Under the Mask [Meloghia]

Chapter 3: Good Morning, Ghia!

Ghiaccio woke, sweating the next morning. His late nap had turned into a long night's rest. He sat up and took off his jacket, wearing only a tight black sleeveless muscle shirt underneath. The temperature difference was immediate to his skin. He stretched and squinted at the clock; it was nine. He'd slept for almost twelve hours. Damn, I really must have been tired. He took off his gloves and socks too, then reached for his glasses on the nightstand. The world became clear again as he stood up and cracked his back. His stomach growled loudly. When was the last time I ate? Two o'clock yesterday? He cracked his knuckles and walked out of his room to use the bathroom then headed downstairs to the kitchen.

He heard sounds of cooking in the kitchen but it was surprisingly devoid of voices. When he'd descended the stairs, he didn't see anyone in the living room. It was Saturday after all, but usually, there were more people up by now. Maybe Prosciutto and Risotto? Where the fuck is everyone? Are they still asleep? Maybe they went out on a bender after I crashed. He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen to see Melone standing in front of the stove in a t-shirt and sleep shorts. Ghiaccio couldn't help looking at his legs.

"Morning." Ghiaccio scratched the back of his head as he walked towards the coffee maker. Thank god, there was still coffee in the pot, not much, but enough. He heard a clang on the stove as Melone jumped.

"Morning," he heard Melone sigh. Melone didn't turn.

"Didn't mean to scare you," Ghiaccio chuckled as he poured the last of the coffee into his mug.

"I didn't hear you," Melone said quietly. Ghiaccio wondered if Melone was still upset from yesterday.

"Blind and deaf? What an assassin you are," Ghiaccio joked.

"Said the man with prescription -10 glasses," giggled Melone.

"Hey, White Album gives me crystal vision in the suit. The visor is basically one big lens." He was glad Melone seemed in good humor.

"I wondered how you could see in there without your glasses." Melone turned slightly to look at him. Even though it was early morning, he still wore his pink mask over his eye. Ghiaccio always thought that was weird, but he never commented on it since Melone got weird about it once when Formaggio asked if he slept in the damn thing. Being seen without the mask clearly made him uncomfortable. "Want breakfast? I'm making eggs."

"Hell yeah, I'm starving," He said as he sat down at the island.

"Two, overeasy, wheat toast?" Melone asked. He knew Ghiaccio too well.

"You got it." He sipped his coffee as he watched Melone bustle about to grab two more eggs. "God, I crashed after getting home. I haven't slept that long in ages."

"I bet you were tired," Melone hummed as he cracked the eggs.

"Using White Album for that long is exhausting." He completely ignored Melone's meaning.

"Mmhmm," Melone said, which he could tell was code for 'let alone getting fucked that good.' Ghiaccio still felt awkward talking about it, so he changed the subject from yesterday's events.

"So where is everyone? Sleeping off a late night?" Ghiaccio asked.

"Risotto and Pro left early to meet with Bucciarati about drug changes, and Illuso and Formaggio left with Pesci to go to the mall or something," Melone said. "Something about trying to culture Pesc. Probably trying to get him laid."

"Ha! Good luck with that!" Ghiaccio cackled. "And what about the Mind Freak duo?"

"They were doing reconnaissance in the den last I saw them." The den was where everyone met for meetings and did serious work. The main computer was set up there but Melone hardly used it since his stand was a computer. Ghiaccio was the only one he let use it. He took that as a point of pride since Melone was usually so fiercely protective of Babyface.