Gluttony and Greed Walk into a Burger Joint

Chapter 9 - A Spark

 The Twins debated about going to BurgeRama the next day for lunch.

At the end of that two minute debate, the choice seemed obvious to both of them.

Runeak hadn't turned up anywhere the rest of the night, nor had she been waiting for them the following morning. The brothers were unconcerned, though they would come to regret the lack of caution by the end of the day.

Alus was wearing black flip-flops, wine and navy plaid shorts with a wine, fitted t-shirt. The effect on his eyes was predictable, but startling. Very few could boast wine-colored irises, even if it was an illusion. When Alus had put the shirt on that morning, it reminded him of something he'd meant to speak to his brother about. He spoke up when they were two blocks from the eatery. "Something I may have forgotten to mention."

"Hrm?" Arek's hands were in his ripped-at-the-knees blue jean pockets. He had on white sneakers with a black, ribbed tank top and a sporty pair of reflective sunglasses.

"She can tell us apart."

Arek shrugged.

"I wore the lavender polo, and she knew I wasn't you."

Arek's stride slowed for a half-step as he processed the significance. "...Huh."

"Yeah."

"What do we do with that?"

It was Alus's turn to shrug which brought a quiet, but thoughtful growl from his twin. The timbre of the sound changed subtly as the BurgeRama came into view and a moment before Alus stopped moving to ask what was wrong, Arek darted a hand up and put it across Alus's chest to keep him from moving.

At first, Alus thought his brother was reacting to the way Dani was serving someone, a brown-skinned man in a navy blue suit. She was laughing while she refilled his water as he told a story. They looked, to all the world, like old friends. The man had very short grey hair, just long enough to tell it was wildly curly. He was balding at the top and looked a fit 55 to 60 years of age. He didn't look threatening at all. In fact, he was wearing a detective badge at his belt. "Bro, what-"

Arek tightened his fist, gripping Alus's shirt in his hand to make him stop talking. Once he was sure the signal was received, he pushed back on Alus's chest, making him take slow steps backwards and to the side until the two of them were hidden well enough by a neighbor's trees. They hadn't been spotted.

"Alus, when was the last time we were in this city?"

"If you'll give me a moment to consult my calendar, I'll do a quick scan of the last millennia." Arek bared his teeth and darted at his twin. Alus leaned smoothly away. "Ask a stupid question--"

"Guess!" The order was a barked whisper.

Alus, being Alus, smiled calmly and lifted his brother's hand gently away from his shirt, rubbing his breastbone. "Maybe 15 to 20 years."

"Frenzied Hell's fire."

"No need to swear."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely. Swearing is for heathens."

"Alus!"

A chuckle was in Gluttony's voice when he answered next. "I mean, not really, but I think so. I don't keep track of these things. We go where we go, when we go. What's the deal, Ace?"

Arek ran a hand back through his expertly messed hair. Even with his eyes hidden by the reflective lenses, the anxiety in the set of his mouth and body was unmistakable. "I think we know that cop."

The comment spurred a surprised laugh from Alus. "Areknar, one of the Seven Daemoenica, molded by the hands of the devil Itself, Greed incarnate, cynic and stone-faced stoic extraordinaire, is afraid of being busted by the fuzz?"

"Look at him."

"Bro-"

"Look at him and tell me you don't remember."

Alus sighed but smiled with his same laid-back good humor, patted his brother gently on the shoulder, and stepped around him so he could get a better look at the detective.

And he remembered. 

And I remember how amazing and lovely it felt to get my first vote...Please do vote if you are enjoying!