Chapter Text
When Blitz wakes up from his nap, he’s alone in Stolas’ room. He’s honestly a little surprised to find himself alone after everything. But Stolas’ desk chair is empty and the bathroom door is wide open. There is no trace of leftover heat on the other side of the bed, telling him he’s been alone for a while.
He drops his head back to the pillow and starfishes his limbs out. He takes up barely a quarter of the massive bed even in this position.
Blitz’s unfocused eyes stare up at the canopy while he thinks through these past few days.
Fuck.
It’s been a mess.
…
He’s been a mess.
But, if he’s being completely truthful with himself – a rarity – he’s not actually feeling too bad right now.
Part of him wants to disconnect, to drink until his vision is static or to run away from everyone and everything. That’s safer. It will prevent his thoughts from wandering where they shouldn’t, where Blitz knows they will eventually.
Another part of him wants to disconnect but only partly. That part wants to float on the ceiling, here but not here at the same time. Part of him wants to feel the care others give him when he’s like that.
He shakes his head to clear the thought. That’s manipulative as all fuck. He wants them to care, yeah, but if it’s under a false pretence then it’s even more fake than the care they’re currently showing him.
His tail thumps against the bed, an outlet for his agitation.
When his phone buzzes, he grabs for it to see what it says. It’s a message from Moxxie. He opens it and finds no actual words. It’s just a link.
Opening it, he can’t help the smile that forms at the horses on his phone screen. There’s a whole herd of them, galloping through a massive field at top speed. I Will Always Return is playing in the background and his tail starts to thump against the bed in time with the music. This time, his tail is moving in excited glee.
He watches the video another three times before sending a horse emoji back.
A grumble from his stomach reminds him that he’s not really eaten anything substantial recently because, whether he likes it or not, cake is not exactly filling.
Rolling off the bed, he leaves Stolas’ room to navigate to the kitchen. Hopefully the chefs have replaced the cake by now. If not, Blitz will have to sort something else out and that sounds like it’ll take way too much fucking energy for it to be worth it.
The kitchen is empty except for one lanky owl.
“Hey, kid.”
“I’m not a kid,” Via snaps back, glaring at him.
She’s still pissed at him. Makes sense; while it feels like way longer with everything that has happened, it hasn’t even been a full day since she spoke with Stolas.
“Okay.”
He gets the fridge door open with minimal acrobatics and inspects the insides. This time, there’s only the rats and juice. The chefs haven’t replaced the cake or added any new options.
Oh well. He doesn’t need food that badly anyway.
He spins on his heel and leans against the cabinet, crossing his ankles and shoving his hands in his pant pockets.
“So, where’s your dad?”
She shrugs. “Probably doing important work. Why don’t you go find him? You’re good at showing up where you’re not wanted.”
“Oi! Fuck–” he cuts himself off. This is Stolas’ daughter. He can’t tell her to fuck off. Especially in her own home. “Shit.”
The kid’s got some serious claws on her. Loona’s no-doubt been teaching her well.
He sighs and rubs a hand over his face.
“Look, have you learned how to do that turning a person to stone shit?”
She blinks. “What?”
“Do you know how to turn someone to stone?”
“Oh, uh, no. Dad hasn’t taught me much yet. I want to learn more stuff but he says I shouldn’t stress about it until I’m 18. And he says teenagers are too emotional to have the power to kill ‘cause he’s annoying like that.”
Blitz nods. “Okay, good, good.”
“Do I even want to know why you’re asking?”
He waves a hand in the air dismissively. “Just don’t wanna get turned to stone. You know, the whole ‘hell hath no fury like a teenager scorned’? Or something like that.”
She rolls her eyes while he climbs up onto the seat opposite her.
“Via,” he starts.
“Don’t call me that. You don’t get to call me that.”
He swallows. “Right.” A breath. “ Octavia,” he tries.
She allows it.
He looks around, ensuring no one else is going to overhear this conversation. He’d rather not die from embarrassment. He’s got better plans for how he’ll go out.
“I heard you and Stolas last night.”
She cuts her eyes at him. “You eavesdropped,” she accuses.
