Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stolas was such a fool.

He should have known since Ozzie ’s that there was no way this could end well. All signs were here, yet he stubbornly clung to hope, trying to find another explanation, anything to keep hoping, to keep going.

If Ozzie ’s events weren’t clear enough, then his loneliness in his hospital room should have been eye opening. Could anyone really blame him when hope flared back to life in his chest upon receiving a text from the demon he loved, wishing him a swift recovery? For Blitz to send such a message, even better, to be the one to reach out for once, it had to mean something, right?

But then days passed by, and Stolas stayed alone in his too small for him bed, waiting for a text that wouldn ’t come, hoping for a visit that would never happen.

It wasn ’t concern that prompted that text. It was obligation, like everything in their relationship. Their contractual relationship. Because Stolas himself made it so.

Could he really fault Blitz for wanting out of it? For not being able to say he never wanted in in the first place, save that he didn ’t have a choice? Though if Stolas had to guess, he supposed the imp wasn’t above using Stolas and his royal privilege from time to time either. Memories of Ozzie’s were dancing in his mind again, but he pushed those away.

He could loose time pitying himself, but not when he had so many things to prepare to try and right his wrongs, even if it couldn ’t end with Blitz forgiving him. The prince held up his phone with a worried frown as he checked again the meeting with Asmodeus, scheduled way too soon for him to be able to attend with his current injuries, that was for sure. If they were caused by normal weapons, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but they weren’t.

So Stolas called to reschedule, still lying in his hospital bed, and he couldn ’t help a relieved sigh as he hang up after having the confirmation his meeting with the Sin was only delayed by a few days, thought he had had to negotiate a bit. It wasn’t enough for him to be fully recovered, but he would be recovered enough to attend at least, without having to wait too long, and that was what mattered.

It didn ’t go well.

Not only the Sin couldn ’t accept his request, but he ended up face to face with the very man who put him in the hospital a week ago. Only through a recording, yes, and only for a few seconds, but the surprise of it, the unexpectedness was enough to feel like the injury on his shoulder was burning up again.

The prince managed to hold it together, helping Asmodeus through his ordeal with the lawyer, not even hoping for anything in return. He knew the King wouldn ’t change his mind, didn’t even entertain the idea. Seeing him reunite with his partner was enough.

Yet, deep down, as Stolas witnessed their joy and relief, he couldn ’t help but think of what he would never have.

He was no fool, he knew there was more than a simple business relationship between the King and the jester. But after all, he probably shouldn ’t compare himself with the Sin of Lust, a being as old as Hell itself. Their experience, their knowledge, their appeal where wholly different.

So it was with a heavy heart that Stolas went home that night. He did something right, sure, but he had no other idea to free Blitz of him. He supposed that he would have to give the imp another out while he worked on another solution. If he ever needed to ask, because by this point, it was so damn obvious Blitz would never see Stolas again if he could help it, but he still had to try and make things right, and not just because some part, deep down, was still hoping for a happy outcome.

The owl was surprised, truly, when the crystal arrived while he was working in his study. Asmodeus had sent no message about it, but he supposed he may have changed his mind for some reason. Either way, both relief and anxiety managed to flood Stolas at once at the sight of the crystal.

Relief, for he would finally be able to give it to Blitz on their next Full Moon, finally freeing him.

Anxiety, because despite his lingering hope, in all honesty, he knew how it would end. It wasn ’t hard to figure out, and having to stay alone in the house, Octavia staying with her mother while he recovered to not risk worrying her, certainly wasn’t helping his spirits, but it had to be done. Whatever the outcome.

Still, he was a hopeless fool, so of course, after managing to make Blitz agree to come, he couldn ’t help but try and work on his speech to put all the chances on his side if there was the smallest percentage of probability of success. It didn’t mean he was a coward fleeing his responsibilities if he was trying to keep the flame of hope alight, right?

***

He made sure to remove all distractions from his schedule on the day of the full moon. No meeting, no duties, nothing, that way he could fully focus on this and eventual last preparations. He quickly regretted it as everything was already ready, except for his Happy Pills that he somehow forgot to refill and of fucking course they had to run out exactly this morning and he didn ’t notice the days before because he was too stressed and taking them too mechanically, so he ended up without anything to change his mind, drowning in stress and anxiety all day long instead.

When the imp finally arrived, hauling himself up with a bag full of goods, the owl was nothing but a ball of nerves, trying to put on a brave mask while his heart squeezed at the sight of his beloved.

Blitz hadn ’t wanted to come all the times he was given a choice, yet here he was, faking enthusiasm so well Stolas would have fell for it, if it wasn’t for how his rose-tinted glasses had already shattered. Now, he just felt awful for letting things last for so long. Some part of him wondered why such a huge sack of sex toys, more than Blitz ever brought with him, even when Stolas was asking for specific things, but he couldn’t let himself be distracted.

“… For us to play with tonight!” The imp was saying as he dropped the heavy bag in front of the owl, and it was getting hard to keep his composure.

All these things weren ’t for them, but only for Stolas’ selfish pleasure.Even if Blitz’s enthusiasm was sincere, what did it mean about them, that the most happy Stolas had ever seen him about their deal, the moment when he came with the most things on his own, was when Stolas didn’t ask for anything and they hadn’t seen each other in months? When Blitz had been able to take a long break from his whims, allowing him to return fresh and proper, but how long would it last before he started being annoyed by Stolas’ demands again?

But then, it also meant Stolas knew how the night would end, and he didn ’t look forward to it. He let Blitz take out a few things from the bag, his chest constricting a bit more with every item while he fought to keep the tears at bay.

It was probably best to get on topic right away.

“Do you- Do you have my book, Blitz?”

The imp ’s enthusiasm finally started to falter, like if he was just now registering the fact that Stolas was still fully clothed, which was a rarity. It didn’t last though, and Blitz plastered back a smile as he reached out into the bag to take our the grimoire.

“Yeah, uh- Yeah. Yeah I-I it's... right here, I always bring it. Why do you...”

Stolas held out his hand for Blitz to put the book in.

“I need it back. Permanently.”

The imp pulled back the grimoire to him as soon as the p sounded, a frightened look on his face.

“Now- n-now, ho-hold on Stolas, come on. Is this because I've taken up skipping a few rounds with you in bed because I'm busy? That ain't fair. Alright, now I-I- I can still hold up my end of the bargain! Alright? L-let me show you a good time tonight. You know I caaan.”

This. This was everything Stolas feared, everything he had wanted to avoid. The owl hugged himself, trying to be brave to face what was coming.

“Please don't say it like that Blitz. I-”

He was cut when the imp advanced on him, aggressively spreading the owl ’s legs exactly like he knew the prince liked while flashing him his most charming smile.

“Come oooon, bitch! You know I don't disappoint.”

For the smallest second, Stolas almost gave in, before he was smashed with the reality of their situation. Blitz didn ’t want him, he was just scared for his livelihood. It wasn ’t right to let it happen. He wouldn’t allow it, not anymore, so Stolas fled before his weak spirit could give in to the temptation.

“No no, no. No. There's no need. I've made up my mind.”

Stolas quickly fled toward the bookshelf where he had hidden the crystal, Blitz following behind.

“Stolas, please, don- I-I need this book. Please! I need this book, Stolas. I will do anything.”

The distress, the anguish in the imp ’s voice as he begged for his livelihood was more than enough to put the prince back on track as he retrieved the little box to present to the imp, quickly cutting through his begging.

“This... Is an Asmodean crystal. It's registered in your name.”

Blitz blinked at the thing put into his hands, puzzled.

“Aaa what?”

So Stolas explained, using his magic to illustrate his point and highlighting the legality of it, but it only got a similar reaction than previously from the assassin. Time to make things clearer, Stolas supposed.

“You... no longer have any obligation to see me, to touch me... to bed me. You are- you are free of me.”

Fuck, it hurt so much to get the words out. But it had to be said. Blitz could walk out of here and never return if he so wished, the crystal would still be his, and he wouldn ’t lose his business, that was so important to him. Anything else, any further contact with the prince, was optional now.

“I... don't understand. Why are you giving me this? Am I not, like, fucking you good enough? Because I-I can always, I can always do better.”

It seemed like Blitz was still panicked about the future of his company, not realizing the changes this crystal brought. But it was okay, Stolas could answer that, and explain some more what it truly was as he embedded it into the assassin ’s glove.

“Blitz, I'm giving you this because I care, very deeply for you. And I have for some time. But this... transactional thing we have. It's not right anymore, it hasn't been. It never was, and now, all I can see is how wrong it is to be so tethered to someone in such an unfair way, and not know how they feel. But, I want you to continue to be who you are. Your business! You don't have to stay here with me. But I want you to. I want you to stay here with me because you want to. Only if you want to.”

Here it was, the moment of truth. The owl was now kneeling in front of his beloved, hat in his hands, with a loving and hopeful look toward the imp, because despite knowing there was little to no chance of things going right, one small part of him was still …

“Oooh 'kay. Alright. You're fucking with me! This is an interesting roleplay, never done this one, but I can get into it.”

A roleplay. Stolas laid everything out as clearly as possible, but the only possible explanation to Blitz was a roleplay. Stolas was such a fool, aiming for things that were so out of his reach, his ears starting to buzz so much he almost didn ’t hear Blitz starting his act.

“Alright, how does this- okay. Oh, Stolas! I'll stay with you, I love you sooo much! I-”

Bless Lucifer, Stolas actually wished he didn ’t hear that. Emotions rose inside him, threatening to flood everything, and out of sheer reflex, his regal mask was put up, blocking everything to lock away to deal with later, once alone. Which he better be very soon if he didn’t want to break down in front of the demon he loved, so he held out a hand, stopping the joke here.

“Thank you, Blitz. For... awakening me. For making me... so happy. Even if only for a little while.”

Here it was, the remnants of what could have been. Stolas was standing again, and suddenly it felt like Blitz was far away as he towered over him. The owl closed his eyes, forcing himself to end this properly before he could go drown his first ever heartbreak in alcohol. “I wish you the best with your business.”

With that, he turned to walk toward the door, still collected and regal as he was taught, the only thing right now keeping him from breaking down here and now.

“Wait, what? You were serious?” Exclaimed Blitz, as if to only smash the bird’s heart a bit more, squash it in smaller pieces with how surprised and indignant he sounded at the idea. “Ho-oh. Hold on now Stolas. What the fuck?”

Stolas should have seen it coming. Of course Blitz didn ’t understand, he never had such feelings for the owl, like Stolas himself held for Blitz. Again, all the signs were here, have been all along, yet he clung to hope even when reason told him it was useless, and now here he was, ridiculing himself in front of the demon he held in greater esteem.

“I have my answer, Blitz. You needn't say anything.”

It should have stopped here, but Stolas heard the imp follow after him, so he kept going, without realizing it, just spilling his mind as he looked ahead, hoping it would help ground him. “I have wanted you for so long. The fact that you couldn't believe that I might have these feelings about you, that your first instinct is that it's always... about sex. That's enough to know what this is.”

But again, it was predictable. Sadly so. Stolas started it by creating the deal, then by dutifully ignoring all the signs the imp sent him that it was nothing more than a transaction to him, and never would be anything else. Yet when the man he loved started screaming behind him, Stolas couldn ’t help but hunch on himself and hurry up ahead.

“What?! Fuck you, Stolas! You spring this feelings bullshit on me, are you FUCKING KIDDING?!”

The owl flinched with the sound of Blitz kicking the doors open to follow him into the ballroom, this new proof that he greatly misread their relationship a new stab in his heart, the thumping of his heart so loud in his ears it masked Blitz ’s words, but not enough to actually prevent him from understanding them.

“Can I get a FUCKING minute to think after everything you put me through you POMPOUS, RICH ASSHOLE!”

That made Stolas freeze and stop, the insult reverberating in the room while the implications of Blitz ’s words slowly connected into his brain, the assassin’s next words not immediately registering until the “bitch” he yelled to his back suddenly brought him back to the present he right now so desperately wished to escape.

“LET'S GO!”

Oddly enough, it was like a signal to Stolas ’ body. The moment to relax everything, knowing it was all over, and it went to shit, exactly like he knew it would but had been too much of a coward to accept. Except that now, he knew he simply couldn’t hold it in for much longer, and he wouldn’t make a fool of himself any longer in front of his beloved. Still… Those last words…

“Blitz, I think so very highly of you.” His breath hitched, the tears starting to run as his throat constricted, but the royal still forced the words out, hoping it’d explain the mess he just made. “I didn't realize you think so low of me.”

It was it. The damn had broken, feelings running wildly, and there was no going back now, mask shattered and useless as Stolas slightly turned his head, selfishly allowing himself one last glance at the only love of his live.

“Goodbye, Blitz.”

His vision was so blurry from the tears, all he got were splotches of red and white. Stolas quickly turned his head back to the front as he reached for his magic to portal Blitz out, not wanting to subject the imp to his presence any longer, and barely hearing the imp calling out his name at all in the middle of it. Not that the last time Blitz asked him to wait had gone great anyway, obviously.

The second the assassin had left the room, Stolas let himself collapse on the floor, ugly, heavy sobs shaking his slim frame as he let his mind be swept away by the pain, increased tenfold by the realization that not only his worst fears were all true, but he even managed to underestimate it all. The shared moments with Blitz, that Stolas enjoyed so much, had all been chores to the imp, and he didn ’t even notice. Was he even better than Stella to have been this blind for so long? Was this really what he was? A fucking monster?

Chapter Text

To say the night had been difficult would be the understatement of the fucking millennium. If anything, Stolas was surprised he was able to sleep at all. The alcohol probably helped a lot thought, numbing everything until he could fall into a somewhat peaceful oblivion.

He woke up early with one of the worst hangovers of his life. He wasn’t sure if he was glad for his Goetic abilities that quickly reduced the headache after he got up and drank a few gulps of water. He silently nodded as his butler brought him one of the bottles from the new supply of Happy Pills that just arrived, feeling guilt crash back as Blitz’s words from last night replayed in his mind. There was also a card with it, but the prince was too distracted at first to pay attention.

Then the imp’s tone beeped on his phone, and Stolas froze, for once more worried than hopeful. Still, he managed to find the courage to unlock his phone, only to freeze when he saw the texts.

Memes. Lots of horse memes with laughing emojis, almost all insisting on the fact he was gay.

Was this… Some kind of joke to Blitz? Stolas huffed, emotions settling on irritation, as he ignored the new incoming memes by slamming his phone back on his bedside table, screen down.

Instead, he focused on the card that was delivered, which finally caught his interest, although dread also appeared when he noticed the drawing on it, of a Blitz dead from stabbing in a pool of his own blood.

Reading the note only brought more questions than answer as he realized Verosika, the famous pop star that slandered Blitz at Ozzie’s, was inviting him for an Anti-Blitzo party, which… Was confusing.

Why did such a thing exist? Was he, in fact, not an excepting in the way the imp treated people? Could it mean, by any chance…

No, probably not. He was imagining things. None of it could absolve Stolas of what he had done, but it was still changing things, albeit in what direction, he wasn’t sure.

He set down the card and went to grab a book instead. He needed to clear his head. Still, without even realizing it, he grabbed both the book and the note after putting on his outside robe, comfortably settling in a lawn chair with some wine to try and get his brain to focus on something else than painful thoughts.

Sadly, the universe had other plans for him. He may have managed to get into his book, so absorbed in fact that he missed the sounds of hooves climbing over the outer wall circling his gardens, but the greeting certainly took him out of his reading.

“Heeeello, hello, hello Stolas.”

Stolas turned to see Blitz cheerful, like if he didn’t stomp on Stolas’ heart before yelling at him and insulting him last night. Not that Stolas didn’t deserve it, maybe, but still, the prince couldn’t help but hide his face behind his book, irritation creeping back. “You have- AH! You haven't been answering my texts, and I sent you a bunch of funny shit. So what gives?”

Usually, the owl did share the imp’s sense of humor, but said memes felt more like an insidious attack than anything. But the context of their previous encounter was probably clouding his judgment, who knows.

“I was hoping my lack of "ha ha's" in response to the photos you sent would be an indicator I didn't want to talk right now.” Stolas decided to voice instead. A small part of him wondered if not answering to Blitz’s texts would have gotten a similar reaction from the assassin before, given how he was always the one running after his attention. Probably not thought. He would have lacked texts to answer to anyway.

“Oh come on, Stolas, we just had a rough night. 'Sides, you always want to hear from me.”

His book was no longer a valid protection as Blitz lowered it to send him a seductive smirk, and Stolas’ heart squeezed again, because it was true. At least it used to be. Right now, it just hurt, and the realization Blitz was here to use him some more for whatever reason did nothing to help. Still, Stolas felt it was better for a Goetia to hide behind a mask of irritation than the sad sack he was last night. Besides, he was still hurt yes, but he was also truly irritated by the situation.

He had been rejected, he understood what a pompous asshole he had been, maybe now he could be left alone to grieve his broken dreams?

“Blitz. What is it you want?” Stolas asked with a sigh, hoping to get it done quickly.

“I wanna feel like I'm earning my way to earth. Kay?”

He… What? Being given the crystal for free wasn’t good enough, now he wanted to earn it? But…

“So get your tight, feathered ass out of that lawn chair and into the bedroom so I can fuck it.”

Ugh. Stolas leaned away, probably for the first time ever, as Blitz leaned in with all the things he usually used in bed, the tone, the expression, the confidence. Everything that usually worked in a second on the owl, but not now, not today, and the prince couldn’t help but let it known in the sassiest tone he could muster.

“Wow. Poetry. I'm sure such a statement would have had me swooning by now.”

He used the opportunity to put distance between him and his visitor, hoping it would be enough to deter him. Blitz was always so hard to reach, and now it was Stolas fleeing, making the whole scene even more surreal. Yet, Stolas didn’t want to sleep with Blitz in these conditions. They both deserved better than that.

“Uhhh, I- sh- Yeah, sure that wa- okay, that was a shitty way for me to say it, but you usually like it when I talk all dirty and fucky and shit.”

The bird turned his head with an angry caw, hoping it’d be enough for Blitz to get the hint.

“Come on, we don't do words. We do sex.”

Well, apparently it wasn’t, so the prince turned his body fully toward the imp, making quotation marks with his fingers at the appropriate times as he answered:

“As shocking as this might seem, Blitz, I don’t think I’m in the mood to “do sex” with you. In fact, I don’t think I’m even in the mood to do words with you! So how about you respect that.”

Oh, how simple it would be if the imp did, in fact, respect that and left him alone. But of course, he didn’t, following after the prince when he started to walk away, trying to play the seductive card again.

“Oh come on, Stolas. You can't mean that. You always love seeing this.”

Blitz acting like this, with this voice, would truly have had him swooning before, and that fact was making this discussion so much more painful. Stolas clenched on the book in his arms to ground himself as he tried to gather enough courage to speak his mind.

“Seeing you right now is hard! I don't want to feel worse than I already do.”

Here it was, the admission out in the air, barely touching how truly horrible Stolas was feeling underneath. Then his eyes fell on the card, and he quickly decided to bounce on it.

“It's bad enough I got an invite to this anti-Blitzo party, an honorary invite for being your freshest ex.”

Was he acting petty? Yes. But that was still better than loosing his shit. He didn’t want to do that in front of Blitz again, especially if the picture that was starting to appear was true.

“Anti-Blitzo party, who the fuck's behind this?!”

The imp tried to snatch the card, but the taller demon removed it from his grasp, answering in a haughty voice:

“Oh, it's entirely immature. I'd never indulge this nonsense, it's silly.”

“Real silly. Real fucking classy.”

This time, Blitz did manage to take the card from Stolas’ talons, and the prince let him, simply smirking as he turned his head away from the imp in mock sulking.

“Kind of them to invite me, though. It might be rude not to make an appearance.”

He did find the idea deeply petty, but it was the polite thing to do to show up when invited. That’s what he was taught, and maybe it could help, if he wasn’t the only one in this situation.

“Verosika?! Of course that fucking bitch.”

Was that Blitz’s first reaction to the text of the invite? Well…

“I will say, it's rather concerning you have an entire party devoted to hating you though, Blitz.”

Because there was something here, it was obvious, and Stolas wanted to know what it was, needed it even, if it could help him make sense of what the fuck happened last night.

“Oh please, everyone hates me for shitty reasons. In the end, everyone's just bitter they couldn't tie this ass down. I'm too much imp to simp.”

Excuse me?! Stolas thought, irritated anew.

“You really think that's the reason?”

“Yessir, they couldn't handle that I moved on.”

That… Felt both accurate to what happened, but also extremely wrong for some reason.

“Oh! So you're used to being the one who crushes others' feelings, hm?” Stolas asked as he put his hands on the table to approach his face to Blitz’s who was sitting at the table where the card had been.

“If by "crushes others' feelings" you mean ends shit before it gets serious, then bingo. I'm doing everyone a favor because relationships are boooring.”

Stolas squeaked in irritation, because that was just an outright lie, before he decided to play it smooth, smiling playfully as his chin landed on his hands.

“Oh yes, very boring. So what are you doing here then?”

“Uh, I- waiting for you to realize how good an angry fuck would be right now!”

Stolas didn’t really know what kind of answer he expected, but clearly it wasn’t this one. He got up and away, feeling so done with this conversation.

“Get out! Right now.”

He was pointing the path to exit the palace, but Blitz just sent him back a bewildered look, like if he couldn’t have predicted Stolas’ reaction.

“What?”

“I'm tired of this. I'm uncomfortable with how you're speaking to me now!” Stolas explained, hands gesturing in front of his chest as he tried to get his feelings through. Because as much as the idea he had of Blitz was shattering, he was still sure, or at least hoping, that the assassin wouldn’t continue once he realized the effect his words had.

“Oh come on, Stolas. You can't tell me this isn't a fantasy of yours. You want me to show your rich, prince-y ass what a real fuckin' is.”

Blitz was crawling on the table, grabbing Stolas by the belt at his waist to bring him closer to the table, and Stolas hated how some part of his body almost went in an instinctive reaction to this, before he snapped out of it, quickly turning away.

“Stop it!”

“Ha! I'm right, aren't I? You get off to getting plowed by people you look down on.”

Emotions exploded in Stolas’ chest at the accusation, because he never did that, prompting him to turn back toward the imp to defend himself.

“I don't look down on you! How many times do I ha- When have I ever!?”

Words were jumbling in his beak, but nothing would come out clear enough, the prince not able to think of a moment where he ever treated Blitz that way, before his brain suddenly switched gear as the discourse reminded him of a way too recent encounter to not awaken pains from barely healed wounds, the bandage on his arm still there, hidden beneath the robe.

“You speak just like that vile Striker friend of yours. The one who tried to kill me and you couldn't be bothered to come help me. Remember him?”

Stolas hadn’t really realized it before, but it was true. Blitz’s words last night, most of them even, felt exactly like things that cowboy could have said, blaming him for things his kind did rather than for things Stolas precisely actually did. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, if the two kept hanging out after the festival, if they didn’t already know each other before.

“Hey, look- I do not sound like- I- and I didn't know he was capable- I- I stopped him the first time, didn't I?”

Stolas chirped at the “first time” mention, mind suddenly going completely blank as he turned toward the imp, before emotions bubbled in his chest again at the revelation of what these words meant.

“The first time?”

“Yeah, the- oh. Oops.”

Oops, he said. Blitz had known. Probably for months if it happened the last and first time Stolas saw Blitz and Striker at the same place, during the Harvest Moon Festival where the two imps seemed to have had so much fun competing with each other, like old rivals.

“I- uh- no, who said tha- I.”

Now , Blitz finally started to look uncomfortable, like if he regretted outing the demon that tortured Stolas, almost killed him and almost blinded him only a few weeks ago. Suddenly, it felt like all of Stolas’ injuries from then were on fire as he asked:

“You knew someone was trying to assassinate me?”

There was silence for a second, then…

“I, I- I stopped him!”

So it was true. Striker already tried to kill him before, and Blitz didn’t even bother to warn Stolas. If it truly happened at the festival, then he knew the owl had his guard down there because he deemed it safe, and that he would be vulnerable to a future attack, yet he didn’t say anything. Stolas wasn’t worthy of the information, barely worth saving because the imp knew very well that if Stolas died, he’d loose access to the grimoire.

Everything that Stolas went through at the hands of this sadistic maybe could have been avoided, if Blitz had told him, but he didn’t. He… He truly didn’t give a shit, did he?

Oh, what a fool Stolas had been.

The owl mechanically went up and gathered his book to walk toward the doors, wanting out of this discussion at last, Blitz still following behind.

“And I- I really didn’t think you could actually get hurt, you’re immortal and shit! You’re a fucking prince!”

Oh yeah, sure. If it was that simple, why did Blitz bother to “stop him the first time”, hm?!

“If me and my team could kick that guy’s ass that easily then I’m sure you’d have no problem.”

Another arrow went through his heart at the idea that he had deserved it all because he hadn’t been able to protect himself, because he wasn’t enough, because a Goetic prince wasn’t even able to equal what a group of lower station demons could achieve. But of course he couldn’t admit that, so he let the feeling explode another way, gesturing wildly as he finally turned to face Blitz again.

“I suppose you are right, silly me. It's not an imp's place to protect a Goetia, is it?”

Apparently it never was, with how reluctant Blitz had been to bodyguard him at Loo Loo Land in the first place. But that was on Stolas again, for not picking up the hints after all. He just wished the prices it cost him weren’t so high.

“Aaand there it is. Took ya long enough!”

Oh for Lucifer’s sake.

“That’s all you were waiting for, wasn’t it? For me to play into this idea you have of me that I’m this prince who thinks he’s so much better than you. Well, I don’t!”

It was true. So fucking true. Stolas never felt better, never in his life, not even after he met with Blitz and everything felt and looked incredible. Most of all, he never felt above Blitz, especially.

“Why would I allow everyone to see how much I like you? How I’ve tried so fucking hard to spend time with you, to support you? You don’t owe me those things, but you can’t just ignore all that!”

Blitz had to have noticed, right? Stolas knew he missed hints, but he had been less than discreet about his own intentions, even if they weren’t reciprocated. Yet hope, that asshole, still flared back when Blitz started talking with a soft, intimate voice, taking Stolas’ hand into his to bring the bird’s face closer.

“You know, Stolas… I’ve spent the entirety of this morning listening to love ballads, and that was still the GAYEST THING I’VE HEARD ALL DAY!”

The owl barely had a second to see the switch and brace himself for it, but the yelling still rang into his right ear as he removed himself from the hold, pissed beyond belief at his traitorous heart for thinking it was genuine, even for just a second.

“Do you feel any kind of remorse for what you do? Have you ever even apologized once in your life?”

For some reason, Blitz now looked extremely pissed. What for, Stolas couldn’t tell, and he was past the state to have fucks to give, so he just started walking away when the imp began yelling again.

“Oh, you think I can’t apologize? For what?! You want me to be like: Oh sorry, this entire time I assumed the worst because I was convinced a prince could never love someone like me and I’ve let my self hatred stop me from apologizing to anyone I could ever care about!”

That… Got Stolas to stop with a blink and surprised chirps as he turned around yet again toward his guest.

“Well, yes. That.”

It wasn’t even hope this time, just sadness and curiosity at the imp’s statement, before it was washed away by a new outburst.

“Weeell, fuck you!”

That’s the moment Stolas decided he was done with this conversation for real this time, once and for all. He turned back, clutching on his book as he walked toward the door and his exit to this new disaster to add to last night’s while Blitz was still going in his back, adding more while he still could.

“I can sorry the fuck outta people! Just you watch! I sorried Fizz so hard he cried! And I can sorry more people, everyone but you! Cause I don’t owe you dick!”

Stolas slammed the door behind him, glad Blitz didn’t try to follow him up the stairs as all this was already more than enough to leave him on. Stolas didn’t need to hear that he didn’t deserve a sorry for not being warned about a fucking attempt on his life, nor did he need to hear that he was the only one not worthy of an apology. Later, he would process that Blitz said he made up with Fizzarolli and it was probably why Asmodeus changed his mind and gave him the crystal out of nowhere, but not right now.

Right now, he was hurting more than ever, and he needed a way to cope.

***

Coming here had been a mistake.

It was already there, in the back of his mind, as Stolas was getting ready for the party, picking an outfit and dressing up as best he could. It got louder when he arrived at the place, loud and full of demons, in an atmosphere so different from Goetia’s parties but that still gave him a strong sense of not belonging, and it got even worse when he actually met face to face with Verosika and she dragged him to the cake.

It was exactly like the drawing on the invite, a cake representing Blitz dead. Dread came back in Stolas’ stomach, and he suddenly felt like he was at one of Stella’s parties, with everyone joining in to talk shit about someone, usually him, but it could be another Goetia, depending on the gossips, and suddenly he felt sick.

