“Just buy your own house then, dumbass.”
“Well…” Meph twisted his hands in his lap. “You know how Raum collected a fortune in Hell from all his stealing, and you and Ash are old as shit so you’re just rich by default?”
“Yeah …”
“Well, I was too busy being … a demon. It’s hard to hoard gold when you’re a soul-sucking monster. I’m kinda broke.”
Bel straightened. “What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me you need money? I’ll—”
“No, thanks.” Meph held up a tattooed palm. “I don’t want any handouts. If I’m gonna do the human thing, I wanna do it without any free passes, you know?”
“Meph …” Bel made a face. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re not human and you never will be. This isn’t some kind of challenge. We came here to live.”
“I know. And that’s how I want to do it.” Meph shrugged. “I’m making money selling my art. It’s kinda awesome.”
“And then you spend it all on shoes.”
“It’s my money,” he replied with a grin. “I can do what I want with it.”
Bel shook his head, but truth be told, he understood where Meph was coming from. He could imagine how it would feelto earn a living from actually doing something productive. Not just by raiding some poor fucker’s lair and stealing his hoard.
In truth, he admired his brother. Meph had been dealt a shitty hand, and now look at him. Making his own way and building a real life for himself all on his own.
“You know …” Bel took a breath, unable to believe he was actually about to say this. “If you and Iris actually want to live here … you can.” He winced, already sure he was going to regret making that offer. “Temporarily.Until you get your shit together and find something better.”
Meph froze with his cup halfway to his mouth. He set it down. “You’re serious?”
“Can’t promise I won’t lose it again,” Bel added, taking his turn at staring at the pool to avoid his brother’s gaze. “But I’ll do my best.”
“Are you sure you’d actually want us here? Wasn’t the whole point of moving to get away from everyone?”
“Yeah.” Bel blew out a breath. “You were being a dick, but you were also kinda right. Maybe being alone isn’t the answer either. I’m just as on edge after a couple weeks of living alone as I was before.”
Meph’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not just offering us a place because I told you I’m broke, are you?”
“Of course I am.”
“Well, then, no. Thanks, but no.”
“Don’t be a fucking—”
“I don’t need your pity—”
“It’s not pity,” Bel snapped, “and if you tell me I’m pitying anyone, I’ll pop your eyeballs out with a rusty spoon, then make you swallow them and chase them down with your own blood. I don’t dopity.”
Meph’s brows shot up. “Graphic. Even for you.”
“I’m serious.”
“Fine. But I told you I wanted to make my own way, and this kinda sounds like cheating to me.”
Bel smiled suddenly as an idea occurred to him. “How about this? Instead of paying rent, you can work for me.”
“Doing what?” Meph asked suspiciously.
“Cleaning the house and doing upkeep on the yard and pool. I need to hire someone, but I don’t want some human traipsing around, getting into my shit.”
“Wait. You want me to be your fucking maid?”
