Page 75 of Lovesick Gods

“I didn’t know,” Mal said, breathing the words against Danny’s lips. “But I do know Thanatos isn’t worth your grief.”

Danny grimaced, “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” and tried to recapture Mal’s lips.

“Danny—”

“Ican’ttalk about it.” His tears were drying, but there was something dark in his eyes. “I can’t talk to my dad because he just smiles and pretends it’s okay when he knows it’s not. I can’t talk to my sister because she always gives me this ‘poor Danny’ look like I’m pitiful, and I am. My foster brother thinks I’m either crazy or a flake. And Lynn and Andre…” He shook his head, mouth curling into a sneer. “I’m just their damaged superhero.”

Mal’s eyes felt strangely hot as he slid his hands to Danny’s face. “Those are a lotta words you’re putting in people’s mouths, Sparky. Don’t they deserve to think for themselves? You’re so sure you’re the bad guy in this story, but if you weren’t paying attention,” he grinned, “that role is already taken.”

Danny broke into a short, bitter laugh.

“Besides, your friends keep trying to help. People don’t go out of their way to help someone who doesn’t deserve it. Well, maybeyoudo. But normal people? We’re selfish. If all your friends see you as more than you see yourself, then maybe they’re not the blind ones.”

For a moment, Danny seemed to look right through Mal. “What if someday I snap and do something I’ll regret?”

Mal smirked to lighten the mood. “You saying I should be careful if we cross paths in the near future?”

“You mean for yourheist?” Danny called him on his bullshit, not that Mal was about to admit anything. “As long as you don’t hurt anyone, you’re safe.”

“A deal’s a deal.”

“Until it stops suiting you, right, Cho?”

“For now, I have no intention of hurting anyone. And it’sMal.”

Danny chuckled, and whatever tension remained eased into something else. He squeezed Mal’s sweatpants-covered ass, which was far too much of a tease on a Tuesday morning quickly nearing 8AM.

“Mal…” he purred.

“Time for work, Sparky.”

ß

Work,damn it. Danny had almost forgotten. A morning romp would have done wonders to rid him of the lingering ache in his chest. But even without one, the twist in his stomach, the ease with which his tears had formed, seemed distant now, like all he’d needed was to let some of the pain out, and for once it hadn’t immediately nudged its way back in.

Logically, Danny knew that talking things out would help, but he hadn’t wanted that with anyone else. With Cho, it didn’t matter how the man looked at him afterwards. Cho was bad to begin with. Why would he care if Danny was headed down a dark path? If he’d killed someone? He probably welcomed it and hoped for a team up having Danny carry out his thefts.

Only Cho would never want that. Having Danny’s powers in his pocket would spoil the challenge. At least Danny hadn’t confessed the entire story. Cho still didn’t know that Danny’s mother had been the intended target that night, that she’d diedwith all the others. Danny had to be careful or he’d give away every secret he had without putting up a single fight.

While Danny was up in his head, Cho climbed off of him. If he hadn’t been distracted, he would have clung to the other man a little longer.

“Danny…” Cho chided.

The long game, Danny thought as he accepted the hand Cho held out to help him from the sofa. Cho couldn’t have any fun with a blubbering mess, so of course he’d want to cheer Danny up. It didn’t mean anything. It just felt nice that Cho didn’t pry the way the others did. He’d never look down on Danny. He was a liar, a criminal, a scoundrel—he was thereasonDanny had been forced into that position with Thanatos to begin with—but while the rest of his life felt like an open wound, somehow Cho was a balm.

Danny made a show of changing out of Cho’s clothes and into his Zeus costume right there in the living room. Leaving the sleep pants and T-shirt folded on the sofa, he started to put on his boots at the door.

“Interesting choice of work clothes.” Cho crossed his arms with an amused eyebrow raise.

“I’ll change when I get there. And next time I’ll call. Or text. Promise. Thanks for breakfast.” Danny made to walk toward Cho off the rug, then gave an abortive gesture likeoops, stuck now with my boots on.

Cho rolled his eyes, but he still moved closer to accept the kiss Danny pulled him into. And let linger. Andlinger... Maybe a little longer than necessary.

“Have a nice day at work, dear,” Cho said, sickly sweet in his familiar drawl.

Danny found himself smiling—and meaning it.

Cho was a bad man. He was. He…he was. But he made things lighter. And easier. And even though Danny knew that soon he’dhave to end this or risk getting in too deep, for now he could enjoy the lie for just a little longer.

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