But his education told him it wouldn’t be polite to flee so quickly. Yet, he knew he wouldn’t find what he was looking for here, given the representations of Blitz being stabbed or torn to shreds he could see all around, the hateful messages and representations, everything…

Well. There was only one option left then.

The advantage of the place was that there was a lot of alcohol available. It wasn’t absinthe, but there was variety, and there was stuff strong enough that he could start to feel the effects after a few bottles for the lighter alcohols, a few drinks for the strongest. He barely remembered singing, all the anger around pushing him to reflect on his own shortcomings instead to not add to the fire, but there was no denying that Verosika was right. He never meant anything to Blitz. Never will.

Fuck, why did his heart hurt so much? Why did it feel like the end of the world?

Stolas was already pretty far gone when Blitz showed up. Concern still pushed the prince to hide the imp from view, but it wasn’t enough for him to give a single fuck how he looked to the assassin. After all, Blitz didn’t truly give a fuck if Stolas drank himself miserable, did he? If the scarred demon was here to make fun of Stolas and remind him of how he was the only one not worthy of an apology, Stolas was going to need way more drinks than this anyway.

The rest of their discussion was pretty much a blur. Out of habit, Stolas still somewhat tried to maintain a semblance of composure, until an incubus jumped at his feet, making Stolas sober up from the recent emotional outburst and the surprise of having someone come to him with what looked like sincere interest.

“Hey.”

“Oh, heh. Hello.”

The guy’s smile was charming, but in a soft way, voice smooth as he continued:

“Great song earlier. You have great pipes.”

“Thank you”, Stolas smiled, wiping more tears from joy and surprise at being complimented on his voice for… Fuck, he couldn’t remember if it ever happened before, especially with how intoxicated he still was.

Blitz’s voice came from the side, trying to brush the newcomer off, but the incubus kept talking, and Stolas couldn’t actually believe his ears.

“Well, I just wanted to see if maybe, I don’t know, you’d wanna… dance?”

The shyness, the way he asked for his permission, offering a hand without forcing anything, politely waiting for confirmation… Fuck, Stolas wasn’t sure if anyone ever behaved like this, much less out of interest for his person only, not for his status or by interest.

“You want to dance… with me?”

“Yeah.”

Stolas’ first reflex was to look at Blitz, because no matter his hurt, no matter everything that happened between them in the last 48 hours, he was still the demon he loved. The imp seemed to understand what he was waiting for and quickly gestured for him to go, seemingly annoyed, so Stolas lost no time brushing the last of the tears off before accepting the offer, taking the incubus’ hand to be led to the other room.

Suddenly, it felt like being in a dream all over. They were in a party, not in his house where there were things to steal, and the incubus was only looking at him, smiling softly and making him dance and giggle and have fun, and Stolas didn’t think he could enjoy parties until today, but it felt like a fantasy come true.

This, this was what he needed.

Slowly, things got more heated. First, they were kissing, making out on the dance floor. Then, the incubus gently dragged him inside an empty room so things could continue to escalate, and escalate they did.

Stolas’ memories were fuzzy, but he remembered the care in the incubus’ touches, his loving looks, his nice words, and feeling so happy at the idea that someone was finally looking at him for himself, was truly interested in him, and the incubus was so different from Blitz in bed, careful and throughout. It… Didn’t feel quite as good as with the imp, because Stolas’ heart still belonged to him, but there was no denying this incubus was very charming, and he oh so wanted to see him again to see where this would go, until he saw the man stretch, get up and slowly start to dress back up while whistling. Stolas got up on his elbow, eying him curiously.

“Do you already want to go back to the party?” He asked, confused.

“Hm? Oh yeah. Thanks for the sex, it was amazing. I gotta join my friends, don’t want them to think I left without warning! See you around, and don’t hesitate to hook up with other people here, it helps!”

With one last wave, he was gone, and Stolas hadn’t even asked his name. The prince quickly collected his clothes to start dressing up as well when he noticed the incubus didn’t correctly close the door behind him, until he heard the guy’s footsteps slow down a few feet away, and his voice went loud and clear through the opening.

“Guess who just fucked a royal! You owe me ten bucks, Mike!”

“Fuck me man, you did it!”

“That’s cheating, poor guy was totally wasted and desperate.”

“You still bet! Come on, give me the money!”

“It’s true that he really looked miserable. I wonder what a prince like him saw into an imp like Blitzo.”

“Heh. Isn’t that the question we’re all asking ourselves here, what we ever saw in this asshole?”

“You got a point.”

The voices slowly faded in the distance while Stolas stood frozen in the middle of putting his pants back after magicking away the mess left by their love making.

Well. Apparently it wasn’t so much love making than fucking for a bet. Honestly, Stolas would have preferred not to hear and think he was a simple hook up, because this…

Oh, this was so much worse.

Of course the guy didn’t truly find his voice nice, his feathers soft, or his looks good. Of course Stolas was nothing special in bed. Of course none of that meant anything, and he was still only seen as his status. The outfit he chose for the party surely didn’t help, but that was the best shield Stolas had found between him and the world, to wear something royal like he was always told to.

Stolas went through the rest of the motions on autopilot, before portaling back to the palace, not wanting to risk anything else happening at that bloody party. He had had enough, his personal cellar would do to get the alcohol level in his blood back up to something bearable.

Chapter Text

No matter what Stolas tried, the pain wouldn ’t fade.

It ’s been a week already since that dreaded night, and the party that followed. Yet, there was no improvement on sight, only emptiness and hurt and a deep, endless feeling of despair and hopelessness as he replayed everything in his head on repeat.

Blitz never tried to text or come back to the palace again after that party, confirming all of Stolas ’ worst explanations to the imp’s behavior during the last two days they saw each other. Not that it was a surprise, of course, it was even probably for the best. The owl felt his heart had been abused enough each time he saw the imp to not add hurt to the hurt.

But then, what was left of him? Stolas had all the Happy Pills needed, yet no matter how much he took, it was never enough to quell the pain, to make him feel like something else than a failure, deserving of everything that happened, every single stab into his heart, every deception, all the consequences to his mistakes that seemed so disproportionate before.

Because it was so much more comfortable to think that at least, his suffering was justified rather than being all for nothing. It wasn ’t like if he was a saint, Stolas knew that. He was all too aware of that, when Blitz’s words replayed again and again, yelling about how Stolas threw his feelings at him, how he used him, how privileged he was, how he deserved Striker torturing him, how he wasn’t worthy of care, attention, even something as simple as an apology. The only way he could get any of that was in exchange for something else, and the only thing he had to offer lost his value now that Blitz had that crystal.

Then, there was his hook up with a guy he didn ’t even know the name of. Not only Stolas felt awful for giving in when he still loved Blitz, but it was even worst knowing the incubus had lied too all along.

Like Blitz had done.

Truly, Stolas shouldn ’t be surprised by this outcome. It was exactly like his first adult encounter with Blitz all over again, if only he wasn’t such a naive self-centered fool.

The prince was busy trying and failing to resist the appeal of a new alcohol bottle when his phone beeped with a text, and he jumped on it in the blink of an eye.

He knew who it was even before reading the notification. He had set a special tone for her too, just like he did with Blitz.

Via had texted him, asking if she could finally return home. Stolas couldn ’t help his wince at the realization that she’s been staying with her mother since he was sent to the hospital, even slightly before since Stella had been insisting on a shared custody, more to spite Stolas than by real interest for her daughter. Still, Stolas had let her, thinking it was the best for Octavia, and it was also the perfect excuse to let her stay longer with her mother while he recovered, so she could be none the wiser.

But he was fully healed now, has been for a while, and even if by now it was obvious the scar on his shoulder wouldn ’t disappear, it was probably time for her to come back. He didn’t feel mentally ready, the wounds of Blitz’s rejection still deep and bleeding, but he had to be strong for her, like he always did.

Still, he didn ’t answer right away, considering it for a few seconds longer, until another beep took him out of his thoughts.

It was his starfire again, wondering if he would still be busy with the duties he said were keeping him occupied, and that he would probably blame for his scar when she ’d finally notice it. But he would make sure she didn’t, even if it meant not wandering around in his robe for a while. Still, before his daughter could worry some more, he unlocked his phone to type his answer.

“You can return tomorrow starfire, we’ll spend the day together to make up for not seeing each other for so long! What do you say?”

He pressed send, and anxiously waited for an answer. Octavia had been rather distant while with her mother, but it wasn ’t anything too surprising, so he hoped they would go back to normal once they saw each other again. Should he call? Surely it would help to hear each other’s voice, he hadn’t done that in so long… Mainly because he feared she’d notice he has been spending most of his time crying.

Before he could make up his mind, she had texted back with a simple “ ’kay. See you tomorrow then ”, and he beamed at his phone.

Maybe, there was still one thing he could do right. He knew Via had never liked Blitz, and that he made mistakes with her while enjoying his relationship with the imp, but at least he shielded her from the recent events. Now that the deal was over, maybe he could slowly but surely make up for his mistakes with her. That, he should be able to do without messing up, right?

Well … That is, if he could hold himself together well enough. When the prince looked up, his gaze landed on the mess all around, and he winced again.

It was time for a bit of cleaning, both of the house even if the staff hadn ’t left yet, and of himself since he let himself go a bit too much in the past days. Now, if only he could avoid drinking any more alcohol tonight to be ready for her return, it would hopefully give him all the time needed to build back a decent enough composure.

***

“Starfire, welcome home! How was your stay with your mother?” Stolas asked, arms open wide in a welcoming gesture as he walked toward his daughter who just passed the front door. Usually he would wait for her outside, but he really didn’t want to take the risk to meet with Stella and Andrealphus right now.

The owlet looked subdued and moody, even more than usual, as she walked past him to go drop her things in her bedroom.

“It was okay”, she mumbled, eyes darting around, and the prince frowned, following after her.

“Via? Is everything alright?”

She stopped her glances all around, at the sheets over portraits and objects on display, to focus on her father, eying his casual clothes that weren ’t his red robe nor his usual royal attire.

“I don’t know, you tell me. What kept you so busy for weeks that we didn’t even see each other, you barely called, and I couldn’t come back? I’m not a child you know, I could have taken care of myself even if you’re busy.”

Stolas faltered, the harsh tone too reminiscent of the last time he heard someone raise his voice to not feel chills go through his body, before he forced himself back to the present.

“Ah, yes, I apologize for the long, unplanned busy period! If you’re still up for it, we can start by spending the day together…”

“You already said that”, she cut him, and Stolas suppressed a wince.

“… Yes, I did. Well, then, what do you want to do first? Would you like to see the plants? Some of them changed a lot since your last visit! We can also do some magic if you…”

“So that’s the plan?” She asked, arms crossed as she faced her father, whose demeanor shifted again at her sudden aggressiveness. “We’re going to spend a day together, then you’re going to go back to ignoring me, is that it?”

“What? No! Of course not! I apologize, I should have called and texted more, but I promise I have nothing big planned in the next few weeks! We still have a few meetings with your mother to settle the last details, as you know, but apart from that, my duties shouldn’t take very long and…”

The teen huffed and walked past him again, still annoyed but looking a bit less angry at least.

“Fine. Let’s eat breakfast then, I’m still hungry.”

Stolas easily followed, still worried about his daughter ’s behavior, but hoping she’d warm up as the day passed.

“Yes, sure, of course! Did you not eat breakfast before leaving?”

“I did, but not much”, she answered as she made her way to the kitchen.

“Were you impatient to come back?” Stolas dared to ask, trying to mask the hope in his voice.

“It’s been a while”, was all she answered as she sat down on the table, and Stolas quickly went to grab her cereals and a bowl. Via rolled her eyes, but it was feeling like they were returning to normal, and it was slightly easing the owl’s nerves. He still felt itchy that his daughter didn’t want to hug him as she returned, but that was probably a teenager thing, right?

He wasn ’t very hungry himself, even if he hadn’t eaten much this morning either, but he still poured himself a mug of tea to join his daughter, glad that his staff managed to erase the stains of grease all the take out he let linger for days on the table had left. He didn’t want Via to see his bad habits, and not just his alcohol consumption.

What started as an awkward and rather silent late breakfast finished in a more relaxed atmosphere, the owlet sharing some of the things she did and saw while away, while Stolas listened intently. He didn ’t ask when Via mentioned Stella or Andrealphus, and she wasn’t doing that often, though she was often glancing at him when she did, but he often asked for more details when she was telling him more personal things.

Reassured, Stolas started by showing her the young plants that grew in her absence, and he was somewhat glad to see she had missed them, even looking a bit sad at missing some plant ’s growth or a peculiar period of their development.

It felt so good to finally be sociable with another being and not feel like a complete failure or burden for once, the good mood carrying them until lunch, before Stolas clapped into his hands after they were done and the staff had cleared the table, beaming at Via.

“So, what do you want to do now? What about magic lessons? It’s been a while since your last one!”

Via ’s face suddenly turned somber again, and the prince deflated.

“Ah, sorry, maybe it’s a bit early to start studying again, isn’t it? Maybe you would rather go out? What about that place you love…”

“We can’t”, she said.

Stolas blinked, his two set of eyes out of sync.

“What? What do you mean we can’t, starfire?”

“We need your grimoire to learn magic, don’t we?”

“Well, yes, although we can also work on the theory, but it won’t be necessary! I have it back permanently now, so you’ll be able to train whenever you want! Isn’t it great?”

He was smiling again, expecting her to be delighted by the news, but instead her mood soured even more.

“So that’s what you were truly doing, isn’t it?”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow you Via. What are you talking abou…”

“He was here, wasn’t he?” She asked with an accusatory glare. “You weren’t truly busy, you just wanted to spend time alone with him without me being underfoot, don’t you?”

It took a few seconds for Stolas to realize what she was implying, but then his heart squeezed again while he tried to close his gaping beak into a more controlled expression.

“Ah, n-no he didn’t! I mean, yes of course he came for the full moon, but we… I ended the deal, so he doesn’t need my book anymore.”

“So he only gave it back on the full moon like usual?” Via asked, eyes squinted. “How did you do your duties until then?”

“My duties… Starfire, you know I remember some of the spells in my grimoire, I don’t need it for everything…”

“Stop lying to me dad! You never have so much work that lasts for weeks! If it was true, then what was it exactly that you needed to do that was so terrible I couldn’t be there, hm?”

“It’s… I’m sorry Via, it’s not something I can talk about…”

“Oh, how convenient!” She exclaimed, fury in her eyes, and it was hard not to hear echoes from Blitz’s yelling along with Stella’s as she continued: “You’re just getting tired of me too, aren’t you? Mum was simply the first, but you plan on replacing us both!”

“What?! No! Via, that’s not true! Yes, I will finish my divorce with your mother no matter the rest, but you’ll always be my daughter and you’ll always be welcome here…”

“Like in the past weeks?” She snarled back, and Stolas took a step back, as if the words had physically slapped him, eyes wide and a white dot dancing into them. “I’m oh, so welcome here, until you’d rather spend time with him, doing who knows what! But how can I know if it won’t happen again in a week or two, maybe even less? It’s been a month, dad! A whole fucking month! Never before did I saw you need so much time with anything, not even the worst prophecy, and mum confirmed that you saw him for more than a day!”

“Please sweetie, I promise it’s not going to happen again! I’m so sorry it happened, I would have let you come home like usual if I could!”

“But he came again, outside the full moon, didn’t he?” She asked, and Stolas faltered.

“Well… Yes, I suppose, he came back the morning after, but…”

“That’s what I thought”, she said, but instead of anger her voice sounded defeated, like if she finally had the confirmation she feared.

“Wait, Via, he didn’t stay for long! Only a few minutes at most…”

“Oh yeah? Was that the last time you saw him?”

“N… No, but…”

She snorted, disdain clear on her face as she turned her head to the side, looking away.

“See? You said you only saw him during the full moon, but you admitted yourself you saw him at least twice more after this, and probably before too!”

“No, starfire, please! We barely texted, I only called him once, then we saw each other on the full moon, and twice more the next day, both times being initiated by him and I had no idea, and that is all! I swear we didn’t have any more contact since then! I can even show you proof with our texts…”

“No thank you, I really don’t want to see that”, she answered with a grimace. “Save it dad, you don’t need to keep pretending you care about me or mother, you can have him with you all day now, because I won’t fucking return. I won’t be a side piece when he’s not available to entertain you.”

Stolas felt his whole body freeze, ice replacing his blood in his veins as he suddenly felt like he was falling, falling, in an endless void. He snapped back to reality when he saw Octavia turn around and walk decidedly toward her bedroom, probably to retrieve her things.

“No, Via, wait! I promise starfire, you misunderstood.”

He tried to grab her hand, but she violently tore it from his grasp, her eyes holding an anger and sadness like never before, and at this moment, Stolas knew he had fucked up someone he loved.

Again.

“Stop it dad. You promised to see the meteors shower with me too, remember? Yet you didn’t. You fucking forgot. You said you’d always be there, but I couldn’t even see you for fucking weeks! What else is a fucking lie? What other promise are you going to betray, or forget?”

He opened his beak, but before he could find the words, she had thrown her door open, already gathering her things with magic to be as efficient as possible.

“Well, I’m not going to stay to find out. I’m going to stay with mother from now on, since you prefer an imp over us. Have a great fucking life with him dad.”

Tears were welling from her eyes as she swiftly walked away, Stolas running after her, everything in him urging him to try and salvage this even if he knew he had already lost.

“No, Octavia, please! I assure you it’s not like that, please let me explain. I love you so much, please give me a chance to…”

“You already had your chance”, she cut him, barely glaring behind her shoulder to hide the tears. “But you wasted it. Enjoy your life with him without me and mum in the way.”

Then she was out the door, slamming it shut behind her, and Stolas just stood there, trying to process what just happened.

No, it … It had to be a nightmare. He misunderstood that, right? He couldn’t… He couldn’t have fucked up that badly. Not with Octavia of all people. Not with his own daughter.

The owl groaned, taking his face into his shaking hands to try and hold back his tears, before going out just in case Via would still be there, waiting for him to follow, but she was already gone.

Shit.

He took out his phone, repeating by text that she could change her mind and return any time. Then, as he paced into his gardens to try and calm down, in vain, he noticed one of his plants bloom despite the time not being right, and he took a picture to send to her, hoping she would answer that, at least.

Still nothing.

Time was going so fucking slowly, and it felt like an eternity passed before it was finally the evening, but it was still the same day. Via still hadn ’t answered, and Stolas had been spending the whole afternoon stopping himself from sending countless of texts.

It wasn ’t what she needed. She needed space, obviously, and he had to let her take it, to be patient. Yet, he couldn’t help but try to call after a last text begging for a confirmation she made it to her mother’s safely. Of course, it went straight to voicemail, so he repeated his text, repeating that he was sorry, that he loved her, and to call or text him back.

She never did.

He had the confirmation she was alright through her Sinstagram, where she posted a particularly sinister taxidermy as an illustration of her bad mood, the background being her bedroom at Andrealphus ’ palace and the time being in the late afternoon.

So … She was alright. She was just ignoring him on purpose, which… Yes, of course. She was angry. She needed time.

But it didn ’t get better as days went by, no matter if Stolas let her breath for a few days or sent 10 texts in a row, trying to call once in a while if not everyday, but nothing worked.

Now, on top of managing to fuck everything up with his lover, he had to live with the fact that he also failed his daughter.

Chapter Text

It has been two weeks since Via cut all contact with Stolas.

Two very long weeks, where one day felt like a century, during which Stolas stayed painfully sober, not wanting to give his starfire any more reason to keep her distances or realize how much of a wreck her father was even before she decided to cut ties.

But maybe in the end, it was for the best, wasn’t it? After all, who would want a failure like him as a father? Was he only a good example for her? A good model?

Probably not.

The idea to go to Andrealphus’ palace did come to him. He came very close to doing it a few times even. But he knew from her regular posting that she was there, and alright, if sulking and complaining about him, so he should probably respect her space and not intrude it. He also feared his reaction if he was to see Andrealphus and Stella again. It felt way better to only deal with those through their respective lawyers, and he feared he’d get distracted from his daughter again in the face of the despicable woman he once called his wife.

No, he couldn’t risk it. Not in his current state. Not when he had so much bubbling under the surface, unable to get out.

The only “positive” outcome was that it almost made him forget everything that happened with Blitz. Almost. But at what price?

Then, one day, he woke up, sent a new text to his daughter, and received an automatic answer saying he had been blocked.

Stolas immediately checked her Sinstagram in a panic, only to discover he had been blocked here too. He stayed frozen for a while, wondering why she would have blocked him here too since he didn’t try to contact her through it, before remembering all the times she complained about his lame comments on her photos.

Could it be that the little likes and comments he dared to let her, never asking directly for an answer or news, were enough to annoy her there as well?

Stolas almost jumped when he saw the tears splash on his phone’s screen, but he didn’t bother to wipe them. He felt like he spent most of his days crying when he wasn’t making a conscious effort not to so his voice was a bit more understandable when he was talking to Via’s voicemail.

But now… Now he had no reason to stop the tears anymore. She wouldn’t call, wouldn’t come back, and it was her choice. What could he do about it?

Nothing. He burned to go to Andrealphus’ to see her, but the annoying peacock probably wouldn’t let him enter, much less bring him to his daughter, and even then, what would happen? She could ask to not see him, he could be sent home even before setting a foot inside, or she would scream at him all over again in front of her uncle and mother.

So he didn’t go. He stayed at his own palace, spending most of the day when he realized she blocked him in a catatonic state.

Then, the next day, he managed to do a few things in the morning, but it was barely the afternoon when he picked up on drinking again to numb the pain.

From there, it was terrifyingly easy and quick to fall into a vicious circle.

The same thing repeated over and over again. Stolas somewhat managed to start the day at the usual time, often tired, but as soon as he was out of duties to do or plants to take care of, the call of the bottle was immediately getting too strong to resist, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before he started drinking even before he was done if things didn’t change soon.

They weren’t.

Nothing could soothe his pain. Being awake and unbusy left him with the same thoughts circling into his brain over and over again, all his failures, all the ways he was a waste of space, unlovable, unworthy, useless, ugly. Always the same memories coming back, of Blitz yelling at him, of Via turning her back on him, wishing him a good life with Blitz, of Striker torturing him, saying he deserved it for being a rich prick, of Stella, criticizing everything she could about him.

He’d have tried to argue before, with them all, but why bother? His two only loved ones left, so they had to be all right, didn’t they?

Reading or watching his usual shows wasn’t enough anymore to escape, as it only reminded him of what he wasn’t, what he couldn’t have, what led him to fault too. He probably didn’t deserve it anyway. So to cut through the tears and the pain, he drank. Little by little, he added soporific chemicals to his drinks from his plants to spend more time into limbo, when even the strongest alcohol felt like they weren’t numbing enough anymore.

Some part of him knew he couldn’t keep going like that, that he’d never destroyed himself so strongly and for so long in a row before, but he couldn’t help it. He was miserable, broken and in pain, an he had no one to hide it from anymore. They either knew and he kicked them out, or didn’t but still left anyway.

What was even the fucking point of falling unconscious each night to wake up each day, drag himself out of bed, and do it all over again?

***

It wasn’t the morning.

It was surprising enough to be worth noting. It wasn’t the morning. It felt like the middle of the night, yet Stolas was wide awake.

When was the last time he was conscious at night time? Did he even bother staying up to try and read or watch a show once since that bloody party? He honestly wasn’t sure.

His mind was still numb from alcohol, but he sluggishly remembered not adding anything to his drinks this evening. He was already too far gone to remember, hence why he was waking up sooner than usual.

Well. That was very unfortunate. Dawn was still far, he better do something about it, before the rest of his brain could wake up from the numbness.

The owl slowly sat up, before he blinked at the blurry forms moving a few feet from him.

His staff. It was the first time he saw any of them in a long time, honestly. Or maybe he had simply stopped acknowledging their presence, with how out of it he was.

It didn’t last, thought, as his vision cleared enough to recognize his head butler, whose name he was unable to find. He knew the alcohol wasn’t helping his memory, but it was worse than that. He couldn’t remember, because even if he knew that the name was somewhere, he used it so little, if ever, that it just wouldn’t come to the forefront of his brain.

Shit.

It was even worse for the other imp, a female he had had at his service for a few years, but her name was buried even deeper. That is, if it was indeed somewhere, because at this point he wasn’t much sure of anything.

Then he realized what they were doing.

He had thrown up before collapsing a few steps further, and they were still trying to erase all evidence of it, the puddle of vomit being quite consequent with the number of bottles he had to drink to reach a satisfying effect now. They were working diligently, quickly, and in surprising silence, with barely a wince of disgust on their faces.

That’s when the realization truly struck him.

Stolas was still a total waste of space and time. Not only had he hurt the only two demons he cared for in the universe, but the only ones who were still around, because they were bound by duty and had no choice, had to endure his complete inability to function, cleaning his mess behind him. Worst was, he didn’t really realize how remotely clean the palace stayed despite everything, and once again, Blitz’s words rang into his ears. Something about treating him like one of his butler imp, he couldn’t quite recall the exact words.

Stolas’ breath hitched and he closed his eyes, willing the hangover away for now as he tried to gather his thoughts. When he opened his eyes again, the imps were done with their work, and were leaving the place clean without a single glance at their pitiful master.

The owl’s heart squeezed, and he managed to get up on wobbly legs to slowly and not very surely make his way to his study.

He now knew what he had to do.

***

In retrospect, Stolas had probably always been a burden to his staff, subjecting them to his whims. He just hadn’t truly realized it before.

His staff only did their job and shut up because they were literally paid to, everyone else who wasn’t bond to him in such a way left. That was more than enough to confirm to the prince that this world didn’t need him any more. He probably overstayed his welcome already. The only good thing he ever did, the only reason he didn’t regret existing was Octavia, but even that was bittersweet.

It wasn’t a comfortable realization, to know for sure that all his stories truly had been told, and that he wouldn’t be missed by anyone, but oddly enough, it helped make his days more bearable. He stopped his alcohol intake again as he focused all his awake time into preparing for his departure.

First, he had to find an efficient way to die, since Goetias couldn’t be killed by regular weapons. Second, he had to assure everything on Via’s side.

Initially, he didn’t think much of it, since his daughter would inherit everything anyway. Then he remembered the few times Stella tried to bring up an arranged marriage for her before Stolas quickly shut down the idea so efficiently that she didn’t try to bring it up much more before she gave up altogether, which was a rarity. With him gone, she would probably pick the idea back up. Paimon had retired and wouldn’t get involved, meaning that making sure Via could free herself of Stella’s care even before her majority should be enough, then no one would be able to pressure her into anything.

But it wasn’t all. She would have to take over his duties either after she turned eighteen or as soon as she emancipated herself, and while he of course already started his education on these matters, he had chosen to take things slowly to let her live her life and be a child and a teenager without crumbling under expectations. In short, there was still a lot to cover for Via to be able to master everything sufficiently to be left alone.

So his days were a mix of building a case file against Stella for Octavia to use to emancipate herself if needed, and writing instructions for Via on how to take over his duties, completing everything he hadn’t taught her yet, everything he wished he was told rather than having to find out by himself when he was her age.

He quickly decided to add a few informations about how the Goetia family worked, just in case. He tried to shield her from the endless parties when she didn’t want to attend, but he knew she would have to once he was gone, if her mother wasn’t already dragging her to those. Besides, even if she became independent, there was no doubt Stella and Andrealphus would try to take advantage of things, or others would, and he had to warn his starfire about it, in the best way possible. Knowing how to navigate all these rules, all these people, was the best way to find your peace.

It was a long and fastidious process, but it was so much easier to be driven by his love for his daughter rather than spending his days wallowing in his uselessness or worse. It was easier than he initially feared to find evidence against Stella, arguments as to why Via would be better off by herself rather than with her mother. He was extremely thorough too, adding as much evidence he could of Stella hiring Striker to prove some of his points. Because if she ever needed it, then there was no point in shielding the truth from her anymore, and while he had jack shit to prove the abuse, he still had a lot on his plate. It did help that the cowboy wasn’t cautious enough to retrieve the fragments of the phone he smashed in that cave, that still contained useful information for an expert, and so much more pieces of evidence here and there, often small, but Stolas knew the accumulation would end up weighting way more than any of these individually.

The instructions on magic and prophecies were a lot more pleasant to write, for it mixed two of his favourite things. It was a struggle to keep it simple and not go into overly complicated details, but he still referred to various books here just in case she wanted to know more about something.

During his writing, he also realized it would be better to leave something a bit more tangible, not only for Via but for Blitz as well. He could trust his staff to give both documents to Via, the case against Stella and the grimoire explanation, when needed, but he wanted her to know about it and know where to find them instead, in a way that would ensure she’d be the only one to know, so Stella and Andrealphus couldn’t steal or destroy anything. He also made sure they weren’t allowed in the palace, only Via if she so wished, since she could also stay at her uncle’s palace if she decided to stay under his and her mother’s care.

