Chapter Text
If there is a more awkward situation than checking with your five-year-old daughter to see if she would be okay with you dating another man without asking her outright, Stolas does not know it. And he certainly would not wish it on his worst enemy (although, to be honest, he would not mind so much if it were Andrealphus).
After half an hour of metaphors and innuendos, he has reached his wit’s end. Then he remembers young Loony asking Via a very similar question. He decides to try another approach.
« Starfire... You know that sometimes women like other women and men like other men, right? »
His daughter nods, but Stolas can see on her sweet little face that she does not really understand where he is going with that.
« And sometimes women kiss other women and men kiss other men. »
« Like you and Uncle Vassago? »
« Not... exactly. Like... Like Sunbeam and Breakfast. »
Via’s face lights up.
« Oh. You mean like when they're in love! »
Stolas is fairly certain that he is blushing again. He fears he is half in love with the gorgeous (and kind, and funny, and smart, and witty, and amazing father) imp, but he has no idea how Blitzø feels about him. And Stolas does not want to assume anything, because if he gets his hopes up too high and misreads the situation, he will end up crushed. Better to think of their appointment as a playdate for the girls, where the two fathers are only there to supervise them. And test the waters with Via just in case.
« Yes, but you see, sometimes people kiss other people because they like each other. They might be in love later, or they might end up just being friends, and that is perfectly fine. »
« Like Soup Crisis and Verlosina? » asks Via, frowning.
It gives him pause. For Stolas, the relationship in question is extremely problematic, as Soup Crisis and the pretty pink mare seem to make each other miserable every time they cross paths. Furthermore, he wonders at what point did imaginary horses become his relationship benchmark.
« I suppose it is a valid example. What I mean is, would you be upset if I kissed another man? Not like how I kiss Uncle Vassago, but on the mouth. »
Via frowns thoughtfully and her adorable little face lights up again.
« You want to kiss Mr. Buckzo? »
Very much so , thinks Stolas, before realizing that his daughter has seen right through him.
« How... Why do you say that, starfire? »
« He's super nice and smart, plus he's an imp and you told Uncle Vassago you wanted to court an imp! And also, you look at him all the time! » she chirps excitedly.
Stolas dies a little inside. If he is so transparent that a five-year-old understood his intentions, it is impossible that a man as attractive and certainly experienced as Blitzø did not realize his interest. On the plus side, the gorgeous imp did flirt with him. He even called him ‘pretty bird’ twice. That has to count for something, right? Besides, he accepted the date and actually gave Stolas his personal number. On the other hand, the owl saw the man with his audience and Via is absolutely right in her assessment. Blitzø is indeed ‘super nice’. Not in the same way as Vassago, but he gave time and attention to each of the children who came to see him, answering their many questions with patience and humor. And he was also charming to parents of both sexes. The magnificent imp made him feel special, but Stolas is quite certain that some of the other parents felt exactly the same. Yes, the owl was the only one to get his phone number (as far as he knows, anyway), but his daughter was also the only one who seemed to bond with Loona. Stolas did not see the young hellhound interact with any of the other children, in any case.
So he still has no idea whether the man of his dreams is interested in him or not.
« He certainly is all that », Stolas agrees, because Via is right and he does not want to lie to his daughter.
« Are you going to kiss Mr. Buckzo on the lips, Daddy? »
Unable to give her a neutral answer, he responds with another question.
« Would you be okay if I did? »
Via takes a moment to ponder the idea.
« Would that mean he'd come here to visit us? »
Oh, if only , thinks Stolas.
« Perhaps. »
« And he could read me bedtime stories? »
She is the picture of innocence, but a gleam in her eyes betrays her excitement. Something Stolas has to nip in the bud, otherwise she is the one who might end up disappointed. And her father cannot bear the thought.
« Right now, this is just an idea, my owlette. It may never happen. Perhaps I will kiss Mr. Buckzo on the lips. Perhaps we will simply become good friends. But perhaps we will never see each other again. I want to make sure that you would be okay with any of these situations. »
« I’d be sad never to see him or Loona again », she replies is a small voice, her face crumpled.
Stolas leans over and takes her in his arms, rubbing his cheeks against hers with a soothing hoot.
« I would be too, starfire », he says, trying to keep his tone light. « And I hope it will never happen. But sometimes, you see, things do not work out the way we hope… »
She takes on a pensive expression and remains silent for a few moments, then flashes him a radiant smile.
« I know! If we're like super extra nice to them, they'll love us and be our friends forever! »
Stolas' heart squeezes painfully in his chest. He would give a lot not to have this conversation with his owlette, because he hates to disappoint her in any way, but these words have to be spoken. And it is better to discuss this with Via now rather than risk the worst-case scenario happening with her unprepared.
« It is always important to be kind and polite, starfire, especially to people you like. But sometimes that just is not enough. And if that happens, I want you to know that it will not be your fault. »
He thinks of his horrible marriage to Stella, of course, but also of poor Vassago, so kind and likable, whose heart Andrealphus trampled underfoot. Stolas is convinced that Blitzø would never do such a thing (or at least he wants to believe it with all his being) and young Loony seemed very kind to Via, but he does not know them well enough to be certain. If he were the only one concerned, Stolas would not worry so much. He would gladly risk his heart for a chance to be with the gorgeous imp. But he would rather die than see his owlette hurt.
« Maybe we can give them some presents? »
He smiles and rubs his cheek against Via's once more.
« We certainly can, starfire. What do you think we should get them? »
« I could make a drawing? Mr. Buckzo liked the last one I did. And can I give Loona one of my toys? »
« That seems an excellent idea, starfire. »
« And perhaps you could offer Mr. Buckzo a plant? »
Stolas smiles and kisses his daughter on the forehead. Every day, he thanks Lucifer for the kindness and gentleness of Via, who is nothing like her mother.
« That would be a very thoughtful gift, my owlette. »
And so, a few hours later, Stolas, dressed to the nines with a potted plant in one arm, and in the other Via, also looking her best and with her arms full of gifts, step through the portal leading to Imp City’s bookshop, where the magnificent imp has suggested they meet. The owl is nervous, but he has the impression that everything is going to be fine.
That is, until he sees an old van speed up the road before parking with a screech only a few feet from them, and Blitzø and his daughter get out.
For if he thought Blitzø in a suit was a feast for the eyes, Blitzø in blue jeans and a black leather jacket pulled up to the elbows, revealing his powerful forearms and sticking to his muscular torso like a second skin, is just mouth-watering.