“Question,” you say, turning to Ziros where he’s using his wind powers instead of a broom to sweep crumbs off the floor. “Your brother wouldn’t happen to be the one who saved Corrine from that mugging she mentioned at the party, would he? A guy who shoots actual fire out of his hands?”
Ziros laughs dryly. “That sounds exactly like something Sy would do.”
“Sy?”
“Yeah. He’s a real white knight type. Sees himself as the good guy, always trying to save the damsel in distress. But if you ask me, he’s just a pain in the ass.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Ha!” Ziros laughs again. “Yeah, until he decidesyou’rethe problem, and then shows up at your human’s cafe to try to disintegrate you. Fun times.”
“Point taken.”
You’re about to ask more questions about his mysterious fraternal twin brother who has it out to kill him, but before you can, the front door swings open again.
Fortunately, it’s just another human customer.
Not a monster, and not a vampire—or whatever mix of things Ziros and his brother are.
Although…
“Welcome!” You beam as you step up behind the counter, customer service smile affixed perfectly in place. “What can I get for you today?”
The man on the other side of the counter looks familiar, and not in a good way.
Of all the people to come in—it’shim:the cashier from the convenience store beneath your apartment building.
Which would be all fine enough, except he takes one look at Ziros, glares, and demands, “What’shedoing here?”
“What, can’t a boyfriend come to work with his girlfriend?” Ziros asks, slinging an arm around your shoulder.
Ziros is taller than the nosy guy, and he stares him down from across the counter.
But that doesn’t stop him from asking more questions.
Ignoring Ziros, he looks at you and asks, “Didn’t you say he’s not your boyfriend? Just ‘roommates with benefits’?”
The nosy customer frowns as he says it, like those words leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
And you can’t help but feel a little annoyed that a complete stranger is taking such an interest in your personal life. It’s a little odd, to say the least.
Odd at best, creepy at worst.
“Does it matter?” You ask, letting a little of your annoyance show in your voice. “Now, if you have something you’d like to order, please make it quick. There’s a line.”
There isn’t a line.
He’s the only customer in the shop, and he spins, glancing back at the empty room.
“What?”
“Go on,” Ziros says, his voice lowering to nearly a growl, a gust of cold wind swirling through the nosy convenience store cashier’s hair. “Order what you came for, and thenget out.”
Okay, so maybe that’s not the best way to do customer service, but to be fair, the guy kinda deserves it for prying.
Convenience Store Cashier Guy glares at Ziros all through his order, but smiles at you as you hand over a disposable paper mug in its sleeve.
“Thanks, have a great day!” You say on reflex, hoping that will encourage him to leave in a hurry.