Then there was the question of Blitz. While the imp would probably be perfectly fine now that he had the crystal, Stolas still felt like giving him a little something, as a good bye, or as an apology. Probably both. Maybe some money on IMP’s account would do?

But it wasn’t enough. It was too impersonal. The answer came to Stolas as he was finishing his writings, eyes falling on papers with rough drafts or outlines for the two documents, and he hooted a laugh, the more lively that he had in weeks, even if it still sounded hollow to his ears.

Of course, how could he not think of it sooner? Letters would be perfect to give his last explanations, his last apologies, and say his good bye to his loved ones. They may not want to hear from him again… No, they definitely didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, but Stolas still owed them both at least that. Even if not, then at least for himself, as a last act of selfishness. He wouldn’t tell them about his plan to end his life, not in so direct words, for he didn’t want to attract pity or force their hand, or risk witnessing their indifference on the matter, but he couldn’t bear to leave this world without his last words, and those didn’t fit in a will. It was better to make the letters himself, and then he would have to magic them directly to their recipient to make sure they would fall into the right hands without any risk of interception.

Once this was done, well… All he would have to do will be to go through with the rest of his plan. Then the world would be rid of him, he would be rid of the pain and hollowness, and everything would be for the best. He just had to finish the last details, and decide what the hell to say in those letters.

He feared writing them would be a very long and arduous process, weighting each word carefully. But once he was done with the documents he was initially working on and settled to get started on the letters, it was like if his hand was flying on its own over the paper, his thoughts flowing from his brain and being turned into ink.

It was so limpid it was almost scary, but on the contrary, it only appeased Stolas all the more. Finally, it felt like going in the right direction, like a confirmation he was doing the right thing. Rereading everything was a bit more tricky, for it was the moment where he started second guessing himself, but he quickly decided that the first draft was from the heart and was probably the best.

It probably didn’t even matter that much, apart to himself. He doubted neither Via nor Blitz would forgive him any time soon, no matter how good his letters were, so it was best to keep it short, simple and sincere. Even if some part of him burned to reassure Via that he wasn’t leaving to live with Blitz, she would know soon enough about his death, even if he asked for things to be kept quiet.

Some part of him almost wanted to confess his feelings more directly to Blitz as well before leaving, but what for? The imp probably didn’t want to hear about his silly feelings, it was best to stick to the apology, compensation, and nothing else. Keep it neutral, almost professional, because that was the best bet to make sure Blitz wouldn’t throw the letter away mid-read.

Once it was done and the letters were ready, he took another full day to make absolutely sure everything was ready, to the last detail. It had to be perfect, from the files completed and put in the right place with all evidence, to the lawyer correctly informed of what they had to do, all the papers done, to how he would then proceed the next day.

He did hesitate to do the deed in the afternoon or even night, but then he wouldn’t be sure the letters he would magic to Via and Blitz would reach them. It was better to send the letter to Blitz in the week, at a time when he was likely to be at work, in his office, and early in the morning for Via, to make sure she would be in her room as well.

Once everything was double checked and ready, he went to bed for the last time with a little pang of emotion. He hadn’t slept much in the past days and even weeks, nor well, yet he fell almost immediately in a deep and dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Stolas ’ last morning started with the ring of an alarm. It was a surprise that he didn’t wake up on his own before it rang, but that was why he set it in the first place.

One could think death could wait, but soon the owl would have all eternity to do so, while the letters had to be delivered at precise times, and he didn ’t want to wait now that everything was ready and he was decided.

He hadn ’t bothered to take his Happy Pills in a while, and this morning was no exception. The owl simply watched the small bottle unblinkingly, before he decided to put them away.

He didn ’t bath yet. He didn’t need to. Freshening up would be enough. Now, with his red robe on, his last comfort, a knot in his stomach ruining what little appetite he had left, he returned to his bedroom, carefully took the letters in their envelopes, with each name carefully written on it, and he performed a quick spell to make sure their addressee was where he expected them to before making them disappear in a glow of magic.

Here. His last words were delivered. He had done everything he could to prepare for what he was about to do. Nothing stood between him and death anymore. The money would arrive later in the morning on IMP ’s account, and the lawyer would inform Octavia of her inheritance as soon as one of the staff found him dead.

All he had to do was get up and do it, yet he found himself dawdling on the bed, his gaze lost into space with a strange calmness and feeling of clarity, like if the time had stopped and everything was in a different space and reality.

He blinked out of it, and slowly turned his head toward his phone. Mechanically, he reached for it, but there were no new messages, no new calls on it.

Some part of him was a bit disappointed at that. He knew it was pointless to hope, but deep down, the spark was still there, waiting for a sign that he was wrong, that he misunderstood something. But he had to face reality and stop dreaming. Plenty enough time had passed since he delivered the letters and he made sure the demons they were meant to were there to notice their arrival. The silence was an answer on its own, and he got the message loud and clear.

It would have been too good to have their forgiveness so soon. A simple letter wasn ’t enough, and it’s only been an hour. He couldn’t be too greedy. It was a bit sad that he wouldn’t live long enough to see it, if it ever happened, but it was expected.

The owl got up, still taking his phone with him out of habit, or maybe the embers hadn ’t been completely reduced to ashes yet.

He returned to his bathroom, removed his robe, and filled the bathtub with hot water. There was a small table next to the tub, that usually wasn ’t there, with a box on it. He placed his phone there, and went to soak in the warm water.

That was his last pleasure, his last selfish gift to himself before going. He wasn ’t really in the state of mind to appreciate it though, and he didn’t choose this set up for that anyway.

He put a lot of thinking deciding of how he would die. The means were endless, but it would, very ironically, be one of the most empowering things he had ever done in his life, than to decide how he would end it. It wouldn ’t be Stella’s choice, nor the choice of the hitman she hired, and the Goetia family would have no say in it, would probably disapprove of what he was about to do, that is, if they found it in themselves to care since his heir was almost of age.

There weren ’t that many poisons that could kill a Goetia, and they were either painful to die from, or too slow to act for him to be sure he would be dead without any chance of survival by the time anyone found him. He hadn’t told his staff about what he was about to do, but he had made sure to raise their pay as well, and limit the staff working that day to slow the discovery of his body, but it was still too risky. He had spent a while looking at the different options available easily, and how they worked, but he ended up deciding against it. It wasn’t as clean a death as he hoped, and, even if he probably deserved the pain for his sins, he didn’t want it to hurt.

Then came the more violent ways. The options were quickly reduced to blessed weapons only, which … Didn’t give the owl that much choice, actually, for anything involving disappearing would be too uncertain and cause demons to loose time looking for him.

Maybe he lacked imagination, since weapons weren ’t his forte, but apart from shooting or stabbing himself, there wasn’t much more available. He feared to miss a vital point if he was to pull the trigger himself, even with a small gun - rifles were of course out of the question, way too impractical - both because of a lack of knowledge and a lack of skill. He also feared of the damage it would do on his body. Not out of care for it, he was about to die after all, but the staff that would need to dispose of him probably wouldn’t appreciate it much.

No, the best option seemed to be the knife. Not everywhere thought. Even then, picking a place to stab had been difficult.

He couldn ’t slide his own throat. It would require too much strength, as his main artery would be protected by his cervical vertebrae, and he didn’t have the knowledge nor skill to do it properly nor easily, apart if he decided to just behead himself, but the mess certainly wouldn’t be much better than a gunshot wound.

Hence why he decided to do the deed in water: his blood would simply run into the tub, which would make any cleaning easier. The bathroom was a good spot for that alone, but in the tub, it should be even easier even if some blood remained in it after it was drained.

There were other parts that were good spots to stab to kill someone, but Stolas absolutely refused to stab his heart. It may be one of the quickest ways, but he wasn ’t sure in his ability to reach his heart efficiently enough through his rib cage, and most of all, it would feel way too much like piercing Blitz and Via, or rather, the love he still held for them, and it was absolutely out of the question.

His stomach could work, same for his lungs, but it was either too slow or too painful or both for his liking.

Which meant that dying from cutting an artery remained his best bet. Just, not the one from his neck. But it was alright, there were plenty more he could use.

Stolas had enough books to own a few about Goetic anatomy, and despite the wide variety that existed among them, he knew the two best spots were inside his thighs and the inside of his forearms.

In most books and movies, characters tried to kill themselves by cutting their wrists, so that ’s what Stolas ended up choosing. Because why couldn’t he be dramatic in his death if he wanted to be. He’d just have to keep his arms inside the tub and it would still be simple enough to clean. His only experience was through reading, he didn’t think he needed to practice with normal knifes, but he did find another piece of information that would make his attempt more likely to succeed, so he wasn’t too worried. He wasn’t sure he would be able to cut both his arms, but it was alright.

The water was still warm, his gaze returning to focus as he got out of the fog of his mind as he mentally retraced the last steps to take.

First, open the box on the table to reveal the blessed knife.

Two, press it against the middle of his wrist.

He paused, casting one last glance at his phone, whose screen was lit up when he moved to open the box. There wasn ’t any new message appearing.

Three, his grip on the knife tightened as he started to slice feathers and skin alike with renewed vigor, movement slow and deep, precise, going from barely under the palm of his hand to the crook of his elbow, trying to follow the imaginary line of the vein that ran below.

It must have worked, for a flow of blood immediately started to drip from the wound he was making, enough to darken the previously clear water. Stolas could still see his own naked body beneath, but the outline was quickly growing blurry, especially around the bleeding wound.

The owl was watching the change of color, fascinated, forgetting to try and add another wound to the first, or even to cut his other arm. Soon enough, his vision got blurry, dizziness overtook him despite his immobility, and he started to feel cold.

He simply dropped the weapon that slowly fell to the pit of the tub, knowing those were signs the first wound was enough. The hemorrhage was powerful enough to bring the first symptoms in what felt like only a matter of seconds, and he let himself sink in the water and close his eyes, letting go of everything.

Chapter Text

“Come on gang, we got plenty of hits to do, let’s get this day rolling!”

Millie’s reaction was loud and full of energy, as usual. Moxxie still looked pissed about whatever he was whining about earlier, and his Loonie didn’t bother to answer, eyes glued to her phone, but it was okay. He knew his daughter would rather come with them but was still stuck in the lobby even with the grimoire gone, so she had a reason to be mad, didn’t she? He just couldn’t risk her safety, like any good father would!

“Alright, lemme just grab the files for today, since someone decided we absolutely had to bring them with us on missions instead of leaving them here like we always do!” Blitz added with a pointed glare at Moxxie, who of course immediately got defensive.

“Sir, that’s not what I said! I simply asked you to check the location of the first hit! You have to admit that “Nevada” is way too imprecise, and…”

“Oh come on Mox, like if you’d have recognized the name of whatever shit hole the target live in if I had bothered to memorize it!” The scarred imp replied while rolling his eyes. “But fine, let me take a look at all the locations before we go so we don’t need to come back and won’t disturb Loonie!”

His pupils got wide as he looked at his daughter, who barely groaned at his antics and affection. The hellhound had clearly gotten a bit less grumpy with him since he finally managed to get past his not-breakup with a certain owl, and he was enjoying it as much as he could.

Still, work was calling, so he turned around to rush back into his office to grab said files, or rather, lay them out on his desk to snap pictures, because he knew he wouldn’t be able to remember any of these city names after the first kill.

He was almost done when magic glowed, making his last picture way clearer than the others with the added light, the sound of the camera snapping just before a letter fell on the page it was turned toward.

The assassin froze, taken aback as he recognized the color of the magic, not to mention the handwriting on the letter bearing his name.

Fuck.

No, fuck this. He was fine, he was doing better, he was past all this bullshit. He didn’t need to be reminded that everything was still raw and painful, just buried under a mask of normalcy thanks to his talk with Millie. It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do to not let his company and family down. He couldn’t ruin all this progress now, couldn’t afford to ruin a perfect day that would earn them a shit ton of money that they all really needed after his most recent fuck-ups.

“Sir? Are you done?”

Thank fuck he had closed his door out of habit, no one had noticed the light of the magic. Still, Blitz opened a drawer and threw the letter inside, not wanting to loose time reading what was probably a collection of slurs against him. He could deal with his later, even if, he had to admit, some part of himself was impressed it took Stolas this long to join his line of haters. Of course the bird would write his insults in a letter, the fancy bitch, hopefully it’d change him from Verosika’s public slander.

“Just finished Mox. Satan’s tits, what’s with you today, got bitten by a bedbug or what?” The taller imp exclaimed as he barged out of his office, masking the whirlwind of feelings the arrival of the letter caused by shooting fake animosity at the freckled imp. Okay, and maybe a tad bit of real animosity in it, because the white haired imp was being annoying as fuck today, even more than usual.

Moxxie groaned, probably saying their bed didn’t have bedbugs while Millie waited with a big smile, probably impatient to go. Blitz didn’t wait for Moxxie to be done before opening the portal to the first location.

“Let’s go gang!” He screamed as he ran through it, eager to kill some bitches to take his mind off things.

***

“Fuck, what a good day!” The assassin exclaimed as he crossed the portal back into the office, standing proudly with his hands on his hips while blood dripped from his clothes, stopping on the side so his employees could follow after him.

“Speak for yourself”, answered Loona. “The day was long and boring as shit. You’ll have two missions for tomorrow, and someone asked for his hit to be completed in three days at noon sharp.”

“Aw, thank you Loonie, well done!”

“Why noon sharp?” Moxxie asked.

“Who cares? Anyway, everyone, let’s call it a day and go celebrate business booming in a dive somewhere!”

Before anyone could answer, probably Moxxie about their finances not being that well yet, someone burst through the door, an angry scowl on her face, making almost everyone jump in surprise.

“Octavia?!” Blitz asked, dumbfounded, while the teen stomped inside, glaring everywhere as if looking for something.

“Where is he?!”

“Where is who?” Millie tried to ask placatingly since Blitz was still too stunned to react, Mox hesitating to hide behind his wife, and Loona was still on her phone, legs up on her desk, brows raised and ears pointed toward the newcomer.

“My dad! I know he’s there, why else would he drop his duties on me? Are you going to flee somewhere to be on your own, is that it?”

This time, everyone’s eyes widened, the memory of the state Blitz had been in after his “not break-up” way too fresh in all their minds. But before they could cast worried glances his way, IMP’s boss finally snapped out of his surprise, brain slowly taking in the flow of information Stolas’ daughter just drowned him in.

“Wow. Okay, let’s calm the fuck down. The last time I saw your dad was, like, a month ago, and he didn’t try to reach out at all since then.” Well, apart from that letter he received in the morning, that was now coming back to the forefront of his mind despite all his attempts to bury it. “I swear I haven’t seen him at all in weeks, so whatever he’s up to, I have nothing to do with it!”

Even if the prince had some kind of plan and his letter was him asking Blitz for a favor, the imp certainly hadn’t granted it, or he hadn’t done it on purpose, because he still didn’t know what was in that fucking letter.

“Liar. He’s giving up everything, his palace, his plants, even his books! Why would he if it wasn’t to go with you?” The teen asked, so full of confidence Blitz had half a mind to check if Stolas didn’t appear to hide in his office while he was away.

But no, it was stupid. They were done. He had fucked up big time, like always, and it was best to keep his distances, to not poison the owl further. At worst, the sheltered royal wanted to see life outside of his riches, which wouldn’t do him any real harm with his status and innate powers even if he gave away his fortune and…

“Wait. Hold on a sec, why would he leave without you?!” Blitz asked, shaking his head. “Even if he suddenly decided he wanted to see the world or whatever, which he can perfectly do with his fucking portals, he wouldn’t leave you behind! Didn’t he tell you something before he left?”

That finally seemed to get to Octavia, and the owlet’s anger faltered as she frowned, taking her phone and tapping her screen a few times, before she started to scroll endlessly with an extremely focused face.

“Er… So, what happened with your dad exactly?” Loona finally pipped up after a whole minute of Octavia not giving anything away apart from intensely looking at her phone.

“I haven’t talked to him in weeks either, so I have no idea what he’s been up to”, Via started before she stopped, talon hovering above the screen, scrolling finally paused as she seemed to be reading something.

“Weeks? Were you away on vacation or something? I was sure Stolas would be the kind to call or visit if that was the case…” Blitz started, frowning, but he was cut short as the princess added:

“Oh, he tried to text and call, but I blocked him. He never had the guts to try and visit thought, despite knowing exactly where I was. I’m reading through the last texts he sent me after I blocked him, but he’s not saying where he’s going.”

Almost all of IMP winced, M&M exchanging glances while Blitz started to have a bad feeling.

Something wasn’t right. He’d even go as far as saying that something was really, really wrong.

“Sweetie, are you telling me that you… You blocked Stolas?” He asked again, just to be sure.

“Yeah, I was sick of him feeding me lies. But he doesn’t say anything about you, apart from the fact he hadn’t seen you since All Hallows’ Eve. Are you both lying now?”

“He never showed up here at least, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t texted either”, Loona confirmed, eyes now glued to the scene. “Your dad even stopped liking Blitz’s Sinstagram posts, and he never not liked a post since this weird thing between them started.”

“How do you even know what?!” Moxxie exclaimed.

“Because Blitz kept complaining about it, but he stopped after their break-up, and I checked just to see if it was that serious, and… Yeah, it was”, she finished, casting a worried glance toward Blitz, who seemed pretty shaken, but not for the reason they all feared.

“Are you telling me… That you haven’t talked to your dad since we broke up?”

“I knew it was a break up”, mumbled Moxxie under his breath, but Blitz didn’t bother to deny it, his focus fully on Octavia as the teen finally tore her eyes from her phone screen. She was frowning.

“I talked to him a week after the full moon, and he did say he stopped the deal he had with you, but I didn’t believe him. Was he actually saying the truth?” Octavia finally asked, hesitant.

“Yes, yes he was”, Blitz answered frankly. “The last time I saw him or spoke to him or had any contact at all was the day after he ended our deal.”

“Honey, did you say he gave you everything?” Millie asked with an oddly cautious voice.

“Y-Yes, that’s what the lawyer told me.”

“That’s weird”, Moxxie frowned. “It feels like a full inheritance, yet it should only happen if his highness had passed away…”

“Shut up Mox.” Blitz snapped.

“Hopefully it’s just a misunderstanding!” Millie tried again with a more cheerful tone, but the scarred imp could see it was fake. “People give signs before doing such things…”

“He wrote me a letter”, Octavia cut, voice hollow.

All of Blitz’s muscles tensed at that, the worry threatening to overflow everything as he stared, eyes wide, at the teenager who seemed to mirror his worry despite her stillness.

“What kind of letter?” Loona finally asked, since no one seemed willing to dare ask the question.

“A letter warning me about the whole inheritance thing. He also said that he loved me and that he was sorry.”

“It can fit a suicide letter, people aren’t always that bold about what they intend to do…”

“For the last time Mox, shut the fuck up. Stolas wouldn’t leave his daughter alone…”

“But what if he thought she didn’t want to hear from him? She had blocked him after all”, Millie added, and this time Blitz definitely felt his blood turn into ice.

He spun around and rushed into his office, ignoring the calls asking him what he was doing. He threw open the drawer to take out the letter that arrived in the morning, then rushed out with it in hand.

M&M were on their way to follow, but they were barely at his office’s door when he returned. He ignored their worried glances as he brandished the letter for Octavia to see.

“That kind of letter?”

Her eyes widened.

“You received one too! But, you just said your last contact with him was…”

“Yeah, well, it arrived this morning just before we started our missions and I didn’t read it yet, I had kind of forgotten about it.” He tried to justify.

“So, what does it say?” Loona asked, and she seemed on edge too, knowing there was a chance Moxxie’s earlier suggestion might be true.

Any reservation Blitz had left about reading that letter were out the fucking window as he teared the envelope open so quickly he almost teared the letter itself in the process, needing to check how much of that ominous feeling might be true. Then he unfolded it, and started reading the neat handwriting he would never admit out loud he liked and knew so well.

Hello Blitz,

I am sorry to bother you, but I need to speak to you one last time. It is the last letter you will receive from me, I promise.

I apologize for everything I put you through. I admit it was quite ironic of me to demand an apology of you without giving any proper apology myself. Pardon my arrogance.

Please believe in the sincerity of my words when I say that I deeply regret ever bringing you discomfort or forcing your hand with the deal. It was really stupid of me to suggest, and I am sorry for the trouble it caused you, the pressure it put on you in order to keep your business afloat. Please be assured what I would have stopped it all sooner, had I realized what it was like on your end.

I know it isn ’t nearly enough, but I asked for money to be transfered to IMP’s bank account as a modest compensation for everything, including saving me from Striker. I am sorry I never thanked your employees myself, but I hope the gesture will be enough for them and yourself.

If you could bring yourself to forgive me some day, it is the best gift I could ever ask for. But do not fret, I know perfectly well it may never happen, and I would understand if that was the case.

I wish you the best for the future.

Please take care.

Stolas

Blitz stayed frozen before the letter as the implications seemed to only get cleared in his mind. But he didn’t want to understand, because he didn’t want them to be true.

“Loona, did you receive a call from our bank about new payments?” He asked, casting a glance her way.

“Yeah, they said we were paid an insane amount. I hang up, I’m sure it was a scam, or they called the wrong number. Our clients don’t pay that much. Why?” She asked, looking between Octavia and her father. “They weren’t joking?”

“Seems like they weren’t. Stolas says in his letter that he made a donation to IMP, for saving his life and all that. He wouldn’t… He wouldn’t kill himself after that, right?”

But denial could only take him so far as even Octavia seemed to consider Stolas’ suicide a possibility, when Loona’s phone suddenly rang with a text. She looked down, and almost ignored the text notification, before freezing, fur standing and ears pressed flat against her skull.

“What is it Loonie? Is there a problem?” Blitz immediately asked, wanting out of the horrible truth that was threatening to spill and swallow the whole room if anyone mentioned it again, because he knew that if it turned out to be true, then they were too late to do anything to change it.

The hellhound briefly looked up at both Blitz and Octavia with something in her eyes that he never saw before, and he already knew what she was about to say even before she opened her muzzle, confirming they were indeed way too late.

“I’m… Sorry. Stolas did die. How, I’m not sure, but a friend warned me, it’s all over the news right now.”

Shit .

“No, it can’t be… Who would have killed him?!” Octavia asked with a distressed hoot, and Blitz was torn between wanting to tell her the blunt truth, that it was her dad who took his own life, and try to hold on to the hope that he somehow misunderstood the whole situation.

But he knew that Moxxie was right, that Stolas’ letter was a fucking suicide note, a bit disguised, but still very much one. They already had the confirmation that the prince had left this world, so there was no point denying the truth, nor hide it from Via.

Still, it was hard to react appropriately, all the tension he felt building as he slowly realized the reason of the teen’s presence suddenly releasing after his worst fears were confirmed. He was barely able to turn toward the meeting room to go switch on the TV there, everyone following behind him.

The title of the first news the TV landed on were spelling it loud and clear before anyone could throw in guesses as to what had happened.

“Prince Stolas commits suicide at home!”

“No”, whined Octavia, tears already soaking her cheeks, and Blitz quickly switched off the TV as he turned toward her, his heart squeezing at the emotions on her face. “It can’t be…”

“I’m… So sorry sweetie”, Blitz heard himself say, and he was vaguely aware of tears running down his own cheeks, but he didn’t give a fuck. “I didn’t… I never meant to take your dad from you.”

“It’s not true! It can’t be him, he wouldn’t! He said he would never leave me…”

She started proud and straight, like if she was about to storm out to check by herself, to find the body they hid from the palace before she arrived there, but then she collapsed before she could finish her last sentence, heavy sobs shaking her frame while she sat on the floor, hiding her face in her hands while Loona’s hand hovered above her shoulder, unsure of if she should reach out or not.

The imp couple was standing near the door, looking at the scene with matched concern that seemed to double when their gaze fell on their boss, who simply shooed them away, same for his daughter even as he finally found the courage to put a reassuring paw on the younger girl’s shoulder.

“I got this Loonie, I’ll join you in a bit”, Blitz managed to say through his own emotions, the only thing keeping them in check right now being the sobbing mess in front of him. He didn’t even notice the others leaving and the door closing, simply advancing on her when he felt ready and steady enough to receive what he knew would be rightful anger.

“Listen, Via, I… I’m so fucking sorry. I should have read that letter earlier, reached out to your dad, even after that shit show, apologize to him sooner…”

“He’s dead!” She wailed. “It doesn’t fucking matter! He’s dead! He said I’d be okay, but I’m not! I can’t be! He’s not there anymore! I can’t! I can’t…”

“Shhhh, hey”, Blitz said, rushing to hug her, even if he knew he had no right to when he was the reason she was now fatherless, because it wasn’t enough that he took his and Barbie’s mother, he had to take Via’s father too. “He made sure you’d have everything you need. Loss is hard at first, but he’s right, you’ll manage, eventually. I know what I’m talking about. It never totally goes away, but…”

“You can’t know”, she managed to say between new tears, letting out small hoots as she cried. “You were never the cause for the death of your parent! I didn’t read his letter either, not until that lawyer appeared, and I… I left first… Oh dad, I’m so sorry, I should have believed you…”

Via’s tears were soaking Blitz’s shirt, but he tightened his hold, stroking reassuring circles in her back as he answered with a frown.

“You’re wrong kid. I know exactly what it’s like to cause the death of a parent. I killed my mother, and I live with that weight every day since then. But I’m still here, and so will you, okay? Because that’s what Stolas would want, he even said it in his letter to you, didn’t he?”

“Y-Yes, but…” Octavia started, leaning away to watch Blitz’s face, but the imp simply smiled, offering her a pained but honest smile.

“No kid. You can be as angry as you want toward Stolas, or even me, but this isn’t on you. Remember, I know what I’m talking about. I’m responsible for my mother’s death.” Instinctively, one of his hands went to the pendant on his neck, Via’s eyes following the move. “You aren’t responsible of your father’s actions, trust me.”

Finally, she nodded, her eyes still teary, but her sobs had almost stopped, minus a few sad hoots here and there. Blitz nodded at the sight, proud of how quickly she seemed to accept the shift in guilt.

“I’m… Do I have to return now?” She finally asked, voice shy. “I… I’m not ready yet…”

Her beak wobbled, and Blitz gently pushed her head back against him, purring softly as he held gently onto her.

“Nah, there’s no hurry. You can stay here and cry a bit more. Then we’ll do all the boring shit and papers, and you’ll be able to cry some more tonight, take a small break even if it’s not done, okay?”

Octavia sniffed, wrapping her arms around Blitz to hug him back. “O-okay.”

“Good”, Blitz said, letting the hoots turn louder and feeling more tears wet his clothes further, but he didn’t give a fuck.

Because the owlet had accepted his help, so he would gladly take on his last mission for Stolas, knowing that’s something he would have wanted, for him to take care of his daughter. And he was going to do a fucking good job at it, be here for her, and not just because it would be the perfect excuse to bury and ignore his own pain.

No. He just had to make sure Via realized he was the real reason Stolas killed himself, not her. He managed to poison a royal enough to make him take his own life, and it didn’t matter if she started to hate him once she realized it, at least he would make sure she lived.

Chapter Text

Blitz should have ignored the letter. The fact it arrived in a glow of magic, appearing out of nowhere in his office, was proof enough it wasn ’t good news, yet he just couldn’t get his eyes off the elegant letters forming his name on the envelope, heart beating in his chest.

He knew that handwriting. He recognized the color of this magic, knew even that each royal had their own. It belonged to someone he tried so hard to forget for the past weeks, to drown his pain and move on, but he didn ’t. Even after getting slightly better thanks to his talk with Millie, he just couldn’t forget Stolas, nor ignore his feelings for him.

Neither had tried to contact the other in weeks though. So why the fucking letter now? Blitz checked his phone, but no, there was no new text or mail from the prince.

“What the fuck?” Blitz asked aloud.

“Are you coming sir? Did you find the correct file? I told you you should be using a filing system…”

“Shut the fuck up Mox, I have an emergency! The missions are delayed for now!”

“What?! But…”

The rest of the imp ’s protests were drown by the ringing of Blitz’s phone. Groaning, the assassin accepted the call when he saw it was from IMP’s bank.

“Yes, I know, we’re still a little low, but we’re working on it, will you just wait one more fucking…”

“No no sir, that’s not it!”

Blitz paused, raising a brow. These guys never called him “sir”, apart when the company’s account was doing fucking great. Which meant, for once maybe their clients weren’t dicks and had all paid in advance, even those who didn’t agree to it.

“Oh? Then what’s the fuss so early?” He asked, still a little suspicious.

“It is mandatory for such unusual amounts, and I thought it would reassure you! It’s been a while since you received a transfer for him, congratulations mister Blitz!”

Okay, fuck it, they were even remembering about the silent o, what the fuck?

“We never get paid twice by the same client, it’s one time jobs”, he answered.

