Archive of Our Own ^beta

Barbie was pacing outside of the trailer park, groaning to herself. She knew she’d need to rip the bandaid off sooner rather than later but it was hard for her. Blitz would be the hardest one she’d have to face and Fizz wouldn’t be much better but…maybe her dad would be easier? He definitely seemed to mellow with age so maybe he wouldn’t be too upset with her?

At the very least, her offering of high quality beef jerky and coconut crispy cookies might make him not want to bite her head off.

“You can do this, Barb.” The imp woman whispered, patting her own face as she psyched herself up. “It’s just dad.”

Taking a very deep breath, Barbie marched her way up to her dad’s trailer. She wasn’t going to turn back when she needed to do this. She was tired of running away from her mistakes and hiding from what she did. If her dopey brother could face the fucking Sins and not even flinch in the face of death, she could face her family.

Unfortunately, as Barbie was psyching herself up, she wasn’t watching where she was going and smacked right into her father’s door.

*THUNK*

“OW! Fucking shit!” Barbie cursed as she fell back on her butt, rubbing her head in pain. “Talk about lame…”

“Who the fuck is ramming my door?!” Cash’s voice sounded, making Barbie flinch.

‘Damn! He’s not happy!’ Barbie thought to herself. ‘I’ll just leave the food and try again another day!’ But before she could even pick herself up, the door opened revealing her dad. His annoyed expression changed to a more surprised one. No turning back now…time to face the music.

“Eh? Barbie?” Cash blinked before offering his hand to his daughter. “Why are you on the ground?”

“H-Hey dad…” Barbie greeted awkwardly, taking his hand and pulling herself up. “I uh…wasn’t looking where I was going and…um…I brought this for you.”

Cash blinked as Barbie held up a bag. His eyes brightened as he saw what his kid brought. “Holy shit! Teriyaki flavored jerky? And coconut crisp cookies? You’re spoiling me, kiddo!” He grinned.

“I…I remember you liked them growing up. Don’t know why you like coconut since it still tastes gross…” she replied, muttering that last part.

“I keep telling you kids you’ll appreciate it one day.” Cash shrugged before standing aside. “Ya wanna come in? My place ain’t fancy but it’s home.”

Barbie nodded as she stepped inside. It was about what she expected for a bachelor pad. Laundry that hadn’t been folded yet, magazines strewn about, and a few booze bottles on the furniture. Cash cleared off a spot on his couch for his daughter while he went to get her a drink. He might not be a great host but his kid came all the way out to see him so he didn’t want to be rude.

“So what can I get ya? Water? Soda? Coffee? Booze?” He offered. “I got beer, whiskey, and some wine if you’re feeling fancy.”

“Uh…just coffee is good. Cream and one sugar.” She requested.

“You got it, Barb.” Cash nodded, pulling out some mugs from his cabinet.

Once they had their own cups of coffee, Barbie opened the snacks for her dad. He took a cookie while she nibbled on some jerky. At first she didn’t get why he liked those smelly meat sticks but it was a pretty satisfying chew. If she couldn’t have a cigarette, these would do quite nicely.

But she still wouldn’t eat anything with coconut. Coconut just tasted like suntan lotion.

“So…how’ve ya been?” Barbie asked, trying not to get too nervous.

Cash sat in the armchair by the couch, stretching a bit. “Can’t complain. Been a busy few weeks but I’m gettin’ by,” he shrugged before looking at her knowingly. “What about you?”

“Me? Uh…I’ve been okay. Took a trip to Wrath a while back.” Barbie replied.

“Hey good for you. A little break never hurt anyone.” Cash smiled, taking a sip from his cup as he looked her in the eyes. “This ain’t just a social call, is it.”

“N-No…I wanted to talk to you about something…kind of serious,” she began, setting her mug down.

“This about Blitz?” At his daughter’s surprised look, he gave her a smirk. “I ain’t dumb, Barb. I might’ve been lousy at it but I’m still your dad. You little pipsqueaks ain’t that subtle.” He then softened his eyes a bit as he placed a hand on her knee. “Talk to me, kid.”

Barbie took a deep breath, trying not to get too emotional. “When I was in Wrath, just needing to get away from it all, I saw the trial Blitz was at…” she began.

“Yeah. I was at a bar playing pool when I saw what almost happened.” The older imp recalled.

“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what my boneheaded brother could do that would piss the Sins and the Goetia off.” She went on, still in disbelief.

“How’d ya take it?” He wondered.

“…I couldn’t even look…” she whimpered, covering her eyes. “I was so pissed at him for messing up a big job I had after getting out of rehab. I was finally going to get my life back and he just had to stumble back in and mess things up…but when I almost lost him…I just wanted to be with him.”

