Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Sir?” Moxxie asked for the millionth time after knocking on the office door for the millionth time. 

The rummaging in the office he heard all morning did not stop even after the sharpshooter closed his fists and began to pound on the door. 

When the rummaging still didn’t stop, Moxxie opened the door to find Blitzø going through his chest of sex toys he used on prince Stolas every full moon. Moxxie looked at his phone and saw that tonight was the full moon.  

He rolled his eyes and walked in the office, “Blitzø!” 

Blitzø growled and turned his head to look at the smaller imp, “What?! Can’t you see I’m busy!?” 

Moxxie sighed and walked up to the assassin and that was when Blitzø noticed that the smaller man was holding a wicker basket. 

“Sir, I was trying to get your attention because this,” Moxxie gestured to the bask, “Was left at our door ten minutes ago!” 

The taller imp rolled his eyes; he needed to get ready to rock Stolas’ world and Moxxie is bothering over a picnic basket?! 

“Blitzø," Moxxie gave him a serious look and put the basket down between them, "Open it.” 

“Huh?” 

“Open it.” 

The way it was said, Blitzø decided to humor the man and lifted the flap of the basket and slammed it shut when he saw the contents. He looked at Moxxie with wide eyes and when the sharpshooter nodded, it confirmed that he wasn’t hallucinating. Blitzø lifted the flap again and looked inside the basket. 

Inside was a tiny imp baby, in a pink onesie, sound asleep and sucking on the heart shaped spade of her little tail. The thin white strips on the horns confirmed that she was a girl. At first, Blitzø thought that maybe this kid was possibly his but then he remembered that he had only been with one-person long term (he was never going to acknowledge that stupid Chad or whatever the fuck his name was) and that person was a man! 

“Blitzø, there's a note,” Moxxie said, knowing what his boss was thinking and possibly overthinking, giving the piece of paper to him. 

Blitzø grabbed it and opened it, his eyes widened when he recognized the handwriting. 

Blitzo.  

This may come as a shock, but I had no choice. I still hate you with all my being, but I know you won’t turn this away. This is Buggy, she’s my kid and I can’t keep her. She's four months old and a mistake. Don’t look for me!  

Barbie.  

He looked at the note and then at the baby, her horns were curled almost the exact same way as his twin sister, so he knew that the note was telling the truth. When did Barbie get pregnant? Was it from one of her dealers? Was his sister in danger?! 

A squeaky yawn broke him out of her thoughts, and he looked in the basket to see that baby, what kind of a name is Buggy anyway, opened her eyes. They were the typical color of an imp, but they were glowing with pure innocence. She blinked at Blitzø and then smiled brightly, reaching for him with grabby hands. He wasn’t mommy but he looked like her! 

“Sir?” Moxxie asked. 

Blitzø said nothing and picked up the babbling baby, her tail was whipping around excitedly. 

“Did you see anyone leave?” Blitzø asked as he held the baby close. 

Moxxie shook his head, “there was a knock and when I opened the door, no one was there.” 

A sigh escaped the taller imp’s mouth, he could not believe this happened. What the fuck was Barbie thinking?! Leaving her baby here?! If she hated him that much, then why leave her kid with him?! He had no experience raising a baby! He had a daughter, but she was a teenager when he adopted her! What if Loona thinks he was replacing her?! 

Buggy cooed and patted on the man’s chest. Great, she was breastfed! Blitzø didn't have the equipment for that! 

“Should we send her to chi-” 

“No!” Blitzø yelled, briefly scaring the baby and he rocked her to calm her little cries. 

“I wasn’t even done saying what I going to say.” 

Buggy stopped crying and began to nibble on Blitzø’s suspenders. 

“You were going to say we send this kid to child services and that’s fuck no!” the assassin declared, “F-U-C! No!” 

Moxxie looked at him confused, “What? Why not?” 

Blitzø knew very well that child services would do absolutely nothing if he dropped off Buggy. To them, an imp baby was just a waste of space and Buggy would end up dead in week if she survived that long! He couldn’t do that to her, he just met her, and he didn’t want to do that! 

Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed his wallet and threw it at Moxxie. 

“Buy diapers and formula now!” 

“Sir?!”  

Blitzø pushed him out of the office, “You heard me! Go get diapers!” 

With that, he slammed the door to the office closed. Leaving a confused Moxxie to stand there, was Blitzø seriously going to do this?! He looked at Loona who was texting on her phone, she had annoyed look on her face. 

“Let me guess, Blitzø is keeping that runt.” 

“I guess,” Moxxie grumbled, “you talk to him!” 

He stomped off to find the nearest store that might sell diapers and formula, Millie followed him because she knew her husband would grab the wrong sized diapers. 

Loona growled and marched to the office to see Blitzø putting Buggy back in the basket. 

“Are you serious Blitzø?!” She shouted, Buggy didn’t stir thankfully, “you’re keeping that?!” 

Blitzø moved the basket away in case Loona decided to attack. 

“Yes. And her names Buggy.” 

He said so casually that it made the hellhound angry, “Oh so because that runts your niece or whatever, you don’t need me anymore?!” 

Blitzø ran to her when he heard that, “Don’t even think that! You’re my daughter!” 

“Only on paper!” Loona felt tears forming in her eyes, but she shook them off, “Whatever! Go play family with that runt! I’m outta here!” 

“Loona!” 

Blitzø ran after her, but she was long gone, and he sighed. He always saw Loona as his baby, even when she would yell, bite and even throw him, she was his.  

“Maybe I should have thought this through,” he grumbled. 

He’ll give Loona space to cool off and talk to her later after- Fuck! 

The full moon was tonight! After three months of silence, he was finally going to see Stolas and give him the night of his life! Great… just fucking great! Buggy made a little noise in her sleep which made the man smile, how can something so small be so cute? 

He sighed and sat at his desk, waiting for Moxxie to come back with the stuff he needed. 

X 

“... You royal fucks think you royal fucks think you can push us around and play with our feelings because we’re smaller and not as important!” Blitzø yelled, tears were welling up in his eyes as he chased after a retreating Stolas down the halls of the prince’s palace. 

After all he had done for that bird! Showing up at his palace by climbing up the walls like a dirty little secret every full moon, playing out every sinlge role Stolas had planned and never complaining when the prince would overdo it when the dirty talking. Blitzø did it for the book, he threw away his pride for that book, that stupid magic book Stolas used as a carrot on a fucking stick to use him for sex and that owl pays him back with a magic rock along with a ‘goodbye and good luck’?! 

Like hell Blitzø was going to let this slide! 

“Well, I’m not letting you, BITCH!” he shouted, the anger was heavy in his voice, “LET’S GO!” 

Stolas, who said nothing the whole time, shook from the verbal lashing, he had his head down and let out a barely audible whimper. Blitzø’s word echoed in his head, and it only added to the sorrow he felt when he realized that the feelings he was developing for the imp were not and will never be reciprocated. 

“Blitzø," he let out, his voice quivered, "I think... so very highly of you..." 

Blitzø blinked and then realized that everything Stolas said might have been true. 

“I...” Stolas choked out, it hurt so much, “... didn’t realize you-” 

A loud cry, an ear-piercing cry, stopped whatever the prince was going to cry out. Blitzø turned his head to the scream and ran to it. Stolas, still in sorrow, stood there before his curiosity told him to follow. He followed the screams to his chambers where he saw Blitzø open the wicker basket he brought. Stolas wanted to ask what was in the basket when he first saw it but never had the chance too. 

“Buggy, don’t cry!” Blitzø said desperately. 

To Stolas’ surprise, he saw that Blitzø picked up a baby, an imp baby, from the basket. The baby was screeching, shaking her arms and kicking her legs with desperation.  

“Come on!” Blitzø said again, "You were doing so well!” 

Buggy kept screaming, her face was scrunched up but there were no tears falling from her eyes. Blitzø was holding her under her arms, trying to rock her that way but the screaming would not stop. He tried to stay calm, tried to process what the fuck happened between him and Stolas and tried to calm down the screech that was his baby niece. 

“Come on,” he growled out when he swore that the screaming got louder, “Stop crying!” 

His grip on the baby became firmer and the rocking was slowly becoming aggressive. Why won’t she stop?! 