“No!” he insists before pausing. “Yes? Look, to be honest, I don’t really know what that means – Moxxie’s said it a few times and I try not to learn the smarty-pants words he uses – but it doesn’t matter. The bit that does matter is,” he pauses to once again check his surroundings, “I do give a shit about him.”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, right. I’m not falling for your shit like he does.”
“I do!” Blitz insists.
He’s not sure how he’s supposed to prove it to Octavia. He’s struggling just to tell her about it and she doesn’t believe him? Does she not realise how mortifying it is for him to admit this shit aloud? How he’s questioning why he decided this would be easier than just biting his tongue and preparing to die alone?
He closes his eyes so he can pretend he’s just talking to one of his stuffies. They’ve never judged him and he knows they won’t start now, they’re too nice for that – well, except Snow Globe, he’s a narcissist so he doesn’t listen to others’ problems very well. But the rest of them would never judge him. So he’ll pretend he’s talking to one of them, maybe Scented Candle is a good choice.
“I really care about your father, Vi– Octavia. It’s hard for me to say it so please believe me. I never meant to hurt him and I don’t ever want to in the future. I know you hate me and think I’m doing all this on purpose, but I’m not, I promise. So please, just be patient with me. I’m trying and I’m gonna fuck up, we both know that, but I swear I never wanted to hurt him.”
Octavia raises an eyebrow but leans forward, apparently willing to hear him out. That’s something, at least. He’ll take what he can get from the teenager.
“I tried to stay away, to not get in the way, but Stolas– no, this isn’t his fault.” He gives her a tired smile. “It’s just hard to stay distant when everyone, especially your father, is so… forceful in their care.”
Her eyes soften just slightly.
“I’m not promising that the shit where I couldn’t move or talk won’t happen again ‘cause it wasn’t really in my control, but I’m trying to stop staying detached. I’m trying to be a better demon because that’s what Stolas deserves.”
He takes a big breath in and lets it out.
“So I’m trying to be someone worthy of Stolas’ love.”
It’s silent. Octavia just blinks at him before slamming her hands on the table.
“He told you?!”
“Um,” he hesitates, “yes?”
She emits a deep, angry hoot.
“Of course he did.” She takes a long breath. “Look. I don’t care about you and I don’t understand why Dad does. But if he told you he loves you then clearly he wants to keep you around. I never, not once, heard him say that to Mum. And I don’t think you actually give a single shit about him after all you’ve done, but this has to count for something. So if you say you’re going to change, then I’ll give you one more chance. But I swear, if you fuck with him,” she stands up and towers over him, eyes glowing in anger. The ends of her feathers even tint a dark pinky-purple. “If you fuck with him, I will hunt you down and destroy you.”
He gulps and nods firmly. “Understood, Princess. For the record, I– I think I love him, too.”
Her hard stare falters into a small smile but she doesn’t say anything. She just sits back in her seat and picks a slice of uncut apple out of the bowl next to her. She breaks it in half with her beak.
“I think Dad’s in the library.”
Blitz blinks. “Oh, right. Okay. Yeah, thanks.” He takes the hint and makes his way out, stomach grumbling in discontent at the lack of food.
The library is surprisingly difficult to find. Not because it’s hidden away or anything. But because there are multiple.
The first three he checks are empty other than a few imp servants sorting books. And, like, each library is big enough that he’s spending a few minutes walking around each of them to make sure Stolas isn’t just sequestered away in a reading nook hidden by full shelves.
Pushing open the door to, he’s not kidding, the sixth library, he hears a soft hoot.
Once he’s through the door, he sees Stolas right away. He’s sitting at the massive mahogany table in the middle. It’s surrounded by matching chairs with deep purple upholstery. The table is topped with a few lamps.
Around Stolas are piles and piles of papers and books. It’s chaotic and that surprises Blitz. He’s never really seen Stolas work but he’d always imagined it’d be a tidy, dignified process, not this unorganised mess.
Stolas emits another hoot and that’s when Blitz realises they’re unusually rhythmic. He makes his way towards the table.
Oh.
Well, that explains it.
Stolas, who’s got his cheek resting in his palm, is fast asleep. He’s still holding the pen. His mouth is open a little and the document directly under him has a damp spot from his drool.