Okay, maybe it did happen for a client to come back for another target, but it was super rare, usually they ’d put a hit on all their targets at once, and they didn’t have any client like that recently, so…

“Yes, I imagine prince Stolas isn’t a regular client, but he does pay really well, even more than last time he used your services! The transfer’s amount…”

Blitz wasn ’t fool enough to try and drink anything through such a conversation, but if he had nothing to spit, his eyes almost got out of his head as he heard how many fucking numbers there were, not to mention it was from Stolas of all people.

“Wow, wait there buddy, you sure?”

“Yes, positive!”

“Yeah, well, don’t wet your panties yet, I’m pretty sure there’s a mistake. I’ll check with the bird myself.”

“Of course, we’ll let you know if he transfers you any missing amount…”

“He gave us too much, idiot!” Blitz finished before hanging up.

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Blitz quickly pulled up Stolas ’ contact, but his finger stopped before it could click on the call button, memories of their last encounters suddenly dancing in his mind.

Shit. Was it really a good idea to call? Maybe a simple text would do, or …

The bald imp eyed the letter again, and he quickly put his phone away to carefully but quickly tear the envelope open, unfolding the letter to read it over quickly.

Hello Blitz,

I am sorry to bother you, but I need to speak to you one last time. It is the last letter you will receive from me, I promise.

I apologize for everything I put you through. I admit it was quite ironic of me to demand an apology of you without giving any proper apology myself. Pardon my arrogance.

Please believe in the sincerity of my words when I say that I deeply regret ever bringing you discomfort or forcing your hand with the deal. It was really stupid of me to suggest, and I am sorry for the trouble it caused you, the pressure it put on you in order to keep your business afloat. Please be assured what I would have stopped it all sooner, had I realized what it was like on your end.

I know it isn ’t nearly enough, but I asked for money to be transfered to IMP’s bank account as a modest compensation for everything, including saving me from Striker. I am sorry I never thanked your employees myself, but I hope the gesture will be enough for them and yourself.

If you could bring yourself to forgive me some day, it is the best gift I could ever ask for. But do not fret, I know perfectly well it may never happen, and I would understand if that was the case.

I wish you the best for the future.

Please take care.

Stolas

Blitz kept staring at the letter, having expected pretty much everything but that, even rereading just to be sure, but no, this was real.

He was expecting insults, maybe something super neutral and princy like “here, we’re even” (no matter that if anything, it was Blitz who was in Stolas’ debt with the whole crystal thing), given the mention of his team saving him from Striker, but Stolas apologizing to him? It was just surreal.

He kept rereading the letter, trying to find a hidden sense, but he truly couldn ’t find any. What he slowly came to realize instead was making his blood run cold.

This, this wasn ’t just a letter to say “sorry, here’s money for the trouble”. Some part of his brain was very tempted to take it like that, but deep down, he knew better.

He ’d been there. He knew the signs. He saw them crystal clear. And he didn’t like it one bit.

It wasn ’t just an apology, it was Stolas blaming himself for everything that went wrong in their relationship. And yeah, sure, a lot of things were fucked, but Blitz wasn’t blind enough not to know he played a part too. But this…

It never said the word anywhere, but Blitz really had a feeling it was a disguised suicide note. Everything felt too final, from the “It is the last letter you will receive from me” to the “I wish you the best for the future”, that reminded him awfully of their conversation on their last full moon, but in a darker way.

Maybe he was reading too much into it, but he wasn ’t about to take the risk. He folded the letter back into the envelope to put into his pocket, grabbed his phone, then opened a portal to Stolas’ palace, powering through anger to try and hide his panic in case he got it all wrong.

“Stolas!” He yelled, barging through the balcony doors to enter the bedroom he was so accustomed to. A very empty and silent bedroom, but hopefully it’s occupant wasn’t very far. “What the fuck is that fucking money for?! Wanna ease your conscience?!”

Sobs answered him, and he froze, head turning around.

It was coming from the bathroom.

The assassin rushed there, and barely slowed down when he entered the place, seeing a feathery form in the bathtub.

He had to get there fast. He didn ’t realize why immediately, but it changed when he stopped next to it, freezing in horror.

Stolas was laying in his bath, slutty red robe laying near the tub, shaking with sobs while the water had turned so dark like demon ’s blood that Blitz could barely see anything through it.

“Shit, wow, what’s that water color?! Stolas, what did you do?”

Instinctively, he looked around for a weapon, but there was none. Not loosing any time, he reached into the water to empty it, fearing what he ’d find. While the water was draining, he grabbed Stolas’ face to angle it up, scared to feel how lax the owl was. His eyes were closed, the tears scarce despite how loudly he was sobbing, and there were deep bags under his eyes, with no make up to conceal them.

“Fuck. Stolas, what the fuck? Why are you crying in your bathtub? Come on, stop being…”

Whatever he intended to say next wouldn ’t have been very considerate, but he stopped himself before he could make it worse, eyes falling to what the emptying tub was now revealing.

It wasn ’t just some weird rich bath salts or whatever. It was indeed blood, and there was a long cut on Stolas’ arm, right next to a shining weapon.

A blessed knife.

“No, shit, shit! Stolas, what the fuck did you do?!”

The sobs only got stronger, but they were weird, weak in their strength, like if crying was taking up what little energy the owl had left. Blitz tried to straighten his face again, caressing his cheeks.

“Hey, Stol’s, look at me. Please, look at me.”

The bird barely shook his head, yet his eyes did slightly open. Not by much, but plenty enough for Blitz to see they were far duller than they should be.

“Shit. No, you’re not doing that to me, you’re not doing that to Via! I won’t let you.”

Blitz let go of the prince ’s head as carefully as he could before rubbing his crystal again. He struggled a bit, cursed under his breath, but finally managed to open a fucking portal into the hospital that gave Loona his shots, and that he knew treated Stolas when he was hurt by that asshole cowboy.

“Hey dipshits! Got an emergency for you!” He yelled, already carrying Stolas inside, wrapped up in his red robe, not having enough time to do more.

“No…” Came Stolas’ weak voice, his hands pushing against Blitz’s chest, but it was so light the imp didn’t even notice, or rather he ignored it as he looked around at the panicking demons.

“If he’s not treated in the next…”

Blitz didn ’t have time to pick a time limit that there was already an army of Sloth demons coming to take the owl from his arms. Where those had come from when the place was almost empty moments ago, he didn’t know, and he didn’t give a fuck, following after them while the worry ate at his heart.

He had been right about the letter. No one had attacked Stolas, the owl did this to himself, the way he was weakly trying to push doctors and nurses away was further proof, but they didn ’t even notice, quickly stopping the blood flow from his arm while a blood bag was connected to his other arm and an oxygen mask put over his beak, voices yelling everywhere as he was taken away, Blitz finally forced to stop following as Stolas disappeared behind double doors.

With the sound of the doors closing, it was like if his mind was switched off, emptied. Nothing remained, not even panic, while he just looked before him without seeing anything, failing to process what just happened.

Mindlessly, Blitz finally walked back after a few minutes of staring at the closed doors to go drop his ass in a waiting chair.

He didn ’t want to think about any of what just happened. It was way too complicated to handle, yet he could feel the panic approaching. Panic at what the fuck almost happened, what may still happen behind these doors. What would have happened if he choose to drive there like he always did. Panic at the idea of what he’d tell Octavia if her father…

His phone ’s ringing tore him out of his thoughts, and it was Moxxie’s ringtone. Yet instead of bitching, he just took out his phone and accepted the call, answering with a hollow voice.

“Yeah?”

“Sir, where are you?! You can’t just disappear in the middle of a work day with no explanation, and with the crystal on top of that! We have hits to complete and…”

“Fuck the targets Mox. You took one fucking week to complete one. These can wait.”

He hung up with barely enough time for the white haired imp to be able to hear the end of his last sentence, wanting nothing more than return to staring blankly at the wall facing him.

Then his phone rang again, with Millie ’s ringtone this time.

“What is it now?” Blitz asked as he picked up the call, but it missed the bite it should have. Instead, he just sounded bored, tired.

“Blitz, honey, are you okay?” She asked, worry obvious in her voice. “This ain’t like you.”

“Really? I can think of many times when he…” Moxxie started in the background, but she shushed him.

Blitz didn ’t know what to answer to that. Was he okay? Answering would require to connect his emotions back up, and he didn’t think he could right now. It wasn’t even a matter of not wanting to face all the shit, he just…

It was too much to process. He still felt out of it. How could he even say he didn ’t feel well after finding Stolas in his bathtub, trying to kill himself? What he was feeling right now was nothing compared to what Stolas must have felt, what right did he have to complain after abandoning the bird, letting him down enough to push him to such things? Because Blitz was no idiot, he knew he played a part. The letter was an apology, but he knew better.

No matter what he choose, it was always the wrong option.

“Blitz?” Millie’s voice cut through the wave of thoughts that finally started to flood his mind, along with many emotions, none of them positive. “Where are you? We’ll join you.”

He should refuse, say it wasn ’t needed, but he didn’t trust himself, and someone had to be there for Stolas, to make sure he didn’t try again.

“I’ll open a portal.”

It took him five long minutes to make the crystal work, but he couldn ’t even be bothered to get angry about his inefficiency. The doors were still closed anyway, so there was no rush. Yet.

But there was a rush before. He could have been too late, and the idea … He didn’t want to think about it.

“Sir, finally! What took you so long… Why are we in a hospital?”

He hadn ’t noticed his phone ringing while he tried to open the portal after hanging up with Millie, nor did he notice when he finally succeeded, the voice of his employees crossing to join him finally breaching his thoughts.

Loona had her ears backward at the sight of the place where she received her shot, wariness obvious in her stance, but when she spotted her father, all blank stare and motionless, she took a big breath in, and crossed with her tail around her midsection, looking everywhere with her fur raised as if fearing it was a plot to get her to come here for whatever else health shit Blitz absolutely wanted for her.

But he wasn ’t here for that, she quickly realized as she sniffed the air. There was another smell here, a bit old now, but still strong and fresh enough to understand what happened, and what had her dad in that state.

“Blitz? Why are we here? What happened? Are you okay?” Millie approached, putting a reassuring hand on her boss’ shoulder.

“I’m fine”, he answered with the same hollow voice, trying and failing to mask everything with his usual brash facade. He just couldn’t right now. He couldn’t pretend that what he witnessed didn’t matter, because it fucking did.

“Maybe you should sit down sir, okay? Tell us what happened.” Moxxie gestured toward the seats that Blitz apparently got up from at some point, but the former clown didn’t move. Millie had to guide him there, and he did go sit down easily once pushed in the right direction, but he still had that faraway look in his eyes that Loona was quickly growing to hate.

“It’s about Stolas, isn’t it?” The hellhound finally asked, seeing that the couple of imps couldn’t get any answer out of their friend.

“What?!” Moxxie whisper-yelled while Millie turned her head toward Blitz for any kind of confirmation.

“Blitz, is it true?”

He slowly nodded, still not saying a word, and both imps turned toward their secretary for answers.

“How do you know?”

“There’s his smell in the air. He went this way, probably to get surgery. I also smell a lot of his blood. Was he attacked again Blitz? Is that why you need IMP here?”

Three pair of eyes turned toward the assassin, whose gaze slowly rose toward their expecting faces.

“He tried to kill himself”, he whispered. “He almost took his own life. I almost wasn’t fast enough. He can’t… You can’t let him try again.”

“Oh shit”, Moxxie swore.

“Fuck. Really?” Loona asked, ears flat against her skull.

“Do you know what pushed him to do that?” Millie added, trying to get Blitz to talk.

“It’s my fault. I always make the wrong move, and he…”

“No, Blitz, stop. You don’t make everyone’s lives worst, you hear me? We’re gonna watch over your bird and find out what happened…”

Before Moxxie or Loona could wonder what this all was about, the doors opened, and they all froze, fearing the news they were about to receive.

A baphomet walked out, a clipboard under one arm. They barely had time to go over the new demons to find the one who brought the prince here that Blitz had jumped from his seat to grab them by their coat.

“Where is he?! Is he alright? If you let him die I’ll make you fucking regret it…”

“Hey hey, calm down! His highness is safe! The wound wasn’t hard to treat, we mainly had to make sure we had blood to give him. He’s in another room to rest, he’s still sleeping the shock away for now. You are…?”

“His bodyguards, we need access to his room to secure it.”

“I… Don’t think it’s necessary, our observations showed that it was self-inflicted…”

“Oh, so you don’t mind him waking up and trying again, dipshit?!” Blitz growled, the doctor’s face barely an inch from his own.

“Of course, you can go! He’s in room 36! There isn’t anything there that he could use to harm himself…”

“Good”, Blitz said as he pushed the demon away to rush in the corridor the doctor pointed, not bothering to wait. Millie quickly ran after him along with Loona, while Moxxie stayed behind to ask more questions regarding the prince’s health.

Blitz entered the room first, opening the door with surprising gentleness as if not wanting to disturb, and they all slowly ventured inside, Loona and Millie ’s gaze going around to spot anything dangerous laying around while Blitz’s eyes focused on the form on the bed.

Stolas was indeed sleeping, his chest moving up and down proving that he was indeed alive, along with the beeping and jumping lines on his heart monitor. There was a bag of blood next to him, connected to his healthy arm while the other was covered in bandages from the hand to the elbow, but the oxygen mask had been removed.

Still, it hurt to see. Don ’t get him wrong, Blitz was so very glad Stolas was alive, but he shouldn’t be there, in a hospital room, recovering from…

Fuck.

Blitz took the nearest seat next to the bed, carefully taking the bird ’s nearest hand into his, and caressing his knuckles, eyes stuck on the sleeping form, the light hoots, all the signs that were proof the bird was alive and breathing , no matter that his face was so hollow, it was like he was undernourished and hadn ’t slept in a week.

The girls settled behind him, having finished checking the room, and they also took a seat further from the bed, as if leaving the two some personal space, which wasn ’t much in the hospital room, but it was still something.

Anyone had yet to utter a word that the door opened again, Moxxie closing it behind him as he joined his wife with a worried look toward his boss.

“The doctor says he should wake up soon. You reacted quickly Blitz, you saved his life. He won’t have any after-effect, thanks to him being a Goetia…”

“Mox?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you, but please shut up.”

“Yes sir.”

***

Stolas woke up with a start, body tense and his four eyes blinded by the light pouring from the windows.

This was wrong. This wasn ’t part of the plan. He shouldn’t feel anything, see anything. He was supposed to die. Why did it look like the hospital room he was in after his encounter with Striker?

He vaguely remembered Blitz ’s voice while he was trying to drift to nothingness, calling him out on yet again new mistakes he made while trying to make up for the old ones. Did he mess up too bad that his reprieve was refused to him?

The prince felt his body slowly start to relax. His breathing was normal, his heartbeat steady, albeit a bit fast, and he didn ’t feel any pain, despite the weight on his formerly injured arm. There was also warm skin against his talons, claws that felt familiar and went from motionless to slowly starting to massage his hand, and he had a feeling it was what they were doing too just before he woke up.

Stolas didn ’t want to know who was with him in the room, but his vision cleared with time, and he could already make out forms and colors around him, hear the breathing of other demons. So he braced himself for more yelling, scolding him for what he tried to do, not even allowed to decide how to end his miserable life, and he turned his heard toward the presence touching his hand so gently, knowing the contact was bond to stop or turn unpleasant the moment he showed he was awake.

He was surprised to be met with yellow eyes looking directly back into his, a very low purr filling the room, coming out of him.

Blitz was by his bedside, watching him like if he already knew he had woken up, and it felt like he was sending back the emotions the owl felt, a mixture of apprehension and anxiousness.

Then, behind him were three more demons. Blitz ’s employees, holding hands, and his daughter, on her phone. They had all stopped whatever they were doing to watch him, and Stolas suddenly wished he could disappear into his hospital bed. Maybe he could portal elsewhere, to make sure they wouldn’t find him this time, and…

“Hey, Stol’s, welcome back.” Blitz whispered softly, a relieved smile forming on his face, very unlike what Stolas expected from the demon given his last memories of the scarred imp’s words.

“Hello your highness, glad to see you awake”, Moxxie added, and he seemed to relax as well, while Millie smiled warmly at him.

“You scared us, you were supposed to wake up hours ago. But I’m sure the extra sleep was needed!”

“Shouldn’t we, uh, get a doctor or food or something?” Loona suggested, seeming very uneasy.

“Good idea Loonie! Can you find him something to eat, and maybe a tea? Here Stol’s, have some water too!”

The three demons in the back got up, exchanging glances and casting one last look at Blitz ’s back and Stolas himself with an encouraging smile while the owl drank the offered water out of reflex.

“We’ll be back in a bit. Be nice to each other, okay?” Millie advised, soft gaze turning into a glare at the bald imp’s back, who simply waved his tail in annoyance.

“Yeah, I know. You know what to do guys.”

They all answered positively with various levels of enthusiasm before leaving the room, and Stolas couldn ’t help but tense at the sound of the door closing behind the last demon, fearing this was the moment everything stopped being so still and almost nice, and he would get scolded for his choices, like how Blitz arrived screaming in his bedroom earlier.

His worries and fears must have shown on his face, for Blitz softened his expression, both hands now caressing Stolas ’ and purring going slightly up, but still nothing more than a low background noise. Still, it was managing to soothe some of Stolas’ tension away as he waited for the other shoe to drop.

“I apologize”, he rushed to say before Blitz could start, hoping it would weaken the incoming storm. “I didn’t mean for my letter and the money to be a way to buy your forgiveness.”

“I know”, the imp assured him, his gaze calm and patient, and it felt so weird to see him like this, Stolas felt the return to normal would only get worse the more Blitz acted so weirdly and… Un-Blitzy-like.

“I’m sorry”, Stolas finished, looking aside, not able to hold his gaze much longer, and not wanting to see the expression become anger or worse, disgust.

“Fuck no!” The assassin answered, voice raising, and Stolas closed his eyes, as if bracing for a hit. One of Blitz’s hands left his, and he tensed on instinct, fearing what would come next.

He didn ’t expect the soft touch of fingers on his cheeks, slowly turning his head back toward the imp. His eyes fluttered open, surprised by the gentleness, and there was still no sight of anger on Blitz’s face, only patience and care, and a determination that wasn’t there before.

“Hey, I’m not gonna scream at you. I’m the one who should apologize. I… I tried to, you know? Before I joined you at Verosika’s party. I really tried, but… I was too much of a coward to do it. Then Ver said if I wanted to do better, I had to let you go and just, be happy for you, and I thought that I could just… You know, do it. Without apologizing. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be”, Stolas cut softly, his eyes a never ending sea of red, but Blitz had a hunch he was looking down, not really seeing the imp’s face. “I am guilty of the same thing. Besides, it’s not like if you really had much to apologize for. I can’t really fault you for reacting badly to my own mistakes, now, can I?”

Blitz grimaced.

“No, Stol’s, listen… That night, it wasn’t just you. I said some fucked up things too, and I shouldn’t have…”

“No Blitz, it’s okay. You were honest, and I needed it. Just because it hurt doesn’t mean…”

“Hurt?! Stolas, you just tried to kill yourself! It’s not constructive criticism when I end up pushing people to fucking suicide!”

Stolas rolled his eyes, and for a short moment, Blitz was reminded of the sassy prince he talked to, back at that morning just after that disastrous full moon.

“Blitz, it’s not just you. Yes, what happened between us played a part, but there is more that added to it. Plenty enough to make it clear I wasn’t wanted. It’s okay Blitz, I don’t want you to pretend because you feel responsible. I…”

“What the fuck does that mean? So if I walk out of here, you’re just gonna try again as soon as you’re home?” Blitz frowned, spikes raising.

“Well… I am sorry you lost time and energy saving me when it wasn’t needed, but I can’t deny I am touched by the gesture. But yes, I know that eventually you’ll return to your friends and company, and I’ll return to an empty palace, and…”

“What if I don’t return with them? What if I stay with you?”

The owl blinked at the stubborn expression on the imp, unsure if he heard that right.

“You… Why would you do that? Your company needs you, and…”

“You need me more if leaving you alone means you’re gonna try that shit again some day. What about Via?!”

“She… She left to live with her mother and uncle. She’s not… She doesn’t need me anymore, she’s grown and…”

“Bullshit. Whatever happened sounds like a teenager’s angsty phase. Want me to call her to check…”

“No!” Stolas exclaimed, sitting straight in his bed, and Blitz froze, worry overtaking his face. “Please don’t… Don’t tell her. I don’t want to disappoint her further.”

“Okay, but no more trying to kill yourself then”, the imp asked with a frown, piercing gaze fixated into Stolas’ lower eyes.

“I…”

“Promise me!”

The owl looked around, like if someone would appear out of thin air to help him sort out this mess, but there was nothing. The tables of the room were filled with similar flowers than after his attack by Striker, but they were pushed aside to make room for the demons that were occupying the place before to be able to put things while waiting for the Goetia to wake up. It was a small change, but it made the room feel a bit more lively, less impersonal, as his gaze slowly wandered back to Blitz ’s waiting face.

“… Alright. I won’t do it again.”

Blitz held his gaze for a few seconds before he released tension Stolas hadn ’t noticed in his shoulders.

“Okay, cool. I won’t tell your kid then. Hopefully the medias didn’t say much about you being hospitalized, since I arrived directly inside the hospital with you. Less pictures means less alluring articles, so you should be safe from your kid finding out, but you’ll have to reach out eventually, you know? Whatever rebellious phase she’s going through, she’ll still need to know you’re by her side, that you won’t give up on her just because she’s throwing a fit.”

“Y-yes, of course. Thank you, I hadn’t considered it might be the case… How foolish of me, to think that I was about to…”

“Shhh, it’s okay. You didn’t, that’s all that matter. Now, care to tell me why the fuck exactly you thought killing yourself was the solution?”

Stolas shrunk on himself, avoiding eye contact.

“Well… You’re going to think it’s silly… Besides, you can go now, I assure you, I won’t try it again. You’re right, Via wouldn’t want that…”

“I’m not going anywhere Stolas. I trust that you won’t try again, but letting you go was a mistake. I’m not doing it again. Once you’re better, if you’re sick of me, I’ll let you be, but not before, alright?”

“A-alright…”

“Good. Now start talking birdie.”

So Stolas did talk, confiding things he had never told to anyone before, and Blitz listened, never judging, only snapping at other people in his stories, even if it was himself, his claws never leaving his talons, and the owl slowly felt himself admit that the yelling wouldn ’t come, and that Blitz didn’t save him out of pity.

The imp did his best to confirm it as he gently admonished the owl once he was done, extra careful not to push too much, but repeating that he did care, that he was sorry, that he didn ’t mean to diminish Stolas like that with his outbursts.

The others did return eventually, with food for the owl, checking in on both of them and making sure they didn ’t need anything else before going out again, and Stolas was pretty sure they were waiting just outside the door, but he was still grateful for the semblance of privacy.

When evening came, IMP ’s employees were sent home, but their boss managed to get special permission to stay thanks to some convincing using his gun as an argument, backed up by Stolas once the owl went past his frustration not to be allowed to go home in the evening despite how light his injury was, even blessed.

But maybe it wasn ’t that bad when the warm imp ended up crammed next to him on the small bed, purring like a motor and snuggled against his chest feathers, the sound quickly lulling him into the most peaceful sleep he’d had in months.

Blitz waited until Stolas was asleep to let himself slowly drift off to follow the owl, thinking back to this morning, and how he almost dismissed the letter.

Well, right now, he was so fucking glad he read it, and he wasn ’t leaving the bird’s side any time soon, fuck what anyone had to say about it. Not until he could say out loud the words he knew Stolas needed to hear, the words that were true and that he was afraid to say out loud, but that had the power to save Stolas from the abyss.

Maybe, for once, his love could protect and heal rather than destruct.

Chapter Text

What ’s with the money? We don’t need your fucking charity, IMP is doing perfectly well!

Stolas reread the message a few times, as if hoping more texts would come through, but there was nothing else.

It was the only reaction he got to his letters, and it came a while later, enough that he was almost worried Blitz hadn ’t actually noticed the letter yet.

He guessed it didn ’t really matter. The imp would have his explanation as soon as he found and read the letter, and unlike Via, there was no one likely to take the letter to hide or destroy it even if the assassin wasn’t the first to find it.

The owl tapped on the screen a few times to open his chat with Via instead, but the last message here was still the warning that he had been blocked a few days ago when he was still trying. There was no use trying to text or call to make sure she had received hers, and he didn ’t want to open a portal just for that. He was sure Andrealphus wouldn’t notice, but if Via didn’t want to see him, he had to respect it.

Which meant that he had no more reasons to postpone the inevitable. Here he was, still foolishly thinking they would send a sign, something saying that he actually mattered to someone in this world, like if he wasn ’t already proven, time and time again, how embarrassing, annoying and irritating he was at best to others.

The owl stared at his phone before he sighed and finally decided to do what he should have done from the start: he switched it off for the last time, the irony not lost on him that it was a bit like what he was about to do to himself.

At least there would be no distractions now, no excuses to delay or second guess himself.

No hope possible.

He got up, leaving his phone there as he wandered into his bathroom to prepare for his plan. The tub. The hot water. The knife. Everything was ready.

Initially, he wanted to loose a few minutes to relax in the bath, but what for? He didn ’t deserve the comfort, and his heart ached anew after reading Blitz’s text, feeling like a failure once again. It was best to be quick about it now. He was tired of hurting, tired of making it worse each time he tried to make up for his past mistakes.

Stolas opened the box and took the blessed knife out, mechanically bringing it to his wrist. Then he pressed the tip against his skin and felt the burn of the angelic steel as the first droplets of blood hit the water, before he could start slicing down …

Chaos erupted in his bedroom, making him jump in his tub with a surprised squeak that went unnoticed as two very familiar voices rang once the sound of doors being burst open finally faded, coming from his bedroom door and the balcony doors if he had to guess, not being attentive enough when it happened to tell from sound alone.

“Via? Do you know where your father…”

“You! I was right, he plans to flee with you! He said he wouldn’t…” Her voice went from anger to tearing so quickly, it was like a slap in the owl’s face as he secured the blessed blade and hurriedly got out of the bath, trying and failing to find something to hide the fresh wound. Maybe some bandages from when him and Blitz still had their full moons together and went too rough…

“What?! No! Sweetie, what are you… What gave you the idea?! Yes I’m here to see him but I’m not taking him anywhere.”

Fuck, there was no time. He wouldn ’t let his two favourite people in the world argue because of him, he had to hurry and somehow fix this.

With a wave of his wrist, he dried his feathers the best he could while taking his red robe from the floor and putting it on, but there was still little he could do about the still bleeding wound he started, so he pressed his palm against it in his back and got out, hoping it would be more discreet than white bandages.

“Please calm down darlings! Whatever the issue is, I can explain, no need to get worked up, alright?”

At least to each other. He didn ’t mind them redirecting their anger on him, but that was probably best not said so directly unless it had the opposite effect. Still, he was walking a tightrope between being welcoming and bringing attention on him while acting a bit shy since he was in his bath just before to cover up why he was hiding his hands.

At first no one seemed to notice, both demon ’s eyes widening in understanding at seeing his still somewhat wet feathers.

“Oh, uh, you were taking your bath. Guess that explains the lack of answers”, Blitz said, his gaze finding Stolas’ phone on his nightstand with a frown. “I thought you forgot to charge it or… Something else.”

“Exactly!” Via added, and Stolas couldn’t help but relax slightly at seeing them agree on something, even if it was at his expense as the teen turned her renewed ire on him. “You keep asking me to reach out, and when I do, I fall on your voicemail, like if you blocked me back! Dad, what the fuck?”

The assassin blinked as he gazed at the owlet, obviously surprised by this bit of information as he mouthed “blocked?” with a stunned face, but the youngest didn’t notice, still laser focused on her father.

“I… I’m sorry Via, I did wait a bit after delivering out the letter but I thought… It doesn’t matter! If you’re here, does that mean you…”

His voice was hesitant, yet his hands stubbornly remained in his back, which quickly had Blitz frowning. That was so fucking unlike his bird who loved grand hand gestures, like if he was talking with his hands as much as with his voice. There was also something that felt … Off…

It wasn ’t often that nostrils were visible on imps, but as Blitz took one big inspiration, his widened noticeably on his face, enough for the prince to notice and start worrying. He hadn’t actually used any soap, so what could he be smelling…

Oh dear.

His grip on his injured wrist tightened as he hoped no blood was seeping through while he tried to focus on his daughter with an apologetic and hopeful smile. Small mercy, she still hadn ’t clocked on anything and was instead frowning with a pensive look.

“You’re not… You were really not about to flee with him? But then where? Why leave me everything like this?!”

“I’m sorry Via, I thought you’d prefer to have everything now, since you wanted to be on your own, yet I know how much you like this place and the plants, and you left so many of your things here…”

“Then you could have brought them, come see me at mum’s place!” She yelled, tears welling up again in her eyes. “Why didn’t you?!”