Just then, Buggy was plucked out of his hands so fast that Blitzø didn't register it happening until he turned to see Stolas backing away from him, his bright white pupils were still visible, and in his hands was a screaming Buggy. 

“The fu-” Blitzø stood up and stomped to the prince, "Give her back!” 

Stolas shook his head, “No! You were going to lose your patience!” 

A hiss escaped the assassin's teeth, “Give back my niece right now!” 

Buggy's screams increased in volume and Stolas held her against his chest, rubbing her back gently. 

“There, there little one,” he said softly, “Did we frighten you?” 

The screaming then turned into sobs, but Buggy stopped kicking her legs and waving her arms. Instead, she was now clutching the prince’s romper and her tail wrapped around his wrist. 

Blitzø just stood there, stunned that Stolas was able to calm down Buggy, “How’d you do that?” 

The prince looked at the imp, he was still hurt from what was said but the child he was holding in his hands was more important right now, “I raised a child Blitzø, I know how to handle a scared child’s cries.” 

“Scared?” 

Stolas nodded, “it seems our spat has frightened this child, a child you decided to bring?” 

“Hey,” Blitzø held up his hands in defense, “I just got her and didn’t have time for a sitter!” 

The yelling made Buggy whimper. 

“Blitzø," Stolas said with a hint of warning in his voice while he gently patted the baby’s back to sooth her, “.... I think we need to talk about this tomorrow after a night's sleep to calm ourselves.” 

Blitzø gritted his teeth before he sighed, as much as he hated to admit this, Stolas was right. So much has happened and emotions were everywhere. On top of that, Buggy was passed out in Stolas’ hands, but she didn’t look relaxed at all. 

“Fine...” the imp grumbled, “Just give her here.” 

Stolas stepped back again. 

“I’m not going to hurt her or anything,” now that hurt that Stolas thought that Blitzø was going to do anything to Buggy. He got frustrated when she started crying and wouldn't stop, who wouldn't be frustrated? 

With a bit of reluctance on his part, Stolas leaned down and gave the baby back to Blitzø, she made a soft whimper but calmed down when she was put in her basket. The assassin grabbed the bag of goodies and was about to jump off the balcony, but a portal appeared before him. 

“Please tell me you were not going to jump off the balcony with a baby,” Stolas asked with annoyance in his voice. 

“No...” Blitzø lied, "I was going to throw this bag of shit to the van...” 

The prince sighed, “Just take the portal and go to bed,” he turned to leave but then turned his head to Blitzø, "Bring that child back as well." 

Blitzø looked at the basket in his hand, “Sure....” 

Why would Stolas be interested in an imp baby?  

“Sure...” he mumbled, today was so fucked up, “I guess... I’ll see you tomorrow...” 

“Likewise.” 

Blitzø walked through the portal, Stolas watched as it closed, and he heard the van starting and driving away. When he could no longer hear the engine, he sat on his bed with a sigh. Tonight, did not go as he had hoped, he wanted his feelings to be heard and answered. Instead, Blitzø mistook it for another one of their foreplay acts. Was that all he saw him as? Someone to have reckless sex with? To use for his own pleasure? 

As he kept thinking about what happened, Stolas’ thoughts turned to what happened afterwards. He was ready to send Blitzø away and wallow in his despair, but it was interrupted by the sounds of that little baby. 

A little baby who had the look of fear when she cried. Octavia used to have that face when she was a hatchling. 

Back then, Stella would openly yell at him in front of the baby until she cried. Stella would yell louder as a result and would scream at Octavia to shut up before trying to grab her. Stolas would take the baby and hide her while quieting her cries. This was his normal until Octavia was a toddler and Stella learned to not yell when the child was present. 

Blitzø had the same face when he got frustrated with Buggy's screams. Stolas felt the same fear he had when Octavia was a baby and that made him feel awful. Blitzø was many things, but Stolas knew that harming a child was not one of those and it made the prince feel awful. How could he think that?  

He fell back on the bed, he was tired. That's right, he thought to himself. Blitzø was tired and emotions were strong at the moment when the baby started to cry. That was it. 

Another sigh escaped the prince’s beak and placed a hand on his forehead.  

Hopefully a night's sleep will cool off their heads and they will talk about what happened, calmly this time. 

Stolas will admit though, the baby was adorable. She was so tiny in his hands that he was worried that he would hurt her. Her eyes were large like a bugs, maybe that's why her name was Buggy.

He chuckled to himself used his magic to undress to go to bed. 

X 

Blitzø walked into his apartment, confused and horny. Mostly horny though. 

“Loona?” he called out, he hoped that she at least made it home after what happened this morning.  

He didn’t get a response, but he did hear noises coming from Loona’s room so at it least confirmed that she was home.  

He walked to his couch and gently set the basket down on the cleaner part of it and picked up Buggy who was wide awake, but she didn’t smile at him. In fact, she looked at him with a hint of fear in her big eyes. 

“I’m sorry Buggy,” he cooed softly as he set the little girl on his lap, “I guess you don’t like hearing people yell huh?” 

Little Buggy made a pouty face and looked away. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Blitzø mumbled and held her close, “What did you do Barb?” 

If Buggy was this sensitive to yelling, then what did she witness when she was with Barbie? 

“How about a bottle before you go to sleep?” he asked, gently rubbing the baby’s back. 

Hearing that made Buggy coo happily and she reached for Blitzø's shirt, she was starving!  

“No, no!” the man grabbed her little hands, “Sorry Buggy, I don’t have the tits for that.” 

“Eh?” she tilted her head. 

Blitzø sighed, this was going to be hard. Putting Buggy back in her basket, he went to the kitchen to make a bottle.  

As he took out the large can of formula Moxxie bought. The label said that it was perfect for imp babies, so it was perfect. He had a bottle put the instructions said that once scoop was enough, so he poured a scoop full in the small bottle. Filling it with water, Blitzø closed the bottle with the rubber nipple and shook it to make sure that the powder dissolved. He then turned the kitchen faucet on to hot, the instructions on the can said that putting the bottle under running hot water would be the perfect and safer method of heating the formula. 

Once the bottle was warm, Blitzø went back to the couch just as Loona walked out of her room. Blitzø was quick to notice the bandage on her right shoulder. 

“Loona?” he asked, if anything happened to her, he was going to kill the fucker who did it! 

“It’s fine,” she muttered, she could read that man easily. She then noticed Buggy and scowled, “You really are keeping her.” 

Blitzø gave her a look and then sighed again, he sighs too much, “What choice do I have? It's either I take her in or dump her off at the child welfare center.” 

He tried to feed Buggy the bottle, but she refused, turning her head away from the rubber nipple. 

Loona’s scowl deepened, “So you are replacing me...” 

“I’m not!” the imp sad firmly, “You’re my kid! I chose you because I wanted you!” 

“Yeah sure...” 

Buggy finally took the bottle and grimaced at the taste, but she still ate. 

“Loona... if she goes there, she’ll end up dead or will never find a home,” Blitzø said in a defeated voice, "she’ll be thrown out int the streets with no one... I figured you would understand.” 

The hellhound let out another growl and stormed back to her room, Blitzø’s shoulders dropped when she did that. Hopefully he’ll talk to her tomorrow after she slept.  

Buggy stopped eating and made a disgusted face; she hated this weird milk. Blitzø grabbed a clean towel he had put on the armrest of the couch and used it when he burped her on his shoulder. He may not have had experience raising kids, but he at least knew some of the basics. Buggy then yawned and fell asleep, she sleeps a lot, Blitzø thought to himself as he put her back in her basket. She looked pretty content in that thing, was it her crib or something? Gently, he set the basket on the ground and laid down. 

Today was pretty fucked up and he knew that. 

All the toys and shit he bought for Stolas were in the van, so he was going to have to return those later. He and Stolas had a fight because of the stupid stone on his bracer, he was going to demand what the hell that was about. ‘Setting him free’ and all the bullshit. 

But right now, Blitzø just looked at Buggy who was now sucking on her spade. The bottle was half empty, shouldn’t babies finish the whole bottle? Was she sick or something? No, Millie would have told him since she changed Buggy’s diaper and said that didn’t have diaper rash so at least it confirmed that Barbie at least took care of her. At least that’s what Blitzø hoped because Buggy looked so scared when he was yelling at Stolas. 

It made him hate himself even more, Blitzø realized it right then and there that he had turned into her father. 