Blitz can’t help it. He tilts his head to get a better look at the owl’s face while a smile forms on his own.
The work itself looks boring so Blitz reckons that’s why the prince fell asleep.
He really doesn’t look very comfy, does he? he thinks to himself. He grins, feeling evil despite the idea being anything but.
Slowly, carefully, he gets Stolas into his arms and starts to leave the library. He pulls the door open with his tail – which is more difficult than it sounds because the palace doors are big and heavy – and is careful to avoid hitting the owl’s head on the doorframe.
Luckily, this library is actually the one closest to their – his – room. So it doesn’t take Blitz long to get them there and Stolas stays fast asleep, hooting into Blitz’s ear.
He settles him onto the bed gently and tucks the messy blankets around him. Once that’s done, he leans against the edge of the bed and just looks at Stolas.
The damn owl has no right being so attractive. And he loves Blitz. He could have literally any demon in Hell and he wants Blitz-o the clown?
Blitz would be crazy to turn him down.
Blitz is crazy.
But, well, maybe he doesn’t want to be anymore.
He climbs onto his side of the bed – because fuck it, so long as he’s staying at the palace, this side of the bed is officially his – and watches Stolas’ chest rise and fall slowly. It doesn’t feel creepy, like watching someone sleep should. Instead, it feels intimate. It feels safe. He finds that he’s not scared of that feeling.
Blitz tries to stop himself. He clenches his hands to his sides, he traces a finger around the spade of his tail, he turns the other way so he can’t even see Stolas.
But nothing works to stop him from coaxing Stolas’ head onto his chest. His arms come up around Stolas’ shoulders and back to keep him secure against him.
Stolas is warm. His arms lazily wrap around Blitz, hoots indicating he’s still fast asleep.
Blitz kisses his head before leaning back and closing his own eyes. He isn’t opposed to another nap.
His tired brain doesn’t even register the rumbling sound as coming from his chest.
~~~~
Blitz doesn’t sleep for more than an hour. His body just isn’t sleepy anymore.
Stolas, on the other hand, is still fast asleep if his deep hoot-snores are anything to go by.
Blitz doesn’t mind. He just runs his fingers through Stolas’ head feathers.
They’re more matted than usual.
Blitz tries to ignore the guilt caused by realising that it’s his fault Stolas got hurt enough that he couldn’t tend to himself. And it’s his fault Stolas has been too busy caring for him that he couldn’t take care of his own feathers.
Using his tail, he finds the small bottle of preening oil kept in Stolas’ bedside table. It’s not his usual one – that one’s in the bathroom – but it’s still got a nice tropical scent.
He pours some onto his fingers and starts to run his fingers through the feathers, careful to not wake the owl up.
Without realising, he starts humming to fill the silence.
It’s surprisingly difficult to preen Stolas from the position they’re in. He can only reach his head and upper back. So he does a thorough job of those feathers, enjoying the citrus smell filling the room.
Stolas wakes up when Blitz tries to manoeuvre them so he can preen Stolas’ lower back.
“Darling?” he calls, blinking his eyes half-open.
“Yeah, birdie?”
Blitz starts to pull out some of the feathers with broken barbs. Stolas moans at the feeling and lets his eyes fall shut.
“That feels nice,” he says, shuffling further into the mattress. “May I ask what I did to deserve this?”
Blitz scoffs. “You didn’t do it yourself, that’s what.”
“I apologise. I have been rather busy as of late and–”
“I don’t give a shit,” Blitz snaps, cutting him off. “You told me how important grooming is for Goetia so you need to do it.” His voice drops to a whisper. “Especially when it’s because of me that you’re not.”
“This is not your fault, darling,” Stolas says. Blitz really should start to remember that owls have amazing hearing. It’s fucked him over more times than he can count.
Instead of answering, he just grunts and moves Stolas’ boxers down just a little so he can reach the feathers at the top of his butt.
It’s silent for a few minutes. Stolas is clearly afraid of upsetting him again. He’s too nice like that. Most demons who know Blitz seek out ways to upset or anger him.
“Are you okay?” Blitz says, yanking on an old feather that refuses to come out.
Stolas snaps his beak, emitting a small squawk.