“Why… Starfire, I couldn’t reach you anywhere, I thought I wouldn’t be welcome…”

“Stolas, what the fuck?”

The owl jumped with a few chirps as he turned around to see that Blitz had sneaked in his back while he was busy trying to reassure Octavia, of course not wanting to admit to what he was about to do, understanding it wouldn ’t be to her liking despite what he initially though. He’d have to process that later, now on to why the demon he loved so desperately was here when he made clear he didn’t reciprocate at all.

“I’m sorry Blitz, why are you here? I apologize if my letter or the money offended you, I assure you it wasn’t my intention, but would you mind waiting a bit before we can discuss…”

“Screw all that. Stolas, what were you doing in your bath?!”

It ’s only then that Via finally seemed to understand that something was off, her father turning to face them both while still keeping his hands behind his back.

“Dad? Are you… Are you alright?”

There was worry in her voice. He couldn ’t tell her. It would push her away again, or worse, force her to stay when she didn’t want to. He didn’t want to put that weight on his own daughter, he had to finally make the right decision for once, after fucking up again like usual, he had to…

“Stolas, answer the damn question! Why the letters suddenly? And where were you planning on going if you were leaving your palace to your kid? I don’t see any suitcase here.”

“Oh, I, do not concern yourselves with that! Besides, if Via does not want me to leave, I’ll have to cancel my plans anyway…”

“Stolas, give me that arm, so I can treat it”, Blitz demanded, holding up his hand with an air that suffered no contradiction, the same attitude he used in bed, but the owl stepped back, panicked, eyes flickering to Octavia.

“There’s nothing to treat here, just a minor cut from taking care of the plants! They can be quite feisty…”

“Dad, something’s dripping behind you. What are you hiding?” Via asked, suspicion growing on her features, while the prince felt his heartbeat increase.

Dripping? Oh shit …

For the little time he had looked away toward Via, Blitz managed to slip behind his back and finally snatched his injured wrist away from his protective grasp, making Stolas squeak in surprise and pain.

“Blitz!”

“I fucking knew it. Where do this injury come from Stolas? Please don’t tell me that was your plan.”

His injured arm was back somewhere Stolas could see it, and indeed, even if the blood was hard to see against his black hands, now that he was paying attention, he could feel the wetness on both his hands from trying and failing to correctly apply pressure on the wound. But where he failed in his precipitation, Blitz quickly stopped the blood flow with a few practiced movements, and even if he didn ’t outright say the words, it seemed to be enough to clue Via, whose face twisted in horror, and Stolas hated it.

“Dad, you…”

“Sweetie, there’s a first aid kit in the bathroom, would you mind fetching it for me?” Blitz cut her, tone serious but soft.

“No! I can… Let me get it”, Stolas quickly said, opening a small portal to retrieve it, which made both demons frown at him.

“Why, what’s in there?” Octavia asked, walking toward the bathroom. Stolas wanted to follow, but was stopped by Blitz still holding him, gently but firmly forcing him to sit on the bed to better treat his injury.

“You, sit and don’t move. Let me take care of that first.”

“Dad!”

The teenager ’s voice rang from the bathroom, and she returned with the box he used to put the knife away, opened to reveal it’s shiny content, and the prince froze, seeing the assassin look up to watch the weapon with absolutely no surprise in his eyes, and he knew he had disappointed them both again.

“I fucking knew it.”

“What does it mean? Why do you have that?! Did you… You didn’t…”

It was obvious she didn ’t want to get the words out, as if hoping she got it wrong still, but Blitz’s somber expression and Stolas’ guilty look were telling it all already.

“It’s… Is it my fault that you wanted to…”

“No!” Stolas exclaimed, escaping Blitz’s grasp, who huffed while putting the supplies back in the first aid kit, glad he was efficient and already done, because there was no way he could get a longer look at that injury any time soon. But what little he saw was enough to back up his assumptions from before Via came back with the blessed knife, and he hated the picture it painted too.

“Don’t lie dad. You said you would never leave me and yet…”

“I’m sorry starfire! I’m so sorry! I didn’t think you would still need me around anymore. Don’t worry, I won’t do it again!” He said, gently grabbing her hands, and she looked down at his bandaged wrist, a frown on her face.

“But why? Why did you try to… To die?!”

The words rang in the silence that followed, their weight heavy. Stolas didn ’t know what to answer, sure that no amount of explanation could explain what pushed him to do it, especially now that he knew it wasn’t the right choice.

“Stol’s”, Blitz softly asked, walking up to the two Goetias. “Was it because of me?”

“No!” The prince answered, turning around but still keeping a hand holding Via’s, his tone as loud and firm as when he negated his own daughter’s attempt at blaming herself for his poor decision. “No, it’s just me, I was… It doesn’t matter, really, it won’t happen again.”

“Okay, so you don’t mind if I take this?” Blitz asked, closing the box with the knife with his tail and taking it.

“N-no, of course!”

“What, that’s all?! My dad tried to kill himself and you’re just going to confiscate his knife?!” Via asked with an angry caw.

“No sweetie, it’s just a first step. Why don’t we all go sit down somewhere to talk this out? Preferably somewhere with food, I’m sure Stolas could use some, you’re all thin birdie.”

“Oh… Do you need water too, to make up for the blood loss?” The owlet asked with worried eyes, switching fast between moods, but who could blame her, really.

“I don’t think I lost that much blood”, Stolas started before his eyes landed on the small puddles he left in its wake, and he winced.

It wasn ’t enough to be dangerous for a Goetia, but he saw Via’s eyes land on them too, and a painful pang hit his chest as he saw the emotions in her eyes, and the tears well.

“Via, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t, dad”, she said, voice wavering. “Don’t say that until you haven’t told me why.”

“Come on, let’s hit the kitchen first”, Blitz said softly, taking the hand of both demons to lead them out of the room, away from the reminders. He sat them at the table and rummaged in the cupboards to find cereals, bowls and milk that he offered them before grabbing water for them all. Then, he sat down too, watching between father and daughter.

“So… I’m sorry if I’m intruding, but I’m not leaving either until I know what the fuck is up. Via won’t leave you alone either. So please Stol’s, just tell us what’s up. If it’s not me, then what?”

“It’s not neither of you”, he said firmly before looking down at his hands. “It’s me. I’m… I’m not good enough. I’m sorry.”

“What?!” The assassin asked, bewildered, tail lashing out, while Via just blinked at him, at a loss of words.

The silence stretched, both demons waiting for more, but Stolas was just looking down at his hands, fearing their reactions.

Then Via launched herself at him, sobs finally breaking free, and he closed his arms instinctively around her.

“Don’t leave me dad. Please! I’m sorry for everything I said, I’m sorry for leaving, just, please stay…”

Blitz ’s tail flickered, resisting the urge to join, despite wanting to apologize too so badly. But Stolas was teary eyed too as he hugged her back fiercely, nuzzling the top of her head.

“I’m here Via. It’s not you. I’m sorry I kept you away for so long. I just wasn’t feeling well then too, and I didn’t want you to see. I’m sorry it led you to think I didn’t want to see you.”

She sniffled.

“Really?”

She turned her head, not enough to leave her father ’s embrace but enough to look at Blitz, who both felt a bit bad to witness that, but was also intrigued by what he was hearing, trying to piece everything together. So far, unsurprisingly, it pointed toward him being the reason for Stolas’ despair, and he hated that he chose to listen to Ver instead of staying by Stolas’ side, maybe he could have avoided this…

“Is it true?” The owlet asked tearfully. “You didn’t spend a few weeks with my dad around your last full moon?”

“Huh? No, no I didn’t! We haven’t spent a whole evening together in months!”

Her grip around her father tightened, more sobs escaping her.

“I’m sorry dad…”

“Shhh, shhh, it’s okay Via, you’re okay.”

“Stolas?” Blitz shyly dared to interrupt, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m… Sorry too. It’s because of me, isn’t it?”

Stolas froze, blinking the tears out of his eyes as his gaze landed on the imp.

“No, it’s… No! As I said, it’s neither of you two’s fault. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Stol’s”, the assassin insisted, deadpan. “You didn’t do that out of the blue, and if you were already feeling bad after we… Uh… Cut things between us, then what else is there? Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to talk like you wanted… No, needed me to. I’m sorry Via for almost making you fatherless…”

She chirped in surprise, finally taking her face out of her father ’s chest to look at him, too stunned to react, but Stolas cut him before he could continue, shushing him with a finger on his mouth.

“Shhhh, darling. I’m serious when I say it wasn’t either of you. I don’t want you to stay out of pity or anything. Thank you both for opening my eyes. I promise I won’t ever do it again. Seeing how badly it would have affected Via is enough for that. I simply wasn’t feeling well, not enough for both of you, and that you’d both be better off without me, but if it’s not the case…”

“NO!” Both Blitz and Via shouted in unison, almost making Stolas flinch.

“No dad, you’re… I wish you were more honest, I thought you were living your best life with Blitz and I was in the way, but I don’t want you out of it…”

“Oh starfire…”

“Yeah, I… I thought you would be fine, being a prince and all…” Blitz tried, but didn’t miss Stolas’ annoyed reaction at the words. He huffed, knowing he had to do better than that. Stolas just tried to fucking off himself for Satan’s sake. “I didn’t think me staying or not would matter, I thought that you’d be better off without my sad ass too to drag you down. I won’t… Make that mistake again either.”

“Darling, you don’t have to force yourself if you do not wish to stay with me”, Stolas spoke softly, almost shyly.

“I’m not forcing myself! Look, I’m sorry about my reaction to the money. Moxxie was on my ass, I thought we were done, I just lashed out dumbly, and I remembered about the letter only later.”

“Oh, the letter”, Via whined. “If I read it earlier… I’m sorry dad, mum and uncle just called for breakfast and I didn’t have time to read it until later. Shit, if I had forgotten about it…”

“But you didn’t. Both of you, you read it in time. Thank you. Now, if you truly want me here, maybe we can… Talk things out?”

Via and Blitz exchanged a glance, as if gaging each other, before they both nodded at Stolas.

“Yeah, I think we have a lot to talk about.”

Chapter Text

Octavia eyed the letter critically, frowning as she considered her options.

It had been weeks since she had last seen her father. She had hoped he would come to see her if he was really serious about wanting her in his life, but he hadn ’t, even after she blocked him. He only bothered to send texts and try to call sometimes, and he hadn’t even done it everyday before she blocked him.

Now, the letter … The letter was new. But was it really enough of a change to warrant reading it? He still hadn’t bothered to try and come to see her. She hadn’t wanted to check, but she was sure his own Sinstagram was filled with pictures of him and that imp. Why he still bothered to try and reach her, she wasn’t sure, but she hadn’t wanted to risk seeing his happiness without her, so she had blocked him on Sinstagram as well. That, and because she knew he’d come here to pester her as well eventually.

This … This was different. She wasn’t sure what made her consider to even open the letter to read it. Maybe it was because she did read Stolas’ texts and listen to his voicemails, at first, before she realized he was just repeating himself. Maybe it was the hope that whatever was in this letter would be different. Maybe it was the fact that it was magicked directly in her bedroom at Andrealphus’, and not delivered through normal means.

Some part of her mind suggested that maybe he did try to send letters before. It was very much something her father would do. But then she shook her head, realizing it was silly. Why would his letters get lost? Unless he had never dared to send them before?

Either way, she was still hesitating when she heard her mother ’s footsteps in the hall.

She hurriedly hid the letter before stepping out of her bedroom to greet her mother, but Stella had already walked past her door and was screaming at staff at the other end of he hall. Huffing, Via put her hands in her pocket to grab her earphones and put on some music as she followed her mother to breakfast at a distance.

Like usual, her mother and uncle mostly ignored her as they busied themselves with the latest gossip, things that she had no interest in listening to. At best, it was boring as they talked about Goetias she didn ’t know or barely met once in her life, at worst it was annoying when they were speaking ill of her dad. She also feared the day they’d complain about how good his life was without them, and she wasn’t ready to hear that.

So she kept her music in, happy to just find comfort in her favorite bands since her family had their own occupations. Sometimes she would go shopping with them, but most of her time she could spend on her own. She missed her lessons with her father, and the plants, but she didn ’t want to go back to the palace and risk crossing path with that imp.

So instead, she asked her mother if she could help prepare for a party that would happen tonight. She didn ’t like the parties themselves, but organizing them was fun, even if she had to abide my her mother’s tastes and not her own.

“Oh, of course sweetie, I’m so glad you’re helping! You’re such good spirited, unlike your useless father who barely bothered to show up…”

The owlet groaned and was about to put her music back when her uncle interrupted her.

“But what is there for her to do Stella? Won’t the staff take care of everything already?”

“Of course, I won’t let my daughter do the staff’s chores, but who better than a Goetia to pick the decoration and food? Some novelty is important to stand out! Remember sweetie, you need to ask me before you confirm anything, alright? I know you can have… Peculiar taste but you wouldn’t want to stand out too much, like your father did…”

“Yeah, I know”, she groaned, and she was about to stop listening for good when she froze at her mother’s next words.

“At least he won’t risk of embarrassing us further, I’m pretty sure he’s locked himself in his palace, ashamed after his imp’s rejection!” She laughed.

“Ho?” Andrealphus asked, curious.

“Oh yes! I haven’t seen his sorry ass in a while since his daughter is staying with us, but I know how he acts, he’s predictable and a dramatic…”

“He’s not with the imp?” Octavia interrupted, curious.

“Surely not! But don’t worry sweetie, don’t bother with him, you can stay with us rather than having to put up with his whines!”

She frowned. Was it the reason for the letter? He was rejected, so he was doing more efforts to get in touch with her?

She pouted, turning her music full back in as she returned in her world. Well, if her father wanted to use her as a distraction from his heartbreak, he could still visit, couldn ’t he? Helping to prepare for the party was an indoor activity so it wasn’t like she’d be very hard to find.

***

The preparations took longer than she expected. It was a small party and a bit last minute for Goetias standard, so most of the work hadn ’t been made beforehand, and most of all, Via had wanted to use the opportunity to express her creativity, to avoid thinking about all the rest. But of course, the result wasn’t to her mother’s taste. “Too somber and sinister” she said, when she wanted something more joyful, to celebrate for Stolas’ misery or whatever. But despite her conflicted feelings, Via really didn’t get what was worth celebrating in that.

That is, until it was almost the time of the party, and she knew that soon, her mother would come to try and convince her to attend. Everything was chosen and ready, the rest was the staff ’s work, and she was glad that some of her ideas were kept, but that was all she wanted to do with that party, nothing more. Now on to find a reason suitable for her mother…

“Ahem, sorry to disturb your highness…”

The voice cut through the music blaring in her ears, and Via paused her song to turn around, realizing that the demon in the doorway to her bedroom must have been knocking for a while already. They vaguely reminded her of something, until she realized they were her father ’s lawyer for the divorce with her mother.

“Uh, hello”, she greeted hesitantly, not sure why they were here. “Are you looking for my mother?”

The demon ’s face was impassive, despite how unprofessional Stella always claimed them to be, as they bowed slightly.

“Good afternoon your highness. I apologize for the unannounced visit, but I have to inform you of certain matters…”

“What kind?” Octavia asked, frowning, getting up from her desk. “I’m staying with mother for now, there’s no need to ask my opinion about shared custody…”

“It is not about that”, the lawyer assured her. “I apologize, I am to keep the matter private, would you mind coming with me?”

“What? Is that a plan from my dad to drag me there? What about mother, does she know?”

“As I said, the utmost discretion is needed for that matter. I already explained to your mother and uncle, besides I would not want to disturb their party.”

Their expression was still calm, but there was something in their tone, that felt like judgment. Via didn ’t point it out, simply grabbing her things with a sigh. It’s only then that she remembered about the letter as she rummaged through her drawers, and she decided to grab it in case she had time to read it on the way, maybe it would explain what was going on.

“It won’t take too long?”

She was happy for the excuse to avoid the evening, but she wasn ’t going to fall for such a lame trick. If her father couldn’t even visit her himself, then she was only going to stay as long as was officially required then leave.

“I will make sure to fetch what you may need later, but for now, only your presence is required”, they explained before turning around, a silent invitation to follow.

Octavia groaned, making sure she had her phone and earphones before following, not liking the cryptic answers, but she also knew she wouldn ’t get anything more if they weren’t ready to share.

She didn ’t see what it could be about, apart from her dad trying to use the divorce - or more likely her status as his heir if her mother and uncle had to let the lawyer take her out that late - to see her again. But for Stella and Andrealphus to play along, it still had to be somewhat serious, she supposed.

She found herself in a car without even meeting anyone on the way, not that she was surprised, she was sure they were too busy getting ready for their guests to bid her goodbye since there was nothing they could do to get in the way.

Once seated in the car, she tried to ask the lawyer again, but they only answered that they would explain everything once they were there. With a sigh, she settled in her corner to take the letter out, hoping it would contain more information.

Hello starfire,

I know you want to live your life free of me, and you will, but please hear me out one last time. I promise it will be the last, and I won ’t try to reach out any more after that, by any means.

You are soon going to inherit everything I have, including my duties. I hope it isn ’t too early for you, but I thought you would appreciate being able to live in the palace without me in it, and start to get acquainted with all the rest. You are so skilled already, it’s only a matter of time before you will master everything you need, I am sure. Otherwise, you can certainly pass your duties onto your uncle if you aren’t ready, I am sure he would be delighted. Just make sure it’s only a temporary thing, as he does not have the necessary knowledge you will possess with my grimoire.

I won ’t go into details on how to do said duties, I have left you an extensive guide in the top left drawer of the desk in my study that will tell you everything you need to know about Goetic society and what will be expected of you in every aspect. I am sure your mother will do what she can to ensure you are ready on a social level, but I think another point of view is always helpful, especially considering we have such different conceptions on the matter.

I also want you to know that in that same drawer, there is a copy of a file that you can use against your mother to gain your independence before your majority, should the need arise. Please do not be mad at me upon reading these lines, you are of course perfectly free to not make use of it if you do not have any need for it, but it is here, and even if destroyed, my lawyer has the original in a secured place and will be ready to receive you at any moment.

I think I also owe you some truths as to why I am so wary of your mother and uncle, and why things were so bad between her and me recently.

Before I start, I want to remind you that I love you dearly, my beloved owlet. You were for so long the only light in a very dark world. Your mother and I were arranged as children, and I never loved her, it is true, nor did she ever loved me. We had to pretend for the sake of appearances, a concept that I ’m sure she already told you about. But it never made me love you any less, on the contrary. I also did it to give you what I hoped would be a normal life. I realize now that it wasn’t the best choice, but I truly tried to give you the best.

Now, with me giving up everything to you, my heir, I fear they will try to marry you as well to have a new precautionary heir. It was the reason of my marriage to Stella, but that is not what you were to me, and never will. I know it may not feel like it, with how suddenly I am passing everything onto you, but remember you have options if you aren ’t ready. Yet, if they were to try and play you like a pawn in their plans, be it your mother, uncle, or other Goetias, you need to be prepared. The guide will also help you in that regard, for you are more than what they see you as. You are your own person Via, you are free to choose what you want, no matter what they say, and I only want to make sure you can fight for that, to not be forced into the cage I had to grow in. The information in the file against your mother may be shocking for you, hence why I would advise not to read it if you do not intend to use it.

I left you as many information as I could. I hope it will be enough. Know that I will always love you, no matter where you are and what you do, and that I will watch over you in my own way. I am deeply sorry I couldn ’t be the father you deserved. I made mistakes, and I hope some day you will forgive me for them.

Remember, Via, every time you look at the stars, that you will be okay.

Love you

Dad

Wait … Really?! He was really doing it, he was fleeing with his imp instead of breaking up with him, dropping his duties on her to have more time with him?! He was tired of Goetic society so he was fleeing, and it almost sounded like he expected her to do the same.

She resisted the urge to throw the letter in the car, instead folding it back angrily, unsure if she would have preferred her mother ’s words to be true instead of this.

She turned her music up to maximum level, sulking on the rest of the way, trying not to think too much about it as she picked all her more angry songs to pass up her frustration of having her father confirming all her accusations while trying to assure her he loved her, but she knew better.

By the time the car finally came to a stop, she was minutely calmer, but she still intended to speak her mind to the lawyer, since she couldn ’t do that to her dad’s face. She looked out, expecting to see the palace, and froze.

It wasn ’t home. It wasn’t even Pride anymore. They were in Sloth, in front of a hospital. She frowned, watching the lawyer get out and keeping the door open for her.

“Why are we here? I thought we were going to the palace.”

“We will later if you so wish, but I have the necessary files and papers with me, and I think it would be best if we stopped here first. You will understand soon enough.”

The teenager grumbled that she ’d like to understand now, but she followed, keeping her music on but watching around curiously.

She knew she probably wouldn ’t get any answer until they arrived wherever they were meant to go, but she had to admit she was curious. She still didn’t get why they were there. Goetias didn’t have much of a medical file, and even if she needed hers after her father left, surely her lawyer could fetch it themselves, could they not?

They finally arrived in some kind of office, where the lawyer welcomed her in before closing the door.

“I apologize for the silence on the way. This situation was unplanned but I knew that no matter what, your mother and uncle were not to be warned, even if I fear they will find out at some point.”

“Find out about what? My father fleeing his responsibilities and giving me everything so he can go have fun with his new boyfriend?” She asked, pouting, arms crossed, which made the lawyer pause, a light surprise painting their features.

“No, that is not the case. I ignore what prince Stolas told you in that letter he gave you, but while I suppose you can say he tried to escape in a way, it wasn’t anything like that. The reason why we are currently in the hospital is because he was admitted earlier today after being found bleeding out unconscious by his staff, and despite the treatment he received here, the doctors are still not fully sure if he will make it.”

The anguish and betrayal Octavia felt at the idea her dad left to go with his new boyfriend was absolutely nothing compared to the dread that overtook her, seized her lungs and heart and froze her whole body as she desperately tried to process what she was just told.

“He… No… That’s not true…”

The lawyer ’s face showed a hint of compassion, but before they could explain any further, the door to the office opened and a baphomet entered.

“Oh hello, you must be his highness’ daughter!” She greeted with a smile, as if she wasn’t just told that her father was between life and death.

“Where is he?” She heard herself ask, trying and failing to gain back control of her body.

“In a nearby room. I was hoping to have a word with you first...”

“I need to see him.” She cut the doctor without even registering the words.

Doctor and lawyer exchanged a look, before the former nodded.

“Of course. Please follow me.”

The baphomet demon was shorter than her, meaning shorter legs, and Via was surprised to have to slow down to not bump into her as her body suddenly decided that, after week of ignoring her father, she needed to see him immediately.

She couldn ’t… She couldn’t loose him forever. No matter what he did.

At least the doctor hadn ’t lied when she said her father’s room was nearby, but the very short trip was enough to make Via restless. She could see above the doctor as the door was opened, and gasped at the sight that awaited them.

It was almost as if Stolas was sleeping, laying down in the hospital bed. Except that the bed was too small for him, and his face just wasn ’t right. Via already saw him tired before, but this… This was different. There were deep bags under his eyes, worse than she ever saw, but most of all, his expression just felt… Hollow. He appeared thinner than before, but it wasn’t all. His expression wasn’t peaceful, and she could feel her feathers bristle at the sight while the lawyer, who was following last, gently ushered her inside so they could close the door.

“Dad?” She shyly called out, hoping he would open his eyes and turn toward her, but he didn’t move.

She hesitantly walked toward the bed and almost jumped when the doctor patter her shoulder.

“He’s stable, you can stay with him, even talk to him, it may help”, the doctor gently explained.

Only then, Via ’s gaze wandered to Stolas’ bandaged arm, and the blood bag connected to his good hand. She frowned.

“What happened? Was he… Was he attacked?”

His heartbeat was steady and she could see him breathing, but it was so light. Apart from his bandaged arm, she couldn ’t spot any other injury, so why wasn’t he waking up?

“Attacked? Oh no, not this time. I’m sorry. All we can do is wait until he wakes up…”

Something beeped in her pocket, and she took a kind of phone out with a frown.

“I apologize, I am needed elsewhere, if you don’t mind…”

“Sure”, Via agreed, and the doctor quickly fled the room. She turned toward the lawyer, who was standing nearby, hands clasped together.

“I thought you would want to know, and when I went to fetch you, we were not sure yet if your father would survive much longer. We are still not, but hopefully you being there will help him. I have all the documents he wanted you to have here in case you want to read them, even if some won’t be needed once he wakes up.”

“Can I… Have a moment?” The owlet asked.

“Of course. Do not hesitate to call me if needed, my number is right here. I will be nearby to handle the medias.”

They bowed and left as well, leaving Via alone in the room with her father.

She forgot to ask more details as to what happened, and it ’s only now that she realized what the doctor had said. “Not this time.” Like if it happened before. But if he wasn’t attacked, what was it? An accident? What could have harmed her father enough to bleed out at home? None of his plants were that deadly to a Goetia.

She approached the documents the lawyer showed her, either official ones for if Stolas died and she was to take over, which she quickly covered, and others that were obviously written by her father, with loving and affectionate starts, and she felt herself shiver at the thought that they must be old …

Until she saw when they were written.

Why was this one written so recently? It was from after she cut ties with him, why was it so affectionate and loving? It was like that letter she received this morning. Was it also written around the same time?

There was a soft knock at the door, and she turned her head without moving the rest of her body to see a nurse carefully open the door. He froze when he noticed her.

“Oh, sorry to disturb. Do you need me to come back later or…?”

“No, go ahead.” She said, realizing this was her chance to ask the questions she was too stunned to ask earlier. She could also call the lawyer she supposed, but she trusted the hospital staff better to know what happened to her dad.

She finally angled her whole body toward the nurse, who froze at the sight, before focusing on his patient.

“It… It won’t be long, sorry if I’m intruding.”

“It’s okay. What happened? They said he wasn’t attacked, but even if he’s sometimes careless, nothing at home could have injured him like this. Is it maybe magical?” She asked.

The nurse winced, approaching the bed to note down Stolas ’ vitals, checking his bandages and the blood bag while answering.

“No, it… It wasn’t an accident either.”

“What? Then what happened?! Is he ill? Or… Wait, the doctor said he was attacked before, is it because of that? When was he even attacked before? I don’t remember him ever being injured.”

“Well, if I recall correctly, it was around a month and a half ago. But no, his current… Predicament isn’t linked to that event. Not physically at least…”

Via was barely paying attention as she put two and two together and realized he was hurt soon after she went with her mother, and it was probably the reason he suddenly decided she would have to stay longer with her and her uncle. But, if he was attacked and it was the reason he didn ’t want her home for so long, why? Why didn’t he simply tell her?

“I… Take it you weren’t aware of this attack?” The nurse tentatively asked as they finished writing down the info. “It explains why he didn’t get visitors I suppose, if he didn’t want his relatives to worry.”

That had her attention snapping back to the present.

“What do you mean he didn’t get any visitors? Not even that… An imp with white on his face?”

“With white… No, I don’t recall any such imp, nor any visitor, really. I was told he was brought to the hospitals by imps however. He only stayed a small week before being released.”

At that, her first clenched to her side.

One week was a lot for a Goetia, meaning he was somehow seriously hurt then. That dickhead had to be involved in his rescue, like when they were body guarding them at Loo Loo Land. But then, why did this asshole not visit? Did her father really leave her and her mother for someone who left him alone in the hospital? At least she had the excuse of not knowing!

Anger was swelling, and she had half a mind to take out her phone and call the imp to give him a piece of her mind, but she quickly decided against it. She didn ’t want anything to do with him, and most of all, she was still in the dark about her initial concern.

“So, if it’s not an illness, an accident, an attack, if he healed from the last, what the fuck happened?!” She asked, voice raising, and the nurse shrunk on himself, looking wary.

“Well, I’m not… Sure I’m the best to answer that, maybe I should ask the doctor to come back to explain…”

“What happened?” She asked, fists closed, magic swirling around her, and the nurse raised his hands in surrender with a fearful squeak.

“He did it himself! He was trying to commit suicide with a blessed weapon, that’s all I know!”

She froze, the magic receding as she blinked at the nurse, then at the form of her father, lying on his bed.

“What? How… How can you know?”

“The injury is quite typical, even if we don’t see those often on royalty, and his general health shows he wasn’t taking care of himself”, the nurse started to enumerate before his eyes widened, as if suddenly realizing what he was doing and who he was talking to. “But, I’ll let the doctor know to come back as soon as she can, she’ll be able to explain it all better!”

“Wait!” She asked, grabbing the nurse by his sleeve. “If… If he just bled out, and it’s fixed now, why isn’t he waking up? Why are they saying he’s stable but may not make it?”

A wince answered her, and the nurse seemed to consider his answer before he met pink eyes, watching with attention and a touch of despair.

“It’s… His body isn’t the problem. His mind is”, he confessed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to continue…”

“Yeah, okay”, Via said, letting him go, gaze blank.

