Mawthrough took her hand in his.
"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you. You are worth anything." Not a trace of joviality, humor, or exaggeration was in his voice.
"And you could back me up. Or Mordial, he knows it's true."

"He's more likely to listen to Mordial than us."
Mawthrough sat, deep in thought.
"We can back him up... but you know Inferno best. What do you think he'll do when he finds out? Flip out, go after Uriel, screaming bloody murder? Freak out and just attack everyone and everything? Just stop working? I think we need to tell him, and we've figured out how. So...when?"

Mawthrough finished eating everything on the menu - the other customers stared in amazement - then fixed Chastity with a serious gaze.
"Now, then?"

Mawthrough shrugged.
"My continued existence potentially bringing about the release of the devil and causing the end of the world as we know it unless we literally start the apocalypse first, versus seeing my loved one unhappy because of having to lie to her father. Not even a contest."
He leant back in his chair.
"So Inferno will be at his house, right? Or should be?"

"I'd rather die with you happy than knowing you have to face your father alone."
Mawthrough paid with the last of his earthly cash and they walked outside.
"Lead the way, darling."

Mawthrough gave in to a lesser instinct upon seeing her smile like that, so he took hold of her arm, dragged her to a back alley and took her hard and fast against the wall.
Then he did it again.
After the second time he started to walk out the alley, paused, turned around and did it four more times.
By the eighth time, he helped her out of the alley, both breathing very hard.

"Sorry... okay, now we're ready!" he said brightly. "Let's get flying!"

Mawthrough sighed and picked her up in a bridal carry. "Just tell me where to go, darling."

Mawthrough arrived at Inferno's mansion.
He let Chastity off first.
"You go in first. I don't want to be the closest thing to your father when you tell him," he joked, though his eyes were full of concern.

Mawthrough followed at a slow pace, wanting to not take the brunt of the explosion.

Inferno was in his study, and when Chastity rushed past he shouted "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT RUNNING IN THE HOUSE?!" by way of a normal greeting.
"I take it Mawthrough is with you?" he said, annoyed. "It'll take weeks to get the odour out. Anyway, I sincerely doubt you dropped in just to say hello, so what's he gone and done now? STD? Pregnant? Cheated on you? All three? I'm not exactly busy, so come on, let me have it."

Mawthrough held Chastity's hand and smiled at her.

Inferno looked very suspicious. "Chastity, whatever it is, I'm certain that I can take it in stride after everything we've been through. Come on, I'm your father for crying out loud, if you can't tell me something who can you tell?" he said impatiently.

Inferno blinked once.
He blinked twice.
He opened and closed his mouth a few times but no words came out.
He was, Mawthrough realised, completely lost for words.
He just sat there, gaping.
Mawthrough squeezed Chastity's hand, signalling for her to keep going.