“Sorry. Not trying to hurt you. It was just a stubborn bitch.”
Blitz places the feather on the bed in front of Stolas’ face, mostly to prove that it wasn’t a healthy feather that he plucked for no reason. He may be an asshole, but he’s not that mean, especially to Stolas.
The owl gives a gentle hoot.
“So, are you okay?”
“What gave you the impression I am not okay?”
“Fucking– nothing in particular. But after everything with Striker and then all my shit, and now finding out you haven’t been preening, I’m–” a sigh, “I’m worried about you.”
Stolas coos. “Oh, sweetheart. I am quite alright, no need to concern yourself with my wellbeing.”
Blitz slowly, tentatively, touches the bandage on Stolas’ shoulder. The owl’s head snaps around, eyes narrowed at him. Blitz pulls his hand away and moves back to pulling bad feathers.
“How are your injuries?”
“They are healing at an ideal rate, Darling. They are consistent with the doctors’ expectations, so there is no need to be alarmed.”
“You’ve been taking care of them properly?”
Blitz adjusts Stolas’ boxers back to their normal position and starts to make his way down Stolas’ legs.
“I have been applying the creams and changing the bandages, yes. I appreciate your concern, Darling, but my focus is on you right now. Are you feeling alright? You are talking, so that is a promising sign, but I do not wish to assume you are well simply because you are functioning. I have a feeling you often stay functioning until you are no longer able to, at which point you collapse.”
He scoffs. “I’m fine.”
“Darling, please. I know you struggle to be open with others, with me, but I really do care about you. I love you, so please know that you can speak with me openly and honestly without any judgement.”
He closes his eyes. “I talked to Octavia.”
“Oh? What about?”
“You, mostly.” A pause. “Me.” Another, longer pause. “Us.”
“What in particular about us?”
“That I do give a shit about you. That I’m trying and that I never meant to hurt you. That I don’t ever want to in the future but that I can’t promise I won’t because I am a fuck up who hurts everyone. That it’s hard to stay detached when you and everyone else are so fucking obvious in showing you care. That I’m trying to be better because I love you and I want to be someone worthy of your love.”
Stolas forces Blitz to move from his position on Stolas’ legs when he spins around. He pins Blitz to the bed underneath him with a massive grin.
“Darling,” Stolas breathes. “Darling,” he repeats, close to tears now.
“What? What did I do?”
Stolas cups his face. “I love you, too.”
Oh.
Oh fuck. He said that aloud?! Fuck, he hadn’t meant to do that. Oh no. Oh fuck. Oh–
“Say it again?”
“I love you.” He whispers before immediately turning his head away to avoid Stolas’ eyes. He resolutely ignores the heat in his cheeks.
Fuck. He wishes he could say ‘no’ to Stolas even when he looks at him like that. That look had fucked him over enough times but this is by far the biggest fucking over that Stolas’ pouty face has ever caused.
Gentle talons turn him back to face Stolas. He presses his forehead to Blitz’s and stares into his eyes.
“Can I kiss you, Blitz?”
He swallows. This feels so different to every other time they’ve kissed. And even Blitz can’t pretend it’s not different. He knows it is. Stolas knows it is. Stolas knows he knows it’s different. And he knows Stolas knows he knows. There’s a whole lot of fucking knowing right now.
“Darling?” Stolas calls when he doesn’t answer.
Fuck. Right. This is not the time to get lost in his thoughts.
He focuses on looking into Stolas’ eyes. He can lose his mind later.
Right now, he pulls Stolas’ waist closer with his tail and uses his hands to tip his head, connecting their lips.
Blitz reckons it’s probably the softest kiss they’ve ever shared. It’s deep. They’re tongues are curling around each other’s, but it’s not desperate or heated. They’re just trying to get even closer to each other.
Eventually, though, Stolas pulls away from him. He just stares down at him, stroking the scarred side of Blitz’s face with a gentle smile on his face.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.
Blitz scoffs. He can’t help himself.
“Says you,” he retorts, instead of denying Stolas’ words. He knows doing that would ruin the moment.
Stolas hoots as he giggles, tilting his head until their foreheads are touching again.
“How are you doing, Darling?”