“I’ll… I’ll let the doctor know you have more questions for her. If there’s an emergency, you can press this button here. Take care!”

The nurse bowed and quickly left, looking unsure while Via simply let herself fall in the nearest chair to the bed, gaze drifting toward the sleeping form of her father.

How? How did it happen? Wasn ’t he supposed to be living his best life with that imp? What happened? Did he abandon him? Or did… Was her dad telling the truth back then, when she last saw him?

Was he telling the truth, and she ignored him, called him a liar and left, when even the red dickhead didn ’t bother to be here for him?

Suddenly she felt shame for her behavior, realizing she asked her father not to leave, but she was the one who did. She just hoped she wasn ’t returning too late.

“Dad?” She asked, voice wavering from emotion as he slowly took his uninjured hand into hers. “Dad, I’m here. I’m… I’m so sorry. Please don’t leave me. Please stay.”

***

Blitz loudly crashed with the chair he had picked, leaving blood stains everywhere as his clothes were still dripping from their last kill.

“Aaaah, that’s what I call a good day! Even if we don’t have any more client for the day, I’d say it’s a win!” The boss cheered his team that was sitting all around the table of the conference room, the faces around him showing various levels of enthusiasm.

“It was a good day”, Moxxie admitted, like if saying so out loud was a pain in his tight little ass.

“It was great! I love a good blood bath!” Millie said, clapping her hands.

“Speak for yourself”, Loona grumbled. “You had fun while I was boring my ass out.”

“Aw, don’t pout Loonie Toonie, I’ll make sure to pick one we can do together next time!” Blitz offered with puppy eyes, before stretching out on his chair. “Well, just one more hour to kill, then we’ll have our debrief meeting and we’ll all be able to go home! Anything to say on our last hit?”

“Again, sir, if you could order the info on the target a bit…” Moxxie started, but was cut by the sound of Blitz switching the TV on.

“Nothing? Great! Let’s watch stuff to relax after a good busy day!”

The volume was turned up to drown Moxxie ’s protests, and at first Blitz was just doing it to annoy the fuck out of him with a little smirk. Then he saw what was on TV and raised a brow.

“What’s this show? Don’t they have something better?”

“At this hour?” Loona snorted.

Blitz zapped in the hope to find something better, and ended up on a news channel by pure accident. He was about to zap again when the presenter suddenly switched topics.

“We just received news that prince Stolas is in the hospital!” Tom Trench announced.

“Again?! Wasn’t he hurt last month too already?” Katie Killjoy exclaimed.

“I believe it was…”

“Oh wow, and he’s still between life and death? Looks like it’s worse than last time!” She added with a look at her papers and a big smile on her face.

Before any of the presenters could add anything, the TV was blown. All the looks went from the broken screen to Blitz ’s weapon, grip tense on his gun before he forced himself to release it.

“Sir?” Moxxie tentatively asked, while Loona’s ears pressed against her skull and Millie slowly got up.

“Blitz, are you…” She started to ask, but Blitz had already pushed his chair away.

“Stay here in case we get a new client. I’ll… I just need to take a look. If it’s Striker again, I won’t let him finish the job.”

“Wait!”

He ignored the voices as he managed to create a portal and jump through it in the blink of an eye, closing it quickly behind him.

He didn ’t have any more weapon than what he used for his job, but it would be enough for a hospital. He just…

The others probably didn ’t understand why he would go on a whim after avoiding everything Stolas related. They were done, he told Millie as much, and he knew it was true, but fuck him, he couldn’t just ignore such news. Not when Stolas was in the hospital again, and he couldn’t ask for his help anymore, and he almost…

Blitz ’s hands turned into fists and he felt his own claws pierce his skin to ground himself as he made his way in the hospital, walking inside as if he knew where to go, following his urge to find the bird and make sure he was safe, until a nurse he shoved aside called out to him.

“Wait! Are you here to see prince Stolas?”

The assassin froze then turned around, unsure if he was about to be thrown out or not.

“Yeah. Got a problem with that?” He growled, fingers twitching to get his gun back out.

“No, it’s just… You’re going in the wrong direction. Do you want me to show you the way?”

At that, Blitz slightly relaxed before he nodded at the baphomet.

“It’s be nice. How do you know…?”

“I was warned by his highness’ daughter that a scarred imp might try to visit the prince.”

She … What? Via knew he would come? How?

“Is she… Is she here?” He asked.

“Yes, of course. Given prince Stolas’ state…”

“What happened?” Blitz cut, more harshly than intended, but he didn’t give a fuck. “Did he saw who attacked him this time? Was it that cowboy asshole again?”

“Cowboy? No, it’s… I don’t know what happened before, but he wasn’t attacked this time. I suppose his lawyer failed to keep the medias at bay, but at least they missed the reason for his hospitalization…”

“Then what is it?!” Blitz growled, grabbing the nurse by his coat, stopping them in their journey.

“Wait!” He squeaked. “I can’t tell you here! We’re almost to his room…”

“Then show me, quick.”

The nurse nodded before he almost took off running, the assassin following closely behind. The hospital was huge, and of course Blitz went to where lower born would have been treated by instinct, but royals were treated elsewhere. He should have fucking known. Never mind, at least he would be able to protect his … The owl. Not that there was a need, he was sure, but he…

Fuck, he just needed to make sure he was okay. They said on TV that he might not make it. He … It couldn’t happen. Blitz couldn’t let Stolas die. He didn’t know what him being there could achieve, but he had to.

Finally, they stopped in front of a door. The nurse politely knocked, and only the knowledge that Stolas ’ kid may already be in there was keeping Blitz from just bursting the door open to see the owl for himself.

Then he heard Via ’s voice welcome them in, and his mind just went blank when the door revealed the hospital bed his owl was laying on.

He didn ’t look particularly hurt, apart from one bandaged arm, but Blitz had never seen him look so…What, ill, tired? Could Goetias even get sick? Like, really sick? Couldn’t they only catch small colds or stuff?

“You really came.”

The imp blinked, walking in to close the door behind so others couldn ’t see his… The owl like this as his gaze finally landed on Via, who sat behind Stolas’ bed. She was looking at him warily, while the nurse looked between them.

“Do you want to explain the situation yourself?” He asked the owlet.

“Do you know when the doctor will be able to return?”

“Not yet, she’s still on our last emergency…”

“I’ll explain to him until she gets there, you surely have other people to see”, she shrugged, and the nurse nodded and quickly left.

The door closed, leaving the two together around the bed, and Blitz was torn between rushing to Stolas ’ side to feel the warmth beneath the feathers, to make sure he was alive, not trusting the heart monitor, and fleeing back where he came from under Via’s glare.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” She spat, and the assassin flinched as if she had slapped him.

“I… I saw on TV he was in the hospital, and that they weren’t sure if he would make it. I just wanted…”

“What, to check if he would survive before fleeing again?”

Wow, first, ouch, second …

“What do you mean?” Blitz asked, slowly but surely approaching the bed, eyes jumping between father and daughter.

“They told me about the attack, I’m sure you were the one to save him. But why didn’t you fucking visit?”

The imp blinked.

“You didn’t know?”

“No!” She yelled, but this time her anger and frustration weren’t directed at him. Worse, he could recognize the telltale signs of guilt in her gaze. “I didn’t know! I thought he was living his best life with you during all the time he was recovering in the hospital! He didn’t tell me anything! But you had to know! Why weren’t you there?”

Yeah, okay, that was a fair question coming from a kid who was now sitting next to her father in a hospital bed, knowing he was there too not that long ago and she wasn ’t here for him. He didn’t have such excuses.

“I can confirm he wasn’t living his best life with me, and I was too busy to visit, with my job and Loona recovering from her hellbies shot, and by the time I could have he was already out anyway”, Blitz managed to say with a shrug. It was only half truths, but what else could he say to Via’s face, especially now? It was better this way.

Indeed, it made her pause, frowning.

“Loona had shots? Isn’t she…”

“The hellhound you saw in the living world, yeah. My daughter. Who has to get hellbies shot every year, but we can only schedule those every fucking five years because these assholes won’t let us… Sorry, not the point. Just, she was a bit out of it after, and that’s why I didn’t go save your dad myself. But my employees did.”

He didn ’t even know why he was trying to convince her of being justified in not visiting Stolas when he himself didn’t believe it, but she was a scared kid, she needed reassurance. He couldn’t just spill all his doubts and insecurities now.

“Oh…” She said, her anger deflating. “Yes, I suppose it makes sense. Then you met for the Full Moon, right?”

“Yeah… Not our best moment, to be honest”, he said with a wince. What he should say was, not his best moment, but even if he didn’t want to pin the blame of this shit show on Stolas, he still had to appear somewhat trustworthy, if she was to let him help. Pointing out all the shit he did wrong clearly wasn’t the right way to do it.

“So… He said the truth, when he said you two broke up?” She asked, sounding somewhat defeated.

“Uh… Yeah, I guess? I mean, we were never together to begin with…”

“Shit”, she swore with a sob, letting her face fall into her hands, and before Blitz had had a chance to touch his bird, he bypassed the bed to rush to her side.

“Hey, hey, what’s up?”

“He told me, and I thought he was lying”, she explained, voice thick with emotions and muffled by her hands as she fought her tears. “I just… Left him alone, and now he’s like this, and it’s my fault…”

“Wow wow wow, hold your horses young lady, what the fuck happened?” Blitz asked, risking a glance toward Stolas, his tail sneaking on the bed to brush soft feathers just enough to feel the warmth beneath, then he retracted his tail to fully focus on the owlet.

Right now, the bird was unconscious for a reason he still didn ’t know, but his daughter needed him. He had to take care of her first to help his… The prince, he was sure of it.

“I don’t know what happened!” She exclaimed. “They said… They said he tried to kill himself, but I don’t get it! Was it because I left him? Because you left him? Because we both left him? Why didn’t he come get me then? Why… Why?!” She was cut with her own sobs, tears quickly bypassing her hands while Blitz awkwardly tried to pat her shoulder, not daring to go for a hug yet.

“Hey, hey, kid, whatever happened is not your fault, okay? It’s just…”

Then what she said really registered in his brain, and he froze.

Wait.

Did she just say that Stolas tried to commit suicide?

“Of course it’s my fault! I left him alone! I understood it all wrong! Even his letter, I thought it was his way of saying he was fleeing with you, but in truth he…”

She hiccuped again, and Blitz ’s eyes widened, his hand quickly leaving Via’s shoulder to rub at the crystal, opening a portal in his office.

He rushed there, managed to find the letter he had put in a corner this morning and totally forgot, and returned with it in his hands, quickly opening it to read through its content.

Hello Blitz,

I am sorry to bother you, but I need to speak to you one last time. It is the last letter you will receive from me, I promise.

I apologize for everything I put you through. I admit it was quite ironic of me to demand an apology of you without giving any proper apology myself. Pardon my arrogance.

Please believe in the sincerity of my words when I say that I deeply regret ever bringing you discomfort or forcing your hand with the deal. It was really stupid of me to suggest, and I am sorry for the trouble it caused you, the pressure it put on you in order to keep your business afloat. Please be assured what I would have stopped it all sooner, had I realized what it was like on your end.

I know it isn ’t nearly enough, but I asked for money to be transfered to IMP’s bank account as a modest compensation for everything, including saving me from Striker. I am sorry I never thanked your employees myself, but I hope the gesture will be enough for them and yourself.

If you could bring yourself to forgive me some day, it is the best gift I could ever ask for. But do not fret, I know perfectly well it may never happen, and I would understand if that was the case.

I wish you the best for the future.

Please take care.

Stolas

Holy fucking shit.

“You had one too?” The owlet asked between sniffs and tears, head slightly up but gaze clearly too watery to read, even if she had been in a position to see the words.

“Yeah, I got it this morning. I just totally forgot about it. Shit, if I had read it earlier…”

“Me- Me too”, she confessed, trying to wipe the tears. “I only read it on my way to the hospital. If I opened it before, he wouldn’t be…”

Before Blitz could find something to answer that wouldn ’t be ruined when he’d chastise himself out loud for neglecting his own letter for so long, the door opened, revealing a female baphomet that looked a bit out of breath.

“I apologize for the delay, it’s one busy evening!”

Her gaze went from her patient to his daughter, before pausing on Blitz.

“Hello, who are you?”

“Dad’s not-boyfriend”, Via answered for him, quickly trying to compose herself.

The doctor ’s face softened when she noticed the teen’s anguish, before she frowned at the imp.

“Not… Boyfriend?”

“Yeah, that’s one way to put it I guess. So, the kid said he tried to kill himself. You sure it’s not some kind of disguised assassination attempt? Someone already tried to kill him you know…”

“I know, he was treated here last time too. It’s in his record. But I am relatively sure he indeed tried to take his own life. I know it is difficult to hear for the relatives, but trust me when I say that while you can probably improve a few things, you should not feel guilty. I can’t tell you what lead him to do such a thing, but there are always several factors. Now, what I’m about to tell you is very important for his recovery, please make sure to pass the words to the rest of his family and friends, if needed they can also find me, alright?”

The two demons exchanged a look, obviously confused.

“Does he have more family? Royal friends?” Blitz asked.

“N-no, I don’t think so… It was always just him, me and mum. I mean, until you came in the picture…”

The imp winced, resisting the urge to wound his tail around himself and shrink on himself, instead looking at the doctor, but he didn ’t like her expression, she had an air of “Oh, that explains so many things.” His spines raised at that.

“So, spill, what can we do to help?” He asked a bit more harshly than intended.

“Well, as I said, I’m not fully sure of what happened since he’s not awake yet and he didn’t visit his therapist for a while…”

“He sees a therapist?!” Via exclaimed, sounding surprised.

“Yes, of course, that’s how he was prescribed his pills. We can’t be fully sure with all the blood loss he suffered, but I strongly suspect he wasn’t taking them recently so you’ll have to be very careful about that once he wakes up…”

“Pills? What pills?!” Blitz asked.

The doctor watched both Via and Blitz ’s interrogative faces before she sighed with a look at her unconscious patient.

“I see. I suppose none of you spoke with him recently either?”

“N-no, I was at my mother’s…” Via said.

“We ‘broke up’ a few weeks ago”, Blitz said, mimicking quote mark with his claws. “So no, I didn’t see him recently either.”

The doctor winced.

“Is that why he did it?” The owlet asked.

“Well, if you two are his only support system and were both away for a while, I suppose it didn’t help. I was wondering why no one saw the signs. He surely looks thinner than the last time you saw him, correct?”

“Yeah, and he’s already thin to begin with”, Blitz confirmed.

“He is, but I noticed the signs of a recent and important weight loss. I suspect he’s been lacking sleep as well. It’s hard to pick some hints with Goetias, their metabolism is so quick, so I can only say he was sober and clean when he did it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he indulged in one or both as well in the previous days, although it’s not something we can check with the state of the liver on this kind of demons, as I said.”

“What about the pills you mentioned? Why was he taking them?” Via asked.

“This… Well, you see, prince Stolas here suffers from depression. He needs to take Happy Pills daily. It’s an illness that has nothing to do with any of you, even if the environment can play a part in it’s severity”, the doctor rushed to add when she saw Via’s expression. “My point is, unmedicated depression significantly increases suicide rates, particularly if he suffers from a sever form of the illness. It seems like his prescription is quite strong, but since he had it for years…”

“How many exactly?” Via cut her.

“I believe it’s been almost twenty years, if not more. Sadly, it is an illness that can appear very soon in one’s life, and that can’t always be cured. With how Goetia metabolism works, it is possible he needed to take more to feel the same effects from his pills, since I didn’t hear of any change in his medication, but you would need to speak to his therapist directly for more information.”

Via lowered her head at that, as if considering something. The doctor patiently waited, while Blitz scooted closer to her.

“Sweetie, you okay?”

She blinked up at him, before her gaze landed on her father, conflict clear on her face, before she grabbed the owl ’s hand and squeezed lightly.

“So… He’s been depressed even before I was born. It’s not… It’s not my fault?”

“No, it is not. It wouldn’t be even if it started after you were born, trust me”, the doctor said with a finality that brooked no argument. The owlet nodded, obviously not convinced, but Blitz didn’t add anything, guessing it was a lot to process. He himself didn’t quite know how to feel about this.

Depression? Fuck, Stolas never told him about this, he always looked so happy, so full of life! Okay, maybe a bit less happy the last couple of times they saw each other, but hey, that was to be expected, right? He never saw these pills either, at least he couldn ’t remember. Sure, he usually didn’t stay long and mainly kept to the bedroom when he went over, but… Shit.

“Okay, so we’ll have to make sure he takes his pills again, eats and sleeps better. What else?” Blitz finally asked after a bit. “Why isn’t he waking up? He was given blood, so why isn’t he okay?”

“It’s… Not as simple as that. Yes he was found just in time thanks to his staff, but he still lost a lot of blood. Any other demon but a Goetia would already be dead, quite frankly. I know it’s not easy to hear, but if he wanted to live, he would already be awake by now. His body is holding up by sheer instinct, but his mind doesn’t want to, and it’s slowing down his healing, even with the blood transfusion. That’s why we’re still not really sure if he’ll make it, and that’s where you come into play.”

“What… What can we do, if he’s not awake?” Via asked, desperation clear in her voice as she was fighting a new wave of tears. “If we’re not enough…”

“You are”, the doctor firmly assured. “I admit that expanding his social circle would be a necessary improvement for the future, but right now, what he needs is people by his side to convince him to stay and keep fighting. Even if he’s unconscious, he can still feel and hear you. That’s why I’m talking to you here rather than going to my office. I don’t want him to be alone if I can help it, he needs to feel people around. If you care for him and want him to survive this, you’re both vital to increase his chances of survival.”

“Does… Can it work if I ask my family to come and help, even if him and them aren’t that close?” Blitz couldn’t help but ask, desperation seeping into his voice as well.

“As much as I see why it sounds appealing, I would recommend against it. A cacophony of voices would only loose him, so don’t invite people in just to have more people. It has to be meaningful. I’m sorry if I worried you about you being only two here, but if your bond is strong enough, it will work. That is, if you want to help. Since you’re not actually his boyfriend, I wouldn’t want to presume, especially if you broke up…”

“No!” Blitz yelled, surprising Via. “I… Yes, we’re not together, but I don’t… I still don’t want him to die. Does it… Can it still work? If we’re like, I dunno, exes?”

The doctor didn ’t even spare a second to think before she nodded with an understanding look.

“Yes, it will. Even if you don’t change your mind about your relationship, there’s nothing wrong with exes staying friends.”

The imp winced at that, exchanging a look with Via who looked at him with what looked like hope in her eyes.

“I… Know some may object, but maybe I can consider more than friends, if he’ll have me. We had some miscommunications along the way…” And he owed him at least that for pushing him to suicide. But he couldn’t say that to Via’s face.

“I see. Then I hope you will be able to talk it out with him once he wakes up”, the baphomet said, bowing to both of them. “If you’ll excuse me, I am needed elsewhere. I will return tomorrow to check on him, unless he wakes up before that. I already made the necessary arrangements if you want to stay the night, exceptionally.”

“What if we have more questions? Or if dad gets worse?”

“He’s being monitored so we’ll know if we need to act. But in case of emergency, you can press this button here. For anything else, you can either ask the nurse that will come by later or ask at the office at the end of the hallway.”

“So, that’s it? We just, what, talk to him?” Blitz asked, look alternating between the doctor and Stolas.

“Talk to him, hold his hand, play is favorite music, anything you can think of that would be impactful enough. Just, try not to leave him alone”, she added while she made her way to the door. She nodded to them one last time before closing the door behind her, leaving two confused demons looking at each other for support.

“But… How can we do that? Do you think… Do you think it’ll work if I apologize to him?” Octavia asked.

“Hey, it’s worth a try, isn’t it?” Blitz tried to muster a confidence he didn’t feel, smiling up at her to try and motivate her. “If it helps, I have some apologizing to do too, so you won’t be alone!”

She shyly nodded, and the assassin relaxed, feeling like she wouldn ’t object on his presence anymore. She was too caught in her own emotions, and well, if they were to convince Stolas not to give up, it was probably best not to argue in front of him, he was sure.

“Okay, let’s do this. Let me just… Warn the others about what’s going on before they barge in, thinking it’s Striker again”, he said, fiddling with his phone.

At that, the teen straightened up.

“Who? The one who attacked him before?”

“Yup, that’s the asshole’s name.” Blitz said while he typed, wincing at the unread texts he missed from his team. “But let’s not worry about him for now okay sweetie? I don’t think talking about him is gonna help your father.”

“As long as you don’t start talking about what you two were doing in bed”, Via answered with a grimace. Then she paused. “The lawyer didn’t want mum to know, but… Shouldn’t I tell her?”

Blitz looked up at that, intrigued.

“Who asked that? Your dad?”

“Yes, they said my dad asked them to.”

“Then don’t tell you mom, just in case”, he said, not wanting to admit how relieved he felt at the idea he wouldn’t need to explain his presence to her. It would be awkward as hell… But come to think of it, it was also a bit weird not to want your wife by your side in such a moment.

Whatever. It was a concern for later. Now that his text was sent to let his team know to handle IMP while he was busy here, and “ No Mox, I don ’t need help, I got this, I’ll explain later ”, all he would have to do would be to give Loona the keys to the van in a bit. For now, his priority was to help his bird come back to life. He’d sort out his feelings and all the rest of the shit later.

Pocketing his phone, he quickly noticed that Via was already holding Stolas ’ uninjured hand, which, fair. But he had the urge to touch his bird, after having to hold back for so long. Surely it would help, right? Stolas was always so touchy-feely with him, there was no way touching him wouldn’t help.

He vaguely considered holding his injured hand, since his fingers weren ’t bandaged, but quickly decided against it. Instead, he moved his seat as close to his face as possible, claws going to gently caress his hollow cheek, trying to lower his worry to let his affection show. Something he never did before, and doing so in front of Via was scary as fuck, but what choice did he have? If Stolas decided to kick his ass out later, he’d accept it, but he had to do this. He couldn’t loose him, he couldn’t do that to Via, and he couldn’t do that to himself. He couldn’t live with that.

“Hey, Stol’s”, Blitz whispered softly, a tender smile on his lips as he watched the demon he loved, claws brushing the still soft feathers here despite the obvious lack of care of said feathers, exactly like the doctor had said. “I’m here. Sorry I’m late, but hey, better late than never, right?”

He didn ’t know what he expected. Yeah, he knew Stolas wouldn’t just open his eyes like that and go all “Blitzy” on him, but he at least hoped for a reaction, something.

But Stolas didn ’t move, his breathing didn’t change, even his heartbeat stayed the same.

Yeah, okay, right. That was probably normal. What, did he really think it ’d be that easy?

He tried to cover his disappointment, and was distracted by Via inching closer as well, eyes fixated on her father. She was still holding his healthy hand and therefore was further from his face, but she was leaning a bit above the bed, eyes directed toward his face as if speaking to him, exactly like Blitz was doing.

The imp straightened up a bit to leave more room for her, but unwilling to leave, his hand going to Stolas ’ shoulder instead.

“Hey dad. The dickhead is here too now. Is it… Is it better? Are you going to wake up now?” She asked, and Blitz’s heart squeezed at the idea that she probably already tried to talk to him before he got there.

The thought almost made him miss the hitch in Stolas ’ breathing, his heartbeat picking up slightly, and both demons perked up.

“He’s hearing us!” Via exclaimed, face illuminating.

“Well done sweetie, you got this”, the imp smiled, glad that something made him react at all, even if it wasn’t him.

“No, it’s… The doctor’s right, it’s both of us. I tried to talk to him before, he didn’t react at all. But maybe the two of us…”

“Hey, two is always better than one, right? Let’s do this”, he smirked. Via nodded back, and they both turned hesitant glances toward the sleeping demon.

“I… I already said it, but… I’m really sorry dad, for not believing you. I wish you told me about… A lot of things, but you can tell me once you wake up, right? Please tell me. I… I need to know. I don’t want to cut ties with you dad. I want us to spend time together again, like before. Please…”

Blitz ’s tail swished side to side, feeling like he was intruding. When he felt like Via was done, seeing her press her father’s hand to her forehead, he took a breath in and took over.

“Same here Stol’s. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to have the discussion you needed. I was… Yeah, I was a coward, I guess. This shit’s complicated for me, and I thought you’d be better off on your own. You don’t need to deal with my problems, especially now that I realize that you have your own. But hey, if you come back, I promise I’ll work on my shit, and maybe we can actually have this talk and do words. So please… Come back?”

The reaction was the same as before, a light change in his breathing and heartbeat, but this time Blitz was sure his face moved slightly.

“He’s moving!” He exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Do you think he’s already waking up?”

“I don’t know”, Via answered, looking equally hopeful. “She didn’t say how long it could take. But Goetias heal fast, so if hearing us helps him…”

“What else could help him heal faster? Hearing his favorite plant’s trill? A song, his favorite show?”

“Maybe? But… The doctor also said not to drown him in sounds.”

“Shit, yeah, you’re right. Okay, okay, so… Uh, he has this plant who he said made a soothing sound…”

“Who, Otto?”

“Yeah, I think that’s the name! He said the sound has a relaxing effect, can’t that help?”

“I guess, yeah. Seeing plants can be calming and help healing, even if most people mainly think of eating parts of a plant for that”, Via mused. “I can go…”

“No need sweetie, I’ll be faster! Unless you can master portals without the grimoire now?”

Her face turned somber, looking down.

“No… Not yet.”

Blitz winced.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean… Anyway, I need to give Loonie the keys to the van so she can drive everyone home anyway. I’ll go fetch the plant on my way back. It shouldn’t take me more than a few minutes with this, okay?” He said, holding up his hand with the crystal.

She didn ’t even look at it, only looking at his face and nodding.

“Okay. You promise me you’ll be back soon?”

“Sure thing sweetie. If I get delayed, I’ll tell you.” He assured, waving his phone with his tail.

“Okay. Thanks.”

Before he could go up to rub a portal open, a rumbling stopped him. He looked down at Stolas, fearing his bird was hungry since only blood was given to him, until he caught Via ’s sheepish expression.

“Want me to grab dinner on my way too?” He suggested with a smirk.

“I… I guess, if it’s not too much trouble…”

“It’s fine sweetie! I’ll be back in a bit”, he said, finally touching the crystal to get on his way. The faster he left, the sooner he would be back. He gave Stolas one last glance and caress on the shoulder, before lightly kissing his cheek.

“I’ll be back soon”, he promised before he fled through the portal, fearing Via’s reaction to the kiss. She maybe wanted a bit of alone time with her dad.

Hopefully Stolas took it well too.

The portal disappeared before he could muster the courage to check by himself. Instead, he was faced with three worried demons, albeit someone not knowing Loona wouldn ’t have seen the worry in her behavior.

“Hey, sorry for earlier, I just needed to, hm…”

“It’s okay Blitz”, Millie immediately reassured him with a soft smile.

“Sir, what’s happening? How is his highness?”

“Not good. I need to go back. Get ready to handle IMP for the rest of the week. Even if Stolas wakes up…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but he knew he couldn’t just flee once the owl would wake up. Not if he wanted to make sure he wouldn’t try something like that again in the future. He probably wouldn’t with his daughter by his side, but… Fuck, what if he made the wrong choice by leaving Stolas alone after that damn party? His heart still ached from their not break-up, and he hated what Stolas tried to do, but if it gave him, them, a second chance…

“Dad, what’s going on?” Loona asked, ears half turned backward.

“Stolas is indeed in the hospital, but it’s not because of that cowboy wannabe. He tried to kill himself. I gotta go back and explain to that bird brain why he can’t do that shit. Via’s here too.”

“Oh crumbs…”

“We get it Blitz, go help your bird”, Millie said with a hand on her husband’s shoulder.

“Do you want me to, like, help or something?” The hellhound offered.

“Yeah, can you drive those two home?” He asked, throwing her the van’s keys. “Then do whatever you want tonight, I probably won’t be home. But don’t hesitate to text if you need something sweetie! I need to get going.”

“Hey, Blitz”, Millie called out before he could disappear through a new portal to order food somewhere while he went to grab Stolas’ musical plant. The assassin stopped and turned toward her, seeing how calm she looked despite Moxxie’s obvious stress and Loona’s uneasiness.

“Yeah?”

“If you need something, anything, please ask us. Even if we can’t help Stolas directly, we can help you be at your best to help him, alright?”

Something warmed in the scarred imp ’s chest, and he nodded to her with an honest smile.

“Thanks Mills, I’ll keep that in mind. But I’m fine, really, I barely got there. I don’t know when Via arrived, but she’s the one who’ll probably need a break in the evening, if she even wants to sleep there. I’d understand if she didn’t…”

“I’ll drop by later to take her out then”, Loona offered. “If you need me to bring you anything, just text me.”