“Great... just fucking great...” he muttered before closing his eyes, sleep snuck up on him soon after. 

Chapter Text

When Loona woke up, her mood was no better than it was yesterday. It was bad enough that her adopted dad just had to take in a random baby but then he had to add how the kid would end up on the streets like she almost did. Guilt was Blitzø's specialty, and he knew that.

With a groan, she got out of bed and walked out to get a cup of water and make a coffee. When she did, she saw Blitzø passed out on the couch, his hand was on the basket, and she saw the baby patting his hand.

Loona sniffed the air and grimaced, joy...

Seeing that Blitzø wasn't waking up, Loona stomped to the basket and picked up the baby who was surprisingly calm despite having a full diaper. She could even see the look of defeat on the baby’s face.

“I’m guessing you’re used to being in a shitty diaper,” Loona deadpanned.

Buggy sighed and looked at the woman with curios eyes before smiling. Loona felt something warm and fuzzy in her heart, but she shook it off.

“Come on, let’s get you changed,” she muttered, looking up on how to change a diaper on her phone.

Buggy’s tail wrapped around her wrist.

X

Blitzø did not sleep well at all.

He spent a good part of the night, making sure Buggy’s basket was open so she wouldn’t suffocate and spent the rest worrying that she would cry and he would lose his mind again. So, when he opened his eyes and saw an empty basket, Blitzø freaked out, shot out of the couch and looked around the living room with his gun drawn. If anything happened to Buggy, he was going to kill the fuck who hurt her.

“Come on squirt,” he heard Loona say in her usual tone of voice, “I know it tastes like shit but you gotta eat.”

“Wah!” he heard a little baby wail.

Blitzø turned to the kitchen and his heart swelled in happiness. In the kitchen, Loona was holding a pouting Buggy in her arms while trying to feed her a bottle. The baby was not having it, she did not want the gross fake milk, she wanted mommy’s milk! Loona sighed, she never thought that she would see a baby version of her dad who was just as stubborn. But so was Loona and she nudged the rubber nipple against the baby’s face until she relented.

“There we go,” the hellhound said with a small smile.

She then heard sniffles and looked up to see a teary eyed Blitzø.

“Don’t get any ideas, I just didn’t want to deal with her crying.”

“You look so cute Loonie!” the imp cried, his baby holding his baby niece was so adorable.

He wanted to take a picture, but Loona would bite him.

Loona rolled her eyes and went back to make sure Buggy was eating, she let out a small laugh when she saw the look of disgust on her little face.

“So... you’re really going to keep her?”

Blitzø walked up to her and took the baby after she was done with her meal, “I am. Until I find Barb, Buggy’s staying here.”

Loona sighed, she knew he was going to say that. She wanted to ask about who Barbie was, but she knew that Blitzø would brush it off and change the subject. So, she let it go, for now at least.

“So now what?” she asked, looking at the very curious Buggy who was now looking around the apartment, “we don’t have room.”

“We’ll think of something Loonie,” Blitzø answered, “It’s Halloween, go have fun!”

“You sure?”

“Certainly! I need to see Stolas anyway,” the imp answered, putting Buggy back in her basket.

The hellhound huffed, “Wow that owl really likes you.”

Blitzø was silent, he did not want to talk about what happened last night and he really didn't want to talk about it with Stolas but what choice did he have?

“Whatever, try not to lose that kid,” Loona muttered to herself and went back to her room, she had plans anyway.

Meanwhile, Blitzø looked at Buggy who was staring at him with a quizzical expression on her face. It was almost as if she was wondering why they keep moving around a lot.

He chuckled and gently rubbed the spot between her horns, “Buggy, you have no idea what you got thrown in to.”

She tilted her head, what does that mean?

Blitzø decided to change into his usual outfit before picking up the basket and bidding Loona goodbye and to have fun on wherever she was going. He got a grunt as a response, and he left the apartment.

X

“Good morning Blitzø" Stolas greeted the assassin politely but did not take his eyes off the book he was reading.

Blitzø blinked when he saw the robe the prince was wearing, a light lavender robe with purple tassels and a leaf pattern. It was much fancier than his signature red robe that never seem to stay on his shoulders. He looked sexy in it, but he looked sexy in about anything he wore. Not that Blitzø was going to say anything, he doubted that Stolas was in the mood to hear any kind of compliment after what happened last night.

So, he just walked up to him, Buggy peaked out of her basket and smile when she saw the fluffy bird. Her little giggle made Stolas look away from his book, he smiled when he saw her.

“You brought her,” he sat up from his lounge chair and put the book away.

“Well,” Blitzø put the basket down and picked up Buggy, “You told me too.”

“Hm.”

There was a tense silence between them, the only sounds was the fountain in the garden and Buggy’s little babbles. Stolas cleared his throat and with a wave of his hand, a chair that was Blitzø’s height moved to the imp.

“Don’t have a seat because I believe we need to fully discuss what happened last night.”

“Yeah, no kidding!” Blitzø grumbled as he sat on the very expensive chair, Buggy was on his lap sucking her tail spade.

Stolas gave a small smile at the little impling before giving a serious look to the assassin.

“What I said…” he spoke softly, wrapping his arms around himself, “I meant every word of it. It wasn’t foreplay.”

Blitzø figured as much after seeing how Stolas looked at him with a heartbroken look on his face.

“So you thought after making me do all that shit you wanted me to do, you just give me this rock,” Blitzø gestured to the glowing ember crystal on his bracer, “and say goodbye and luck after I thought it was another one of your roleplays?”

“That… was not my intention…”

“Stolas,” Blitzø took in a deep breath, “Ever since you made me take that deal you would give me a script every month of what you wanted done to you. Every single thing I said was a line you had made for me I did all of that because you wanted it. So can you fucking blame me for mistaking your confession as foreplay?”

Stolas was silent, he had something to say but he let the other man speak. He feared that trying to interrupt him would lead to another fight which would make the child cry again.

“I...” Stolas looked away, “I cannot but what you said... really hurt.”

Right, Blitzø called him a 'rich pompous asshole' in a moment of anger. How was he going to mediate this?

“I... well...”

Stolas sighed, “It’s fine, I understand. I took the time to think about what happened. Was... this all for just sex? For the grimoire?”

Buggy looked at the prince curiously, he looked sad, so she reached for him with grabby hands. Sometimes mommy would hold her whenever she was sad and it made her feel better.

The prince saw that and gave a small smile, “May I?”

Blitzø looked at him and then Buggy, he would have said no but he saw knew that Stolas would not do anything bad so he let him take the baby. Buggy cooed happily the moment she was picked up and placed the soft chest of the owl. She snuggled against him, yawned and fell asleep. Stolas held her easily with one hand but he used his other hand to cover her tiny body and her little tail wrapped around his wrist. How precious.

“To answer you question,” Blitzø mumbled, feeling empty without Buggy, “… I liked it. You’re a good lay Stolas. Way better than most I’ve been with.”

Stolas wondered if he should feel complimented or offended.

“And I didn’t have a choice when you made that deal,” Blitzø cleared his throat and began to speak in a high-pitched upper-class voice, “Once a month, you bring the book back to me in exchange for a night of passionate fornication~”

The prince responded by making sure Buggy didn’t hear that and blushed.

“I should have thought that through…”

Blitzø nodded, “So… yeah. That’s why I blew up. You used me for sex and then blew me off like another one of your servants.”

Hearing that made Stolas’ heart ache. He hadn’t meant for the man he was so fond of to feel that way.

“My apologies Blitzø,” he whispered, “I… I never meant for you to…”

“It’s fine,” Blitzø grumbled, “I guess you can say we both used each other. I used you for the book and you used me for sex.”

Normally, the imp would have said that nonchalantly, brush it off as if it were nothing and move on. Sure, the sex with Stolas was fucking amazing and he always felt completely satisfied afterwards, Blitzø just felt a weird ache in his heart and said what he said in dejection.

“Blitzø, I understand what you are saying,” a gentle hand was placed on his leg, “and I am sorry that I made you think that this was all about sex. I-”

Blitzø pushed(gently) the hand away, “Don’t, I’m only here to clear this shit up before I leave. I guess I should thank you for this stupid rock. Is this my consolation prize for being your ‘impish little plaything’?”