“I’m fine,” he insists. He is fine, for all intents and purposes. He’s alive. He’s speaking.
“Blitz, please, be honest with me. With everything that has happened, there have been a lot of changes recently. And now with– whatever this is,” he gestures between them, “I am concerned for you.”
He wants to push Stolas away, to deny his words and continue on as if everything this week has been perfectly normal, a status quo that no one would even blink at.
But, well, Stolas asked for honesty. And Blitz has never been good at denying Stolas. He used to grunt and groan when Stolas asked for shit, but he still did those things. He wouldn’t have done them if he really didn’t want to.
And he does want to get better, he doesn’t want to live a life like this. His current life is a shitty piece of trash that’s been lit on fire and thrown into the living rooms of everyone he knows just so they have to deal with the shit named Blitz too.
Besides, Stolas looks so hopeful that Blitz can’t even think of denying him.
“I–” he clears his throat, “I know I need a break from work,” he forces out. He closes his eyes so he doesn’t have to think about someone else being here to hear his words. “Ya know, to recover and shit.”
He feels a beak press a kiss to his forehead and he opens his eyes to see Stolas’ slight head tilt.
“I am so proud of you, Darling.”
Blitz blushes hard and turns his face away with a cough. The fuck was that?
“Really,” Stolas insists, moving to sit beside Blitz. He pulls Blitz over so he’s settled between Stolas’ legs. He leans back into Stolas’ chest. Stolas wraps his long arms around him.
Blitz returns the favour with his tail. He tips his head back so one of his horns is over each of Stolas’ shoulders. Stolas rests his head on top of Blitz’s.
“Can I–” he starts before cutting himself off. His heart is beating a mile a minute in his chest. Stolas’ arms around him are the only thing keeping it from escaping his ribcage.
“Yes, Darling?” Blitz shakes his head the tiniest bit, having changed his mind. “Blitz,” Stolas says, using a hand to tilt Blitz’s head back to connect their eyes. “What do you need?”
“I don’t need it.”
He chuckles. “Well then, what do you want, my sweet?”
He scrunches his eyes closed and heaves a breath. “Can I stay with you for a bit? I don’t want–”
No.
He’s not going to lie anymore. He’s not going to say it’s only because he wants to make sure Stolas is safe in case there’s another attack. He wants to, and that is part of his reason for asking, but it’s not his main reason.
His main reason is that Stolas has never made him feel unsafe or like being vulnerable is dangerous. He needs to trust that. He needs to try to be more vulnerable. Stolas has given no indication that doing so would be a mistake.
“Oh, Darling,” Stolas whispers, squeezing him tighter. “Of course you can stay here. Do you want to have your own room or stay with me? I do not mind either way; whichever would make you most comfortable, my dear.”
Blitz tightens his tail. “With you, please.” He tilts his head back up, staring up into Stolas’ sparkly red eyes. His voice wobbles a little bit. “Don’t–” his throat closes up, “Don’t leave me.”
“I would never.”
He turns around in Stolas’ lap and cups his cheek.
“Thank you, Stolas, for everything.”
The owl gives him a sad smile in return. “I am merely sad that it took all of this for you to feel safe talking to me.”
Blitz rests his cheek on Stools' shoulder. “It’s not that I didn’t feel safe. It’s just that– actually, I guess I didn’t feel safe. But that wasn’t because of you. That’s because of all the shit I’ve faced. You’re like the only person who has never made me feel unsafe.”
He’s squeezed again. “Oh, Darling, oh, Blitz. You mean so much to me, I would never want to hurt you.”
Lifting his head, he cups Stolas’ face again and leans in, closing his eyes.
After a few minutes of low making out, Blitz manoeuvres himself so he can push Stolas’ robe open. He rests his hand on the soft downy feathers of Stolas’ upper thigh, unconsciously remembering to only stroke down, never against the feathers.
He lifts his hand again but before he can press it between Stolas’ thigh, talons wrap around his wrist.
Blitz looks up at the owl. “What?”
Stolas just gives him a sad look in return and tugs his wrist, pulling Blitz up and closer so they’re eye to eye.
“I believe we should avoid such activities, Darling.”
Blitz feels the rejection deep in his chest. His heart pounds that little bit harder to the rhythm of nobody wants you.