“Aw, thank you Loonie! I’ll try and grab a sleeping bag myself but if I forget anything I’ll let you know! I’m gonna grab dinner for me and Stolas’ kid too, so no need for that, okay?”

“I wasn’t planning to, you’re big enough”, she rolled her eyes. “But hey, some coffee never hurts, yeah?”

“You’re so perfect Loonie Toonie, I love you! Take care, all of you, okay? Love you all, bye!”

They all exchanged a look as the portal closed behind their boss.

“Did we hear that right?” Moxxie asked, bewildered.

“I know he has weird kinks when it comes to you two, but this is something else”, Loona snickered.

“He’s just worried for his bird and want to be sure we’ll be fine, in his own way”, Millie cooed. “I didn’t expect him to say that though. He’s making progress!”

Loona raised a brow, but didn ’t comment, only standing up in a silent way to invite them to leave the office for the day.

“I do hope His Highness is going to be okay”, Moxxie said as he followed the two girls out of the room.

***

“Hi sweetie! Sorry it took me a bit longer than planned, I had to explain stuff to my employees and I packed a bag for the night! If you want I can open a portal for you to do the same after we ate! I just grabbed the plant from your place for now. Here, eat while it’s hot!”

Blitz threw his sleep bag in a corner with his tail and carefully set Stolas ’ plant on the table right next to his head, the small plant turning its… Head, he guessed, toward the owl with a sad trill, leaves all going toward him as if wanting to touch.

“You wanna hug him?” Blitz said as he gave Via her food and set down his own. “Sure thing, I guess it can help.”

He carefully approached the potted plant to the still unconscious owl. Not that he expected him to wake up while he was away, it would have been too good, and surely Via would have told him, but he was still a bit sad to see how the prince didn ’t look better at all.

“I think it’ll help”, Via finally pipped up. “Dad reacted to your kiss you know, before you left.”

“Really?!” Blitz asked, turning toward her with a hopeful look.

She didn ’t seem super excited at the prospect, but still admitted half-heartedly: “Yeah, he hooted when you left. You were noisy so I didn’t catch if he was happy or sad or something else, but he reacted. He also hooted when I started singing, but he stopped when I tried to make him listen to my music.”

“No offense kid but I think your bands aren’t his thing, it’s your voice he wants to hear. He sings beautifully, no wonder he would react to it. Oh, what if we sung him something together?”

The teen didn ’t seem convinced, gaze drifting from Blitz to her father.

“Maybe, if nothing else works”, she relented. “Now, can you maybe not let Otto eat my dad’s face?”

“Uh?”

Blitz watched as the plant he inclined toward Stolas was currently licking his feathers, and he quickly brought it back.

“Sorry sorry! But hey, it was just being affectionate! I saw plants try to eat me, they’re not like that. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen any try to eat your dad.”

“Yeah, well, don’t go and give them ideas”, Via answered, rolling her eyes. She leaned over the bed and her father to brush her talons against the plant, who trilled happily in answer. Blitz set it down, hoping it would be enough to make it sing. If not, well, he could still return to the palace to grab something for the plant to eat, or Via would find a way to motivate it. She clearly knew more about them than him.

For now, he focused on his meal, tail going around Stolas above the bandage to keep some kind of contact. Via simply started eating, having to fully release her dad ’s hand to do so, but when she spotted Blitz’s tail, she finished her burger in one giant bite and wiped one hand clean so it could go back to grab her father’s, finishing her fries single handedly.

It was relatively quiet, save for the munching sounds, but oddly enough, it wasn ’t uncomfortable. Otto had started trilling from time to time, leaves dancing despite the lack of wind, even if it wasn’t the sound Blitz already heard, and he suspected this sound was to beg for their food judging by the plants… Weird eye things laser focused on the burger in the assassin’s hands.

They were barely done that someone knocked. Blitz turned, expecting a nurse but ready to kick any intruder if needed.

It wasn ’t a nurse who entered, but the way they nodded at both him and Via, and Via didn’t react, he supposed it wasn’t a threat.

“Sorry for being so long to return your highness. I failed to keep the medias at bay, but I managed to keep the reason for your father’s hospitalization unknown. I am happy to see that Mister Blitz has joined you.”

The imp almost spat his drink. Not only the guy wasn ’t surprised by his presence, but he knew who he was? The fuck?

“Uh, who are you?”

“Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself! Nice to meet you…”

“Spare me the bullshit, you looked about as happy to see me as a prison’s door. No, fuck that, the door would actually be way more happy to see me.”

“They’re dad’s lawyer”, Via explained from behind Stolas’ bed.

“Oh.”

“Yes”, the guy continued, unfazed. “I will now retire for the night, unless you want me to bring you something from your home or have questions regarding the documents.”

“What documents?”

“Stuff my father left me, but there’s nothing here I really need to read, right? Since he’s going to wake up”, Via asked with a hopeful voice.

“It is up to you indeed. I also managed to keep your uncle and mother away.”

“Why? They really can’t visit?”

“No, I am sorry. This situation is unexpected, but I can affirm he would not wish for them to be present. You are of course free to go back to them for the night and return later…”

“No! I’m not leaving him, not again, not until he wakes up”, Via stubbornly answered. “I’ll manage to grab my stuff, he can help”, she added, pointing at the other visitor.

“Of course.”

“I also have a question!” Blitz pipped up, resisting the urge to go up and approach the guy, because it would mean unwinding his tail from Stolas and he really didn’t want to do that for now.

“Yes mister Blitz?”

“Why the fuck do you know my name?”

“Prince Stolas told me about you…”

“Of course”, Via grumbled.”

“… In case you had reclamations concerning the money he gave you.”

“Really, just for that? What does it… Wait. So you knew he was going to try and kill himself?!” Blitz yelled, jumping from his chair with a glare, but the lawyer didn’t even flinch.

“Of course not. He did seem rather overcautious, but he was attacked recently. People often rush to write or correct their will after such events. It is nothing out of the ordinary, even if he went further than most demons.”

“And it didn’t clue you?!” Blitz continued, his anger not dying down despite the logic of these answers.

“Hey, calm down, it’s not his fault. He did his best to help and respect dad’s wishes. It’s not his fault we… I was too slow to read the letter dad sent me. If one of dad’s staff hadn’t found him…”

“Shit! Yeah, I know. It’s not you, I should have read my letter sooner. Or even better, not left him alone after our break up.”

“Yeah, but I can’t even fault you for that… I did the same, thinking he was lying…”

Blitz and Via started facing each other before lowering their head as they got lost in their own guilt. The sound of someone clearing their throat made them look back up at the lawyer, still near the door.

“Do you have any other question?”

“Yes! You didn’t answer. Why mum and uncle aren’t allowed here?”

“I was wondering the same. It’s weird not to want your wife by your side in such moment”, Blitz couldn’t help but ponder aloud.

Both demons immediately stared at him, and he just watched back, confused.

“What? It’s just me?”

“While the divorce is not fully finalized, I think we can already say she is his ex wife, if that answer your question”, the lawyer started toward Blitz, before looking at Via. “As for your concern, all the answers are in the second big file on top of the desk. The choice to read it is yours, but please keep in mind that it might change how you perceive your mother.”

“Hold on, since when are they divorcing?!” Blitz asked, still too surprised by the information to process anything else.

“Wow, you and dad really haven’t talked seriously in a while”, Via couldn’t help but comment.

“You know sweetie, even when we met, usually it’s not to talk…”

“You better not finish that sentence, or I’m throwing you out”, she threatened.

Blitz made puppy eyes at her, the tip of his tail wagging, and she sighed.

“It’d only be for ten minutes, dad needs you. Even if I still don’t get why you and not… Whatever. Sorry for keeping you there, you can go home.”, She added for the lawyer, who bowed to them both before leaving.

“I agree that it’s a bit weird that she’s barred from here. Seems a bit overkill.”

“I don’t know. Ever since dad cheated with you, they kept yelling at each other, but…”

She eyed the pile of papers, as if debating with herself if she should read that file or not. She also had a feeling she already read the answer to her questions, or at least half answers, somewhere but she really couldn ’t pinpoint when she could have.

If the file the lawyer referred to was the one Blitz thought, it was way too thick for his taste, but Via was her father ’s daughter, she probably wouldn’t mind.

“Soooo, you gonna read that or no sweetie? You don’t have to, you can wait until your father wakes up and ask him. It looks long and boring as shit.”

“I… I don’t know”, she answered.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to decide now I’m sure!” Blitz added, trying to sound reassuring. “So, any idea on how to get this plant to sing for your dad?”

Via glanced at Otto, who was still moving his leaves in rhythm with an imaginary wind, and she smiled softly.

“Not really. Only dad knows. But I’m sure they’ll sing later. If they screech instead, it means they’re thirsty or hungry.”

“Great. You sure it’s a good idea to keep it here for the night then?”

She shrugged.

“Who knows? Dad always reacted so fast when he heard one of his plants needed something, maybe it can help too? Judging from the state of the soil, they won’t be thirsty any time soon, and if we give them a bit before going to bed, hopefully we won’t be woken up in the early hours tomorrow.”

“Alright, great”, Blitz said, almost regretting grabbing Otto as he half glared at the plant, who blinked at him innocently, leaves rustling.

The rest of the evening went by peacefully. Loona did stop by to bring them coffee, and went with Via to help her pack a bag. For some reason, she choose to go in her room at Stolas ’ palace instead of her uncle, maybe because Loona was with her? Blitz wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t complaining.

He did eye the file when Via left, but he knew he wouldn ’t have time to read it all before she returned. It was also his first time alone with the bird, and he had something else to do.

“Hey, Stol’s, your daughter is gonna return soon, but for now it’s just you and me okay? We’re both going to stay the night. I just… I wanted to apologize. It hurt like a bitch to be without you, you know? To think we’d never see each other again? I didn’t think… I didn’t realize it would be the same for you, maybe even worse. But I had Loona with me, and M&M. You… You were alone. I’m not saying it’s your kid’s fault, of course! It’s not. It’s me, I’m… I’m sorry Stolas. Really. Please wake up. I need to say it to your face when you’re awake. It… It’s hard to say just out loud, but I know it’s the easy mode. Come on Stol’s, please…”

His claws were tangled in Stolas ’ head feathers, but the prince still wasn’t moving. A single hoot escaped him when Otto trilled sadly, and Blitz knew he wouldn’t get any more reaction out of him. At least, Stolas didn’t look quite as bad as he did when he first entered, somehow.

“Hey, we’re back”, Loona’s voice said from a portal that just opened, and he quickly turned to greet them with a bit smile as Via crossed behind her with her own bag.

“Hi sweeties, you have everything you need?”

“Yeah”, Via said.

“I got what you asked me”, the hellhound added with a roll of her eyes as she handed the imp a few horse figurines.

“Aw, thank you Loonie Toonie! Do you wanna stay to hear the story…”

“No thank you!” She cut. “Wanna be saved from it too? We can go somewhere grab a drink or something”, she offered the owlet.

“No, I think I’m good. I want to stay with dad. What are these for?” She asked, eying the figurines curiously.

“Uh. He’s just gonna try and bore your dad to death with his silly stories…”

“Hey, they’re not silly! And it’s the opposite, it’s to bring him back! Wanna listen sweetie?” He asked with an hopeful glance at Via, who shrugged.

“Whatever. I’ll be listening to music. I also found an album I know dad love, so you can play it as background noise for your… Story.”

“Thanks! Good night Loonie, take care! I love you!”

Blitz let go of Stolas to hug his daughter, who groaned in answer but hugged him back. The whole situation was making him way too clingy, but at least a text was enough to reassure him, his focus mainly on the owl in the bed.

She cast the prince a glance, and patted her father back. The guy had always been weird, but he didn ’t deserve to end like this. Via didn’t deserve that either.

“Okay, so… Uh, good luck you two. Ask me if you need anything”, she said before she quickly fled to go home with the van, both Via and Blitz’s voices following her to wave her goodbye, and she could swore that a hoot that wasn’t Via’s mixed in between their voices.

Once she was gone, Blitz took his figurines and started his tale while Via started the music, before she put on her earphones. But it was okay. Blitz was a bit sad she didn ’t wanna listen, but at least Stolas was. He always loved listening to his stories, surely he didn’t mind, right?

The owl didn ’t seem to react, be it in a bad or good way, though to be honest neither Blitz nor Via ever saw a reaction that could be called negative from him since they arrived.

It wasn ’t too hard to find a story he hadn’t already told Stolas, picking one he made up recently, and he was very proud to see Via remove her earphones at some point to ask about the characters, since she missed the start. Of course she got all shy when he pointed it out, but he was glad she gave him at chance at all.

“Hey, he looks a bit less tired now! See that horses are the best to cure him”, Blitz boasted as he put his figurines away.

“Yeah, a bit”, Via admitted, looking at her father’s face. He still looked hollow, but his expression looked a bit more peaceful, and he didn’t look quite as tired.

“Do you think another nurse is going to check on him tonight?”

“Probably not?” She answered, looking at the time. “It’s already pretty late, and they said dad didn’t need super frequent check ups.”

“Then let’s go to sleep too, I’m sure he needs the calm”, Blitz offered, putting his blanket on the floor.

“Uh… What are you doing?”

“Preparing to sleep sweetie! They only brought one bed, so you go and take it, I’ll be fine on the floor, don’t worry.”

“You sure?”

“Yup! Your dad would kick my ass if I made yo sleep on the floor. Besides, I don’t mind, really. I’m an assassin, I slept on way worse.”

“Really?” She answered before getting ready to sleep too on the cot they brought them.

“Oh yes. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow if you want. Good night sweetie. Good night Stol’s”, he added, climbing back in his seat to kiss Stolas’ cheek while cradling his face. His tail wagged as he received a hoot in answer.

“Yeah birdie, you got this. See you tomorrow, alright? Heal good and fast.”

Then he fled to the bathroom before finally settling down. He mimicked already being asleep to give Via a semblance of privacy, and quickly heard her get up too.

Her first trip was to the bathroom as well, before she approached her father ’s bed.

“Good night dad. Rest well, I guess? Like the dickhead said, please heal fast so you can wake up tomorrow. I love you, please come back.”

She nuzzled against her father ’s forehead, earning another hoot, before laying down on her bed.

“Good night Blitz”, she said before rolling on her side, and Blitz had to resist the urge to jump up and hug her then brag to Stolas.

She used his name! For the first time that he could remember, she called him by his name! If that didn ’t motivate Stolas to wake up, he didn’t know what would.

***

Let ’s face it, sleeping in a hospital wasn’t half as bad as Via feared it would. Her dad’s room was soundproofed enough that the sounds around weren’t disturbing her too much, and she fell asleep way faster than she expected.

She woke up way earlier than usual, but she still felt somewhat rested, so hey, it wasn ’t so bad she supposed. She rolled on her bed to get on her back, stretching before sitting to see where the dickhead was.

She wasn ’t surprised to see his bed empty. Maybe he went to the bathroom and that was what woke her up. At least she couldn’t spot him on his chair, even if she half expected him to just sit here all night, watching her dad or his vital signs. Which was stupid anyway, it would beep if anything happened, right? At least that’s what she kept telling herself in order to fall asleep.

She stretched once again before standing up, thinking the imp must be out to grab coffee or something since the bathroom door was ajar, gaze going to her dad to see if he looked better, then she paused.

The dickhead was there. On the bed. With her father. Not doing anything weird, thank fuck, but he was snuggled up against him, and the low rumbling that she thought came from the machines actually came from him.

What the fuck.

She approached the bed, and immediately noticed how much more relaxed and rested her dad looked. He hadn ’t hugged the imp back, but he still looked better than last night.

“Good morning dad. Good morning Blitz”, she whispered, and it was enough to make the assassin open his eyes.

His gaze fell on Via, wagging his tail.

“Hey Via.”

He then proceeded to stand up, as if searching for another bed through a yawn.

“Hey Stol’s, slept…”

His words died in his throat when he looked down at the owl he was hugging seconds ago, as if just realizing the position he was in.

“Uh…” He looked up at Via in confusion, before forcing a smile. “Good morning sweetie! I thought it’d help your dad heal faster, you know? Since purring, uh, helps with that, like Otto’s trilling…”

Via looked aside to the plant that seemed to be pouting, and not because they lacked water or food. She smiled softly and nodded.

“Yeah, sure dickhead.”

She then fled to the bathroom to change in her day clothes, carefully putting her pajamas back in her bag, hoping she wouldn ’t need to spend another night here. When she got out, the imp took her place, still in his pajamas as well, and she sat next to her dad. Her stomach was empty, but it wasn’t protesting yet, she could wait until the imp came back to try and get breakfast.

Until then, she greeted Otto as well, the plant happily rubbing its head against her hand, trilling loudly.

“Hey Otto. The dickhead didn’t do anything weird during the night, right?”

The plant rustled their leaves, and Via smiled, searching her bag for a small piece of meat that she gave it before checking the soil. Once she was sure it was wet enough, she nodded and sat back.

Then she looked at her father, and rushed to his side when she saw his eyes flutter.

“Dad?” She asked, hope blossoming on her chest.

His breathing changed, his heartbeat going faster, and she turned toward the bathroom.

“Blitz, he’s waking up!”

There were crashing noises coming from it before the imp rushed out, buttoning up his coat in a hurry.

“Wait, really?!”

She turned back toward her father, and froze.

Stolas ’ eyes were slowly opening. Blitz jumped on his chair, tail wagging on the side as he watched too in awe, beaming at Via before focusing back on him, both demons waiting in silence until, finally, the owl’s eyes were wide open.

Chapter Text

Stolas could have easily thought that his attempt simply failed when he woke up. He felt a bit groggy, but his vision quickly cleared enough to recognize a hospital room, like after his encounter with Striker.

“Dad!”

Looking to the side to follow the voice, he was met with Via ’s beaming face. It was already a bit weird, but after all, even if he tried to ensure she would be kept in the dark about what really happened to him, he knew the chances were still high that she would find out the truth earlier than expected. He expected her to be angry instead, but maybe his vision wasn’t fully clear yet, or…

“Stol’s, you’re back! Thank fuck!”

The owl quickly turned his head to the other side of the bed, and that ’s when he realized he hadn’t actually failed. He was just having some kind of hallucination while he finished bleeding to death.

Blitz was here too, beaming as well, as if happy to see him. Why would he be there even if he did survive? How would he know, and most of all, why would he come? His letter didn ’t give anything away as to what he intended to do, and from their last encounter… Okay, maybe not last if Blitz really came to talk to him during Verosika’s party, but even so, their previous interactions showed how little he mattered to his lover, so why would he bother at all? Why would he look so happy, so relieved to see him alive? It just didn’t make any sense to him. Even if he could faintly remember feeling the imp’s presence… Was it he who found him then, if he truly wasn’t dying? Because it felt very real indeed.

“Dad?” Via asked, smiling less widely at seeing him stare at them both with wide eyes, still without saying anything.

“H-Hello starfire… Blitz”, he said, before a trill made him look to the side, where Otto was waving one leaf at him. “Hello Otto.”

Wait. Why would Otto be there? Was he really hallucinating in the end? He felt less and less groggy with each passing second, but could he really trust that? Even if this was real, then … What did it mean exactly? Did…

Oh no.

Did he really fail, and now Via and Blitz felt compelled to be there and care for him, giving him the illusion of mattering to someone, of being cared for, only for his hopes to be crushed later? He couldn ’t take it if that was the case. He couldn’t let hope flare back and get disappointed once again.

“Dad? How are you feeling?” Via tentatively asked.

“Need me to fetch the doctor?” Blitz offered, looking ready to bolt out of the door.

“Won’t they already know he’s awake?” The owlet wondered, looking at the heart monitor.

“Not necessarily starfire, it would only alert them if my vitals reached a dangerous point or stopped.”

She froze at that, talons shooting to grab and squeeze his hand, and he managed to reassuringly stroke her hand back.

“Don’t… Don’t say that dad. I was so scared. They said you may never wake up.”

The owl frowned at that. So he was almost successful. But then what happened? What got in the way? Could it be … No…

“I’m here starfire. I… Please tell me it wasn’t you who found me…”

“It wasn’t her”, Blitz quickly confirmed, and Stolas relaxed at that before his heart squeezed again as he imp continued. “Your staff found you, but you were in bad shape. Now, uh, can you tell us why you did that? If it’s because…”

Before Blitz could finally give his apologies to Stolas ’ awake face, the door opened, letting the doctor quickly walk inside.

“Good morning! How is it that no one warned me that my patient was awake? Welcome back to the living Your Highness!” She greeted, already checking his vitals.

But Stolas didn ’t feel like celebrating, on the contrary, he felt like throwing up.

So this wasn ’t a hallucination, it was real. It was the worst that could happen. His staff found him, despite his attempts to reduce the risks of it happening. Meaning they, or his lawyer, probably had no other choice but to warn Octavia. Shit, if he was brought to the hospital in a hurry, then the assassin probably heard about it through the media, if Via or his lawyer didn’t contact him first.

So it was real. He would have died alone, but failed at that, like everything else, and now they were bound to his side because they had to. Of course they had to. Via was his daughter, and Blitz wasn ’t heartless despite his rough edges. Worse, he may think it was the perfect way for him to repay Stolas for the crystal.

Oh no, what had he done?

“Hey, are you with us Prince Stolas?” The baphomet snapped her fingers before his face, making him hoot in surprise as he looked up at her, while Otto growled at her. Instinctively, Stolas went to pet the plant, still glad for its presence, even if it was only attached to him because he was the one feeding them. They would have been fine after his passing, he made sure to have a capable gardener at the palace.

“Apologies. You were saying?”

“I know you might still be a bit out of it even if your body is mostly back to normal”, she started saying, both Via and Blitz having stepped back to listen with slightly anxious faces. “But after such events, the main challenge is to take care of the head. Don’t worry, you won’t be left alone, I made an appointment for you with your therapist next week that you better attend. Your relatives here will also stay by your side, and will make sure you resume taking your pills. I would recommend taking one right away, then you can take your normal amount starting from tomorrow morning, alright?” She was sending glances toward Blitz and Via as she explained that, before she fully turned toward them to continue. “Make sure he eats regularly, but only small meals for now, as his body needs to get used to food intake again. Don’t be worried if he sleeps more than usual or even naps, it’s pretty normal at first, but give me a call if it keeps going on for more than a week. I will see to have the papers ready in the morning so he can be discharged. Sounds good Your Highness? I’m sure you’ll be more at ease at home than here”, she finished, back to facing him and with a reassuring smile, demeanor surprisingly energetic for a Sloth demon.

Stolas just gaped at her, as did Blitz and Via to a lesser extent, taken aback.

“I, uh… Thank you, doctor.”

“Good. Your therapist will send you a letter soon confirming your appointment. Don’t forget to take one pill right now. I suppose you don’t have them, but we probably have similar pills if your relatives can’t fetch them…”

“I can grab them!” Blitz quickly exclaimed.

She nodded to him.

“Perfect. I’ll leave it to you then. I’ll be back to allow you home, since you seem to be perfectly healthy. Well, as healthy as you can be, your arm will still need more time to heal of course. You already know how that works. A nurse will come by later to change the bandages before you leave. Do you have questions?”

Everyone shook their head more or less quickly, and she clapped her hands.

“Perfect. See you later then!”

Just like that, she was already out the door, closing it oddly quietly, which gave the impression she had just disappeared.

The remaining demons looked at each other, still a bit dumbfounded. Blitz was the first to shake himself out of it.

“Right. So, uh, where are your pills Stolas? Loona has the van’s keys, but I can directly portal there to fetch them, it’ll be faster!”

“Oh, n-no, don’t bother, it’s okay, I can…” Stolas started, already tearing reality, reluctantly taking his pills.

“Dad, are you sure you can already do magic?” Via asked, worried.

“You heard the doctor, right? I’m almost fully healed, apart from… Well, this”, the owl answered, looking at his arm without wanting to mention the injury. In the meantime, he had uncapped the bottle, swallowed one pill dry and put the bottle back before closing the portal, leaving the two demons speechless.

“Wow, uh, that was fast”, Blitz unhelpfully noticed.

“Dad, why… Why did you never tell me about those pills? About you being depressed?”

The owl immediately tensed, as if he was realizing only now what these two knowing about the pills really implied, gaze jumping between them as anxiousness started to appear before being quickly buried.

“I’m sorry starfire, I didn’t want to bother you with that.”

“Well, maybe you should have bothered us with it”, Blitz said with a frown.

The owl tensed, gaze slowly going on the imp.

“Why, pray tell, would I do that?”

Blitz was taken aback by Stolas ’ demeanor, as if he was facing the same bitchy prince from the morning after their fight.

“So we could help!” Via quickly answered for him, not realizing the weird tension between the other two demons.

Before she could explain more thoroughly what she meant by that, Stolas looked away, a self-depreciating smile on his beak.

“I appreciate the concern Via, but I don’t want to force you two to be by my side out of pity.”

What else could he say? Sorry for failing? But his daughter looked so relieved that he was awake, maybe she still wanted him to be alive. He did promise not to leave after all, and she was probably scared of having to take over his duties. He wasn ’t sure if his lawyer mentioned it to her, since he didn’t die, but it could be the reason for her anguish.

“Stolas, what the fuck?” Blitz frowned at him. “Of course it’s important that we help you, we’re not forcing ourselves, and we’re not gonna leave you like this! The doctor said you probably stopped taking your medicine before you tried killing yourself. You can’t do that shit!”

“Exactly dad! I also have so many things to ask you!” Via continued, unknowingly preventing Stolas from snapping back at Blitz.

“Same, and stuff I, we need to tell you.” The assassin continued, hoping it would finally calm down whatever Stolas’ deal was with him. Probably that he was still angry at the imp after their mess, which was fair, honestly!

Stolas seemed to consider it, clearly not convinced but unable to snap at his daughter the way he did Blitz. She may not want him around for the right reasons, but he simply couldn ’t push her away. Not like he wanted to do with Blitz, to try and free the imp of him for good.

Otto trilled again, distracting him, and Stolas quickly took the opportunity to distract himself by checking on the plant, making sure it had enough water and wasn ’t hungry, but it wasn’t. Otto was simply conscious of the tension, of the fact that Stolas wasn’t well despite being awake, and it didn’t like it. Stolas mustered a small smile, caressing the plant’s head, before he nodded with a defeated sigh.

“Alright. You can tell me and ask me everything you need once we go back home, I suppose.”

It would probably not take long, and once finished, they ’d both go back to their lives, without him. Even if they stuck around, he knew it wouldn’t last, particularly for Blitz. There was probably no need to push them away on purpose, he did that very well when he was trying to keep them by his side after all.

It was okay. They ’d pretend to care for a while, and at worst he’d need to find another solution to not stress his darling Via. He could probably manage something that wouldn’t bother his staff, like drugs maybe? He was a Goetia, he could probably find something that would be effective without being asked too many questions, if people even bothered to be curious. He could probably do more with his own plants as well, not just soporific effects.

He hadn ’t realized the awkward atmosphere, Blitz and Via exchanging a look, as if not quite knowing what to say since the serious matters were pushed away for later. “Are you okay?” sounded like such a dumb question, but it was what Blitz was about to ask anyway, ready to get sass in answer, when the door opened again, letting the nurse who guided him there enter.

“Hello Your Highness, may I check on your arm?” He asked a bit shyly, and suddenly he was reminding Blitz of Moxxie.

“Of course”, the owl agreed, giving out his arm. The nurse approached, looking questioningly at their two guests.

“You don’t mind them being there?”

Stolas was about to answer no before he turned his eyes toward Via, suddenly looking thoughtful.

“I already saw it, dad”, she answered before he could decide. “I’d feel better to see it’s healing. The doctor said it should go faster now that you’re awake.”

“Alright then, they can stay”, he nodded to the nurse, barely sparing Blitz a glance.

“Very well. Once I am done here, I will ask for breakfast to be brought.”

“No need, I’ll fetch one myself! What you call food here would put him back in a coma”, Blitz answered with a wince, and Via couldn’t help but nod. They did try to offer to feed her, but just one look at the plate was enough for her to refuse. It was probably a good thing Blitz grabbed her something, or she’d have gone without eating, not wanting to leave her father’s side.

The nurse didn ’t react to the comment, only making a sound of acknowledgment as he undid the bandages on Stolas’ arm. The stitches were still there, and the injury looked a bit better than before indeed, but it was only how it looked on the outside. The nurse inspected all the length of the wound, before applying disinfectant and some kind of ointment before applying fresh bandages.

“What’s the cream for?” Via asked, curious, as she didn’t remember seeing him apply it the previous times.”

“A product to help the cut heal in depth, now that his highness’ healing is starting to really kick in. On other demons, we would need to make sure the deeper parts of the wound heal first, but it’s not needed on Goetias, even when it’s angelic inflicted.”

“So… It’s healing normally now?” Blitz asked, tail swishing lightly in worry.