“N-no! I wanted to give you the voice to-”

The assassin shot up from his chair, “What fucking choice?! You never gave me a choice! I bet you would have thrown me away if I decided to stay! Or you would have laughed and say what a complete idiot I was for thinking that a fucking prince actually loves someone like me!”

Buggy stirred from the yelling.

“Blitzø that was not my intention!” Stolas yelled back, “I truly did develop feelings for you! Why is it so hard to understand that?!”

“Because I fucking suck at feelings! That’s why I-!”

Shrill screams interrupted them again as Buggy woke up and began crying.

“Oh dear!” Stolas gently rocked the baby, “I’m sorry little one! It’s okay.”

Blitzø freaked out and tried to reach for her, but she swiped her little red claw at him and yanked on Stolas’ feathers. The prince let out a pained hoot, but he didn’t stop comforting the child.

“There, there,” he chanted.

“Come on Buggy! It’s okay! Uncle Blitzø and mister Stolas were just having a discussion,” Blitzø said frantically.

Buggy was not convinced, she kicked her legs, she kept scratching at her uncle, she yanked out more feathers and then her screams turned into shrills.

Stolas, in pain from his feathers being ripped off, rocked the baby again until she stopped kicking and screaming, but she had a death grip on the feathers.

“I think we need to end this conversation for now,” Stolas muttered softly, it wasn't a bitter tone

Blitzø wanted to protest but nodded, chances are that they would both have another screaming match, and it would upset Buggy.

Stolas was gently prying Buggy’s claws of his feathers when he finally noticed her coloring. Now, he knew that imps were all red in color but for reason, Buggy’s complexion was pale.

“Blitzø?"

“Yeah?” Blitzø was getting ready to pick up the basket and Buggy.

“Forgive me for asking but are all implings this pale?”

The imp looked at the baby and noticed what the prince was saying. He didn’t notice because she was wearing a pink onesie but looking again, Buggy’s skin was a pale red.

“Have you taken her to the doctor yet?” Stolas asked with a firm tone.

Blitzø scratched the back of his head, "I was after this?”

If he wasn’t holding a baby right now, Stolas would have face palmed.

He sighed and gave the baby back to Blitzø, "Wait here."

“Huh?” Confusion was in the imp’s voice.

“I trust you Blitzø but I think I need to accompany you," Stolas explained.

Blitzø opened his mouth to protest but Stolas shook his head.

“Indulge the father in me this time Blitzø,” the prince said as he stood up from the lounge chair, “I believe you don’t have any experience in raising a baby.”

That shut him up immediately, Blitzø still couldn't get Buggy to eat a full bottle without her having a fit and he didn’t have a place for her to sleep other than the basket.

He sighed in defeat and put the baby in her basket, “Fine but don’t get angry if they find something.”

“I won’t,” Stolas said with a small smile before going inside the palace, “I will not be long.”

“Sure,” was all Blitzø said as he tended to Buggy who was playing with the blanket in her basket.

Stolas smiled again and went inside, as he walked up the stair, he pulled out the invitation he received that morning. It was an invite to an party that said ‘Anti-Blitzo party! Congrats on your first heartbreak!’, he wanted to ask Blitzø about it but decided that now was not the best time. In fact, he found the idea ridiculous and beyond immature and was going to throw it away. But instead, he put it away in his storage, he was not going of course. Why would he go to such a party thrown by someone who refused to let go?

The invite said it was an honorary invite since he was a fresh ex.

That made him laugh.

How can he be an ‘ex’ if he and Blitzø were never together in the first place? It was all an arrangement between the two of them for a book that granted the imp access to the living realm.

It was not like he expected Blitzø to be monogamous.

Although Stolas wished he were the only one .

Shaking those thoughts away, he went to his chambers to get dressed.

Something was wrong with that child Blitzø brought with him and Stolas was going to help make sure she was okay.

It was the least he could do.

Chapter Text

Blitzø hated hospitals.  

Ever since the accident at the circus, he steered clear of them. The only time he went to one willingly was when he needed to get Loona her shot. And it was that time where Stolas was admitted to the hospital because of Striker. 

But to walk in a hospital in Sloth because of a baby was new. 

Stolas found a pediatric hospital by St. Anne’s memorial hospital that specialized in impling care and opened a portal at the entrance. He was wearing a casual outfit instead of his regal attire and chose to not wear his hat. 

“I am not asking for anything in return just so you know,” he said as he opened the door for Blitzø to walk in. 

The assassin looked at him with a confused look, but he shrugged, “Thanks I guess.” 

Walking in the pink room filled with screaming children, Blitzø walked up the front desk. 

“May I help you sir?” the receptionist, a baphomet imp hybrid, asked without looking away from the computer on her desk. 

“Yeah,” Blitzø put the basket holding buggy on the desk, “I need to get my niece checked out.” 

The receptionist looked up and saw the basket and then Buggy rose her head out of it, she looked at the lady and smiled at her in recognition. 

The receptionist blinked and let out a tired sigh before she took the phone on her desk. 

“Dr. Ben, Buggy’s back.” 

Blitzø was confused now, “You know her?” 

“Know her? She’s been here more time than any of the kids here,” the woman answered, looking over the imp’s shoulder and then scowled, “Where’s that bitch Barbie? We told her what would happen if she brought Buggy back!” 

“What?” 

“Never mind, go wait over there,” the woman muttered, gesturing to the seats nearby, “Dr. Ben will be with you in a moment.” 

Stolas, who was standing there, was stunned. How often was this child brought here? He and Blitzø sat on the chairs while Buggy was playing with her tail, oblivious to everyone around her. 

“What did you do Barb?” Blitzø said to himself while looking at the baby. 

“… I did not know you had siblings,” Stolas said softly. 

“A twin sister, she left her baby at my office yesterday…” was all Blitzø said. 

Stolas nodded and chose to keep quiet for the man’s sake. 

A few minutes of screaming children and Buggy sucking on her tail went by and a baphomet doctor arrived with a clipboard in hand. 

“Hello again Buggy,” he said to the baby who smiled at him in response before he turned his attention to Blitzø, “You must be Blitzo, Barbara told me about you.” 

“The o’s silent actually.” 

“Ah yes, she mentioned something like that,” the doctor sighed, “Follow me.” 

He took Buggy from her basket and walked off with Blitzø and Stolas following after him. 

“If you are here, it would only mean that Barbara ran off,” the demon muttered as he looked at Buggy, “I told her that she needed to grow up for this child’s sake.” 

Blitzø was silent because even though he wanted to defend his sister, he knew that she may not be in a good place right now.  

Stolas spoke up, “I noticed her complexion, are all implings that pale?” 

They made it to the exam room when the doctor spoke, “No your highness. Imps are cold blooded and need to regulate their body temperature, which is why their skin is that red color,” he placed Buggy on the exam table and took her out of her onesie, “Fully grown imps can easily eat wrath coals if they live in Wrath or are born out of that ring. Implings don’t have that luxury.” 

Blitzø watched Buggy relax under the doctor's gentle touches while being examined, she was so used to this. 

“So… If I give her crushed wrath coals, she won’t be pale?” He finally asked. 

The doctor looked at the imp and shook his head. 

“Implings stomachs aren’t strong enough to eat them directly, they need it through their mother’s milk.” 

Blitzø knew that one for sure, he needed to crush up wrath coals to help Buggy then. 

“But Barbara is a whole other issue, I told her time and time again to either go to rehab to get clean or if she brings back Buggy one more time, I’m calling child services.” 

Blitzø froze, “you… you can’t be serious!” 

“I’m sorry but I have to.” 

“But!” Blitzø brought Biggy close to him, “Barbie left her with me! I can take care of her!” 

The doctor looked at with a sympathetic look on his face, “You say that, but I don’t know you or your home environment. I promise she will be looked after.” 

“No!” the imp fought his instinct of taking out his gun, this was a bad idea! He should never have taken her to this place! Buggy’s eyes got big and she clung to her uncle, she didn’t understand what was being said but she didn’t like how loud it was. 

The doctor reached for Buggy until a hand stopped him. 

“Mister Blitzø has been staying with me!” Stolas blurted out, “I can assure you that Buggy will be cared for!” 

A sigh escaped from the goat's mouth, and he spoke, “with all due respect your highness, I am doing this with the child’s best interest in mind.” 