“I want to,” Stolas hastily adds, as if he’s reading Blitz’s thoughts. “I simply do not wish to agitate my injuries.”
Blitz stares at him, trying to find the lie in the big red orbs that are Stolas’ eyes. He falters when he can’t find any.
“But–”
“Darling,” Stolas interrupts. He rubs his thumb along the side of Blitz’s face. “Do not think I have changed my mind or that I no longer want you. I will always want you, my love.”
He shoves his face into Stolas’ chest feathers.
“Grimoire,” he mumbles.
“Hm?”
“What about the grimoire? I– We– IMP will go under without it.”
Stolas’ brow furrows. “What makes you believe you can no longer utilise my grimoire?”
Blitz huffs and moves so his feet dangle off the edge of the bed, Stolas behind him.
“You don’t want to fuck me anymore, which, like, I don’t blame you for, and I totally get it, but I don’t really have any other way to pay you back for it.”
“My dear,” he tugs Blitz’s arm until he turns around to face him, “we have not had sex for over a month. And have I taken the grimoire away from you?”
“Well, no, but, like, you were in hospital last week so we couldn’t fuck and now I’m here but you don’t want to.”
“Darling, could you please look at me?”
Blitz squeezes his eyes shut before mustering the energy to look up.
“I would love to have sex with you. I am, however, still recovering and the doctors advised me against engaging in any strenuous activity. And, if I am being completely honest, I do not believe you genuinely want to have sex with me right now. I feel as though you are doing it out of obligation. I am no longer too blind to see that. As such, I no longer wish to have sex with you until I am sure that it is what you want to do as well.”
He huffs. “I do want to. I’m saying yes.”
Stolas huffs too. “I understand that, my love. But do you want to because you want to have sex, or because you want access to the grimoire. To put it simply, I can now see that you never truly consented. It was coerced, and for that, I am truely, deeply sorry.”
“Shut the actual fuck up, Stolas.”
He does, just staring at Blitz blankly.
“You’re talking bullshit. Sure, at the start, it was for the grimoire.” He turns away to hide the rising blush. “But I pretty quickly started to look forward to the full moon each month. Your fancy book made it even better, but I reckon–” He takes a deep breath and looks back to Stolas. “I reckon I’d be here every full moon even without it.”
Stolas lets out a soft coo and waves his arms in a sweeping motion. Blitz comes closer and lets the owl pull him in for a hug. His tail wraps around Stolas’ thigh and he snuggles into the warm feathers of Stolas’ chest.
It’s silent for a minute before Blitz lifts his head. “So you don’t wanna fuck?”
Stolas’ upper eyes move, the only sign of an eye-roll he has without any actual pupils to roll.
“The instructions I received from the doctors were not a suggestion, Blitz. Perhaps in a few days when I am fully recovered.”
Stolas then coos and pecks him on the head. Blitz decides he has absolutely no idea why the prince did that. Blitz’s tail totally didn’t start swaying back and forth in the air at Stolas’ words.
“I’ll– I’ll still be here then, right?”
Stolas pulls him impossibly closer. “Of course, Darling. I would have you here forever if you would allow me.”
Blitz scoffs but it’s softer than usual, more of a shut up you sap than an I don’t believe you.
“Maybe.”
It’s not a commitment. He’s not ready for that. But he’s ready for a maybe. He can handle the possibility right now, not the certainty.
Stolas still covers his face in pecked kisses anyway.
~~~~
At dinner, everyone seems surprised by how well he’s doing. He’s talking and telling jokes and laughing. He’s having a nice dinner with his family. Blitz resolutely ignores what recognising their care as genuine does to his chest. It hurts, aches, in a good way, but it’s not one he’s used to. It’s uncomfortable at the moment so he focuses elsewhere.
“I have an announcement.”
He instantly has everyone’s attention. Even Octavia seems interested as she clicks her phone off.
“I’m… taking a break from IMP.” No one gasps like he thought they would so he just moves on. “M&M, you’re good to head on home whenever you want. I’ll still pay you, so, like, don’t stress about that. If– if you wouldn’t mind, we’ll keep the books open but just let any clients know there will be a short delay in getting any hits done.”