Feeling empathy for his daughter, Cash moved to sit with her and wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Believe me, I know exactly what you mean.” He nodded, letting out a sad sigh. “I was screaming at the TV for Blitz to get up fight back…I wanted to bash Satan in his stupid face.”

“When I saw he still had his head, I was relieved…but then I passed out.” Barbie admitted, surprising her dad.

“Shit I hope those fuckers in Wrath didn’t do anything to ya when you were blacked out.” Cash frowned.

“No no. The girl I was with caught me before I hit my head.” Barbie promised, thinking fondly to Sallie May. “She got me some water and made sure I was alright.”

“That’s good.” Cash sighed in relief before giving her a sheepish smile. “I uh…I ran to the courthouse to try and talk to Blitz. But the shitty janitor said I just missed him and his friends so I ended up runnin’ through all of Imp City to find his place.”

“And…how’d it go?” The taller girl wondered.

“Well first I scolded the ever-loving shit out of him for doing something crazy.” He replied, huffing a bit. “I was still mad but…I guess when I thought I lost him, it just went away.”

“Yeah…I didn’t hate him in that moment.” Barbie laughed quietly, tearing up a bit. “I just feel so…confused and angry but…sad…maybe a little happy he was safe?”

“Hey I hear ya. I ain’t over what happened the night of the fire but…I think I knew deep down it was just an accident.”

Barbie then began to sob in her hands as Cash hugged his daughter. The poor kid had gone through so much. She might not have been there that night but just hearing about it couldn’t have been easy. The former acrobat no doubt had a lot of feelings running through her.

“I-It wasn’t fair! I should’ve been there for mom!” She cried, burying her face in her dad’s shoulder. “B-Blitz couldn’t save her! He let his best friend get mangled! Our home was gone! And I couldn’t even say goodbye!”

Cash rubbed her back, feeling his own droopy eyes start to sting. “I know what you’re goin’ through…I was trying to get everyone else out and when Fizz was hurt and after your mom—” His voice hitched a bit as he tried to calm down. “I broke my one rule with you kids that night…I smacked his face.”

Barbie’s eyes widened at that revelation. “Holy shit…”

“I was just so full of rage and grief that night I wasn’t thinking straight.” He admitted.

Barbie let go of her dad for a brief moment before giving him a watery-eyed look. “Dad…I’m sorry I ever said that Fizz wouldn’t want to see Blitz…if I knew that bloated bastard Mammon would’ve gotten his grubby mitts on him—”

Cash raised a hand to stop her from talking. “Kid I’m just as guilty. When ya lose everything, ya do some crazy shit to try and make sense of it all.”

“Even if it’s something stupid?” She guessed, smiling a bit as he brushed a tear from her face.

“Especially if it’s something stupid.” He chuckled.

Barbie felt her shoulders slump as she ran a hand over her face. “I don’t know what to do, dad. I’m still upset with Blitz even though I know it was an accident…and I’m upset with myself for being so selfish.” She admitted.

“Selfish?”

Barbie looked down shamefully, twiddling her fingers. “I…I did want to keep Fizz safe but…I was jealous.” She confessed.

“Jealous? Of what?” Cash wondered.

“Blitz was so close to Fizz…I felt like I was getting left behind…” she went on, the guilt choking her. “I didn’t know Fizz would get involved with that bastard Mammon. I-I-If I just told you to let Blitz see him, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten stuck with him.”

“I’m just as guilty, Barb.” Cash reasoned. “I had to use a lot of insurance money from the fire to get Fizz medical care and your rehab care—not that I regret that!” He promised.

“I know dad.” She assured him.

“Thanks kiddo.” He smiled a bit before returning to a more somber expression. “I pushed my son away…I could barely care for you when you needed it…I didn’t get to say goodbye to the one woman that I ever loved…and I couldn’t even provide Fizz what he needed. I ain’t much better.”

“Well…you talked with Blitz and Fizz, right?” She guessed.

Cash cocked an eyebrow at that. “How’d ya know about Fizz?”

“I…was spying on Blitz when Fizz paid him a visit. I was waiting on the fire escape because I just had to at least see him.” She explained. “Then when you came in I just…listened in. I couldn’t face them. Not yet.”

“Ya think you’re ready now?” He asked.

“I’m not ready for Blitz yet…but maybe I can work up to Fizz soon.” Barbie told him.

“Atta girl. Baby steps.” He smiled before placing a hand on her shoulder. “I really am proud of you.”

Barbie smiled genuinely the first time that day before hugging her dad. “Thanks dad…I love you…”

Cash wiped his eyes before hugging her back. “Love you too, kiddo.”

It wasn’t like all her problems were fixed all at once but it was a good start. Taking that chance to try and make things right. Barbie knew things were only going to get harder from here but at least one of the hardest steps was behind her.

[END]