“And I applaud you for that, but I promise that Buggy is well cared for by her uncle,” Stolas countered, “and Buggy has bonded with her uncle. To take her away would only add to her health problems.” 

Buggy responded by crying, it wasn’t her loud shrills, it was a distressed cry, and she swiped a claw at the doctor who tried to take her away. 

“As I said-” 

Stolas cut him off, “I hear you are the only doctor of this clinic; you are using your personal funds to keep this place running.” 

Dr. Ben clenched his fists when he heard that. He worked hard for twenty-five years to open this clinic for implings. The other hospitals in Sloth turn away imp parents for simply being who they are, imps. All he wanted was to provide good healthcare for implings and he was already being mocked by his colleagues for having compassion for them. So, to hear this arrogant prince mention made his blood boil but he remained calm. 

“Yes, I am,” he said through gritted teeth, “And?” 

Stolas smiled, “I find this admirable, and I was hoping to find a cause to sponsor for some time.” 

Blitzo shot a glare at him and whispered, “What are you doing?!” 

The prince heard but still spoke, “I can tell you care about the wellbeing of the children you treat so please take it into consideration that Buggy will be well taken care of this time. Blitzø has a daughter who he has taken care of alone with no help and his daughter is thriving.” 

He gave the imp a quick look and Blitzø figured it out. 

“I do! My daughter Loona is twenty-two now but I made sure she was well fed and loved when I adopted her! If I can take care of an adopted kid, I can take care of my niece! Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it!” 

The baphomet let out a small growl, he knew that prince Stolas obviously trying to bribe him and the imp known as Blitzø was close to grabbing that gun he tried to keep hidden. He was cornered and he knew it. 

But sadly, he sighed in defeat, “Fine... but only because I worked too hard to earn the trust of my patients!” 

Fixing his glasses, he took Buggy from Blitzø's arms, Stolas had to place a comforting hand on the assassin's shoulder to calm him down and did the usual checkup he did on babies. He checked Buggy’s heartbeat which was normal and placed her on the baby scale, frowned when he saw the numbers. 

“She’s three pound lighter,” he grumbled and took out his clipboard, “She’s underweight and the color of her skin indicates that Barbara stopped eating wrath coals a week ago.” 

Blitzø bit his lower lip, why did Barbie neglect her own baby?  

Dr. Ben then wrote something down on a Rx form, “I’m writing a prescription for wrath coil oil. It’s a special medicine for impling babies if their mothers can’t produce milk.” 

He gave the slip to Blitzø who was dressing Buggy back in her onesie, “Mix it in a bottle of formula, it will immediately warm up so worry about doing what other demons do. I expect a follow up in one month.” 

Blitzø took the paper and stuffed it in his pocket, Buggy reached for him with grabby hands and a smile. How was she so cute? 

“One more thing,” Dr. Ben grumbled, “Go to the front desk and ask for Buggy’s records. They contain everything you need to know about her.” 

Blitzø and Stolas nodded and left the room, Stolas was now holding the baby who played with a feather that fell off. The prince made sure she didn’t put it in her mouth, Octavia did that once when she was a hatchling and spat with it with a sour look. 

“Oh how darling,” the prince cooed happily, earning a high-pitched giggle from Buggy. 

Maybe it was because he was stressed but Blitzø thought that Stolas looked sexy holding a baby. Must be because he was a dad and holding a baby was a natural thing for him. 

Blitzø walked to the front desk and the receptionist gave him the records he needed after asking for them. He got the birth certificate, vaccination records (Blitzø was surprised that Barbie actually kept up with that part), and records of past visits all in manilla envelope.  

“Thanks,” Blitzø grumbled while Stolas paid for today’s visit, he insisted. 

The men moved to leave when the woman behind the desk muttered. 

“I bet Buggy’s better off with you than that slut.” 

It took Stolas all he could to hold back Blitzø who was ready to jump over the desk to attack the receptionist with one hand as they left the building. 

“You don’t know anything about my sister!” he yelled, trying to fight his way out of the prince's arm, “Stolas! Let me go!” 

Stolas said nothing and used his magic to make Buggy’s basket float to him and put the baby in it. He then opened a portal back to the palace and walked in with Blitzø still screaming. 

“Blitzø!" He finally said with a firm voice, setting the imp down and making him look at him, “I understand your anger, but you need to calm down!” 

Blitzø was seething, he wanted to rip that bitch to shreds for saying that about his sister. what the fuck did she know?! Barbie would never sleep around recklessly! She made mistakes but she still had self-respect for herself! 

“What if that doctor saw that and decided that Buggy was not safe with you?” he heard Stolas say, “Think about Buggy!” 

Buggy was giggling in her floating basket nearby and that was when Blitzø realized that they now in Stolas' room. Stolas moved the basket to the couch in the room much to her delight and moved to sit next to her. He gently picked her up and took a good look at her. 

“I’ll look after her while you get her medicine,” the prince explained, letting Buggy play with his fingers. 

“W-what?” Blitzø was confused, "Why?" 

Stolas, not taking his eyes off the baby, answered, “Think of it as making amends for my selfish actions towards you. You need help and I will gladly assist you in making sure this child is well taken care of.” 

Buggy was now sucking on one of the fingers which made him smile. 

“Uh... you sure?” 

“I am, besides, you need a moment to calm down after what you heard.” 

Blitzø was still riled up from what that receptionist said and he knew that Buggy might sense it which will make her cry. 

“Fine... I’ll be back,” Blitzø was about to leave when Stolas spoke again. 

“And buy some baby clothes, she can’t wear this onesie forever.” 

The pink onesie Buggy was wearing had stains and Stolas could smell an odor from it. When was the last time she had a bath? 

“Sure,” Blitzø mumbled and went to the balcony to climb down. 

“You know you can leave through the front door,” Stolas said with a chuckle. 

The imp flipped him off with a smirk and jumped off, leaving the prince and the baby alone. 

Stolas sighed and decided to take Buggy to his bathroom for a needed bath. Buggy was small so he decided that the sink was a good alternative, he ran the water until it warmed up and adjusted the temperature to make it safe for a baby. Octavia was sensitive to hot things when she was a baby, so Stolas knew about a baby’s sensitivity to temperatures. And since Buggy was technically sick, he did not want to hurt her.  

Stolas took Buggy out of her onesie and diaper before putting her in the full sink. Buggy giggled at the warm water and began to splash. The prince chuckled and summoned a clean loofah and a bottle of bath soap that was safe to use on baby skin. 

“You are so precious,” he cooed as he gently cleaned Buggy. 

The baby smiled and welcomed the cleaning, it felt nice to be clean after a long time. Stolas took this as an opportunity to see if Buggy had diaper rash, thankfully she didn’t. He even checked for any signs of abuse and found nothing. He let out a sigh in relief and took Buggy out of the sink to dry her off. Buggy squirmed from the soft towel and kicked her hooves, Stolas chuckled, he remembered Octavia acting like this as a baby. 

Thinking about his daughter made the prince sigh softly. Admittedly, he hadn't been the most open with her lately and it was starting to show. He wondered if he should be open to her about the real reason why he wanted to divorce her mother. As much as he wanted to keep the illusion of a normal family life he created for her, he knew that it would eventually blow up in his face. Like how his current relationship with Blitzø did last night. And then he looked at Buggy who was now calm and looking at him with her big eyes, if she was the child of Blitzø's sister and could not be found, how was Blitzø going to tell her that she was abandoned? 

Without another sigh, Stolas wrapped the baby in a dry towel and walked out of the bathroom. He only knew her for a day and already he was smitten with her. She was so tiny, he loved her tiny claws and her little horns. Don't get him started on her tail that was currently sticking out of the bundle and trying to wrap around the prince’s wrist. Sitting back on the couch, Stolas placed the baby on his chest and almost let out a happy hoot when he heard a little purr coming from the little one. 

“I hope your uncle comes back soon,” he whispered as he rubbed her little head. 

Buggy yawned and fell asleep against the soft feathers. 

Stolas then decided to reach for his phone so he could text Octavia, she was coming home soon and the last thing he needed was to surprise her if she saw the baby. Teenagers are unpredictable when it comes to surprises. Especially a seventeen-year-old owl princess who was still coming to terms with her parents divorcing. 