“Of course, Sir,” Moxxie says.
“We’d be happy to,” Millie adds.
He gives them a firm nod.
“We’re glad you’re feeling better, B.”
He grunts a thanks. He’s still getting used to actually seeing their care as, well, care. It makes hearing it so much harder when he doesn’t instantly ignore it. Now he hears it, recognises it, and then has to fucking react to it.
It’s taking more energy than he thought it would but he also knows it’ll take less and less every time until it’s as easy as it is right now to deny it.
“I’ll be staying with Stolas for a bit. Dunno how long.”
He glances at Stolas before grinning, knowing Millie will get a kick out of this. Reaching over, he winds his fingers with Stolas’.
“Maybe forever, we’ll see.”
Stolas squeaks and Millie squeals. She opens her mouth probably to shout something like I knew it! but Moxxie tugs on her arm so she shuts up.
“Thank you for filling us in, Sir. And for letting us in. Dare I say I hope this means you’ll stop breaking into our apartment in the middle of the night to curl up at the foot of our bed?”
Blitz’s face heats up immediately and he’s pretty sure he looks like he has a fever. Stolas looks at him sadly but doesn’t say anything. He feels the squeeze around his hand.
~~~~
After dinner, Stolas opens a portal so M&M can return to their home. There’s a knock on the door just as the portal closes, M&M waving at Blitz and him waving back as it does so.
“Is it alright if I head home too?” She shuffles on her feet. Blitz can tell she’s not sure if she’s even allowed to ask.
He smiles at her and she seems to find her ground as she opens her mouth again. “I kinda wanna be in a more familiar place. I don’t– here isn’t home.”
Despite having lived with him for a long time now, Blitz has rarely heard Loona call their apartment home. It’s almost always the apartment.
“Loony,” he breathes, ready to wrap his arms and tail around her in a big hug and let her know that he’ll always love her as if his love for her was actually in question.
“And, like, sue me but I don’t wanna risk hearing you two fuck, or smell anything from it.”
Stolas’s entire face turns a pinkish-red and Blitz can’t help but laugh at his expense. He shakes it off, turning back to Loona.
“You can go home, Sweetie. I’m staying here by choice. You should stay where you want by choice, too.”
She nods.
“Would you like a portal, dear?”
Her ears go back but she doesn’t say anything about the pet name. She just nods and five minutes later, she’s going through a portal to their kitchen with her backpack slung over one shoulder.
Blitz puts his head through the portal to sniff the air. Yep, smells like home. Mould and stale air.
He turns to the sink. Okay. Thank fuck it’s empty. He’s surprised it is, but eternally thankful to whatever deity decided not to fuck him in the ass this time.
After giving Loona two goodbye hugs, one in the palace and one after she’s gone through the portal, they’re left alone.
It feels weirdly normal, considering how they ended up here. One still-injured owl and one mentally-damaged imp taking his first baby steps towards healing.
“So, what would you like to do now?”
His stomach grumbles in answer. With a small, nervous grin, he asks, “Snack?”
Stolas nods. “That sounds lovely.”
Hesitantly, talons reach out to him, tilted up. Blitz looks away, feeling the heat return to his cheeks, and takes the offered hand in his.
It feels almost like being a child again. When the person’s hand you’re holding is at the same height as your head.
Blitz finds that he doesn’t mind it that much. It had felt demeaning when he’d taken Stolas’ hand at Ozzie’s, but here, in the privacy of Stolas’ palace, it feels safe, secure. It feels comforting.
In the kitchen, Stolas uses his magic to prepare them a snack so that he doesn’t have to let go of Blitz’s hand.
Octavia’s in there, munching on cereal straight from the box while she scrolls on her phone. She gets up and makes to leave but before she does, she turns, stares at their joined hands for a second, before smiling to herself. She looks at Blitz, gives him a small but firm nod, and taps the doorway as she leaves.
Blitz smiles, glad to have Octavia’s approval, or at least what he’s pretty sure was approval.
He turns to the hand in his and can’t help himself.
He leans in and presses his lips to the back of Stolas’ hand.
Yeah, he might just stay here – if here is wherever Stolas is – forever.