“Yes. Given that it’s his only injury, it should heal in a couple more days if he takes care of himself. Here, all done”, the nurse said as he finished bandaging Stolas’ arm. “After your meal, I will also remove the IV. Just press the button when you’re ready.”

“Isn’t it for emergencies only?” Via asked.

“No, patients can use it too if they need something but can’t move around on their own. Some just tend to abuse it.”

With that, he quickly bowed to the group before leaving them.

Stolas felt confused with the interest Blitz and Via showed in his healing, but he supposed that was what it was truly about. They would ask about his mental illness, and once their curiosity was sated, if he assured them he wouldn ’t try again, they would probably abandon him once his arm was back to normal. Yes, that was probably what would happen. He just needed to appear normal until that, and not let hope grow too much in the meantime. It wasn’t meant to last. They would grow tired of pretending to care sooner rather than later. Via had better things to do, a life to live, than sticking by his side anyway, while Blitz had people to return to.

Time seemed to go by in a blur. Blitz left to grab them food, asking both him and Via what they wanted, and returning with exactly what they asked. Which wasn ’t very complicated, since both owls wanted their usual cereals for breakfast and Stolas had allowed him to just portal to his kitchen to grab them.

So they ate cereals. Blitz too, the imp being the only one trying to do small talk as they ate. Via tried to answer it before looking up hopefully at her father to include him, but Stolas was acting all subdued, not wanting to mess up their breakfast by saying the wrong thing like he always did.

Don ’t mess this up, they’re trying to act like normal demons. Just wait, and don’t get your hopes up. They’ll get tired of you in a few days, maybe even before your arm is healed , he kept repeating to himself in his head, over and over.

As promised, the IV was removed as the doctor returned for one last check in. More words were said, but she probably noticed Stolas was out of it, for she turned toward Blitz and Via almost right away, pushing responsibilities on them that they shouldn ’t have to handle. That was what finally motivated the prince to try and pretend to want to do better, but she kept giving tips to Blitz and Via, like if she expected them to stick around once Stolas was home.

It ’s not going to last. They’re going to try for a few days, then they’re going to get tired on their own, or leave once they did what the doctor asked them to do. Don’t get your hopes up , his mind repeated him. B ut don ’t be a dick. Blitz is trying, Via even returned because of you. Don’t mess it up.

Otto was trilling sadly despite not needing anything, no matter if it was Stolas, Via or even Blitz caressing it. Finally, Stolas went to freshen up in his hospital room ’s bathroom, opening a portal to grab normal clothes and a wallet so he could pay the hospital’s bill and then sign whatever papers they needed, still quickly reading over them out of habit before opening a portal for him, Blitz and Via to go home, where his lawyer would later visit, according to the text he received on the phone Blitz brought him.

Stolas frowned when he noticed all the papers and documents his lawyer left on a table in one corner of his hospital room and took them home with him, hoping Via hadn ’t read through too many of them. She was supposed to get those only once he was dead. He would need to have a word with his lawyer. He probably hadn’t been clear enough, since he hadn’t dared mention his plans too clearly to anyone. He knew there was a risk people would prevent him to commit suicide, not because they cared, but because of his position and duties.

It was still the case, in a way. Maybe Via still wanted him around just in case, but the main reason was probably because she was scared of having to take over. Rightly so, he didn ’t know why he thought it would be a good idea to let Andrealphus of all people deal with it until she could, he was sure he would try and take advantage of it. He had to find something else not to stress her out indeed, or all he ever did up until now to ensure her a life as normal as possible would have been for nothing.

“Okay, so”, Blitz started as they arrived in the palace, after Otto was back in its place and they had all freshened up a bit and were now together in the living room where they agreed to meet once they were done, which wasn’t a long time after they got there since Via and Blitz took turn staying near Stolas just in case and didn’t have much to do. “Can we, uh, start doing words now?”

The formulation irritated Stolas, as it reminded him of their argument after their last full moon, but he tried his best to hide it, for Via ’s sake.

“Go ahead”, Stolas said, sitting in an armchair, wondering why Via and Blitz, who choose to sit on each side of the couch, looked disappointed. “I’m ready to answer whatever question you may have.”

“Can I start?” Via asked, sounding so sure of herself compared to her more shy demeanor in the hospital that he surprised Stolas. He looked to Blitz, who nodded, letting the owlet go first.

“Dad, I need to understand. Why did you do it?”

Ah, yes, of course one of them would ask such a question. He kind of hoped they wouldn ’t start by it, but at least it would be out of the way and the rest should be relatively easy. All he had to do was word his answer to fully keep the blame on himself. He didn’t want to force Blitz and Via there any more than needed.

“As the doctor guessed, I made the mistake of stopping to take my medicine a while ago. I accidentally ran out of pills and when I received new bottles, I struggled to get back in the habit of taking them. Hence why I reacted badly to some events that shouldn’t have affected me this much. Not that seeing you leave was unimportant to me starfire, far from it, but obviously that and other things, even piling up, shouldn’t have driven me to such measures.”

It wasn ’t a lie, not really, more like a half-truth, hence why he could say it so easily without having to think too much.

“So, you’ll be better once you start taking them again?” Blitz asked, sounding both hopeful and doubtful.

“Yes, I am fairly certain. I already don’t see the idea of dying the same way I did a few days ago, and I doubt the antidepressants have kicked in yet.”

Not that the idea had fully disappeared, it was just less alluring, knowing the impact it would have on his loved ones, how stressful. But he couldn ’t say that out loud.

“Are you sure dad? You’re not going to try again in a few days, right?” Via asked, frowning, clearly not convinced either.

“Yes starfire. I promise.” He easily said, because it was true. He had other ideas, thanks to his hospital stay, to numb the pain now.

“Okay… But still dad, I want to say that I’m sorry. You were saying the truth, about you and him”, she continued, nodding at Blitz, “but I didn’t believe you and I left. I know it played a part in you wanting to die…”

“Via, it wasn’t…”

“No dad, don’t try to deny it”, she cut sternly. “I’m not stupid, I know what I did. The dickhead had just left you, and I decided to do the same and I called you a liar. I’m sorry. But dad, there’s indeed something you lied to me about…”

The owl tensed, because he hid a lot of things from his daughter, and he was worried what exactly she was referring to, what she could have read while he was out.

“What do you mean?”

“You tried to leave me too. I know I let you down first, but you… You said you’d never leave me, and you almost did. Forever.”

“Oh, starfire”, Stolas said, emotions finally showing into his voice and face as he got up to join Via on the couch to hug her, and she felt tears prick at her eyes at the biggest show of affection her father displayed since he woke up. “I’m so very sorry. I assure you it wasn’t on purpose. I thought you didn’t need me anymore, that I wouldn’t be missed. I think differently now.”

“Are you sure about that?” Blitz couldn’t help but ask, tone skeptical. “I don’t doubt your honesty to your daughter, but I still feel like you’re trying to tell us what we want to hear so we’ll leave and you’ll be free to try something else equally as stupid.”

Stolas froze, because it was way too close to the truth. But before Via could look up at him and gauge her expression, he secured his face before turning toward the imp.

“I do not wish to throw either of you out. Via will of course always be welcome here, it’s her home too. As to you, I’m unsure why you’re here at all to be honest, but I know the doctor tasked you with some things, and I don’t expect you not to keep your word, even if you have no obligation to me.”

Blitz looked dumbstruck by Stolas ’ answer, while Via carefully straightened out of her father’s embrace.

“He came to the hospital shortly after me, you know, even though I wasn’t the one to warn him that you were there. He only left to grab things for us”, she couldn’t help but point out, feeling the urge to defend Blitz. She hadn’t had the time to think about it, but the dickhead clearly went up in her esteem, and he clearly showed to her that he wasn’t kidding, he truly cared for her father. Which brought back her questions about her mother, and the sensation she already had part of the answer, but where…

She didn ’t have time to find nor ask that the conversation continued.

“Listen Stolas, I don’t expect you to forgive me for any of the shit that I did, but… Before you decide to throw me out, I need to say it too. I’m sorry, truly. You were right, I was a dick, you totally deserved an apology, and… Fuck, were you already out of your meds on the full moon?”

The prince hesitated, but turning around the bush would only make both demons more curious, so he answered with a sigh.

“Yes. I ran out that very morning, in fact.”

Blitz ’s eyes widened as he whispered: “Oh shit”, but it didn’t make Stolas feel any better. On the contrary, he felt that Blitz’s guilt was only coming from knowing about his depression. Would he still be worthy of an apology without that? Probably not, so he didn’t bother asking.

“I’m double sorry then, for how I acted that evening.”

“It’s alright, Blitz”, Stolas interrupted with a shake of his head. “I’m the one who should apologize…”

“But you already did! In your letter.”

Via straightened up at that like if she got shocked. Both males turned toward her.

“Via, are you feeling alright? You probably don’t want to hear us talk about that…”

“It was in the letter!” She exclaimed out loud, before searching her pockets for the letter her father wrote her. She quickly unfolded it, and it was there.

Her parents were arranged. They never loved each other. Her whole childhood was a lie.

She didn ’t pay attention to that part when she first read it, but now she could only see that, and suddenly she was feeling light headed.

“Starfire! What’s happening?”

“Wow sweetie, are you okay?”

She felt her father ’s hands on her, and she couldn’t help but swat them away, before she felt guilty when her hand collided with Stolas’ bandaged arm.

“You did lie to me!”

“What… What do you mean?” Stolas asked, obviously taken aback.

“About mother. About our family! It was never… I was just an obligation, from the start?”

Stolas frowned at first, then he seemed to realize it was his letter she was holding, until her words made him jolt.

“Starfire, you’re not an obligation to me! Please, look at me”, he begged, taking her hands into his.

She was looking down, tears shining in her eyes, before she slowly looked up to meet her father ’s main eyes.

“Via, you are my daughter, and I love you. I did not tell you about this for you to doubt that. Not for a second.”

“But you were ready to leave me, and dump all these things on me.”

“Y-yes, it’s true. I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I won’t…”

“What, do it again? You already promised you wouldn’t leave me!”

“Sweetie”, Blitz carefully pipped in. “It was my fault he almost did that shit. Be mad at me, not at him, okay? I pushed him to do it.”

When she met the imp ’s yellow eyes, she suddenly turned away, shameful.

She remembered all they both did to bring her father back, so he wouldn ’t give up, and what was she doing? Pushing him away again. Hurting him.

“I know it doesn’t excuse everything, but remember he was without his meds too. Suddenly going without it can fuck up your brain, and it’s no one’s fault.”

“Don’t”, Stolas said, turning toward Blitz. “It’s not your fault, and just because I’m ill doesn’t mean...”

“No, he’s right”, Via said. “We tried so hard to bring you back dad, and I’m just… I don’t want you to do it again. I’m sorry. I know I played a part to, I shouldn’t…”

“Starfire, no!” Stolas exclaimed, bringing her closer. “None of you are at fault. If you need to scream at me for what I did, then please do it! Don’t hold back because you fear I may do it again. I won’t.”

“Really?” Via asked with a frown. “Even if you went without your pills, would you really not consider doing it again?”

“I… I’ll make sure not to go without them again, especially for so long”, Stolas answered, trying to sound assured, but neither Blitz nor Via looked like they were buying it. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I love you dearly. I… Did lie, I suppose, about our family. I simply wanted you to have both parents by your side growing up, to have a normal family, or what I imagined is a normal family. Maybe it was a mistake, but not one caused because I didn’t love you!”

“Okay, okay, I believe you”, Via said, gently leaning away from her father’s grasp. “So, you really never loved mom?”

“No Via, I’m sorry. There was never any love between us. I tried, but I suppose we were never meant to be particularly close…”

“Hold on, why did you marry her then?” Blitz couldn’t help but ask, puzzled by the whole conversation.

“It was… An arranged marriage. So I could have a heir, Via. None of us had any say in the matter. But while being married to your mother didn’t make me happy, you did Via.”

She frowned at that, thinking back to these files the lawyer gave her. Maybe she should have skimmed through them at least. Now, Stolas took them back, and she doubted he ’d let her read them.

“There’s more to it, isn’t it? One of the documents, both your letter and the lawyer said not to read it if I didn’t want to change my opinion of mom.”

“Y-yes. There is more. But darling, are you sure you want to talk about all this now?”

Via ’s gaze went to Blitz, who was clearly listening intently, before she looked at her father again and shook her head.

“Not yet. It’s… Already a lot. I need to think, and you need rest. The doctor said not to stress you out too much. But dad, once you’re better, I want you to promise to be honest with me. I learned that you were in the hospital too a month ago, when you insisted that I stayed with mother. If I had known, I wouldn’t have thought…”

“I understand starfire. I didn’t want to worry you, but you’re right. I will try to make efforts in that sense.”

“Good.” She glanced at Blitz again. “Can you… Stay with dad until lunch? I… I think I need to think stuff over.”

She almost asked her dad to have that file again, but she decided against it. If she had questions, she wouldn ’t be able to ask them now. It was best to wait, and discuss it with her father directly.

The assassin easily nodded with a reassuring smile.

“Of course sweetie, take your time! We’ll come get you when it’s ready. Do you think you’ll feel more like ordering or do you want me to cook something?”

She raised a brow.

“You can cook?”

“Of course! I had to learn, for Loonie. Are you curious to try?”

“Dunno if I’m in the mood to risk food poisoning after all that”, she replied with a shrug. “Besides, are you sure it’ll be okay for dad?”

“Don’t mind me, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to eat much anyway”, he quickly said, waving his hands.

“But you still gotta eat!” Blitz firmly ordered, the spade of his tail pointed on the prince. “Even if it’s just a little. I think I have the perfect idea for that, you’ll see! It’s light so even if you can’t eat much, you should still be able to eat a good amount and it’ll give you some energy.”

“O-okay.”

Both men turned toward Octavia, who rolled her eyes.

“Fine, if you’re up to the risk, I’ll take it too.”

“Hey, I’m sure you’ll change your mind about my skills in the kitchen when you’ll taste a real home made meal!”

“We already have staff for that”, she replied with a smirk as she got up. She hugged her father, surprising him, but he was quick to return it.

“I love you starfire”, he couldn’t help but add, something desperate in his tone.

“I love you too, dad”, she answered, trying to keep her emotions in check. After longer than usual, she finally let go and took a step back, nodded at Blitz, then left the room.

“See you later dickhead.”

Blitz watched her leave before turning toward Stolas, tail wagging happily behind him.

“Did you see? She warmed up to me so much in the hospital! Not that it’s a great situation to bond over, of course, but…”

“Blitz, I’m sorry for asking that so bluntly, but what are you doing here?” The owl cut him.

The imp froze, taken aback. Now that his daughter was gone, was Stolas going to get hostile again? No, maybe it was just him being curious about …

“Wha- What? Oh, you mean how I knew about you being in the hospital, since Via didn’t tell me? I saw it on TV, I thought at first that that cowboy asshole attacked you again…”

Stolas ’ expression turned somber and he lightly hugged himself, adverting the imp’s gaze.

“I see.”

“Stolas, what’s the matter? You’ve been acting super weird with me. Is it because you’re still mad at me about last time? Or me not telling you about Striker? Listen, I’m really sorry about that too, I swear I’d…”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m unsure why you’d visit me in the hospital since you didn’t bother on my previous stay, even when I was asking you to. You don’t need to pay me back anything for the crystal, you know? You don’t owe me anything.”

Blitz ’s tail swished to the side in annoyance.

“I’m not here out of obligation!” He said, voice raising, but then he saw Stolas look away and deflate, as if having the confirmation he needed, and he forced himself to take a deep breath to calm down. “Listen, I’m here because… Because I really do care. I don’t want you to die. It has nothing to do with the crystal or anything. I just… Want you to be okay. Is that so hard to believe?”

“Yes”, the prince answered bluntly, and Blitz winced.

He couldn ’t say that he was surprised, really. Stolas wasn’t awake to see all he and Via did to convince his subconscious ass not to give up. But his conscious mind, or whatever, clearly didn’t receive the memo.

“Okay. That’s fine. Can you just, allow me to stay and prove to you that I mean it then?” He asked, tone and face pleading. Stolas seemed to hesitate before he looked away.

“I said I wouldn’t throw you out, unless you force me to.”

Blitz waited, expecting him to say something else, but it was all. He knew he had to be remembering about that fucking full moon night where Blitz fucked it all up, but he wasn ’t about to make the same mistakes again. He wanted to take care of the bird, to cherish him, because that was clearly what he needed, and maybe that was something Blitz wanted to do for himself too. Because now he had the proof that he could make a difference for Stolas, he had a reason back into his life, and while he was glad Stolas didn’t hate him, he feared he knew why Stolas was acting all distant with him.

He wished he could say the Goetia was secretly hating him, but it wasn ’t that, or the owl would have never woken up. No, Stolas seemed to really think Blitz was here out of some kind of obligation rather than genuine concern, and it just wouldn’t do. Yeah, okay, he did stupid shit before because he didn’t want to get too close or admit to his feelings, but fuck all this if it meant giving Stolas his will to live back.

“Okay. Well, I hope you won’t get sick of me then, because I do plan to stick around. I don’t know if you noticed, but both me and Via asked the doctor what we could do to help you, we weren’t just waiting for instructions. We want to help. Both of us.”

The owl quickly glanced at him, still looking unsure, but at least he wasn ’t actively trying to push him away, for now.

Hesitantly, Blitz got closer on the couch, until he was close enough to gently rub Stolas ’ healthy arm. The owl didn’t lean away, so Blitz took that as a sign he could get closer and press against him, tail itching to wound around Stolas’ leg.

“You scared the fuck out of me too, you know. Sure, I messed up, and then I thought you were done with me, but fuck it, I don’t want a world without you in it.”

There was a pause, then Stolas ’ low voice answering, and Blitz wasn’t sure if it was really meant to his ears or not.

“I can’t imagine a world without you either, Blitz.”

His tail fucking wagged at that, but he didn ’t try to hide it. Instead, he looked up at Stolas, beaming, hoping it would go through the doubt he could still see in his eyes, as if he was battling with himself on whether to trust him or not.

But it was okay. Stolas dropped so low as to try to kill himself, of course Blitz wouldn ’t convince him after barely a day. Not after not visiting him in the hospital after Striker like a coward, and not after he gave up on him, following Verosika’s stupid advice. He would need time to make up for all those things, but he felt unstoppable, because he had his bird right next to him, and he knew his friends and daughter would take care of IMP while he couldn’t. They’d understand.

Shit, he still hadn ’t told them the bird woke up, didn’t he? Well, it wasn’t like if they planned to visit anyway, but just in case, he used the silence between him and Stolas to shoot them all a text. Loona answered with a thumbs up while the other two’s reactions were more expressive, and Blitz smiled at his phone at the confirmation that they got it covered.

Gosh, he loved his team.

“Is your company going to be alright?” Stolas suddenly asked.

“I just got news that M&M and Loona are handling it perfectly on their own, don’t worry! They’ll continue for as long as you’ll need me here. But don’t worry, even once I go back to work, I’ll still be able to visit often. But it won’t happen any time soon. So! We’re gonna be late for lunch if we keep dawdling around. You ready?”

“As I said, I don’t feel particularly hungry, but please go ahead, for Via and yourself…”

“Tut tut, what did I say? What did the doctor say about this? You gotta eat, even just a little! Your arm needs energy to heal, remember? Come on, let’s go! Just sit and rest while I cook, maybe it’ll give you an appetite!”

“If you say so…”

Stolas followed Blitz into his own kitchen. There, the imp found a stool to be able to start cooking, explaining what he was making and why he picked that recipe, sometimes turning to see if Stolas was still following. The prince was humming in acknowledgment from time to time, eyes fixated on his lover ’s movements. Reassured by that, Blitz concluded his bird wasn’t sick of hearing him talk and kept going.

To their surprise, Via joined them slightly before it was ready. She put down her music, but before any of the adults could ask her how her thinking time went, she walked to her father to hug him again.

“You’re still here.” She mumbled in his chest.

“Of course I’m still here”, Stolas cooed softly as he hugged her back. “Blitz watched over me. Why were you worried?”

She straightened up to glare at him.

“Are you really asking that now, dad?”

“Sorry. I understand that you wouldn’t trust me so soon on that.”

“It’s not that! I mean, not only”, she explained, rubbing her arm as she was now sitting next to her dad. “I know that even if you were having those kinds of thoughts again to the point of trying something while we’re here, Blitz would stop you. It’s just…”

“It was weird to have him out of your sight for so long?” Blitz offered.

“Yes, that! I never stayed apart from you for more than a few minutes since I learned about what happened, and… I don’t know, my mind is being silly.”

“It’s not silly Via, it’s normal”, Stolas smiled at her, one talon brushing against the side of her face. “I just hope you had enough time to digest everything… Or at least start to. You didn’t read the files the lawyer left you, did you?”

“No.”

“Good. I’ll explain everything in due time, if you don’t mind waiting a bit more. I think I need it too.”

“I know dad. I’ll wait until you are ready.”

“Until we are both ready”, Stolas smiled.

“Aaaaand, guess what else is ready?” Blitz exclaimed, making them both jump as he put down their plates in front of them. “Food! It’s lunch time! So, it doesn’t look poisoned, right?” He asked the owlet.

“It’s usually something we taste or smell, you’d have to really force yourself to make it look poisoned”, she replied with a roll of her eyes before she finally saw what was in her plate. “Hey, it looks good!”

“Dunno why you sound so surprised, I told you so!” Blitz answered, sticking out his chest with a proud smile.

“Appearance isn’t everything though. Hold on dad, I’m gonna try it for you…”

“Hey! Of course I was super careful on what to make for your dad to help him recover, I’m not stupid!”

The bantering continued even as Blitz brought his own plate, and Stolas couldn ’t help the incredulous smile that stretched his lips at seeing his two favorite people interact that way. It was something he sometimes dreamed of, but to see it become reality? Even if they wouldn’t stay like he still feared they would, at least they got along a lot better.

He finally looked down at his own plate after Via admitted it was alright to eat, and noticed that Blitz did give him a smaller portion. It touched the owl for some reason, and even if he still wasn ’t hungry, he still took his fork to try and honor the assassin’s cooking skills.

It tasted … Good. It was the first time Blitz made him anything, and it may not taste quite like what his staff prepared him, but he knew it was prepared with love, at least that’s what it felt like as he witnessed the process, and he really wanted to think it was true. But could he really allow hope back after all this, no matter how convincing Blitz sounded?

The few compliments he gave were quickly used as a weapon in Blitz and Via ’s friendly war, and Stolas was happy to just sit back and watch them, not wanting to side with anyone in particular. How could he?

But he wasn ’t asked to, he only received encouragements and nice words once he managed to finish his own plate. It should be embarrassing, for a prince to need people to cheer on him to eat, but in this moment it felt oddly nice.

It felt like a dream.

Was it really? Was he dead in the end, and this was an illusion from whatever afterlife hellborns went to? Or Stolas was in a coma after his attempt, and this is what his mind produced? He really hoped it wasn ’t the latter, even if he knew it was too good to be true.

Something was bound to happen and shatter it all.

The lawyer ’s visit was turned into a call to exchange the most urgent information, then Stolas was back with Blitz and Via, now to visit the plants. The staff was scarce, but Stolas had a feeling they were a bit more around than usual, looking at him more directly than they normally would, and he felt the need to nod to them to thank them for their efforts. He wasn’t supposed to be saved, but he supposed he was somewhat happy they still bothered to try, even if it was no doubt part of their duties.

Otto was particularly glad to see them all, trilling loudly as if to call them even when they were taking care of other plants, and they could still hear its trills even once they were out of the plant ’s view.

They ended the afternoon lazing about in lawn chairs by the pool, the same ones Stolas used to try and distract himself from the fresh and painful events of the full moon. The previous activities almost managed to make him forget about everything, the pain, the loneliness, the desperate attempt, but seeing the place, being there with Blitz anew, was making him nervous.

He was masking it well, or so he thought. But when Via left them alone to answer a phone call from her mother, it was hard to still appear unbothered, the simple mention of his ex wife enough to raise his stress levels, despite not even hearing her voice. But if the medias leaked his hospital stay, he could only imagine what she could be saying to Via, knowing his lawyer couldn ’t keep Stella and Andrealphus at bay anymore, and it was already over, his daughter would need to return, and Blitz would soon follow like last time, and…

“Hey, you still with me Stolas?”

Blitz ’s soft voice pulled the owl from his spiraling thoughts. He was sitting on one of the chairs, looking toward where his daughter disappeared, and his gaze wandered to watch Blitz instead, the imp’s worried expression so different from the ones he wore on their last discussion here, that it seemed to be an eternity ago.

“Apologies, I was simply… Concerned as to what Stella would say to Via.”

“Don’t you want to follow her then?” The imp suggested.

“No, I don’t… I wouldn’t want to intrude. But I fear that she will want Via to return…”

“Why? She stayed with her extra long already! You have a right to see your daughter too!”

“I suppose so, but it’s up to Via to decide…”

“Of course she’s going to stay with you! Can’t you tell her mother to fuck off? Unless you’re not on talking terms with her?”

“You could say that”, Stolas sighed, looking up at the trees.

To say he didn ’t want to talk to Stella any time soon was an understatement. He wasn’t ready to face her yet, even only through sound. Even if she didn’t know why he ended up in the hospital, she would probably ask questions, mock him, remind him how worthless he was…

“Hey hey, I’m sure it’s going to be alright, okay? Via wants to stay with you, I’m sure she can deal with her mother herself.”

“But what if she had things planned with her? I don’t want to be in the way just because she feels she has to be there…”

“Stol’s. She’s not forcing herself to do anything. She needs to be here, okay? Exactly like I do. She would probably worry about you if she wasn’t anyway.”

It didn ’t look like the right thing to say, as Stolas only looked down sadly.

“I don’t want her to be worried about me, nor do I want you to risk your company for me. You’ll get tired of being here eventually, like before.”

“I promise not!” Blitz assured him, taking his hand and trying to meet his eyes, but Stolas looked away.

“I trust your word Blitz”, he answered softly. “But I don’t… I’m not worth wasting your time for. You have better things to do, and if Via had things planned, I don’t want her to cancel them because she’s worried for me.”

Blitz ’s growl had the owl closing his eyes with a defeated sigh, thinking that was it, he had already reached the assassin’s breaking point by being too honest, despite trying to have his loved one’s interests at heart. But when did he ever succeed in that?

Instead of the yelling he expected, or just hearing Blitz storm off, a hand gently cupped his cheek, causing the prince ’s eyes to shot open.

The growling hadn ’t disappeared, it was still in the back of the imp’s throat, but instead of anger, he was met with a decided stare.

“Listen to me Stol’s. Your mind is being a bitch because life’s been a bitch, and being off your meds hadn’t helped. But watch as me and Via stay by your side day by day, and you’ll see that it’ll get better. I’ll make up for my shit as much as I can, and Via isn’t tired of you, she’s just an angsty teen who needs her rebellious phase, and damn, you’re divorcing her mother, it’s probably some tough shit to process for her. Just do what you do, give her time and support her like you usually do, and it’ll go great, alright?”

His thumb started to caress Stolas ’ feathers as he talked, and the owl nodded, closing his eyes to allow himself to bask in the feeling of closeness.

“Very well. Let’s wait and see, I suppose.”

***

It wasn ’t a lie.

Three full days had passed since he left the hospital. Stolas ’ arm had healed enough to be able to remove the bandages, and Blitz and Via were both still here. Even better, they sometimes brought other people who also interacted with the owl. Loona was mostly spending time with Octavia, naturally, but Millie was very cheerful and enthusiastic, while he quickly found common ground with Moxxie.

Blitz had slept with him all along, a bit awkwardly the first night, then more naturally, cuddling and purring without anything sexual. The more time passed, the more Stolas trusted that it was genuine when he compared how Blitz doted on him and how he doted on his employees and daughter.

They still needed to talk about so many things, but there was a fragile balance forming here, a sense of belonging that Stolas never felt before in his life. It was giving him a strength unlike anything else, that made him stand up to Stella and Andrealphus to kick them out after they dared to show up home to ask for Via to return to them. His owlet didn ’t want to go with them, and Blitz was right, it wasn’t fair either with how much time she already spent with them recently, if the siblings really wanted to play that game.

So much still needed to be said, and Stolas knew the time approached when he would need to sit down and talk with Octavia about all the things he tried to shield her from, but he was growing more and more confident that she would still want him in her life once he was done.

He knew he would need to have a serious talk with Blitz as well eventually. The imp had hinted about his past causing him to misbehave, feeding on the misunderstandings between them, but as for Via, Blitz was waiting for the right time to speak about it more.

But it was alright. The pills were helping Stolas be more energetic and hopeful every day, and the prospect of these talks wasn ’t so scary anymore, since most aftermath he could see for those were positive ones. He could even hope that this small bubble of people that was now surrounding him would become his new normal and that his selfish act from a few days that felt like another life was exactly that: a disguised call for help that succeeded and was now leading him to a fresh and new start.