After he sent a text, he heard the unmistakable sound of a wet fart and the smell he never thought he would smell again coming from the now awake impling. 

“Oh Buggy...” Stolas grimaced. 

Buggy giggled in response. 

Chapter Text

“You need me to get what?” Blitzø asked in confusion. 

He had just picked up medicine from the pharmacy and was now looking at the small onesies in the children’s aisle when Stolas called him. 

“I said,” sighed Stolas, “I need you to get diapers, wipes and diaper cream. Why didn’t you bring a baby bag?” 

Blitzø heard water running and Buggy giggling in the background, "Well I wasn’t expecting to stay long.” 

“Regardless, get those as well as well as the medicine,” the prince said, “And get a new onesie.” 

“What do you think I was doing?” 

Stolas hung up by then which made the imp annoyed but he went back to looking at the onesies. He found a cute little onesie that had a horse pattern, but it was for a toddler and Blitzø didn't know how long he was going to have Buggy. He sighed; he should really tell Stolas to not get attached to the baby. He didn’t know how the prince was so taken to Buggy so fast. 

“Whatever,” he muttered, he needed to go back and give Buggy her medicine.  

But first he needed to get what Stolas told him to get. Diapers, wipes and cream, it took a while to figure what diaper cream was and he had to ask what size diaper he needed for a four-month-old, but he soon left the store with bags full of what he needed. 

Along with the toddler sized horse onesie. 

X 

“It says here that you need to pour one pack for a four-ounce bottle of formula,” Stolas said after reading the instruction box of the oil. 

He along with Blitzø were in the kitchen after the imp came back with the supplies they needed. 

Buggy was in Stolas’ arm in a fresh diaper and a new blue onesie, Blitzø was smart to get more than just one. She was playing with her tail while waiting for her meal, she was starving and wanted her food now. 

Blitzø was mixing the formula after he made a quick trip to his apartment to grab the formula, he already cursed himself for forgetting that he already had diapers, but Stolas told him that you never have enough diapers. 

“So I just pour the oil in this?” Blitzø asked while looking at the small black packet he was holding, it was warm to the touch. 

Stolas nodded, “Yes, the doctor said that the oil will heat up the formula so do not worry about doing that.” 

Buggy made a frustrated sound, and her little tummy growled. 

“Just do it Blitzø, babies are not pleasant when they are hungry,” the prince put the box down and gently rocked the impling. 

With a sigh and the roll of the eyes, Blitzø opened the pack and poured the black oil in the cream-colored liquid. He watched as the oil swirled around, and it turned black and red like the wrath coals he ate to regulate his body temperature. 

Blitzø grabbed the bottle, it was very warm and shook it to make sure the oil mixed well. He gave the bottle to Stolas since he was holding the baby. 

Buggy gave a look of disgust when she saw the bottle, she did not want that icky stuff! She moved her head for every time the rubber nipple was near her mouth. Stolas chuckled softly and he tried again. 

“Come now little one,” he cooed, “You need to eat, and I am sure you will like it this time.” 

The baby huffed and Stolas used the opportunity to put the nipple in her mouth. Buggy frowned but gave a suckle, her eyes grew wide, and her little body shook as the heat radiated in her. She began to eat happily, and her tail wrapped around the owl’s wrist. 

Both men let out sighs of relief. 

“Do imps eyes do that when they eat wrath coals?”  

Blitzø nodded, "yeah, the sudden heat makes does that but it's soothing." 

Buggy kept eating happily, not caring about what was going on. She did look up at Stolas with curious eyes, he was so big and fluffy!  

“So... you said that she was abandoned?” Stolas asked while holding the bottle since the baby was too young to try. 

Blitzø sighed softly, "Yeah, yesterday my sister left her at the door and disappeared.” 

“I see,” the prince took the bottle from Buggy and began to pat her back to help her burp. 

“I didn’t even know Barb was pregnant,” Blitzø started to pace the kitchen, "The last I saw her was when she told me that she never wanted to see me again. why would she leave her kid with me?" 

Buggy let out a little burp and yawned before falling asleep. She snuggled against the fluffy fluff of Stolas’ chest. 

“Perhaps she thought Buggy was better off with you?” Stolas asked, rubbing Buggy’s back gently. 

Blitzø huffed, “Better off with me? She had to be high...” 

Stolas wanted to ask about the smaller man’s sister but chose not too for the moment and looked at the baby he was holding. 

“What are you going to do? I know I said that you and Buggy were staying with me, but it was in the heat of the moment. But I will vouch for you in regards of Buggy’s custody.” 

“Thanks... I guess.” 

The little clock in the kitchen chimed and they saw that it was one in the afternoon. Octavia would be home in an hour. 

“I guess that’s my cue to leave,” Blitzø mumbled, “Thanks for helping today.” 

Stolas smiled and knelt down so the imp could take Buggy. But the moment Blitzø tried to take the baby, she responded by gripping on Stolas’ feathers tightly. 

“Oh dear!” the owl hooted in pain and tried to pry off the little claws. 

Blitzø gave a small growl, “Come on Buggy, we gotta go!” 

The baby whined and held on tighter with each pull. 

“Buggy!” 

“Waah!” she cried, she didn’t want to let go of her soft bed! 

Stolas hooted when he felt more feathers being pulled, “Now Buggy, you need to let go.” 

The baby opened her eyes; they were shiny with tears that were threatening to fall. It made both men feel bad, but it was time for her and Blitzø to leave. 

“Sorry Stolas!” Blitzø said before he pulled harder, careful not to hurt the baby and finally pulled her off. 

Stolas yelped loudly as Buggy pulled a handful of his chest fathers, some of them were new and there were bits of black blood on them. Buggy gave a pout and started to cry, why did they remove her from her soft bed?! Blitzø rocked her gently, patting her back and purring since he was told that it would help implings. 

“She’s attached to you already,” he muttered softly. 

“I can see that,” Stolas hooted as he rubbed the small patch on his chest, “do not hold it against her Blitzø, she seems to love soft things.” 

Buggy kept crying but they soon quieted down and she looked at the prince sadly, reaching for him desperately. 

“.... I can come back tomorrow if you want,” Blitzø said softly and then shook his head, “You know since Buggy only calms down when you’re around!” 

Stolas smiled and with a flick of his wrist, all the necessities Blitzø bought along with Buggy's medicine were packed in a bag. He gave the bag to Blitzø and opened a portal to the van parked outside the gates. 

“I would love that,” he smiled. 

Blitzø's heart skipped a beat but he shook it off, “Thanks... I’ll see you soon.” 

He walked through the portal with Buggy and the bag in tow, the baby peeked her head over Blitzø's shoulder still reaching for the prince. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow little one,” Stolas cooed as he waved at her. 

The portal closed and Stolas sighed, he wondered how he ended up attached to the little baby.  

Was he having a case of empty nest syndrome? 

Octavia was growing up and she was still acting a bit distant with him lately.  

A sigh escaped his beak, he knew what he had to do, and he didn’t like it one bit. 

Tonight, he was going to sit her down and tell her the truth. About his marriage to her mother, about how he wasn’t happy. 

And about why she born. 

Chapter Text

“How long are you going to look at me like that?” Blitzø asked the small baby who was glaring at him. 

They were back at the apartment after the weird day they had. Trying to talk to Stolas, Buggy having a meltdown, a trip to the doctors, medicine, and all that shit. Currently, they were on the floor with Buggy on her tummy while Blitzø was sitting on his butt watching her, but the baby was not happy with him. 

“Is it because we left?” He asked with a tilted head. 

Buggy babbled at him furiously and turned her head away; she smacked her little claws on the matted carpet and frowned. She liked the soft chest of the other man better! 

“You look like your mother with that face,” the imp muttered. 

The baby huffed, whipped her tail, and looked away. 

Blitzø sighed, it was just him and Buggy tonight. When he came home, he saw a note from Loona saying that she was out, so he put his niece on the floor to let her wiggle around. 

His phone timer went off after a certain amount of time, it was time for Buggy to have another bottle. Blitzø stood up and went to the pile of bags on the coffee table, he grabbed a clean bottle and the can of formula. He scooped out the appropriate amount of powder, poured it into the bottle, and grabbed the bottled water he bought. Stolas told him that the quality of water was super important for a baby; tap water was not going to cut it at all. After pouring the water in, Blitzø shook the bottle to mix the formula and reached for the medicine. 

