
But there’s too many people here, and they won’t go the fuck away. ”
“I’m sorry too,” Chuck called softly from where she was grating cheese for the tacos she was making.
Briefly, she set the grater on the counter and sent him a sad look, her lips trying and failing to curve into a smile.
Her eyes were dull, her aura gray, and her shoulders, normally straight and proud, were drooping.
"Sorry again, Princess, but the Queen needs me,” Malachi told Reena as he gently set her down.
“You, Your Majesty, have nothing to apologize for. Chuck… Kelly, you saved my life. There’s no reason for you to tell me sorry.
” He placed his palms on each side of her face and gently pressed his lips to hers.
“My darling, beautiful warrior. I owe you my life. Let me finish up in here; you go rest, then we will kick these fuckers out, and I will worship you on my knees the way you deserve.”
Chuck’s eyes fluttered briefly, then she smirked. “Of course you’re offering to help with dinner now. After I’ve done all the work. Go set the table if you want to help, but you will still worship me later.” She winked and smacked his behind as he waggled his eyebrows knowingly.
Sauntering into the dining area, mood slightly improved, he started setting out plates and silverware, humming lightly. It was almost—gasp—cheerful.
“Domesticated the Hell out of you, didn’t she?” Flick chuckled as he strolled over. He watched Malachi with mischief glinting in his eyes, a knowing smirk curving his lips wickedly.
“Fuck off, Flicker,” Malachi replied mildly, not rising to the obvious challenge. He continued his work, counting the plates to ensure they had enough before he began laying out silverware.
“Touchy,” Flick muttered in irritation. He yanked a chair from the table and spun it around, so he was sitting in it backward.
Resting his arms on the back, he laid his chin on them and watched Malachi with hooded eyes.
“Malachi, I’m not good at this kind of thing, so I may not come across like I mean it… but I’m sorry I wasn’t there today.”
A fork clattered from Malachi’s fingers to the table, falling as he whirled in surprise to face his cousin.
“What? Why would you have been there?” he demanded incredulously.
“What could you have done? And since when do you apologize? And sound like you actually mean it?” His hands snapped to his hips as he stared disbelievingly at his cousin, lips parted in awe.
When no answer was forthcoming, he took a small step forward, concern filling his voice as he asked softly, “Flick?”
Lifting one hand and waving negligently, Flick kept his gaze firmly on Malachi’s bare feet, his expression troubled.
“I… I don’t know, Mal. It’s weird. I guess…
I see you, and how happy you are. I miss you, back in Hell.
Us. You, me, and Eefs, getting into our usual shenanigans.
” A heavy sigh laced with a hint of brimstone escaped his lips.
“Ever since you’ve got mainstream, I never see you.
I thought it was a load of shit at first. You…
living with an angel, being a cop. I thought, surely she must have something over you.
But damn… seeing it myself…” He shook his head and ran his hand through the long tangle of his tinsel-like hair, twisting it around his wrist in a nervous gesture very unlike himself. “I don’t know anymore.”
Squatting in front of the chair, Malachi stared at his cousin hard, forcing him to meet his gaze.
The longer he looked, the more he understood.
There was real pain in Flick’s eyes. His cousin truly had missed him.
It caused his stomach to swirl painfully, tightening with regret.
It wasn’t a new feeling to him; Chuck made him regret things all the time.
Usually, it was for some smartass remark or a prank he played on Jaxon, but this regret was different.
Sharper, twisting his insides like a pretzel.
It took another moment until he was able to figure out that he felt guilty for having abandoned Flick and Aoife for his life topside.
He’d thought no one would miss him. Demons weren’t known for being family-oriented. He’d thought wrong.
“Flick,” he mumbled, his voice thick with his own emotions.
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, he leaned forward and firmly gripped Flick’s arm, squeezing slightly to put emphasis on his words.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left the way I did.
At first, I had no choice; Hyacinth cursed me, and I couldn’t leave.
But once I was able to return, I should have.
I shouldn’t have left you all wondering what happened. ”
His cousin’s copper-colored eyes narrowed on him in suspicion as he jerked his head back.
“Fucker, don’t try to put your emotions on me.
” A few seconds later, his stern expression failed, and he grinned sheepishly.
“Kidding, it’s a hard habit to break. Not admitting shit like that.
I did miss you, but I swear I’m not lying when I say: I understand why.
If I had an opportunity like this…” he trailed off, a wistful note in his tone as he glanced at the table.
One hand lifted, and he gestured half-heartedly around them.
“I wouldn’t go back to Hell either. Do you think…
” He paused again and gnawed on his lower lip.
“Never mind,” he muttered as Chuck strolled in, basket of tortillas in her hands.
Malachi squinted at Flick; fairly certain he knew what the demon was about to ask and unsure how to respond. He knew Flick wanted to try his own hand at mainstreaming, but he was always the wildest of their little trio.
“Flick,” Chuck snapped, “get your demonic ass out of that chair and sit in it the right way. You might practically be an animal, but not in my house. Of course, if you do stay there, I wouldn’t mind shooting you again.
” Her words were sharp, but a smile twitched the corners of her lips, and she winked.
For his part, Flick jumped to comply as he grinned back at her. “Yes ma’am!” he replied with a cheeky salute.
Malachi covered his laugh, trying not to let Chuck see he had caught on that Flick was growing on her. More like a hemorrhoid than actual affection, but tolerating all the same. Rising, he placed a quick kiss on her cheek before hurrying to the kitchen to carry out the rest of the dinner.
Reena glanced at him as he entered the room, breaking her soulful stare from the counter where the food was laid out. She whimpered slightly before returning her gaze to the bowl of steaming taco meat.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” he told her as he reached for a jar on the counter.
“That is too spicy for you. It will give you a ring of fire later. How about this instead?” He held out a bacon strip for her to take.
Her underbite quivered, and the look of utter devotion in her eyes had him chuckling.
“Bacon really does make it better, doesn’t it darling? ”
“She’s getting fat,” Chuck grumbled as she swept in to grab more of the serving dishes.
Snatching her around the waist, Malachi spun her out away from him like a ballroom dancer, then reeled her back, holding her close.
“An angel, two demons, two nephs, and a cop are sitting down for tacos. I think there’s other things to be concerned about.
Don’t you?” he murmured in her ear. “Besides, she burns off the calories when she does that chihuahua quiver or chases Muriel’s cat. ”
Reena garbled in agreement through her mouthful of bacon jerky.
A breathy laugh from Chuck as she laid her head on his shoulder brought a small smile to his lips.
He loved that sound, so he added, “Sounds like the opening to a really bad comedy. Maybe a cheesy horror movie. We should add chainsaws.” He continued to dance her around the kitchen, reveling in the sounds of her amusement.
“The way your mind works is like nothing I’ve ever seen. But then again, you are the first demon I’ve ever known.” Chuck smiled up at him before poking him in the chest. “Now, let’s go eat with our motley crew.”
“Oh yeah, those guys know how to party…” Malachi sighed dreamily.
He grabbed the bowls of toppings and turned back to Chuck, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
“Oh… you didn’t mean the band. You meant our group in there.
” He smirked at her expression. “Let’s just say, their success wasn’t due to God-given talent.
” He sailed out of the room, leaving her staring in his wake.