Once the formula was mixed, Blitzø poured the oil in and watched as it changed colors. Giving it a final shake, he crawled to Buggy and pulled her to him. She was not having it; she glared at him and smacked her tail at his leg. 

“Nice try sweetie,” Blitzø chuckled and poked the rubber nipple against the baby’s face, “You’ll love me after this.” 

Buggy glared at her uncle, but she latched to the nipple out of instinct, and her eyes widened at the warmth. 

“There we go Buggy.” 

The baby still glared at him but drank her meal, she still didn’t like the flavor, but it kept her warm and she was cozy. 

Blitzø smiled, his niece was so cute. 

Buggy finished her bottle and was burped after a few pats on her back before she fell asleep; her little snores were so innocent and sweet. Blitzø rubbed her head softly and felt little fuzz, she might have hair soon.  

“Your grandma had pretty hair,” Blitzø softly, “she would have spoiled you rotten.” 

He placed her in her basket and watched her sleep for hours. He promised himself that he was not going to lose her, he only knew her for a couple of days and loved her so much. 

X 

When Octavia came home after a long weekend with her mother, she expected to see her dad to happily greet her with open arms and a big smile. She would not admit it, but she enjoyed seeing that, it made her feel like she was his most important thing in hell. 

So, imagine her surprise when Octavia came home and saw her dad standing there with a small, nervous smile on his face. He did hug her like he always did but this hug was different from the others. Almost as if he was scared to let go. 

And now she was sitting at the kitchen table with her favorite lunch in front of her and her dad sitting in front of her. 

“Dad?” she asked with a confused look on her face, “what’s going on?” 

Stolas took a deep breath and looked at his little girl. His reason for living, his heartbeat, his universe. 

“Via,” he said softly, “I just... want to apologize for everything that has happened for a long time. Having an affair... and continuing the affair...” 

Octavia rolled her eyes, this wasn’t new to her. Her mother would always rant about that every time she was with her. The girl would tune her out when she did, dad never talked about it, so she ignored it. 

“Anyway... I...” Stolas took in another deep breath, “I just was not happy... I was never happy with your mother...” 

Octavia blinked, she froze and finally spoke, “What?” 

“I... had no choice when I married her. We were never in love, but we were told at young ages that we were to wed,” Stolas wanted to look away but he did not want to make his daughter think that she was to blame, “The reason why... was to have you.” 

“... you’re joking,” the girl croaked after a long silence, “You were never good at jokes dad!” 

Stolas expected this reaction, “I am so sorry Octavia. I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want to make you feel like you were an obligation. You are not! You are my little girl, you made my life so much better the moment your egg was laid. But my selfishness made you suffer and-” 

Octavia stood up from her seat and ran out of the kitchen, tears were spilling from her eyes. She knew something was off between her parents, why they looked like they barely tolerated each other but this?! This was too much! 

“Via wait!” She heard her dad call out to her, but she kept running until she made it to her room.  

She slammed the door and locked it before she threw herself on her bed, small knocks were heard but she ignored them. Octavia hugged her pillow close and sobbed into it. 

Outside the room, Stolas had his hand on the door and tried to hold in the tears that welled in his eyes. He knew that this was the outcome of telling her the truth, but it still hurt to see his daughter like this. 

“Via... I’m so sorry sweetie...” he said with a quiet voice, “I’ll leave you alone right now. I love you so, so much my darling.” 

He heard sniffling and it broke his heart, he wondered if he did the right thing. As the prince walked away, his phone rang. 

It was Blitzø and he was unsure if he should answer it but to his surprise, he saw that it was a video call. Confused, he answered it and was greeted with a tired Blitzø and a crying Buggy. 

“She won’t stop... I think she misses you,” the assassin mumbled. 

Buggy was still crying, her screeches were loud and her little fists were clenched tight. Stolas almost smiled and spoke to the little baby. 

“Buggy, what the matter?” he asked, hoping hearing his voice will calm her down. 

It seemed to work because Buggy stopped crying and looked at the prince on the screen with wide eyes. She then smiled and tried to reach for him only to pout when her claws only touched the screen. 

“She’s only attached to you, what did you do to make her like you more?” 

Stolas let out a small chuckle, “I think it’s my chest she misses.” 

“I miss your chest but that’s different,” Blitzø said casually, he then noticed the tired look on the owl’s face, “Something up?” 

“O-Oh yes! I’m just tired and....” Stolas would have lied easily, but something told him to tell the truth. Maybe it was because Buggy’s face of disappointment moved him, “Actually.... No... I... said something to Via and... I think it was a mistake.” 

“Huh?” 

“Blitzø... I need you! I don’t want to be alone!” the prince cried, he was shaking and his distress was evident on his face. 

Blitzø could see that something was up so he put Buggy in her basket and used his crystal to open a portal to Stolas. He found him in the hallway shaking and close to breaking down, without saying anything, he took his hand and led him to his room. He needed to be somewhere safe before he had a total breakdown right then and there. 

X 

“So you were married because you were told too and that’s why you have a kid?” 

Stolas nodded, “When you put it that way.” 

He was sitting on his chaise after telling the imp everything that happened, from his arranged marriage to the reason why Octavia existed. Buggy was sound asleep against his soft chest while Stolas rubbed her back gently, her small purrs gave him comfort. 

“I wanted Via to have a normal life even if it meant that I had to endure Stella’s insults and cruelty. But I could not do it anymore, I was tired of all the lies I had to tell and the facades I molded,” the prince said softly, “Ever since you took my book, you awakened something within me that made me realize that I wanted something that was not this.” 

He gestured to all the furnishings around him, he placed Buggy in her basket and walked up to a portrait of himself, Stella and Octavia, “I told Via the truth, and she locked herself in her room. She hates me now...” 

Blitzø shook his head, "No, she's just processing that her parents' marriage was a sham and that everything she knew was a lie,”  

He walked up to the prince and held his hand, “Let her cry it out, she’ll come out when she’s hungry.” 

“I hope you are right Blitzø..." 

Meanwhile, Buggy popped out of her basket with a frown, why did her fluffy pillow have to leave her?! 

She huffed and decided that she did not want to be in her basket anymore. So, she decided to crawl out, and she plopped onto the floor. Thankfully the carpet was super soft, and she didn’t get hurt.  

Once she gained her bearings, Buggy crawled away to look for an adventure! 

Chapter Text

This place was huge! 

That was all Buggy’s little baby mind kept telling her as she crawled through the halls of the shiny palace.  

After she snuck away from the man who looked like mommy and the walking pillow, Buggy explored wherever she could get to. The curtains were soft and she found herself crawling up the fabric and slid down with her claws. It was fun but then she got bored and decided to explore somewhere else.  

As she crawled around the corner, she heard a door open and saw a girl walk out of her room. She looked sad and tired, Buggy decided to crawl to the room and saw a purple bed, it looked soft and decided to play there. 

X 

Octavia didn’t know how long she had been crying after being told by her dad that his marriage to her mother was arranged just to have her. It hurt so much since she had always thought that her parents did care for each other when she was little. The portraits in the hall seemed to prove it. They looked happy when she was in them, so was her dad telling the truth? 

She walked through the hallway that led to the kitchen and stopped to look at the one covered portrait of both her parents. Octavia didn’t know when it was taken but she felt that it was proof her parents did love each other before that red dickhead showed up and ruined everything. Pulling back the gossamer fabric, Octavia saw the portrait and blinked when she saw it. She shook her head and looked again, it was the same portrait she always looked at with great admiration, but it looked different. 

Her mother smiling brightly and she was pressed against her father who was smiling but his smile looked forced. He looked uncomfortable while mother looked smug, as if she knew that she was invading his space and was enjoying it. 

Octavia shook and put the fabric back over the portrait; she could not believe it! 

Everything was a lie? 

Her entire childhood, the fun, the laughs and the many family vacations with her parents was all just a lie? 

Why did they lie to her?! 

Ignoring her growling stomach, Octavia ran back to her room to cry again. This was all too much for her. 

When she made it to her room, Octavia threw herself on the bed to cry. She didn’t notice the moving lump under the sheets and buried her face in her star pillow. That is until the lump moved towards her, and a little head popped out to stare at her. 

“Gah?” 

The sound scared the avian teenager who yelped and jumped off her bed. The reaction caused the little creature to giggle and Octavia stood up to see a baby impling in a purple onesie sitting on her bed with a smile on her face. 

The surprise wore off and Octavia frowned, “Where did you come from?” 

Buggy looked at her and smiled again; this girl looked like her fluffy pillow! She reached for her with grabby hands. 

Octavia raised an eyebrow sighed, “Probably a servant’s baby.” 

Even though she had no experience with kids, Octavia reached to grab her, but Buggy had other plans. The moment the teenager’s hands were within her reach; the baby grabbed her hand and crawled up her arm. 

“Hey!” the teen yelled and tried to shake her off, “Let go!” 

Buggy giggled and crawled all the way to the girl’s chest and latched on. She wasn't soft like her pillow, but she will do for now. 

After a few attempts to tug her off, Octavia sighed in defeat. Might as well ask the servant’s if they were missing a baby. Placing her hands on the tiny baby, Octavia walked out of her, she tried not to feel at ease from the baby’s purring. 

X 

“She’s not in the tub!” Blitzø cried out frantically. 

Stolas looked through his bookshelf with worry in his eyes, “She’s not in the books!” 

It had been a good twenty minutes of the men desperately searching for Buggy when they noticed that she had been too quiet when they were talking. They turned to see her empty basket and since implings were known for being very nimble, they searched everywhere. Blitzø was cursing himself for losing his niece after promising that he would take care of her and Stolas wishing he paid more attention.  

“Where could she have gone?” the prince asked, his pupils were flashing and he ran a hand through his hair. 

Blitzø ran out of the bathroom and saw that the bedroom door was open, “Shit! She flew the coop!” 

“Sha can crawl?! At four months?!” 

The imp looked at Stolas, “Implings develop fast Stolas!” 

With no time to waste, they ran out and looked around the halls until they saw the silk curtains on the tall windows. The fabric was torn and it wasn’t from age. 

“Well, she was here,” Blitzø said, looking at the tears and saw that it was made by little claws. 

Stolas gulped, impling claws are that sharp? 

“Please don’t tell me that she can climb already!” 

The silence Blitzø gave him was his answer. 

“I’ll call for the servants! Make a search party! Shut all the doors!” Stolas turned to call for his butler until he saw Octavia turn a corner, “Via?” 

She stopped in her tracks, but she didn’t turn to face her dad, understandable right now. 

“I am sorry for bothering you but have you seen a baby anywhere?” 

Hearing the voice of her pillow, Buggy peeked over the teenager’s shoulder and cooed happily. 

“Buggy!” Blitzø cried and relief, “Why’d you run away?!” 

Buggy babbled as if she was explaining her reason, but Octavia would not turn to them. 

“if this is yours, you can have her,” she muttered as she tried to pry the baby’s claws off her dress, but Buggy was not having it, “If I can get her off me!” 

Stolas sighed and walked to his daughter, he knew that she still needed space, but Buggy was not letting go. 

“Let go Buggy!” 

The baby would not let go, she clung harder to the soft dress. 

“Blitzø! Grab the baby while I try to unlatch her claws!” 

Blitzø nodded and ran to grab the tiny baby who began to cry, Octavia tried to help with unlatching the claws until finally Buggy was off. 

“Finally,” Octavia muttered before she turned to go back to her room. 

Stolas wanted to reach out to her but didn’t, he knew that she still needed space. But he did flinch when the door slammed. 

Blitzø hummed while trying to comfort a pouting Buggy, “She’ll come around.” 

“I do hope so.” 

X 

Stolas looked at the wine glass he had been holding for almost an hour before deciding that it wasn’t worth drinking. He made the wine disappear with magic and sunk deeper into his chair. 

It was late at night and Blitzø left with Buggy not long after they found her since Stolas assured him that he was fine. Which was what led him to his grand library, sitting in his armchair, looking at the fire in his fireplace and sighing deeply. 

Blitzø told him that Octavia would come around eventually, but Stolas wasn't so sure. His daughter wouldn’t even look at him when Buggy was missing. It’s not as if he blamed her, he did tell her that everything she knew was a lie, an illusion he created just for her. He would not be surprised if Octavia packed all her bags to live with her mother and never speak to him again. 

Hell, Stolas was prepared for it. 

It hurt him but he knew that he hurt her the most. 

He just didn’t know how he could take it. 

“Dad?” Octavia’s voice snapped him out of his inner turmoil  

Stolas turned his head to see Octavia standing there, wearing her pajamas and she looked tired. 

“V-Via!” He stood up to greet her, but the girl walked up to him and gave him a look. 

“I have a lot of questions; can you answer them?” 

Stolas sat down and was about to have a chair brought to her, but Octavia surprised him by sitting on his lap like she used to when she was little. Stolas was stunned, but he welcomed it since he missed the days when she was little. 

“Of course Via, ask me anything.” 

Octavia looked at him and spoke, “Be honest, did you at least try to love mother?” 

The prince gulped but he did keep his word, “Even if I did, it would not have worked Via... you see, I’m gay.” 

Surprise was instantly on his daughter’s face, he expected that but he waited for the response. 

“... oh...” Octavia tried to process it and then asked, “so... was I just an obligation? Why you stayed?” 

Stolas respond by hugging her close, “Oh my Via, it is true that we were obligated to have you but loving you was all my own doing. There were times that I wanted to take you away from here. But I wanted to give you a normal life, a life with two parents who loved you and knew your name. Unlike me whose parents basically dropped me off here as an egg and only visited when it suited them.” 

Octavia snuggled against her dad’s shoulder and she smiled, at least she knew that her dad loved her even after finding out the truth. 

“You said that everything was arranged to have me, why?” 

Stolas, while still holding his little girl, sighed, “I was ten I was shown a picture of your mother, I was told that I was destined to produce a ‘precautionary addition’ to the Goetia family. I had no say and neither did she, we were forced into this by the family. To them, you were just a backup plan if anything were to happen to me but I could never see you as that. You were and are my special little starfire, I understand that you may not believe me, but it is true. I would never trade you for all the stars in the galaxy.” 

Octavia was silent before she spoke again, “I need time dad. I don’t know how long but I need time to think about everything.” 

I understand darling,” Stolas whispered, “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait.” 

“What if I want to live with mother?” 

“I will accept it because it is your choice,” his voice wavered, it hurt thinking about that possibility because he knew that Stella will stop at nothing to keep Octavia away from him, “You are at that age where you can make decisions regarding where you want to go on you’re own. Whatever you choose, I’ll support you.” 

Octavia gave a small smile, “Thanks dad..... I do have another question.” 

“Yes?” 

The girl gulped and asked again, “Do you love him?” 

It was now Stolas’ turn to gulp, he had been aware of his growing feelings for Blitzø for a long time, but he wondered if Blitzø felt the same.  

“He... makes me feels something I never felt before and I want to keep that. But you are my first priority.” 

Which was true, Octavia meant everything to Stolas. Something he forgot about for a while. 

“..... if he makes you happy dad, I don’t want you to give him up just for me.” 

“But you are not fond of him which I understand.” 

“True but.... knowing what I know now... it’s complicated.” 

“I’m sorry I kept this from you.” 

Octavia sighed softly, “Well... I don’t think I could’ve handled it if you told me when I was little. How do you tell a kid that her parents don’t like each other and are only together because their families needed an heir?” 

“True.” 

She hugged her dad again, “I love you dad, you fucked up but I know you do love me.” 

Stolas hugged her back with a quivering smile, “So much. And I will give you all the time you need to process everything.” 

“Thanks dad.” 

She made no attempt to move so Stolas rocked back and forth gently, it always helped to lull Octavia to sleep when she was a baby chick and it still worked for teenage Via. As much as he wanted to believe that everything was okay between them, he knew it wasn’t. 

Octavia still had many questions and Stolas was going to answer them. No matter how personal and no matter how much it will destroy more of what she thought she knew, Stolas would answer them. 

And he was going to accept whatever came his way as a result. Even if it hurt both him and Octavia. 

With a small sigh, Stolas continued to rock Octavia as he hummed the lullaby he used to sing to her whenever she had a nightmare. 

It brought both of them comfort back then and Stolas hoped it would continue to do so now.